Novak Djokovic kicked off his Australian Open campaign with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over 19-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy, marking the first match with former rival Andy Murray in his coaching corner.
The 37-year-old Serbian star has enlisted the help of Murray, his long-time adversary, as he targets a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and a 25th Grand Slam victory, which would surpass Australia’s Margaret Court for the most all-time major titles.
After his victory, Djokovic expressed his gratitude for Murray’s presence in his team:
“I’m thrilled to have him in my corner,” Djokovic said. “I must say that it’s a bit strange to have him courtside in my box. We played for over 20 years against each other at the highest level, so it’s nice to have him on my side of the net.”
Murray, known for his fiery on-court demeanor during his playing career, appeared calm and composed in Djokovic’s box, offering gentle encouragement and guidance. The new “coaching pod” system at the Australian Open allowed Murray to be courtside, where he provided feedback and celebrated key moments in the match.
“He gave me some great advice during the match,” Djokovic noted. “It’s really nice to be able to exchange some feedback. It’s been a really nice experience, hopefully we don’t stop here.”
Djokovic, seeded seventh, faced early challenges as he dropped the first set to Basavareddy, making uncharacteristic errors. The last time Djokovic lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam was at the 2006 Australian Open, when Basavareddy was just a few months old. Interestingly, Basavareddy’s coach, Paul Goldstein, was the same player who defeated Djokovic in that 2006 match.
Despite the setback, Djokovic regained control, and as Basavareddy began to struggle with cramps, Djokovic reduced his errors and clinched the next three sets with ease. A strategic conversation with Murray before the fourth set seemed to boost Djokovic’s performance, helping him close out the match.
Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2023, spoke highly of Djokovic’s place in tennis history:
“Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he’s achieved,” said Murray. “These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time.”
As Djokovic eyes further history in Melbourne, the partnership with Murray looks poised to offer valuable insight and support in his quest for more Grand Slam success.
