BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Andy Murray was a natural choice for Novak Djokovic as his coach. The Serb, who was in Argentina for a farewell match against Juan Martin del Potro, explained why he chose his former rival after being without a coach for six months.
Murray and Djokovic announced last week that they plan to work together at the Australian Open in January.
“I’ve been playing against him since I was very young… there aren’t many people who have won multiple Grand Slam titles,” Djokovic said in Spanish during his pre-match press conference with del Potro.
Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has been ranked No. 1 for more weeks than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals, and finished 2016 ranked No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. He ended his career as an athlete at the Paris Olympics last August.
The men, both 37 years old, were born a week apart in May 1987. They began playing against each other as juniors and have met 36 times as professionals, with Djokovic holding a 25-11 advantage.
“He knows my game very well and everything I’ve been through,” added Djokovic, who is currently ranked seventh in the ATP rankings. “He knows what’s wrong with my game and all my mistakes.”
Djokovic has not had a full-time coach since joining from Goran Ivanisevic in March.
Del Potro, who won the 2009 US Open, won 6-4, 7-5 in an exhibition match held at Parque Roca in Buenos Aires.
Djokovic added, “We faced each other on the biggest stage in sport, but in the end, our friendship was greater than our rivalry.” “We are here to celebrate Juan Martin’s career and enjoy every moment of it.”
