Daniil Medvedev has compared Andy Murray linking up with Novak Djokovic to Lionel Messi coaching Cristiano Ronaldo.
Former world number one Murray has accepted an invitation to coach 24-time grand slam winner Djokovic and is currently in Melbourne with the Serbian as he attempts to wrestle back the Australian Open crown he lost in 2024 to Jannik Sinner.
The link-up came out of the blue, even to Murray, with the Scot having not long retired from playing himself.
“Imagine if Lionel Messi became the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo…”
Daniil Medvedev was asked about Andy Murray becoming Novak Djokovic’s coach 🐐#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Htzy5lRqYN
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 10, 2025
They will make a formidable partnership and world number five Medvedev – the beaten finalist at Melbourne Park in three of the last four years – believes the interest it will generate is good for the sport.
He said: “The thing about coaching Novak is that he’s so strong that imagine he wins, we’re like, is it because of Andy or is it because it’s Novak? So we’ll never know.
“But it’s a great partnership, I think in terms of everything, in terms of even like energy, like media wise, tennis wise, growing tennis…it’s great.
“It’s like, imagine Messi would become the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo…it would be strange.”
Medvedev not aware of any ‘beef’ between Kyrgios and Sinner
Medvedev also played down any tensions in the locker room caused by Nick Kyrgios’ persistent criticism of Jannik Sinner escaping an immediate sanction after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in March last year.
Kyrgios is back at a grand slam event after a lengthy absence due to injury but Medvedev says he has not noticed any “beef” between the outspoken Australian and defending champion Sinner.
The Russian added: “It’s tough for me to say, I’ve been here one and a half days and everyone that sees me in the locker room for the moment is congratulating me [on the birth of his second child].
“So I have a lot of harmony in the locker room and I didn’t see Nick yet. It would be interesting to see if they pass with Jannik how it is. What is the energy?
“But [there are] players you talk to more, players you talk to less, people you smile with and laugh, and maybe ones you just say hi [to].
“So in general, I don’t think… the beef, or like arguing between two, three, four players is going to change the whole locker room.”
Medvedev opens his Australian Open campaign against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej.
