Latest news with #DusanVemic
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Novak Djokovic opens up on reunion with Andy Murray at Rafael Nadal's farewell - after tennis legends ended partnership ahead of Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic 's meeting with Andy Murray at Rafael Nadal 's farewell on Sunday night had the potential for awkwardness given their so recently ended partnership - which was followed by the Serb's 100th title in Geneva. But Djokovic revealed that Murray, typically, broke the ice. 'He did congratulate me, and he said, Now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments,' said the 38-year-old, who brought in Serbia's Davis Cup captain Dusan Vemic for Geneva and the French Open. 'Of course he was joking, but, I think I have said enough but I will say it again: Andy is just an amazing person. 'For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player/coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. I was very privileged and honoured. I was enjoying myself very much regardless of the fact that we haven't had maybe the success we both wanted or people expected us to have.' Reflecting on the wonderful farewell ceremony for Nadal on Philippe Chatrier, when he was joined on court by Djokovic, Murray and Roger Federer, the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted it had made him consider his own tennis mortality. 'Honestly I was thinking about my end of the road as well when we were watching Rafa having his speech, particularly those moments when we were in the back room, the three of us, and I was talking to Federer and Murray about their good-byes and reminiscing and reflecting on the rivalries,' he said. 'Of course part of me is proud that I'm still there, that I'm still going, but at the same time I am a bit sad they're all gone, because those guys were my greatest motivations of why I competed so intensely and for so long. 'Rafa deserved what he got yesterday in full intensity of its glory, and of course each one of us dreams of being remembered in such way and celebrated. I do wish one day that I can get the kind of good-bye from the world of tennis, for sure. 'But I didn't think about the exact date, if that's what you're looking for!' Djokovic comes into his latest attempt to win a 25th Grand Slam title with a rather more rosy outlook than would have been the case a week ago. Victory in Geneva came after first-match exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid. 'I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface. I'm the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments. 'Geneva felt a great chance for me to get some matches, but it's also a great chance to win 100th title, and I'll take anything that is kind of left on the table in a sense. Casper Ruud was not in the tournament this year. He was dominating the last three years. I actually saw him, and I said, Thanks for not coming there and letting me win. 'It's a different feeling for me now than it was two, three weeks ago, for sure. So I'm just glad it all turned out to be perfect for me in that sense, and yeah, let's see how I'm able to play here in Paris.'
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Andy Murray jokes about Novak Djokovic's return to form under a ‘proper coach'
Andy Murray broke the ice when he met up with Novak Djokovic at the French Open by saying: 'Now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments!' The Scot was reunited with Djokovic for the first time since the pair announced Murray would no longer be coaching the 24-time grand slam champion when they appeared alongside Roger Federer at Rafael Nadal's tribute ceremony. Advertisement Djokovic has since turned to his former coach, Dusan Vemic, and won his 100th ATP title – and his first since the Olympics last year – in Geneva on Sunday. Novak Djokovic won his 100th ATP Tour title in Geneva (Martial Trezzini/AP) The 38-year-old Serbian, who stressed the decision was mutual, said: 'We kind of joked around. 'I had also time to speak to him and Roger about, you know, reflecting on some of the nice memories we had in our rivalries and playing Nadal here etc. 'So that was quite special, being in the room with these two guys first for quite some time. Advertisement 'In terms of the joke about the tournament, yeah, he did congratulate me, and he said, 'now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments!'. 'I don't know. I didn't take that as a joke. I mean, yeah, of course he was joking, but, you know, I think I have said enough, but I will say it again: Andy is just an amazing person. Novak Djokovic, left, Roger Federer, centre left, and Andy Murray, right, were in Paris for the ceremony for Rafael Nadal, centre right (Thibault Camus/AP) 'For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player/coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. 'I was very privileged and honoured. I was enjoying myself very much regardless of the fact that we haven't had maybe the success we both wanted or people expected us to have. Advertisement 'But I still think that I have learned things on the court with him, I have enjoyed my conversations with him about tennis, because I still think that he's one of the most brilliant tennis IQ guys out there. 'Personally, I actually enjoyed my time very much with him, and I feel like we have a closer relationship because of our working relationship in the last four, five months.' Djokovic, seeded fifth at Roland Garros, begins his quest for a 25th grand slam title against American Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Andy Murray jokes about Novak Djokovic's return to form under a ‘proper coach'
Andy Murray broke the ice when he met up with Novak Djokovic at the French Open by saying: 'Now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments!' The Scot was reunited with Djokovic for the first time since the pair announced Murray would no longer be coaching the 24-time grand slam champion when they appeared alongside Roger Federer at Rafael Nadal's tribute ceremony. Djokovic has since turned to his former coach, Dusan Vemic, and won his 100th ATP title – and his first since the Olympics last year – in Geneva on Sunday. The 38-year-old Serbian, who stressed the decision was mutual, said: 'We kind of joked around. 'I had also time to speak to him and Roger about, you know, reflecting on some of the nice memories we had in our rivalries and playing Nadal here etc. 'So that was quite special, being in the room with these two guys first for quite some time. 'In terms of the joke about the tournament, yeah, he did congratulate me, and he said, 'now that you have a proper coach, you're winning tournaments!'. 'I don't know. I didn't take that as a joke. I mean, yeah, of course he was joking, but, you know, I think I have said enough, but I will say it again: Andy is just an amazing person. 'For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player/coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. 'I was very privileged and honoured. I was enjoying myself very much regardless of the fact that we haven't had maybe the success we both wanted or people expected us to have. 'But I still think that I have learned things on the court with him, I have enjoyed my conversations with him about tennis, because I still think that he's one of the most brilliant tennis IQ guys out there. 'Personally, I actually enjoyed my time very much with him, and I feel like we have a closer relationship because of our working relationship in the last four, five months.' Djokovic, seeded fifth at Roland Garros, begins his quest for a 25th grand slam title against American Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Novak Djokovic feels he ‘couldn't get more' out of Andy Murray's coaching
Novak Djokovic says he and Andy Murray felt they 'couldn't get more' out of their short-lived partnership. The 24-time grand slam champion parted ways with former on-court rival Murray last week following six months working together. Djokovic has entered the Geneva Open as a wildcard as he builds towards the French Open, which begins on Sunday. 'We felt like we couldn't get more out of that partnership on the court, and that's all there is to it,' the Serb said of his spell working with Murray, according to BBC Sport. 'My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. 'I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.' Djokovic added: 'We did not achieve together what we hoped to achieve in terms of results. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We tried.' World No 6 Djokovic is set for a second-round meeting with Hungary's Marton Fucsovics – who sits 134th in the ATP rankings – on Wednesday in the clay-court tournament in Switzerland. 'At the moment, I'm not in need of a coach,' added the 37-year-old, who is yet to win a match on clay this year. He will, however, link up with with his long-time friend and former doubles partner Dusan Vemic for both this week's Geneva Open and Roland Garros. 'Dusan Vemic, the captain of the Serbian BJK Cup team, he was in my team a few years ago,' Djokovic said. 'He's here, and will be at Roland [Garros].' Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'Boris Bosnjakovic, who has been an analyst in the team and assistant coach, shares the upcoming tournaments with Dusan. And then we'll see. I'm not in a hurry to choose, or to know if I'll have someone else by my side or not. I feel good with them.'
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Novak Djokovic confirms coaching plans for Geneva, French Open
May 20 - Novak Djokovic has appointed long-time friend and former doubles partner Dusan Vemic as his coach for both this week's Geneva Open and the upcoming French Open. "Dusan Vemic, the captain of the Serbian BJK Cup team, he was in my team a few years ago (and is my coach)," Djokovic told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday. "He's here, and will be at Roland (Garros)." "Boris Bosnjakovic, who has been an analyst in the team and assistant coach, shares the upcoming tournaments with Dusan. And then we'll see. I'm not in a hurry to choose, or to know if I'll have someone else by my side or not. I don't know. I feel good with them." Djokovic's announcement comes on the heels of the Serbian splitting with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on May 13, less than six months after hiring the three-time Grand Slam winner as his coach. Djokovic, the men's record-holder with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, brought on his longtime rival as a coach in late November. Murray had retired from his playing career following the 2024 Summer Olympics. The partnership did not produce a title for the Serbian this season. He lost in his only finals appearance of the year -- in Miami, to Czech opponent Jakub Mensik -- and he was knocked out in his opening matches at Monte Carlo and Madrid. "He sees the game in an incredible way," Djokovic said of Murray. "But, how could I say it, we did not achieve together what we hoped to achieve in terms of results. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We tried." Djokovic, who celebrates his 38th birthday on Thursday, and Vemic have experience in both the Davis Cup and ATP Tour. Vemic, 48, has worked with the Bryan brothers, Andrea Petkovic and Brandon Nakashima, among others. Djokovic will square off against veteran Marton Fucsovics of Hungary in his Geneva opener on Wednesday. He is looking for his 100th career ATP singles title. --Field Level Media
