- Andy Murray ended a 19-year career after the Paris Olympics last year.
- The Briton joined forces with Novak Djokovic to coach him at the Australian Open
- The couple was photographed on the practice courts for the first time today.
Andy Murray shocked the tennis world in November last year when he announced he would coach Novak Djokovic in one of the most sensational appointments in the history of the sport.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, 37, who retired from the game in August 2024 after a brilliant 19-year career, is part of his former rival's coaching staff for the Australian Open.
The two were photographed on the practice court on Tuesday, as Djokovic pursues his 11th major and 25th overall, extending his record.
The Serbian began his season last week in Brisbane with a loss to Reilly Opelka. The 37-year-old will meet his first-round opponent in Melbourne on Thursday, when the draw takes place at 2:30 p.m. local time (01:30 GMT).
Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, a competition he has won 10 times on his way to 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic endured a difficult season in 2024, failing to win a major in a calendar year for the first time since 2017, but he did win a long-awaited gold medal at the Olympics, which he described as his “greatest achievement.”
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray hit the Australian courts ahead of this year's Open
The former rivals announced they would train together after Murray retired last year.
Murray beat Djokovic in two major finals: the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon.
Murray ended his 19-year career last summer with a doubles final alongside partner Dan Evans at the Paris Olympics.
The Scot beat Djokovic twice in Grand Slam finals (to lift the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013) and succeeded him as world number one in 2016.
However, it was Djokovic who would have the advantage over Murray in Grand Slam finals, beating him in Australia in 2011, 2013, 2015 and then in 2016, as well as at the French Open that same year.
Their rivalry dates back to their teenage years, when they attended training camp together and Murray later won the first matchup against them as juniors.
In their professional careers, Djokovic had a 25-11 advantage in their head-to-head records.
With just a week of age difference, Djokovic and Murray were paired in doubles at the Australian Open, both aged 19, in 2006.
Murray has maintained respect for his longtime competitor, even posting a tribute to him on social media after he announced his retirement in July.
'Rivals, doubles couples, friends and lovers? Thank you for 25 years of competition and good luck for the rest of your career,” said the Scot.
Their head-to-head record is 25-11 in favor of Djokovic, while he also blows Murray out of the water with his Grand Slam titles. The Serbian has achieved 24 to Murray's three.
Their rivalry dates back to their teenage years when they attended training camp together.
After it was announced that they would be working together this year, the duo expressed their excitement at not facing each other on opposite ends of the court.
“I'm very excited about this and look forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him achieve his goals,” Murray said.
“We've faced each other since we were kids, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,” Djokovic said.
'We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. It's time for one of my toughest opponents to move to my corner.”