Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray faced each other 36 times throughout their tennis careers, mostly in finals and often at the business end of a grand slam. But at this year’s Australian Open, their decades-long rivalry has taken an unexpected turn.

A significant change in tennis rules for 2025 has made Novak Djokovic 's hiring of Andy Murray a stroke of genius. Players can now receive 'brief and discreet instructions between points and during changeovers' from their corner. And none of Djokovic's rivals have a brainbox like Murray in their box.