Novak Djokovic has ‘sent a statement’ to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

The tennis world was stunned when Novak Djokovic revealed former rival Andy Murray will be his coach at the Australian Open, but Patrick Mouratoglou believes the partnership ‘makes sense on many levels’.

The former coach of Serena Williams and current coach of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is the latest high-profile tennis voice to give his verdict on the most talked about player-coach combination in tennis history.

Djokovic claimed his rivalry with Murray has “one final chapter” after his long-time adversary joined him as his coach for next month’s Australian Open.

The move came as a big surprise, but Mouratoglou has insisted he can see why two of the game’s all-time greats have teamed up.

“When Novak Djokovic announced his new collaboration with Andy Murray as his coach, I have to admit I was surprised,” wrote Mouratoglou on LinkedIn.

“Two of the greatest players of their generation, born in 1987, now uniting in a completely new dynamic. It’s a bold move, and one that speaks volumes about Andy’s character and Novak’s ambition.

“Andy’s decision to step into coaching is remarkable. Transitioning so quickly from player to coach is rare, especially for someone as accomplished as him. Yet, the opportunity to coach arguably the greatest player of all time must have been impossible to refuse.

“After all, who would turn down a chance to work with Novak Djokovic?”

Murray has already started working with Djokovic and was forced to miss a dinner at Wimbledon where he was due to receive an award from British Tennis Journalists last week due to what he described as ‘his new job’.

That commitment to start in the role quickly suggests Murray and Djokovic will be spending plenty of time together ahead of the Australian Open and Mouratoglou has outlined why it could work for both parties.

“This partnership makes sense on many levels,” he continued.

“Andy and Novak have shared the court countless times, battling fiercely in some of tennis’s greatest rivalries.

“Their games share similarities—supreme court coverage, tactical brilliance, and consistency under pressure. Few people understand Novak as deeply as Andy does. But the real question is: can Andy reignite Novak’s motivation?

“Motivation is the one thing Novak needs most right now. After dominating the era of the Big Three, outlasting both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Novak has little left to prove.

“Yet, with the rise of players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, tennis has never been more competitive. For Novak, the challenge is clear: rediscover the fire that made him relentless, even against this new wave of talent.”

Mouratoglou concluded by offering up a thought that the Djokovic/Murray pairing may be the Serbian’s attempt to send a message to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz that he is not ready to surrender to the next generation of players in the men’s game.

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“Andy, known for his calm demeanour and incredible intelligence, might just be the person to help Novak tap into that fire again. While Andy isn’t the type to bring raw energy to the team, he brings something equally valuable — strategy, intelligence,” he added.

“He knows Novak inside out and might find unique ways to push him back to the top. But make no mistake: the task is monumental. The consistency of Sinner, the explosiveness of Alcaraz, and the incredible physicality of the next generation set the bar higher than ever.

“This partnership is more than just about coaching; it can be understood as a statement. Two legends saying to the younger generation, “We’re not done yet. Show us you’re ready to take over.”

That final comment from Mouratoglou may be one of the big factors in Djokovic’s decision to bring Murray into his team, with the fiercely competitive duo likely to spark off each other as they look to fend off the threat of Sinner and Alcaraz ending their era of greatness at the top of the men’s game.

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