Former Andy Murray coach predicts success for new alliance with Novak Djokovic: “He will bring incredible tennis knowledge”

Daniel Vallverdu, former coach of Andy Murray, believes the Brit will be a great asset to Novak Djokovic and his team in his new role. The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced his partnership with his former rival three weeks ago, making waves in the tennis world.

Murray retired just a few months ago during the Olympic Games, where he played his final doubles match alongside Dan Evans. The 3-time Grand Slam champion will now work with Djokovic during the off-season, with the Australian Open as their primary goal, this time from his former rival's box.

Vallverdu worked with Murray at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona and was part of his coaching team from 2010 to 2014. The Venezuelan coach believes that this partnership between the Brit and Djokovic aims to compete directly with the new generation, led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I think he brings a lot – and a lot more than people can think of as a first impression,” Vallverdu told The National. “I think he will bring motivation, he will bring a sense of, it’s them against the younger boys. It will bring a sense of having someone by his side that has not only been through similar situations that he has, but who has been alongside him when he’s been going through these situations and also on the other side of the court.”

“He will bring incredible tennis knowledge and incredible tennis IQ, which between the two of them, in my opinion, they’re currently two players – and Andy being an ex-player – that have the highest tennis IQ, they’re just two brilliant tennis minds.”

“From my perspective I can’t wait to see the outcome and I cannot wait to see how that relationship develops,” said Vallverdu.

Djokovic didn’t have the best season in 2024, as, for the first time since 2017, he didn’t win any Grand Slam title. However, he did win the Olympic gold medal, something Djokovic himself had highlighted as his main goal of the year, as it was the last major tournament missing from his achievements.

Nevertheless, the 37-year-old player remains ambitious, with 99 career titles to his name. “You never know obviously what the results will be but my sense is that it will be a very fruitful and positive partnership and a very positive coach-player relationship with great results.”

“I’m expecting Novak to have an incredible season and to have really good results. I think Andy will bring huge value and it will become a team where they will feel, OK, we the older guys are now having to take on the younger generation with all our knowledge. And knowing them both, they will give everything they have to try and achieve all of Novak’s goals. So it will be very special to watch and I cannot wait.”

Vallverdu is currently part of Grigor Dimitrov’s team, who returned to the top 10 after seven years. “I think he’s been extremely committed to the game over the last two years, since we started working again,” he said. “We have a great team around him, with Jamie Delgado and [fitness trainer] Sebastien Durand and the rest of the team. He’s been with Seb for the past 15 years and he’s been working with me and Jamie over the last couple of years.”

“We’ve managed to build a lot of consistency around him, in terms of work and in terms of routines and habits and building the right way to be at the top of the game. And his commitment has been incredible.

“And not only that, but obviously once you start coming towards the end of your career, it comes down to how hungry you are to have the big results. And that hunger and passion is still there, which is amazing to see and amazing to have the opportunity to work with him at this stage of his career with his ambitions.”

“So what’s been the key? It’s a lot of different components coming together and him being very committed to finish his career as strong as he can and give it all he has for the next few years,” said Vallverdu. “He’s in a good place, obviously had a great year last year, back in the top 10 after a while, and now he’s having a great offseason in Dubai with Jamie and the rest of the team.

Both Djokovic and Dimitrov will meet at the first tournament of the year, as they are set to play the ATP 250 Brisbane International, which starts on 31 December. Once their participation ends, both will travel to Melbourne to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year.