MELBOURNE, Jan 10 (AFP): Andy Murray says he is ready to be on the receiving end of Novak Djokovic's ire in pressure moments at the Australian Open, with the "unique opportunity" to coach him worth it.
The Serbian 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic made the shock decision to hire Murray in November, just months after the Scot called time on his playing career.
In his first comments since then, fellow former number one Murray, who has known Djokovic since their junior playing days, said the call came out of the blue.
"I said to him: 'Look, I need to think about it and talk to my family,'" the BBC quoted Murray as saying.
"So I spoke to them and after a couple of days I thought that it was a pretty unique opportunity and experience.
"I thought it would be a good idea to try it."
Murray is himself a three-time major winner -- and five-time finalist in Australia -- with both players members of the so-called "Big Four", along with Rafael Nadal, who retired last year, and Roger Federer, who left the sport in 2022.
Djokovic and Murray faced each other 36 times in their careers with the Serb winning 25 of them.
Nineteen of those clashes came in finals, with both men known for sounding off at their box in pressure moments.
This time it could be Murray on the receiving end.
"I know it's not easy out there -- it's stressful and at times he's going to want to vent towards his team and his box," said Murray.
"Providing that he's giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I'm absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants."
Djokovic said Murray inspired him and he was enjoying the collaboration.
