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Jim Courier reacts after Novak Djokovic decides to end his coaching partnership with Andy Murray

Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images
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Novak Djokovic has continued to attract attention off the court, having decided to end his coaching partnership with Andy Murray.

Djokovic has thanked Murray after the pair parted ways, having started working together at the Australian Open.

Former rivals on the ATP Tour, Djokovic and Murray worked together at a handful of tournaments after the Grand Slam in January.

There, Djokovic managed to reach the semi-finals, but was forced to retire hurt during his semi-final with Alexander Zverev.

In more recent times, Djokovic withdrew from the Italian Open, but has decided to play an ATP 250 event in Geneva.

Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 - Day 3
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Jim Courier reacts to Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray parting ways

That arrives shortly before the French Open, the next Grand Slam in the calendar, where the Serbian will be without the Scot.

Sharing his verdict on the decision, former world number one Jim Courier said on Tennis Channel Live: “The biggest surprise was that they ever got together in this relationship in the first place, that was the stunner.

READ MORE: Who is Novak Djokovic? Step inside the life of the 24-time Grand Slam champion

“My thought and a lot of people’s thoughts were that this is good for Novak, it is going to light a fire and give him something new to think about.

“In Australia it was working awfully well when he was beating [Carlos] Alcaraz, but unfortunately he got injured in that match and we did see him play well against Miami, he played two phenomenal matches in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, then he comes up with the stye in his eye and wasn’t quite right against [Jakub] Mensik who may have beaten him anyway.

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“Then the clay court season has not been what either Novak and Murray would have wanted. I don’t know what exactly is going on, I don’t really know what to make of it.

“Where does this leave Novak now? Did he ever really need a coach? No. Does he need motivation? Does this provide a spark now, again I can do it by myself.

“If you’re him you have to be looking for motivation because at this point it seems like his health is where he needs it to be, his tennis is not where he wants it to be, maybe he just felt he needed another trigger to get ready for this next run of Roland Garros and Wimbledon when it matters the most.”

Andy Roddick reacts after Novak Djokovic splits with coach Andy Murray

Djokovic tried and failed to win an elusive 100th ATP Tour title under the guidance of Murray, who was once one of his fierce rivals.

He managed to reach the final of the Miami Open, but that was the closest he came to clinching his first win since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

READ MORE: Alexander Zverev has one question for Novak Djokovic ahead of the French Open, ‘I can’t answer that’

But success is certainly on the cards in Geneva despite his worrying form, although he won’t have it easy, with fellow top 10 players Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud also set to compete.

Djokovic could also be distracted by his coaching situation, with another former world number one in Andy Roddick having also given his take on the split with Murray.

Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 - Day 3
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Asked if he thinks the Serbian is going to bring in a new coach, Roddick said: “I don’t think so, if anything you bring in one of the people he has worked with before, just for comfort, because they know how he operates.

“Someone who knows you like to stretch at a certain time and hit this many forehands, I think it’s more familiarity at this point.

“But to Jim’s point, Murray provided a spark, provided a respected voice in the room, but if we’re being honest our cats could coach Novak. What are you going to tell someone that has won that many times on tour?

“If he’s motivated and his legs are beneath him, he is dangerous. If he’s searching for motivation and maybe hasn’t gotten the reps in maybe guys can knock him off.”