Andy Murray is set to discuss his coaching role with Novak Djokovic following the latter’s withdrawal from the Australian Open semi-finals due to a muscle tear he sustained during his victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

Murray joined Djokovic’s coaching staff in November in preparation for the season’s first Grand Slam. The 10-time Australian Open champion was forced to retire from his match against Alex Zverev due to the injury.

Djokovic is currently tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles at 24, and Wimbledon later this year represents his best opportunity to surpass that record.

No decisions have been made yet regarding Murray and Djokovic continuing their coaching partnership beyond the Australian Open.

And Murray said: “Me and Novak agreed that after the tournament we would speak. We’ll do that.”

Djokovic added: “I’ll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me. You know, give him my feedback, which is, of course, positive, and see how he feels and we make the next step.

“We are still hotheaded and disappointed, so it’s kind of hard to switch the page and start talking about what the next steps are. I think we both need to cool off a little bit and then we’ll have a chat.”

Djokovic unsure of Murray partnership after Melbourne exit

The 10-time Melbourne Park champion had just lost the first-set tiebreak to Alexander Zverev when he decided to end the match, unable to continue playing.

Djokovic had enlisted the help of five-time Melbourne Park finalist Murray in his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title, which seemed to be working as he outsmarted Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, despite the injury.
Novak Djokovic, who was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday due to a thigh muscle tear, has not made any commitments regarding a future coaching relationship with Andy Murray.

The 10-time champion at Melbourne Park was trailing after losing the first-set tiebreak to Alexander Zverev when he decided to retire from the match due to his inability to continue.

Djokovic had brought on board five-time finalist at Melbourne Park, Andy Murray, to assist him in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title. Their collaboration appeared effective as he managed to outplay Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, even while nursing an injury.

“You know, we both were disappointed with what just happened, so we didn’t talk about the future steps. We are so fresh off the court.

“I’ll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me. You know, give him my feedback, which is, of course, positive, and see how he feels and we make the next step.”

“Djokovic suggested that it would be better to wait for the emotions to settle before making any decisions, as they were still “hot-headed and disappointed” after the dramatic end to his tournament.”

“We are still hot-headed and disappointed, so it’s kind of hard to switch the page and start talking about what the next steps are,” said Djokovic.

“I think we both need to cool off a little bit and then we’ll have a chat.”

Novak Djokovic’s injury during his gripping victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Australian Open has sparked widespread discussion in the tennis world.

Despite the setback, Djokovic secured a remarkable 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win against his 21-year-old opponent. The 37-year-old required treatment for a leg injury when trailing 5-4 in the first set.

Djokovic’s movement was visibly affected late in the opening set and throughout much of the second, as he appeared to struggle with discomfort. However, he adopted an ultra-aggressive playing style to claim the second set, with his mobility and overall performance improving as the match progressed.

During a medical timeout, Djokovic had his left thigh strapped and later revealed that he had taken two doses of medication to manage the pain. The tennis legend admitted that he might have considered retiring from the match if he had not managed to win the second set.

“Well, since I’m still in the tournament I don’t want to reveal too much obviously,” the 24-time major champion winner told Jim Courier in his on-court interview.

“Yeah, the medication started to kick in and they helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose, I mean this sounds awful (laughs), me taking another dose, but I had to.

“I didn’t know, to be honest, if I lost that second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better. Managed to play a great couple of games to end up the second set.

“And then I saw that Carlos was hesitant a little bit from back of the court and I took my chances, started to feel better, started to move better. It didn’t create any hinderance towards the end of the match, only in that second set.

“Obviously when the medications start to release, I’ll see what the reality is tomorrow morning. But yeah, right now I will just try to be in the moment and enjoy this victory.”

Commentating on the match for ESPN, McEnroe controversially claimed that Djokovic was tactically feigning injury against Alcaraz.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled,” said the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion.

After Djokovic won the second set, McEnroe’s brother and co-commentator Patrick McEnroe asked him in disbelief: “Did you see this coming!?”

“Yes,” the elder McEnroe replied.

Novak Djokovic encountered similar allegations during the 2023 Australian Open, where he overcame a hamstring injury to claim his 10th title at the tournament. Australian doubles legend Todd Woodbridge accused Djokovic of “playing up” the injury.

Following his fourth-round victory against Alex de Minaur in Melbourne, Djokovic addressed the skepticism surrounding his injuries, criticizing the double standards and highlighting that other players are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

“I leave the doubting to those people – let them doubt,” the tennis great told Serbian media.

“Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it. It is very interesting. I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to anyone.

“I have got the MRI, ultrasound and everything else, both from two years ago and now. Whether I will publish that in my documentary or on social media depends on how I feel. Maybe I will do I it, maybe I won’t.

“I am not really interested at this point what people are thinking and saying. It is fun, it is interesting to see how the narrative surrounding me continues, narrative that is different compared to other players that have been going through similar situations. But I am used to it and it just gives me extra strength and motivation. So I thank them for that.”

While he did not want to give too much away about the injury he suffered against Alcaraz, Djokovic did reveal it was similar to his hamstring issue at the 2023 Australian Open.

“I’m not going to go into details, but it’s very similar to what I had few years ago. 2023, to be exact. I haven’t done any tests obviously,” he explained in his press conference.

“I mean, I’ve done tests with the physio when they took me off the court, when I had the medical timeout. He strapped me, and then the doctor gave me some medication, so forth, some painkillers. That kicked in after 20, 30 minutes. It did help. Then I had to take another dose I think in the beginning of the fourth.

“Yeah, now that it’s cooling off, I can start to feel different things. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow and day by day.”

The Serbian added: “Now it’s really about recovery. I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But if I manage somehow to, yeah, be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be.”

Djokovic will play world No 2 Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park on Friday.

John McEnroe speculated about a possible conspiracy surrounding Novak Djokovic’s injury during his match against Carlos Alcaraz after the 37-year-old took an off-court medical timeout.

Djokovic, ranked world No. 7, appeared to struggle with his leg during the first set, grimacing in pain and eventually leaving the court with the physio. Upon his return, his upper thigh was strapped.

However, McEnroe expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the injury, advising Alcaraz not to be “fooled” by the 10-time Australian Open champion.

Commentating alongside his brother Patrick for Australia’s Channel Nine, McEnroe suggested that Djokovic’s apparent physical struggles might not have been entirely genuine.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine,” the seven-time Major winner said. In a warning to Alcaraz and the audience, he added: “Don’t be fooled.”

Djokovic called for an off-court medical timeout while trailing 5-4 in the first set with a break. Upon his return, Alcaraz quickly closed out the set.

The Serbian star then elevated his performance, surging to an early 3-0 lead in the second set. Although Alcaraz managed to level the score, Djokovic regained momentum, breaking again to secure the set 6-4 and even the match.

When Djokovic won set two, Patrick McEnroe asked: “Did you see this coming?” But John still firmly believed the No. 7 seed had been fine all along.

“Yes,” he replied. Whether or not his theory was correct, Djokovic continued to raise his level as the match went on while Alcaraz was left feeling helpless.

The third set saw a flurry of breaks as Djokovic briefly took the lead, only for the 21-year-old Alcaraz to break back.

However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion remained unyielding, breaking again to secure a two-sets-to-one advantage on a dramatic set point that left even Alcaraz laughing in disbelief. Djokovic ultimately sealed the match with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory, earning his place in a record 50th Grand Slam semi-final.

Fired up, Djokovic engaged with the crowd by gesturing to his ear and blowing kisses. He carried his momentum into the fourth set, breaking Alcaraz immediately while the young Spaniard looked toward his team in confusion.

Despite appearing to nurse a lingering issue—taking painkillers during the first changeover of the set—Djokovic maintained his composure to finish the job.