This year has seen two tennis legends Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal bid adieu to the sport. With Roger Federer having retired two years ago already, Novak Djokovic is the last of the Big Four still competing. While he has no immediate plans to retire, the Serb is grappling with the emotional weight of watching his closest rivals exit the sport one by one.

Currently, Djokovic is in Argentina for a special exhibition match against Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentinian player, who officially retired in 2022 due to injuries, has chosen Djokovic as his opponent for this one final appearance on the court. The two were seen sharing a heartfelt hug at the airport upon Djokovic’s arrival in Argentina for this match.

Later Djokovic addressed the Argentinean media alongside Del Potro and talked about the departure of his long-time competitors. “I keep playing and I think I’m part of a golden age,” the Serb said. “Federer, Nadal, Murray, Delpo, Wawrinka… it’s a very special era for our sport. Our personal careers have been affected by all these rivalries of the last 15 years,” he added.

Djokovic holds the record for the highest no. of weeks as the World No. 1, alongside his other accolades of 99 titles, 24 Grand Slams, and an Olympic gold medal which he won this year in Paris. Despite not winning any titles this year, Djokovic still looks back on it as an “incredible.” year. However, seeing his biggest competitors step off the court is tough. “I’m a little sad because my biggest rivals have left. A part of my person also goes with them, but I continue to look for this motivation,” Djokovic remarked.

The Serb now finds his competition in the rising stars like World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who defeated him twice this year, and fellow Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated him in the final of the Wimbledon Championships.

But there’s a twist for this upcoming season. Djokovic is teaming up with his former rival, Andy Murray, ahead of the Australian Open in January 2025. Going in with a mix of nostalgia and optimism, the 37-year-old looks forward to what lies ahead while honoring the legacy of his old rivals.

Novak reveals the difference Andy Murray will bring to his team

On November 23rd, Novak Djokovic shook the tennis world by announcing that Andy Murray would join his coaching team at least until the end of the Australian Open in 2025. Djokovic expressed his excitement, stating, “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. Looking forward to start off the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy” The Serb emphasized that Murray would bring a level of expertise that the other coaches might not have.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Djokovic revealed the thought process behind this surprising decision. He noted, “I realized the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone who has been through experiences that I’m going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner.”

After discussing various candidates with his team, the idea of bringing in Murray emerged. Djokovic admitted that it caught Murray off guard, but he quickly accepted the role after their initial conversation. “We connected really fast and so he accepted it after a few days, and I can’t be more excited about it,” said Djokovic.

Murray’s recent retirement means he understands the current landscape of tennis well. However, only time will tell if this strategic move by Djokovic works or not. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.