 "Novak Djokovic talks with coach Andy Murray during his first round match against Nishesh Basavareddy at the Australian Open in Melbourne. AP")
Novak Djokovic and his new coach Andy Murray were able to chat mid-match during the Serbian’s first round match against Nishesh Basavareddy at the 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday, thanks to the newly-introduced coaches’ pods at the Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic went down to the Indian-American in the first set, but bounced back to beat him with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Whenever Nishesh repeatedly challenged Djokovic, the former World No 1 seemed to have been frustrated. The coaching pods allow players to have a maximum of four support staff members seated at the court-level, instead of the tradition players’ box. In traditional player boxes, on the other hand, the players’ friends and family can sit along with the support staff.
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The two coaching pods have been located at opposite corners of the court. The coaching pods provide screens with real-time information like player or match statistics. The coaching pods, however, have received a mixed response from players. While some players, including World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, have opposed this move, Novak Djokovic has seemingly spoken for it. While Djokovic said that it was a “little strange” to have Murray on the courtside, he still enjoyed chatting with the former British player mid-match.
“I think he was doing great today. He was standing up several times, trying to encourage me and support me,” Djokovic said after his win over Basavareddy. “Obviously, thrilled to have him in my corner… I must say, it was a little bit of a strange experience to have him right courtside in my box. We played for over 20 years against each other on the highest level, and it’s great to have him on the same side of the net," he added.
Djokovic revealed that he did approach Murray for mid-match advice a few times. “A few times I did approach Andy, asked him something about whatever it was, whatever shot,” he said. “I enjoyed it. I really did enjoy it," he stated on his chat with Murray.
“I enjoy talking to Andy. I mean, he knows tennis as well as anybody out there. He’s a legend of the sport. He understands the highs and lows you go through on the court, not just game-wise but mentally and physically," added the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
‘I want to see everyone in the box’: Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka is not a fan of coaching pods. She said that she prefers seeing her whole team instead of just four members of her support staff. “Honestly, it’s not like I’m a big fan of that decision. Or if you do that, then make more seats. For example, me personally, I like to see the whole team. I want to see everyone in my box. I don’t know, sometimes I just want to look at my boyfriend for support. I just didn’t want to, like, look at the coach first, then look in the box," she said.
Stefanos Tsitsipas called the coaching pods weird. “I actually laughed when I saw them. I don’t know, it’s kind of weird. “I see my coaches and some other team members in that particular box, and the rest of them are upstairs, which I’m not used to,” he said.