Tim Henman has confessed that he’s hoping Novak Djokovic faces some challenges in the early stages of his newly formed player-coach partnership with Andy Murray. Henman, a former world No. 4, is curious to see how Murray handles the dynamics of coaching Djokovic, particularly when the intense Serbian begins “shouting and screaming” from the sidelines. The thought of tension between the two former rivals excites Henman, as it could offer an intriguing look at how Murray adjusts to his new role.
The tennis world was left in awe when Djokovic and Murray revealed their collaboration last month. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, expressed his enthusiasm about having one of his fiercest competitors in his corner. “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach,” Djokovic shared in a video announcement. “Looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I’ve shared so many exceptional moments on Australian soil. We’ve been pushing each other to our limits since we were boys, and over the years, we’ve had some of the most epic battles in the sport. They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers.”
The 24-time Grand Slam winner went on to reflect on their rivalry, which has spanned over two decades. “I thought our story may be over,” Djokovic admitted. “But it turns out it has one final chapter. Now, it’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray.”
Henman, who reached six major semi-finals during his career, is fascinated by the potential for tension between the two. He expressed his curiosity about how the relationship will evolve, especially when things get tough. “Who’s going to shout at who? I’m definitely intrigued,” Henman said. “That’s why I want to see Djokovic struggle a little in the early matches—so there’s a bit of tension, a bit of adversity, and hopefully some shouting and screaming from the box. It’ll be interesting to see how Andy Murray handles being on the receiving end of that. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
As for why Murray took on this unexpected coaching role, Henman believes it’s something Murray would eventually do, though the timing came as a surprise. “At the end of the day, Andy’s the one who has to answer that question about his motivation,” Henman said. “But I always felt he’d transition into coaching. I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly, but when the opportunity arises to work with one of the greatest players in the history of our sport, it’s tough to turn down.”
Henman expressed keen interest in following the evolution of their partnership. “I’m fascinated to hear about their off-season training in Spain and to see how their relationship develops when they head into the Australian Open. It’s going to add another great storyline to the 2025 season.”
Murray, who retired after this year’s Paris Olympics, also shared his excitement about this new chapter. “I’m really excited to join Novak’s team for the off-season and help him prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said. “It’s going to be great to spend time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, and I’m eager to help him achieve his goals.” The collaboration promises to be a fascinating new chapter for both legends, as they unite to tackle new challenges in 2025.