When it comes to tennis, the legendary player turned commentator John McEnroe is never short of opinions—bold, unfiltered, and often leaving us all guessing. Recently, the tennis legend weighed in on something that has the entire tennis world buzzing: the unexpected collaboration between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. The former rivals teamed up in November with Murray joining Djokovic’s camp. But in true McEnroe fashion, his take isn’t just about their partnership. What’s this theory he’s cooked up?

John McEnroe, serving as one of Eurosport’s official commentators, shared a provocative theory regarding Andy Murray’s new role as Novak Djokovic’s coach. He stated, “I remember being in Australia and hearing that Andy Murray was being coached by Ivan Lendl, my great rival and nemesis from way back when, and I thought about it and said, ‘Oh my God, this is going to work’… But there’s a big age gap. There’s a one-week age gap between Novak and Andy and he just stopped playing. My theory is that Murray is going to coach Djokovic for the next couple of months, and then he’s going to find out everything he needs to know about how to beat Djokovic, and then he’s coming back.”

Murray and Djokovic, both born just a week apart in May 1987 have been fierce competitors throughout their careers. Their rivalry includes numerous high-stakes matches, notably at the Australian Open, where Murray has finished as runner-up five times, with four of those losses coming against Djokovic.

After retiring following the Paris Olympics, Murray’s return to the tennis scene was unexpected. Five months into his retirement, he received a call from Djokovic, inviting him to join his coaching team. Murray accepted, and the two have been working together since November, aiming to secure the Serb’s record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam victory.

The Brit’s intimate knowledge of Djokovic’s game, honed over years of competition, positions him as a valuable asset in Djokovic’s camp.

Andy Murray wants Novak Djokovic to be recognized as “the best athlete of all time”

Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season wasn’t exactly one for the history books—at least, not by his insanely high standards. For the first time since 2017, the Serbian superstar went a full year without winning a Grand Slam title. Even more shocking? He didn’t win a single Tour-level title all year, something that hasn’t happened since way back in 2005. At 37, Djokovic decided it was time for a change. And who better to bring on as a coach than an old rival—Andy Murray?

Djokovic already holds an insane number of records. With 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, he’s won more than any man in the history of tennis. But Murray isn’t satisfied with just “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) status in tennis for his new mentee. He’s thinking even bigger.

“Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time with the records he’s achieved,” Murray said in an interview with Mail Plus. “These next couple of years, if he can go out as a 38, 39-year-old and win more slams, and beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in big matches, he’s got a claim to be the best athlete of all time and that’s exciting for me and his team to be part of.”

The challenge is clear: Djokovic isn’t just fighting age. He’s also battling a new generation of stars. Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old sensation, has already claimed 4 Grand Slam titles and shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, 23, has emerged as another major contender as he took 2 Slams home last year. If Djokovic can keep beating these younger players on the biggest stages, it will cement his legacy in an entirely new way.

Can the former rivals achieve glory together?