Daniil Medvedev recently compared Andy Murray coaching Novak Djokovic to Lionel Messi mentoring Cristiano Ronaldo – an analogy that captures the shock many tennis fans felt at this unlikely partnership. The two officially started working together as Murray joined Djokovic’s coaching team for the Australian leg of the 2025 season. Their collaboration ahead of the Australian Open marks a remarkable shift from fierce rivalry to a strategic alliance.
Three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Murray retired from professional tennis last year, leaving behind a legacy of determination and resilience. Djokovic, with a record 24 Grand Slam titles and more weeks at No. 1 than any other male player, continues to dominate the game.
“Imagine (if Lionel) Messi became Cristiano Ronaldo’s coach. It would be strange,” Medvedev said.
Their history is testament to some of tennis’s most memorable battles. Djokovic leads 25–11 in their head-to-head encounters, including an 8–2 lead in Grand Slam events. As yet, Murray’s wins against Djokovic were important moments in his careerHer victories at the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 not only brought her individual glory, but also ended the Briton’s long drought for major singles titles.
Murray’s coaching debut came during Djokovic’s training session in Melbourne On January 7, which marks an important new chapter for both the legends. Djokovic’s absence from his campaign at the Brisbane International raised questions, but Murray’s participation highlights the seriousness of their partnership as they prepare for the Australian Open.
Medvedev’s football comparison underlines the rarity of such alliances in elite sports, where rivalries often define careers. Just as Messi and Ronaldo have been pitted against each other as football’s best players, Djokovic and Murray were central figures in the golden age of the tennis competition.
As Djokovic aims to expand his Grand Slam tally and Murray steps into his new coaching role, the tennis world is watching anxiously. This unique collaboration could redefine the traditional boundaries between rivalry and teamwork, adding new dimensions to his legacy in the game.