Andy Murray is coaching Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open (Image: Eurosport)
should not take the credit or blame for Novak Djokovic’s performances at the , according to Andy Roddick.
The Scot sat courtside for the first time in the Serbian superstar’s entourage as the 24-time Grand Slam winner won his opening round match here against American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy.
Djokovic later praised Murray’s contribution and said: “I am thrilled to have him in my corner. Hopefully we don’t stop here.”
The two 37-year-olds have only agreed to work together for the first Major of the season in Murray’s first coaching role.
And the 2003 US Open champion Roddick told Betway: “If Novak does really well, we’re going to give – who I think has one of the highest tennis IQs ever – too much credit. And if something weird happens, we’re going to give Murray too much blame.
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“Novak’s not going to change too much from what has got him to 24 Slams and 10 titles in Australia. It’s as simple as this – there are very few people that Novak can sit across from at dinner and talk about tennis and strategy, who understand the moment and what he’s trying to do, and whose brain he respects enough to actually consider their opinions.
“I think is one of those few, so it makes sense in so many ways. The common ground with both is that there was never any stone left unturned. They’re both still extremely curious, despite all their successes.
“It does help that they’ve known each other for so long. I worked with Jimmy Connors and we didn’t know each other before we got together, and while it was a super beneficial relationship, there was this ice-breaking part of it.
“They can just skip right over that, which is a massive benefit for Novak at this point in his career. I’m not ever going to undersell anyone making the semis of a Grand Slam, because I know that’s really hard, but I don’t think Novak is playing for quarter-finals now.
Andy Murray is hoping to inspire Novak Djokovic to glory in Melbourne (Image: Getty)
“He might play great and lose, but he won’t leave saying: ‘Well, we did our best.’ Having Tomas Machac and Reilly Opelka in his part of the draw is brutal, and with Alcaraz potentially in the quarter-finals it doesn’t get any easier. But as my friend Paul Annacone says, you write the greats off at your own peril.”
But Roddick has backed world No.1 to retain his title despite the threat of a doping ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April.
“ is the favourite in the men’s, and he’s the person that I think will win,” he said.