Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray decided to go their separate ways after the Madrid Open.
Djokovic was coached by Murray for six months, with their best result coming at the Miami Open after reaching the final.
This partnership ended with three consecutive losses, before Djokovic brought in Dusan Vemic to work with him at the Geneva Open.
In his first tournament since splitting from Murray, Djokovic won the Geneva Open to lift his 100th ATP title.
John McEnroe claims it’s obvious why Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s coaching relationship didn’t work out
When asked about what the reason for his split from Murray was in Geneva, Djokovic suggested that it was a mutual decision.
“We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it,” said Djokovic. “My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person.
“I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.”
However, seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe strongly believes that their former rivalry was the big obstacle from making it work.
McEnroe told Gazzetta dello Sport, “It was obvious, they were too much of a rival on the court to be able to find harmony off it. It’s as if I had coached Connors or Lendl had coached me.”
While they will not be working together at the French Open, both Murray and Djokovic are expected to be in attendance for Rafael Nadal’s retirement ceremony.
John McEnroe says if he thinks Novak Djokovic can compete with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
There is little turnaround time for Djokovic after his Geneva Open title victory, as he now sets his sights on the French Open.
Djokovic will be the sixth seed at this year’s tournament, but McEnroe could not rule him out from being in contention for a fourth French Open title.
However, the American did suggest that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could be too much for Djokovic, suggesting that Wimbledon will be a bigger goal for him.
“How can you keep him out of the predictions? He is the strongest player in history,” said McEnroe.
“I don’t think he can reach the level of Sinner and Alcaraz anymore, but I would never want to face him in a Slam, because he is playing at home. However, I think his big goal will be Wimbledon.”
Djokovic will begin his 2025 French Open campaign against Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday May 27.
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