"Imagine Messi would become the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo" - Daniil Medvedev gives his verdict on Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray partnership

Daniil Medvedev shared his take on the new blockbuster partnership between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The Russian drew a comparison to soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo while discussing the intriguing dynamic.

Murray retired from tennis at the Paris Olympics in 2024, and shortly after, Djokovic announced in November that he and the Brit had formed a new partnership, following his split from Goran Ivanisevic. The news came as a shock to many especially considering they were once fierce rivals.

Medvedev sees the collaboration as a brilliant move, both for the media and the tennis world. He even compared it to the idea of Messi coaching Ronaldo, touching on how “strange” the whole situation feels.

“The thing about coaching Novak, he's so strong, that imagine he wins, is it because of Andy or because it's Novak?” Daniil Medvedev said during a press conference at the 2025 Australian Open.

“I think it's a great partnership in terms of everything, even like energy, like media-wise, tennis-wise, growing like tennis. It's great. Imagine Messi would become the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be strange,” he added.

When asked about the possibility of a career in coaching after retirement, Medvedev replied:

“About me being coach, I have no idea what I would do after my career. It could be anything, could be related to tennis or not.”

“I heard from everyone that it's pretty stressful to be in the box. In a way, like, you cannot control what your player is doing there. It's a much tougher feeling,” he added.

Murray and Djokovic have both arrived in Melbourne, ready to test their luck at the first Grand Slam of the year. They've begun training together and even participated in a charity match, offering a glimpse into their relationship.

---

Novak Djokovic & Daniil Medvedev could lock horns in Australian Open 2025 final

Djokovic and Medvedev pictured at the 2023 US Open | Image Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, who recently became a father for the second time, have gotten tough draws at the 2025 Australian Open. The former is aiming for a record 11th title in Melbourne and his 25th Major overall, while the latter is chasing his second Grand Slam.

Djokovic will begin his campaign against Nishesh Basavareddy. If he wins, he will face either Pavel Kotov or a qualifier next. In the third round, he could meet either Reilly Opelka or Tomas Machac. This will be followed by a possible encounter with Grigor Dimitrov.

The Serb could potentially face Medvedev in the final, but before that, he will need to navigate past the likes of Carlos Alcaraz or Jack Draper in the quarterfinals, followed by Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, or Tommy Paul in the semifinals.