Andy Murray, the former British tennis champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, talked about his experience coaching Novak Djokovic. Even though Murray has achieved huge success in his own career, he says coaching Djokovic taught him many new things.
Murray said on The Tennis Podcast that the job was a “great experience” and he’s happy he took it. But switching from being a player to being a coach wasn’t easy.
He explained that Djokovic, like himself, is a very intense and demanding player. Murray knew this before accepting the role.
Murray was so committed that he even worked during a ski holiday he had already planned. He stayed up late at night watching Djokovic’s matches from Australia, making video edits, and sending them to him.
"I learned a lot about what coaching is" – Murray
The results weren’t what they hoped for, especially after Djokovic picked up an injury at the Australian Open. Murray said Djokovic played amazing tennis before the injury, but the following months were tough for everyone on the team.
Murray admitted he was disappointed that things didn’t go as planned, but the experience taught him a lot. He learned about the challenges of coaching, discovered his strengths and weaknesses, and realized what he needs to improve if he coaches again.
He added that a good coach must bring positive energy, and that’s something he would focus on in the future.