Australian Open: 'There's much more similarities between Murray and Djokovic than variations,' says Somdev Devvarman

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (AP photograph)

NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have identified every for about 25 years. They had been born every week aside. They performed one another as juniors after they had been all of 12 years previous. Upon turning skilled, they squared off 36 occasions, together with 10-times in Grand Slams. The Serb received 25 occasions and now-retired Murray took the opposite 11. On the majors, that report stood at 8-2.
Nowhere did the stability tip extra in favour of 37-year-Djokovic than on the Australian Open. They met 5 occasions – 4 finals and a semi-final – and Djokovic held the higher hand every time.

Beginning Sunday, Murray won’t be standing throughout the online from Djokovic, hoping to overtake this report. As a substitute, he can be much-closer to the Serb – in a specifically designed “pod” that are devoted for the coaches.
The pods, a brand new function on the Australian Open which will get underway on 12 January, will enable 4 members of the participant’s employees to have the ability to give them recommendation. Murray may have entry to real-time information and statistics on a display screen to make strategies as Djokovic chases an elusive twenty fifth Grand Slam title.

Djokovic had been with out a coach since splitting with Goran Ivanisevic in March final 12 months, having received 12 majors collectively.
The decision got here out of the blue for Murray who was on a golf course when Djokovic proposed the concept. The Briton thought-about the wild proposition and mentioned it along with his household earlier than agreeing.
“May by no means fairly recover from the road (in Melbourne), sadly. This man was single-handedly accountable for that. So I’m now right here to attempt to sabotage his probabilities of successful one other one,” Murray joked.
“Novak requested me to assist him; I used to be shocked,” mentioned Murray, who final performed on the Paris Olympics in August. “I used to be clearly not anticipating that when he known as.”

(AP photograph)
Djokovic agreed that the sensation of getting Murray, a former foe, feeding him balls throughout follow is getting some used to.
“I have to say, at the start, it was a little bit of a wierd feeling to have the ability to share the insights with him, not simply concerning the recreation however about how I really feel, about life typically. Not in a destructive approach, however simply in a approach I’ve by no means achieved that with him, as a result of he was all the time one in all my best rivals,” Djokovic mentioned on Friday. “We had been all the time type of hiding issues from one another. Now all playing cards are open on the desk.”
Daniil Medvedev summed up the pairing superbly by shopping for a comparability from soccer. “Think about (if Lionel) Messi would turn into the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It might be unusual,” mentioned the Russian.
Is {that a} hyperbole? Not by a protracted shot. Djokkovic and Murray comprised two of the ‘Massive 4’ period which additionally included Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Djokovic, the one one left standing, owns a males’s-record 24 majors, together with 10 on the Australian Open, and has spent essentially the most weeks as World No. 1 in historical past. Murray, additionally 37, too occupied the top-rank, owns three main singles trophies, was a Slam runner-up eight occasions and is the one participant to win two Olympic singles gold medals.
They’re, nevertheless, seemingly totally different personalities. Djokovic has an unconventional perception system and is dedicated to yoga, meditation and a strict vegan weight-reduction plan. Murray, as compared, self implodes on the court docket and would verbally berate himself repeatedly by his profession.

(AP photograph)
Former India No. 1 Somdev Devvarman believes there are much more similarities than variations.
“Each of them are tremendous fiery. They’re fiery with their groups. They’re extremely aggressive. They’re unbelievable fighters, nice downside solvers. Got here from a really comparable period. They’re of the identical age, so that they have a look at tennis in an identical approach. They’re coping with the perils of the trendy recreation and the way massive individuals are hitting the ball and the brand new type of the way it’s modified over the past 4 or 5 years. They’re coping with it collectively,” mentioned Devvarman throughout a media interplay.
“I do really feel like there’s a number of similarities. And clearly Novak believed that having anyone like Andy on his facet would solely be useful. It might be enjoyable. It might perhaps be refreshing, perhaps one thing that he wants presently in his profession. So, clearly, there’s a number of belief between the 2 of them. Finally, Novak is trying to discover that little edge that may assist him beat a number of his opponents, and if he believes that Andy Murray may give him that edge, I am wanting ahead to watching,” he added.
Djokovic’s main trophy cupboard has remained untouched because the 2023 US Open. It was the primary time since 2017 that he did not win a Grand Slam in a season. But, the Serb added an Olympic gold – an elusive silverware for a person that had received all the things potential.
Somdev, who reached a career-high of World No. 62 in 2011 and received three medals on the Asian Video games, thinks the partnership will solely support Novak in an try at successful his twenty fifth Grand Slam, thereby breaking the tie with Margaret Court docket within the all-time record.
“Novak has taken a leap of religion in his previous good friend, who he believes has implausible tennis IQ. He is devoted, he works exhausting, and he does not depart any stone unturned with a view to succeed. To have that form of vitality in your camp, it might probably imply rather a lot,” mentioned Somdev.
Go Past The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“It is humbling, actually, to see it from Novak’s perspective that he would ask a good friend of such a excessive commonplace. And it is much more humbling from Andy’s perspective as a result of everytime you take a training alternative, the very first thing that you need to perceive is once you coach, it is not about you anymore in any respect. It is all the time concerning the participant. For a celebrity like Andy Murray, to take a backseat speaks rather a lot about his character.
“So I am simply excited as a result of it is two nice personalities in tennis, two nice mates, two nice characters, and success for them could be success for tennis if it went the proper approach,” he concluded.
Beginning twelfth January 2024, watch the primary Grand Slam of the 12 months, Australian Open 2025 on Sony Sports activities Ten 5 SD & HD, Sony Sports activities Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports activities Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports activities Ten 4 SD & HD (English) in addition to livestream it on Sony LIV, 5:30 AM onwards.