“Andy Murray would tell him the exact same thing”: Mats Wilander highlights Murray’s influence on Djokovic’s game plan

Mats Wilander praised the partnership between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, giving the Serbian a strong chance to secure his 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The 7-time Grand Slam champion called them the “coolest duo” and welcomed Djokovic’s participation in the Brisbane International.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion opted to start his season in Brisbane to get into gear before the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Reilly Opelka in straight sets. "I watched the match, and Novak looked really good physically, and I think emotionally he will be much more into it at the Australian Open," Wilander noted.

"I think Andy Murray would tell him the exact same thing because he's experienced the emotions of playing smaller tournaments and then building up for Wimbledon towards the end of his career. That's much easier. I think Novak is in a good place," said the Swedish former player on Eurosport.

Wilander sees Australian Open as key opportunity

Wilander added that Djokovic’s best chances for Grand Slam success in 2025 lie in Melbourne and Wimbledon. "I think he's got a really, really good shot at winning at least one major this year, and Australia is probably his best opportunity, other than Wimbledon."

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"At the Australian Open, many players haven’t had enough matches over the past couple of months. Mentally, they're not quite ready. Physically, they might be prepared with pre-season training, but mentally, they need to win matches to feel they can beat the best players," Wilander continued.

"Five sets are going to help him, believe it or not, at 37 years old. When you get older, it helps to play longer matches, and for Novak, that’s perfect," he explained.

Djokovic surprised the tennis world by announcing Andy Murray as part of his team just months after Murray retired. After nearly 20 years of rivalry on the Tour, Djokovic chose the Briton to replace Goran Ivanisevic, with whom he parted ways in March 2024.

"With Novak Djokovic approaching 40, I wouldn’t expect this relationship to last long, but it’s extraordinary how fierce these competitors were, and now they’re helping each other out," said Wilander. "I think Andy Murray has realised how much Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal], and Novak helped him. Yes, he might have won more majors without those three, but being part of that golden generation must be an incredible feeling for him."

Wilander applauds Djokovic-Murray partnership

The 3-time Aussie Open speculated about Murray’s coaching style, suggesting he would aim to remain "as anonymous as he possibly can." He said, "He deserves to be in the spotlight, but I feel Andy wouldn’t want that. He has so much valuable information for any player at any stage of their career. Murray will succeed at anything he puts his mind to in tennis."

"He understands the game, loves the game, and enjoys the technical aspects like racquets, technique, and biomechanics," Wilander added. "I hope he becomes a commentator so we can hear his thoughts on the game, given his expertise and his years playing against the Big Three."

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"Let’s not forget he’s also practised and played against today’s top players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Murray knows them inside out, and that’s where Novak will likely gain the most valuable insights."

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