"Cramps after 5 minutes": Murray's anecdote about his first training session with Djokovic

On his very first day alongside Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray experienced a moment as unexpected as it was embarrassing.

AFP

Arthur Millot

le 01/12/2025 à 14h18

1 min to read

Djokovic Murray

For his very first day as Novak Djokovic's new coach, Andy Murray would surely have imagined a more glorious start.

But fate, and especially a stubborn calf, decided otherwise.

As the two champions began a simple running session, the Brit experienced severe cramps... after only 5 minutes. A mishap he now recounts with humour, but not without a hint of embarrassment.

"It was embarrassing... really embarrassing"

"I can't say anything, because it's embarrassing after only 4 or 5 minutes. I finished the 50 minutes, but I was in so much pain.

I told his team: 'Guys, you have to help me. I've been running for 45 minutes and I’ve had a calf cramp since the start...'", he says, in "The Tennis Podcast".

Indeed, despite the pain, Murray refused to slow down. He didn't want Djokovic to think he couldn't keep up with his training pace:

"I didn't want to show him I was struggling after 5 minutes. It was very embarrassing for me."

Beyond the hilarious anecdote, this episode reveals something precious: the immense respect between two historic rivals.