Novak Djokovic is hoping to begin the 2025 season at his best game level, which led him to partner with former World No. 1 Andy Murray. While that move has been lauded by several media personnel, his mentor Nenad Zimonjic is not fully optimistic.

The 2024 season has not been great for Djokovic. He failed to win any tour-level title, lost his World No. 1 position to Jannik Sinner, and finished the year outside the Top 3. The Serbian’s only triumph this year was at the Paris Olympics, where he claimed the elusive singles gold medal.

However, Djokovic is looking forward to returning to his best level next season. He recently announced that Murray will be joining his coaching team ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, which begins on January 12.

The news raised plenty of eyebrows across the tennis world, with questions surrounding how the two former rivals will form a partnership. Following that surprise development, Zimonjic, one of Djokovic’s closest friends and mentor, opined that the partnership’s success depends largely on Murray.

Murray retired from tennis at the Paris Olympics after struggling with injuries. The 37-year-old British legend never fully recovered from the hip injury he sustained in 2019 despite undergoing surgery. It continued to resurface at the tail-end of his career.

While Nenad Zimonjic is not fully optimistic about Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s partnership, he also believes that it will work out well. Zimonjic was Djokovic’s coach for a few months after the 24-time Major champion split with Goran Ivanisevic in March 2024.

Zimonjic has been a formidable ally and adviser to Djokovic. He stated that the similarities in Djokovic and Murray’s playing styles can help take the former’s game to another level.

Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record 10 times in his career. This year he exited in the semifinals after losing to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. He will be aiming to take his Melbourne tally to 11 next year.