Rivalries Of 2015: Djokovic vs. Murray

Continuing our Season In Review Series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the fiercest rivalries of 2015. Today we feature Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray:

It’s a rivalry that seems to have been hatched at birth. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were born within a week of each other in May 1987. They attended the same training camp as juniors. And the on-court reunions keep coming on the ATP World Tour, where they have faced off on no less than 30 occasions. They would stand on opposite sides of the net seven times alone in 2015, always in pressure-filled situations.

“There is only week difference between us,” said Djokovic. “Very similar game and very similar role in professional tennis. So I think that’s what makes it very special.

“He has a winning mindset,” added Djokovic of Murray. “He’s a great fighter, great competitor and somebody that commits to this sport. You can see that on a daily basis. He has a great team of people around him. He puts a lot of hours in the practice, gym and so forth. It pays off. I know him for a long time, so it’s great we are able to challenge each other.”

Murray would push Djokovic to deciding sets in Melbourne, Miami and Roland Garros, but won just one game in those three sets, despite being one of fittest players in the game. The Scot would score the ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, snapping a two-year, eight-match losing streak against the Serb, but Djokovic would up his FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage to 21-9, including trophies at the Australian Open, Miami Open and the BNP Paribas Masters.

Djokovic’s best-in-the-business inner-drive was perhaps best seen during their five-set battle at Roland Garros, a more-than-three-hour drama the outcome of which was delayed by fading light, rain and hail. Having let a comfortable two-set lead slip away, the 28-year-old refused to cave, winning seven-of-seven net points in the decisive fifth set and denying his opponent even a single break-point opportunity.

Despite the competitive nature of their relationship, Murray insists the two are still good friends.

“I have a lot of respect for Novak as a tennis player,” he observed. “I’ve known him since we were 12, 13 years old. It’s tough to be extremely close when you’re playing in huge matches against each other on a regular basis. That’s normal. But we get on absolutely fine. We were playing basketball together the other day. I get on well with Novak.”

 “When you watch his game, he hits the ball well off both sides,” Murray observed. “He serves well, returns well. He’s a very, very good athlete — very good endurance, as well. There’s not many holes in his game. When maybe one shot for him is off during a match, he can hit all of the other ones well and make up for that, too. There’s a lot of things that he does very well on the court. That’s why he’s been No.1 in the world for a while now.”

Djokovic vs. Murray: 2015 Meetings

Djokovic vs. Murray FedEx ATP Head2Head