What was Novak Djokovic‘s motive behind hiring Andy Murray? French former tennis player Julien Benneteau explained there are three players Djokovic wants to outclass next year and that’s why he added the Scot to his team.

Djokovic, for the first time since 2017, failed to bag a Grand Slam title as the four majors were lifted by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. These are the two players, as per Benneteau, that Djokovic wants to beat but he also pointed out that World No. 2 Alexander Zverev is also a hindrance on the Serb’s path to Grand Slam glory.

Djokovic split with Croatian coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year and on November 23, through a social media video, he announced the surprising move. The Serb ended the season without a trophy on the ATP Tour, winning just the gold medal at the Paris Olympics where Murray, after his elimination, ended his career.

Murray will be in Djokovic team till the Australian Open and the decision to extend the partnership will be taken afterward.

Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in four Australian Open finals and in the summit clash of the 2016 French Open. Murray on the other hand was successful in the the 2012 US Open and the 2013 Wimbledon finals. In spite of the tough competition, they had mutual respect for each other which Murray’s former coach Jamie Delgado revealed in an interview.

Although Murray will be Djokovic’s coach for the Australian Open, he probably will be in the Serb’s box in another event before the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne. Djokovic in an interview revealed that he has planned to play in a tournament ahead of the Australian Open.