Then there are other ways these two will connect, on everything from reflections about the pro tennis journey to the joys and demands of marriage and parenthood. But let’s not think this is a tennis version of that sweet movie about aging adults, On Golden Pond. Djokovic’s primary purpose in hiring Murray is this simple: Help me win. Besides grappling with Sinner and Alcaraz, there’s the matter of competing versus current contenders (we await Djokovic versus big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard).
Certainly, Djokovic will be prudent about scheduling. On a tactical basis, might his quest to minimize wear and tear trigger plans to end points sooner, be it with serves or more frequent net-rushing? Or are these thoughts about scheduling and tactics too fueled by panic? It was clear in ’24 how single-minded Djokovic was in pursuit of at last winning an Olympic gold medal. That emotionally demanding task accomplished, might he in ’25 return to business as usual, grinding his way to one victory after another?—Joel Drucker
