Novak Djokovic ends six-month coaching stint with Andy Murray, but insists respect remains as he hunts 25th grand slam title.
Novak Djokovic has drawn a line under his brief coaching partnership with Andy Murray, declaring the duo had simply “reached the limit” of what they could achieve together. The Serb, who turns 38 on Thursday, made the announcement ahead of the Geneva Open, one of his final stops before the French Open begins on Sunday.
Djokovic and Murray, once fierce rivals and now both elder statesmen of tennis, began working together six months ago in a move that stunned the tennis world. But as Djokovic battles form and fitness in an unusually rocky start to the 2025 season, the Serb has decided to go it alone—at least for now.
“We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it,” Djokovic said. “My respect towards Andy remains the same—if anything, it has grown. He has a brilliant tennis IQ, a rare champion’s mind, and he sees the game incredibly well.”
Despite their professional split, Djokovic stressed that the decision was mutual and respectful. He praised Murray’s insight and suggested the experience deepened their understanding of each other beyond the boundaries of competition.
The partnership began promisingly, with Djokovic reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open before injury forced him out. But since then, the 24-time Grand Slam winner has stumbled. He has lost his opening match in four of his last five tournaments and hasn’t won a match on clay all season. He skipped the Italian Open and now enters the Geneva Open in need of confidence and rhythm.
“I’m not particularly used to this,” Djokovic admitted. “I’ve never had a stretch like this in the last 20 years—losing early, back-to-back, first rounds. But I knew this moment would eventually come.”
The Geneva Open represents more than just a tune-up. A title here would be Djokovic’s 100th ATP singles crown, placing him alongside only two other men in the Open era to reach triple digits. More urgently, it would restore some momentum ahead of Roland Garros, where Djokovic is aiming to break the all-time Grand Slam record with a 25th title.
For now, Djokovic says he’s content without a head coach. “I don’t need to rush,” he said. “I feel comfortable with the people around me.” He has returned to familiar faces in Geneva, including former team member Dusan Vemic and analyst Boris Bosnjakovic.
He’ll face world number 134 Marton Fucsovics in his Geneva opener on Wednesday. While a relatively modest opponent, the match carries symbolic weight. A strong showing could help turn around a clay campaign that so far includes early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
Djokovic’s record at Roland Garros includes just three titles, making it the least fruitful of the four majors for him. But he remains determined. “I’m trying to do well, win more trophies, and build my form for Roland Garros,” he said. “The motivation is still there.”
His comments hint at a new phase in his storied career—one defined not just by trophies, but resilience in the face of fading dominance and rising challengers like 19-year-old Czech sensation Jakub Mensik, who beat Djokovic in the Miami Open final.
As Djokovic steps into the Geneva Open, the tennis world watches to see whether the sport’s most decorated man can find form, rhythm—and perhaps history—on the clay once more.
