Novak Djokovic, the last one among the Tennis Big Three, is often surrounded by controversies throughout his illustrious career. He has again made it to the headlines but for an interesting reason. While the tennis world enjoys off-season, the Serbian ATP star announced a strategic move for the next year: appointing a new coach. And this coach happens to be none other than Andy Murray. The Briton’s inclusion sparked widespread debate. Notably, a prominent former figure in the sport, once skeptical of Djokovic’s talent, has shifted from pessimism to optimism.

Nicolas Mahut, a five times Doubles Grand Slam champion, recently shared an interesting perspective about Novak Djokovic’s new collaboration with Andy Murray. The Briton is appointed as Djokovic’s coach for the 2025 Australian Open. The partnership has garnered praise from tennis icons like Brad Gilbert and Andy Roddick, with Mahut adding his opinion to the excitement. Speaking to French Eurosport, Mahut reflected on the Djokovic-Murray duo’s potential impact, offering a bold prediction about the Serb’s future.

“Taking Andy, who was his rival for years and has known him since they were kids, is a very clever move,” Mahut said. “It will give him a little boost—he’ll want to excel. I truly feel we’re about to witness a super Novak,” he concluded. Interestingly, this optimism comes from Mahut’s earlier skepticism about the Serb. He admitted his doubts about Djokovic’s ability to remain competitive, believing the Serb was nearing retirement. “I was quite pessimistic. I didn’t see him winning a Grand Slam in 2025. I honestly thought his career was winding down,” the French ATP star confessed.

What changed? Well, it seems the former ATP number one’s impressive 2024 season shattered those doubts. Following knee surgery, the Serb returned to the court and reached the 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinals. He also claimed Olympic gold in Paris—a remarkable milestone at 37 that reinforced his status as a tennis legend.

Mahut’s change of opinion reflects the Serb’s resilience and ability to defy expectations. Yet, this isn’t the first time the Frenchman’s comments on Djokovic have stirred controversies. After Rafael Nadal’s retirement, Mahut offered a controversial opinion about Djokovic’s ultimate farewell from tennis.

Nicolas Mahut believed Novak Djokovic’s retirement wont be as emotional as Federer’s or Nadal’s

In an interview with French Europort, Mahut dropped an interesting opinion raising doubts about whether Djokovic’s retirement would make the fraternity as emotional as they were for Nadal and Federer. “I often wonder what kind of tribute Novak Djokovic will receive when he decides to stop. We know that we already miss the emotions we could feel watching Rafael Nadal play. I want to say that this retirement has almost represented a small death even more for others than for Nadal himself. As for Novak Djokovic, when he decides to stop, I often wonder what kind of tribute he will receive, what emotion there will be in people and if there will be the same emotion that was created first with Federer and now with Nadal. We will certainly find out in the future,” he said. Mahut’s words highlighted how Djokovic’s treatment might differ despite him being a pivotal pillar of Tennis Big Three.

Nicolas Mahut’s recent revelations showcase his renewed motivation for the Serb. Since Murray has joined him, Mahut feels it might help Serb identify his shortcomings more efficiently and let him surprise people by winning more major titles at his career’s final stage. Whether it happens or not, Mahut’s words show how his faith in Djokovic got restored – showing how age hardly matters when one has vested enough hard work.