Novak Djokovic Wins in First Match with Andy Murray as Coach at Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia: January 13, 2025, Monday — Novak Djokovic’s first match at the Australian Open in the first round against American player Nishesh Basavareddy was somewhat challenging. The 19-year-old Basavareddy, who recently left Stanford University to turn professional in tennis, made it tough for Djokovic right from the start. After losing the first set, Djokovic eventually won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
This marked the beginning of Djokovic’s quest for an 11th Australian Open title and his 25th Grand Slam title overall. However, the question remains — did Andy Murray’s presence make any significant difference in the match?
Before the match, Djokovic and Murray spent some time together in the gym, where they wrapped up their conversation with a fist bump. Djokovic then began warming up on the treadmill. Once on the court, there were only occasional exchanges between the two, and Murray's role as a coach still seemed somewhat strange.
During the first break point when Djokovic led 5-3 in the second set, Murray stood up for a brief moment to applaud. However, that was nearly the only interaction throughout the match. Murray, 37, who retired from playing at the Paris Olympics last year, had been known for his dramatic behavior, intense emotions, and loud gestures as a player. Djokovic, too, often displays similar behaviors.
With this victory, Djokovic has advanced another step in his campaign for the 2025 Australian Open.
