PA MediaAndy Murray insists he will have no problem with being yelled at by Novak Djokovic.
The partnership between the two former rivals at the Australian Open presents a fascinating dynamic, with Murray having succeeded Goran Ivanisevic as the Serbian’s coach.
Ivanisevic made no attempt to hide the difficulties of the role, including the behaviour of Djokovic towards his team during stressful moments of matches.
Murray, similarly, was frequently criticised for his on-court ranting, and his former coaches are among those waiting eagerly to see how the Scot finds the boot being on the other foot.
“Of course I’ve thought about it,” said the 37-year-old, who told a small group of reporters at Melbourne Park that he expects his reaction to be one of empathy.
“I would think that I’d be one of the people that would maybe, hopefully, understand that side of things. I know it’s not easy out there, and it’s stressful, and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box.
“Providing that he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants.”
Murray has been a vocal presence on court with Djokovic during practice sessions and, while he has no previous experience, he believes he has a lot to offer to help the former world number one get back to the very top.
“I would hope I would have a decent knowledge of the players that are playing just now, and an understanding of what the game is like right now,” said Murray.
“The understanding of the game and the strategy and the tactical side of things was a strength of mine. Hopefully, as a coach, I’m able to see the game through Novak’s eyes and help him with the right strategy on the court.
“And, if it was something I did longer term, I would hope I would improve as a coach as well: understanding when to speak, when to shut up, how best to communicate with him and his team.
“The last thing I want to do is come in and try and change everything and say, ‘You’re doing this wrong, you’re doing that wrong’. It’s about making small changes to things and trying to help him and improve with the whole team.”
Murray spent a week and a half with Djokovic in Spain during pre-season but for now the arrangement only extends until the end of the Australian Open, which the Serbian will be bidding to win for an 11th time.
Murray has not ruled out a more permanent deal going forward, adding: “It’s not the usual kind of set-up. So it made sense to trial it and see if it works. And then we said we’d make a more definitive decision after the tournament.”
What is already clear is that Murray will take the intensity and professionalism that were such hallmarks of his playing career into the coaching arena.
Asked how enjoyable he had found the new experience, Murray said: “At times it’s very enjoyable. But high performance is not supposed to be laughs and jokes and messing around.
“In all the times I’ve been on tour, I haven’t seen that from any of the best players in the world. I’ve seen it from some of the lower-ranked players, and that’s one of the reasons why they’re not there.
“It’s demanding, but it’s extremely rewarding when you make a breakthrough in a practice and something starts to feel a little bit better. That’s exciting.
“Obviously, I expect when the matches start, it is stressful. When you’re trying to achieve great things, it’s not easy. But the rewards at the end of it can be great. And that’s something that I’m looking forward to.”
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