Johnson on the Future of the Djokovic-Murray Collaboration: "It's Hard to Have Clarity Right Now"
For the second time this season, Novak Djokovic is on a three-match losing streak. After losing in the final of the Miami Masters 1000 to Jakub Mensik, the Serbian champion was then eliminated in his opening matches at his first two clay-court tournaments.
Defeated in straight sets by Alejandro Tabilo in Monte-Carlo and then by Matteo Arnaldi in Madrid, Djokovic has decided to skip the Rome Masters 1000, which begins next week.
This situation has raised concerns for Steve Johnson. On the *Nothing Major Podcast*, the former American professional player discussed the collaboration between Djokovic and his new coach, Andy Murray, who has been working with him since the Australian Open at the start of the season.
Unless circumstances change, the two are expected to continue working together at least until Wimbledon, after Djokovic and Murray agreed to extend their partnership for several more weeks.
"The partnership with Murray worked well at the start of the year in Australia. But afterward, let’s not forget that Novak has already achieved everything in tennis. What else is there for him to win besides another Grand Slam?
I think it’s hard for him to get going and stay motivated for these Masters 1000 events when the only thing that will further his legacy is a Grand Slam title.
So, unless we see something different at Roland Garros or Wimbledon this summer, it’s hard to have clarity right now. And it’s very strange to watch Novak play tennis because he had this aura of invincibility throughout our careers.
It’s very odd to see him lose multiple matches in a row like he’s doing now. I don’t think the partnership with Murray is paying off, but it would be weird not to see them together at Wimbledon.
Andy’s been with him all year, and they wouldn’t be together in London? I assume they’ll go that far, and then, I don’t know. It’d be strange for him to let him go before Queen’s. I think Murray will definitely be in Novak’s camp at Wimbledon, no doubt," the former world No. 21 stated recently.
