John McEnroe on Why Djokovic-Murray Partnership Fizzled

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, Might 23, 2025
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis

The prospect of Novak Djokovic partnering rival Andy Murray as coach initially struck John McEnroe as a punch line.

Requested to evaluate the marquee pairing between main champions that ended after the Mutua Madrid Open, McEnroe instructed the media in the present day he thought the Djokovic-Murray pairing was a joke at first.

In truth, the You Can’t Be Severe writer confessed it induced him a case of the giggles.

Former world No. 1 in singles and doubles, McEnroe mentioned the explanation the high-profile pairing didn’t produce a title is straightforward: Rivals can’t run collectively.

“When it first occurred, I laughed,” John McEnroe instructed the media on TNT’s Zoom name in the present day to advertise the community’s Roland Garros protection beginning Sunday at 5 a.m. Japanese time. “It was such as you’ve gotta be kidding me.

“It’s like Lendl teaching me. It’s like come on or Connors [coaching me]—they’re rivals—however it was enjoyable.”

McEnroe, who stepped down as Workforce World captain in Laver Cup on the finish of final yr, mentioned he hoped the Djokovic-Murray collaboration would erupt into full screaming matches as they’ve each castigated coaches previously.

“It was kind of enjoyable to see what was gonna occur,” McEnroe mentioned. “I gotta admit I used to be ready for them to go at it on the sidelines, begin screaming at one another as a result of they’ve each respectfully performed that to coaches of their careers.”

TNT Sports activities, the unique house of dwell Roland-Garros protection within the U.S., mentioned it plans to “present essentially the most complete protection within the historical past of the Parisian Grand Slam.”

McEnroe, Jim Courier and Caroline Wozniacki might be among the many community’s prime analysts with Andre Agassi and Venus Williams additionally set to contribute to protection.

All of it begins Sunday, Might 25, at 5 a.m. ET on TNT, truTV and Max. TNT Sports activities will ship almost 300 hours of programming throughout TNT and truTV — all originating dwell from Paris — together with unprecedented streaming protection on Max and in depth unique content material accessible through Bleacher Report and Home of Highlights.

Although the Djokovic-Murray pairing fizzled, McEnroe believes Murray, whose mom Judy Murray was his unique coach and went on to captain the British Billie Jean King Cup squad, generally is a very formidable coach if he decides to pursue it.

“I imagine he could be coach—a extremely good coach as a result of he is aware of the sport inside-out,” McEnroe mentioned of Murray. “If Andy needs to try this, I feel he could be a extremely good coach.

“I can’t let you know proper now who I’d say he ought to coach if he had been to resolve he would wish to try this. He’s obtained 4 younger women I imagine. And he was travelling on a regular basis so I’m guessing he doesn’t wish to proceed to try this [travel]. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see what he needs to do.”