"I didn't see Novak winning Grand Slams in 2025, but now.."

Streaming Challenger Temuco live tennis

🎾 Mariano Kestelboim vs Nicolas Kicker

* You can watch and bet on this match live here..

I cannot think of a more impactful piece of news from now until the end of the season than the partnership between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray for the upcoming year. Just 24 hours have passed since the bombshell, but many voices have already spoken about this combination that promises thrilling moments from January onwards. In an interview for Eurosport, we hear Nicolas Mahut analyze the numerous positive aspects that can arise from this alliance. However, the Frenchman is honest and admits that he initially struggled to comprehend the Balkan's decision.

“I was somewhat surprised, I won't hide it, but at the same time, I received it with great excitement,” states the 42-year-old former player. “I am happy to see Andy back on the circuit; he won't have been gone for long. It's like when Novak added Agassi or when Federer did the same with Edberg. Seeing these legends of the sport return and help other players seems incredible to me. Beyond that, I believe it's very good news for Djokovic and his entire team,” affirms the man who hung up his racket this summer after playing at Wimbledon.

“Honestly, I was a bit pessimistic regarding Novak; I thought he was heading towards the end of his career and didn't see him winning Grand Slams in 2025. That was the feeling I had about him; surely he also felt it,” points out Mahut, who knows Belgrade's man very well. “In situations where you struggle to find those personal resources within yourself, you tend to seek them externally; that's why renewing your team can be a trigger. This is where Andy comes in, who has been his rival for years but has known him since they were kids. He will surely give him a great boost, and both will want to do well. Now, I have a feeling we can witness a great Novak again,” predicts the former world number one in doubles.

“And what can someone who has never coached the greatest player of all time bring? Nicolas also has an answer to this. “He can contribute on the emotional, mental side, and, above all, provide a lot in the game. Although Andy may not have coaching experience, he has complete knowledge of Novak; he has known him for over 20 years, and that's a great advantage. Both have a similar game, although Novak was slightly better, so it will be interesting to see him compete under Andy's watchful eye, an extremely intelligent person. Someone like Andy will understand very well how Novak feels on the court; from there, he can assist him in everything.”

RECENT EXPERIENCE IS WORTH DOUBLE

Throughout all this, Nicolas Mahut has not been idle since his retirement last June. Like most players, although perhaps not as soon, he too has opted for a swift transition to the coaching world. Currently working with his compatriot Adrian Mannarino, the Angers native knows perfectly well the value younger coaches bring, as they have the experience of knowing and having faced most of the opponents his pupil will clash with in the short term.

“Of course, it helps! With Adrian, for example, having faced certain players he might play against gives me an idea of how to help him. In the case of Novak and Andy, what's especially interesting is that they also share a playing style, use an almost identical system, speak the same language. When Andy analyzes a match, it's normal for him to have the same tactical approach as Novak in many aspects,” concludes the Frenchman.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, “No veía a Novak ganando Grand Slams en 2025, pero ahora…”