With these words released in an interview for Sky Sport, Novak Djokovic talked for the first time about his new coach, the Scottish champion with whom he has shared for years both the court as an opponent and the locker room and ATP events as a friend.

Novak Djokovic says his decision to appoint former rival Andy Murray as his coach was "a surprise to everyone" but is "exciting for tennis".

Murray will coach his long-time rival at the Australian Open in January after the pair announced a surprise alliance

By Charlie Eccleshare, Callum Davis and Matthew Futterman Novak Djokovic has appointed his former rival and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray as his new coach. Murray, 37, called time on his illustrious 19-year career after the Paris Olympics in August but is returning to tennis to help the 24-time Grand Slam winner’s preparations for the Australian Open,

Novak Djokovic described his decision to team up with recently retired rival Andy Murray as a surprise to everyone but said he could not be more excited by the prospect of the two former world number ones working together.

Here's why Novak Djokovic chose his former rival Andy Murray to join his team as a coach at least through the 2025 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic has described Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray’s retirements as “a shock for the tennis world” as he addressed his own future. The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed he still has “big plans” as he asserted his motivation to “make more history.

Tennis fans were left stunned as Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic announced a new coaching partnership earlier this year. The move signals a bold ambition from Djokovic, who experienced a Major-less year and has been without a permanent coach since March.

Novak Djokovic has revealed Andy Murray was left stunned after he approached the Briton about coaching him at the 2025 Australian Open. The move was confirmed last weekend, with many figures within the tennis world left taken aback.