Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, over their many years of competing on the tennis tour, have shared a complicated relationship.
After all, they have known each other since their youth, eventually growing into two elite-level champions who competed for the sport’s very best honours.
Naturally, the Serbian superstar overshadowed his Scottish rival in the long run, but Andy Murray certainly snatched plenty of famous victories in vital moments.
One such example came in Montreal all the way back in 2015, where he faced a ferociously in-form Novak Djokovic who was enjoying an eight-match win streak in their personal head-to-head.
The odds were massively stacked against him, and yet he showcased that patented grit to grind out a three-set victory in the final.
However, it was what he said afterwards which was arguably more interesting.
What Andy Murray said after beating Novak Djokovic in the 2015 Canadian Open final
In a match decided by Murray’s slenderly superior returning, his 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 Canadian Open win was celebrated by British tennis as yet another success story, even if Djokovic would then go on to win the US Open later that summer.
But, when asked about his great rival whom he had just felled after a huge drought against him, the three-time major champion was refreshingly open about their relationship.
He admitted: “Everybody wants me and Novak to dislike each other and people always try to stir things up between us.
“It’s impossible to be extremely close when we’re playing in these sorts of matches because it’s so mentally challenging and physically demanding and you need to try to still have that competitive edge as well.
“But it’s not easy, not only because we get on but because he’s bloody good, he’s number one in the world and he hasn’t lost in a Masters Series this year. To win against him is extremely tough.”
How Andy Murray eventually became Novak Djokovic’s coach
It’s quite clear that this mutual respect lingered throughout their careers, both of which lasted just shy of another decade after this final.
After all, Djokovic clearly wanted to keep the Scotsman around tennis in some capacity, with the two agreeing on a partnership which saw Murray shockingly become his coach at the start of this year.
Speaking on the move, the 38-year-old, who retired just last year, admitted: “We had a chat on the phone and he asked me if I would consider coaching him, which I wasn’t expecting. “I think it was a pretty unique opportunity.”
Djokovic, in turn, offered his verdict: “We were going through different names and I realised the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone that has been through the experiences that I’m going through, possible multiple Grand Slam winner, former No 1.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
“I was thinking about different people and then an Andy Murray discussion appeared on the table with me and my team.
“It was still a shock decision.”
Their rivalry and respect will both live long in the memories of tennis fans. This brief coaching stint only adds to the rich and intricate relationship they held, even if Murray and Djokovic split back in May.