Novak Djokovic sent shockwaves through the tennis fraternity when he appointed long-time rival Andy Murray as his coach for the 2025 season—a surprising yet fascinating collaboration that’s already bearing fruit in unexpected areas. As Djokovic chases two historic milestones—a coveted 100th career title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam—the Murray partnership seems to be energizing more than just his mindset.
In what could be his final lap on the professional circuit, Djokovic has not only reignited his hunger but also refined a crucial weapon—his serve. And many believe Murray’s tactical insight might be playing a pivotal role in this transformation. The pair, who once stood toe-to-toe in countless Grand Slam battles, now find themselves on the same side of the court, united in pursuit of legacy.
While it’s not unusual for great champions to find late-career motivation, the data this season points to more than just mental grit. Djokovic’s first serve percentage in 2025 has soared to an outstanding 69%—a clear uptick from his previous peak years. Back in 2011, 2016, and 2021—seasons where he captured three majors each—his serve accuracy hovered around 65%. Even during his 2023 run, when he lifted three Slams again, the figure dipped slightly to 64%.
These may seem like marginal gains on paper, but in the elite echelons of sport, tiny improvements often lead to seismic shifts. A 5% jump in service efficiency is akin to a 100m sprinter shaving milliseconds off a record or a striker adding crucial goals over a season. In short, it’s the kind of edge that wins titles.
Early in the season, Djokovic’s blistering performances in Melbourne and Miami have already pushed his serve stats into career-best territory. Over 203 service games played so far, he has clinched 76% of the opening points and held 89% of his service games—staggering numbers, especially for a player about to turn 38.
Djokovic himself was candid in assessing his serving form following his Miami Open semi-final win over Grigor Dimitrov. “I wouldn’t say particularly we paid so much attention to the serve prior to this tournament that it needed to be worked on separately from all the other shots in order to get it to a desired level,” he remarked.
“I think I’ve been serving pretty well this year. Maybe some other elements in my game haven’t been working particularly well, but the serve was solid.
“I mean, this is a whole different level of serving, obviously. I mean, I did not expect myself to top the serving performance of last match, where I had 83%, and I had 87% today. I missed I think five or six serves in the whole match. So that’s really amazing, amazing standard, really high standard.”
It’s clear that the Serbian legend is not just holding serve—he’s making a statement. Even without heavily emphasizing it in practice, his ability to deliver precise, reliable first serves has become a bedrock of his 2025 resurgence. Whether it’s a product of subtle technical tweaking, Murray’s influence, or simply Djokovic tapping into new reserves of discipline and execution, the results speak volumes.
As the clay and grass court seasons draw closer, attention turns to Roland Garros and Wimbledon—two arenas where Djokovic will aim to extend his dominance. If his serving consistency holds, the tennis world may well witness history unfold from both ends of the court. And ironically, it’s the game’s most feared returner who might now be serving his way into the record books.