"Don't see Novak Djokovic getting angry to Andy Murray" - John Isner & Jack Sock dissect Serb's new hire for coaching

John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson recently discussed Novak Djokovic seeking out the services of Andy Murray as a coach for his 2025 season. While Sock was apprehensive about the tactical part of their coaching relationship, Isner lauded the move since the Serb is still looking to add to his Majors tally.

Djokovic endured a mixed season on the ATP Tour in 2024, failing to win a single Major title for the first time in the last seven years. Towards the end of the year, the 24-time Major winner announced that he had hired Murray, who retired from pro tennis in July, as his new coach. The Brit is set to travel to Australia later this month to support his new client's bid for a record-breaking 25th Major title.

Against that background, the quartet of John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson discussed the partnership on their 'Nothing Major' podcast. Isner believed that Novak Djokovic would treat his former rival with respect when the latter sits in his box and make him more focused on-court.

"I think it's a great hire for Djokovic. Because he's trying to find something new to motivate him," John Isner said on the podcast. "It's someone in the players' box that Novak respects so much, I don't see Novak getting angry at all to Andy in the box, so he's going to keep him centered mentally on the court. His goals are set, he wants to win more Slams. I think he got the right guy in his corner."

Sock, meanwhile, was more apprehensive about the Djokovic-Murray coaching situation. The American went as far as to call it a "vibes and PR play" as he expressed doubts about the tactical aspect of their partnership.

"I think this is a vibes play, a PR play. I don't think there's going to be much coaching," Jack Sock said. "There's not a lot left for him to accomplish on the court. You obviously want to keep winning Slams and all that, but I don't know about the amount of tactical coaching and all that."

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Steve Johnson on Novak Djokovic's appointment of Andy Murray as coach: "Definitely a vibes play, but also fun to have somebody new there to guide the ship"

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have a chat at Wimbledon 2024

Steve Johnson, meanwhile, insisted during the podcast that Novak Djokovic would benefit from hiring Andy Murray as his coach owing to the three-time Major winner's tactical aptitude for tennis.

"I don't need to add much, but there's not a person who is [more of a] tennis junkie like Murray," Johnson said. "The guy eats, sleeps and breaths tennis. His knowledge of tennis is probably more than anyone in the world right now. So, it's going to be great for Murray. Definitely a vibes play, but also fun to have somebody new there to guide the ship."

The Serb will be vying for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title in Melbourne later in January. Ranked seventh in the world, the 37-year-old will likely have to beat either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz — his two biggest current rivals — if he wants to win his first Major title since 2023.