Tim Henman is eager to see if Novak Djokovic will continue his notorious outbursts at his coaching box when Andy Murray becomes his coach.
The two tennis legends will join forces next year as Djokovic aims to recover from a challenging 2024.
The announcement came as a surprise, following Murray’s retirement last summer. Although Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, was interested in coaching, he likely didn’t expect such a significant opportunity to come his way so quickly.
Djokovic is known for shouting at his box when things aren’t going well. After parting ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, Henman joked that he’s curious to see if Djokovic will direct his usual frustrations at Murray in the same manner.
“Who’s going to shout at who? I’m definitely intrigued,” the former British player told Eurosport. “That’s why I want to see Djokovic struggle a little bit in those early matches so that there’s a bit of tension, a bit of adversity, hopefully a bit of shouting and screaming at the box.
“And we can see how Andy Murray deals with it being on the receiving end. But it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Djokovic explained that he was motivated to choose Murray as his coach because the two-time Wimbledon champion shares similar experiences with him. Both are multiple Grand Slam winners and have held the World No. 1 ranking for extended periods, making it an intriguing pairing between two highly experienced champions.
However, Henman was surprised by Murray’s decision to accept the role. While he believes it could be a strong partnership, especially considering Murray’s tactical knowledge, Henman didn’t expect him to take on the coaching opportunity.
“Andy’s decision to coach Djokovic certainly took me by surprise,” he added. “When I saw it on the internet, I had to check the date, whether it was an April Fools [joke].
“But no, I think it’s a smart move from Djokovic, because Andy’s played against all those opponents that Djokovic is going to be up against. Andy’s always been a great tactician, so I’m sure that fresh input can motivate Djokovic.
“And from Andy’s point of view, having just retired in August, I was surprised that he wants to get back on the road that quickly. But only time will tell how the relationship evolves.”
Djokovic’s first significant tournament of the year will be the Australian Open in January, where he will aim to secure his 11th title. Last year marked the first time since 2017 that he did not win any of the four Grand Slam events.
