Novak Djokovic is still on the hunt for his 100th title and 25th Grand Slam. Last year was memorable, with Olympic gold and becoming the oldest No. 1 in ATP history since Roger Federer at 36 years and 321 days old – a milestone marked today (April 7). However, Nole’s current ranking is No. 5, and he hasn’t won a title since the 2023 ATP Finals. He’s been working with Andy Murray since the start of the season after splitting from Goran Ivanisevic, showing gradual results. He made it to the semis at the Australian Open and the finals in Miami. Although he didn’t clinch a victory, there’s still hope, right? But as the clay season begins, it seems Andy is missing from his team – where is he?

At the Monte Carlo Masters, third seed Novak Djokovic enjoys a first-round bye and will face either Stan Wawrinka or Alejandro Tabilo. He kicked off preparations with a training session alongside Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, a two-time Monte Carlo champion, was beaten by Casper Ruud in last year’s semifinals. Notably, Andy Murray is absent from his team this week; instead, Djokovic’s brother Marko is standing in as coach.

When asked about the Briton’s whereabouts, Nole was just as lost. “I have no idea, to be honest (where Murray is),” Djokovic revealed at his pre-tournament press conference. “I spoke to him about, four or five days ago, and he was back home. Occupied with family and I guess he’s working on his golf swing because that’s his priority this week.” In his absence, it looks like his brother will be stepping in.

Marko, a former player himself, reached a career-high ranking of 574 in 2019, making him a familiar face in the tennis world. His involvement adds a personal touch to Djokovic’s team, reminiscent of their past collaborations, like their doubles stint at the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters.

Additionally, this isn’t the first time Murray has been MIA. He took time off following Novak’s AO withdrawal as well before it was announced that he would be returning for the rest of the season. The Serb noted that he did speak with Andy about his Miami run. Where he hadn’t “dropped the set until the finals and served great.”

This was a step up from his previous tournaments in Qatar and Indian Wells, where he faced first-round exits. Then, at the Miami Open finals against Jakub Mensik, he seemed to be struggling with his form due to an eye infection that left his eye with a swelling that seemed to be troubling him. During the changeover, he was seen using eye drops for relief. In the end, it wasn’t meant to be as the 19-year-old defeated Nole and lifted the trophy.

On the other hand, we know that Novak has no regrets about bringing Murray to his coaching team. Especially since his run at the Miami Open, he’s certainly more confident.

Djokovic expresses his thoughts on Murray as a coach

The tennis world was left stunned when Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray announced their coaching partnership in November 2024. This dynamic duo, once fierce rivals, had faced off 36 times on the court, with Djokovic leading 25-11. Their rivalry was legendary, but now they were teaming up, Nole was thrilled, saying, “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach…Looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.”

As their partnership evolved, Djokovic opened up about the chemistry between them. After his first-round win in Miami, he praised Murray in his post-match press conference. He said, “Just super-nice guy who cares about relationships, cares about this coach/player relationship we have, and he wants me to do well. He’s just a very genuine guy. I enjoy spending time with him, for sure.”

Despite some early setbacks in 2025, including a hamstring injury at the Australian Open and losses in Doha and Indian Wells, the duo focused on both technical and psychological adjustments. As Djokovic emphasized the importance of mental resilience, noting, “Taking care of my psychological state and trying to get up in the morning feeling motivated to keep going… that’s key.”

Now, despite Murray’s absence, he seems optimistic about Monte Carlo! The last time he won this tournament was in 2015, where he became the first man to win the first three Masters 1000 titles of the season after edging Tomas Berdych 7-5 4-6 6-3. Will he be able to recreate that magic on the court this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments below!