コーチデビューのマレー氏　ジョコの怒り受け止める覚悟　全豪ＯＰ

【メルボルンＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニス、四大大会（グランドスラム）通算３勝を誇るアンディ・マレー氏は、ノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）のコーチをすることは「特別な機会」でその価値はあるとし、全豪オープンの重圧のかかる場面で同選手の怒りを受け止める覚悟はできていると述べた。（写真は、全豪オープンテニスの開幕を控え、コーチのアンディ・マレー氏〈左〉と練習に臨むノバク・ジョコビッチ）
　通算２４度のグランドスラム制覇を誇るジョコビッチは、自身と同じく元世界ランキング１位のマレー氏が現役を引退してからわずか数か月後の昨年１１月、同氏をコーチに迎えるという驚きの決断を下した。
　全豪オープンで計５度の準優勝を果たしているマレー氏は、コーチ就任後では初めてとなるコメントの中で、ジュニア時代から旧知であるジョコビッチから突然電話で打診されたと明かし、「彼に『ちょっと考えさせてくれ、家族と相談する必要がある』と言ったんだ」「それで家族と話し合い、数日後にこれは非常に特別な機会であり経験だと考えた」と振り返ると、「試してみるのは良いアイデアだと思った」と語った。
　昨年引退したラファエル・ナダルと２０２２年に競技を退いたロジャー・フェデラーとともに、「ビッグ４」として一時代を築いた同氏とジョコビッチは、キャリアを通じて決勝での１９回を含む計３６回対戦し、そのうちジョコビッチが２５勝を記録している。
　両者とも重圧のかかる場面で自陣のボックス席に向かって叫ぶことで知られているが、今回はその声を受け止める側になる可能性があるマレー氏は、「簡単ではないと分かっている。ストレスがかかり、時にはチームやボックスに向かって発散したくなることもあるだろう」としつつ、「彼が全力を尽くして最大限の努力をしている限り、思い通りに自分を表現するのは全く問題ない」と述べた。
　今年の全豪オープンで、ジョコビッチは通算１１回目の大会制覇と通算２５回目のグランドスラム優勝を目指す。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/01/10-17:03）

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.
- Unique perspective -
Djokovic said Murray inspired him and he was enjoying the collaboration.
I think that his unique perspective on my game is the fact that he has played me for 25 years, the Serbian star said on Friday.
He knows the evolution of my game, I guess the weaknesses and strengths of my game.
He also knows the game, the tennis game, of the biggest players in the world right now because he has just recently retired as a player.
I'm excited to start the tournament with him, he added.
With Djokovic chasing an 11th Australian Open title and record 25th major, Murray made clear he was not in town for a holiday.
At times it's very enjoyable. But high performance is not supposed to be laughs and jokes and messing around, he said.
In all the times I've been on tour, I haven't seen that from any of the best players in the world.
I've seen it from some of the lower-ranked players, and that's one of the reasons why they're not there.