Serbian legend Novak Djokovic needs just one more Grand Slam to etch his name as the greatest of all time, surpassing the rest on the all-time list. Two times, fans with Wimbledon tickets saw him fail to achieve this feat at the All England Lawn & Tennis Club.
With Andy Murray by his side, fans are optimistic that he can. go the full distance.
Tennis veteran Tim Henman reacted similarly to most when it was announced that Andy Murray would coach Novak Djokovic.
The 37-year-old (Murray) retired from tennis after the Paris Olympics in August, and just three months later, he was confirmed to be back on tour in a new role.
His first coaching assignment is none other than the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has been without a full-time coach since parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic in March.
Murray and Djokovic are set to work together until the conclusion of January’s Australian Open, and fans are keen to see how their working relationship will unfold.
The tennis world was still reeling from Rafael Nadal’s retirement after Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup finals.
But less than a week later, arguably the shock of the year, Murray was announced as Djokovic’s new coach.
The consensus is that the Olympic champion’s decision to have his former rival in his box is smart, and though the move surprised him, Tim Henman agrees.
“I was slightly surprised by Andy’s point of view, as he just retired in August and will be back on tour. It will be interesting to see how long that partnership lasts,” he told Sky Sports.
“I am guessing it’s just the off-season and the Australian Open, and then we probably see how it goes from there. From Djokovic’s point of view, it’s probably a smart move.
“Andy knows all the opponents Djokovic is going to be up against. Andy has always been a great tactician and has been very good strategically, so it’s another interesting element to watch out for.”
While Novak failed twice to complete the win at Wimbledon, he has the best chance of winning his next Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
It is a tournament that he has dominated and has had an exceptional win streak. Fans with Wimbledon tickets will also testify to this statement that there is no better place than England for Novak to win his 25th Grand Slam.
Novak Returns to Doha
Novak Djokovic has already signed up for another event in 2025 as he continues to build his schedule.
The world No. 7 will return to the Doha Open for the first time in six year, and it clearly shows where his intentions are – he wants to win desperately.
It’s a telling decision from the 37-year-old, who seems committed to competing more often next season after a disappointing 2024. It also shows that the Serb wants to go for it all in 2025 to surpass his tally of Grand Slams.
Djokovic has become the latest high-profile player to sign up for the Doha Open, which is being upgraded from an ATP 250 to an ATP 500 next year.
The tournament will take place from February 17 to 22, and Jannik Sinner will also be in the field. The Serb last played the event in 2019, staged in the first week of the year.
Announcing Djokovic’s participation, tournament director Karim Alami said: “It’s an honour to welcome Novak Djokovic back to Doha for the 2025 Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
“His return, especially in the tournament’s first year as an ATP 500 event, adds immense value. Novak is a phenomenal athlete who is always captivated by his skill and competitiveness.
“His strong connection with Doha, having won here twice, makes his participation all the more exciting for fans. We can’t wait to see him bring his exceptional game to the Khalifa International Tennis Complex.”
It’s the third event Djokovic has committed to so far for 2025. The world No. 7 will start his season at the Brisbane International in January before heading to the Australian Open for his 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic previously admitted that he wanted to try and compete more next season. “I will play more tournaments next year, and the Grand Slams will be my priority. I will give my best to win if my body allows me,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Olympic champion has increasingly limited his schedule in recent years. In 2024, he missed five of the nine Masters 1000s and played 12 tournaments, ending his season in early October.
Live Electronic Calling at Wimbledon
For the first time, fans with Wimbledon tickets will be able to see Live Electric Line Calling in action at the 2025 championships.
The officiating technology will be in place for all Championships and Qualifying match courts and cover the ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls that line umpires have previously made.
These changes will include the introduction of electronic line-calling technology for the first time at the Wimbledon Qualifying Competition venue.
The decision to adopt Live ELC was made following the successful completion of extensive testing during this year’s Championships, which builds on the existing ball tracking and line calling technology that has been in place for many years.
“The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation,” Sally Bolton, CEO of the All England Club, commented.
“Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology sufficiently robust. The time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating. The players will be offered the same conditions they have played under at several other events on tour.
“We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon seriously. Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades, and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
Wimbledon tickets for the 2025 will be available shortly.