On Tuesday afternoon in a near-empty Margaret Court Arena, however, the 21-year-old could have been forgiven for feeling slightly intimidated. Across the net stood not one but two of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport, two legendary rivals who have joined forces with the obvious goal of holding him and his contemporaries off for as long as they can. For the first time ever, Andy Murray joined Novak Djokovic in a grand slam practice session as the 24-time grand slam champion’s coach.
This year, the Australian Open has opened up its qualifying week to fans, allowing them to follow the top players’ training sessions and final preparations, as they continue to turn the event into a three-week occasion. At the same time that thousands of fans filled Rod Laver Arena to watch Jannik Sinner sharpen his toolkit against the home favourite Alexei Popyrin in a practice match, Djokovic and Alcaraz, now the two most successful active male tennis players, were tussling directly next door in front of about five people in an arena closed to the public.
Just six months after he played his final match as an active player, Murray’s return to grand slam competition has been quicker than anyone could have imagined. He appears to be embracing his new role as coach; as Djokovic and Alcaraz began their two-hour practice session with drills, it was Murray who fed balls for both players, he collected other balls from the baseline and provided Djokovic with a constant stream of positive reinforcement.
During the changeovers, while Alcaraz and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, reflected in silence, Murray and Djokovic chatted ceaselessly, their discussions ranging from forehand technique, with ample shadow swinging, to the timing of Djokovic’s split step. Murray also asked numerous questions as he looked to gain greater insight into Djokovic’s psyche, information that both players have spent almost their entire careers trying to keep from each other.
Once the drills ended and the points began, Djokovic and Alcaraz threw themselves into the battle with greater intensity than most official matches. In stark contrast to his flat, underwhelming defeat by Reilly Opelka in Brisbane last week, Djokovic was energised and intense from the beginning in the face of a true rival. The most obvious sign that this was only practice came as both players tried to call their own lines. Whenever any ball was remotely close to the line, both players comically gave their opponent the benefit of the doubt.
Together, Alcaraz and Djokovic combined to produce a quality set of tennis, both players striking the ball with authority and ease as their defensive prowess turned so many points into an ordeal. In the end, it was their serving that separated them. Alcaraz once again started the season with a new service motion as he tries to improve the most obvious weak point in his game by turning his serve into a consistent weapon. Djokovic, meanwhile, served spectacularly in the decisive moments, which allowed him to remain in control under significant pressure and he closed out the set 7-5. Throughout the encounter, Murray watched on from the back fence and he chose his moments to offer advice wisely.
It is impossible to replicate the pressure and tension of a match in practice and so it remains to be seen how Djokovic will look once the first grand slam tournament of the year begins, but this performance was impressive. There were times during the encounter when Djokovic’s advanced age was clear; he often needed more time between points than Alcaraz to catch his breath and more towels to soak off his sweat. At one point, during their earlier drills, Alcaraz opted to continue pounding forehands while a visibly fatigued Djokovic recovered in his chair. Still, five months out from his 38th birthday, with most of his rivals retired, the level that Djokovic is still capable of performing at is astounding.
For however long this partnership lasts, and it could certainly be over by the end of this month, the goal is to combine their expertise and help push Djokovic towards achieving a record-extending 25th grand slam title and holding off the younger generation for as long as they can. After the end of the set with Alcaraz and a few more drills, Murray and Djokovic departed Margaret Court Arena side-by-side and deep in conversation. The rest of Djokovic’s entourage followed them from a healthy distance behind. – Guardian
