Novak Djokovic explains Andy Murray split before Roland Garros

May 21, 2025

Novak Djokovic says he “couldn’t get anything more” from his coaching partnership with Andy Murray ahead of Roland Garros.

Last week, the duo announced a surprise split after working together for just six months. The partnership was initially supposed to continue until Wimbledon at the end of June.

Two former rivals on the court, the Serbian admitted his respect for Murray had grown, having had the opportunity to know him as a person.

Speaking ahead of the French Open, which begins on Sunday, he said: “We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it.

“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 has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.”

Novak Djokovic looking to find form before Roland Garros

The 24-time Grand Slam winner heads to Roland Garros desperately seeking to eradicate recent woes.

After recovering from injury, Djokovic has lost his last three matches including a Round of 64 defeat at the Madrid Open to Matteo Arnaldi.

He has taken a wildcard to play at the Geneva Open, which commences on Wednesday and will face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.

If he wins the tournament, he will become just the third man to lift 100 ATP singles titles.

Djokovic believes his current coaching team, including Dusan Vemic and analyst Boris Bosnjakovic, are sufficient to help him get his form back on track.

He added: “At the moment, I’m not in need of a coach.

“I don’t need to rush in any context. I feel comfortable with the people around me.

“In the next few tournaments, we’ll see what happens.”

Djokovic is currently ranked sixth in the world, with Jannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz taking the top two.

Sinner has recently returned from a three-month doping ban and won five consecutive matches before losing to Alcaraz in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday in straight sets.

The Spaniard narrowly took the first set 7-5 before dominating 6-1 in the second. He is currently the favourite to win in France ahead of Sinner and Alexander Zverez.