First got here a visceral roar. Then a young hug.
Novak Djokovic’s feelings poured out after securing an Australian Open quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz that defied opinion, logic and expectation.
Exuding pleasure and reduction, Djokovic turned straight to his coach Andy Murray and buried his head within the Briton’s chest.
The celebration between the rivals-turned-colleagues got here following the most important success of Murray’s shock first teaching job.
“It was type of a gesture of appreciation and respect for him for the truth that he is on the market and he would not must be,” mentioned 37-year-old Djokovic, who was born per week after Murray in Might 1987.
“He accepted to work with me. He is giving all his help to me, to the entire crew, and making an attempt to make it work.”
When 24-time main champion Djokovic introduced in November he was using the just lately retired Murray as his new coach, it felt like a prank.
However there may be nothing extra severe for each males than profitable tennis matches.
Murray has frequently lower a tense determine throughout Djokovic’s run at Melbourne Park, showing deep in considered how he may help the seventh seed land a file twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
His reduction on the Serb edging previous Alcaraz, 21, confirmed with a heavy exhale of breath.
Then got here the second when Djokovic, who had battled by an higher left leg damage to beat Spanish third seed Alcaraz, trudged over to hug his fist-pumping coach.
“This was an enormous win for all of us – together with Andy and myself for the connection,” added Djokovic.
“That is why I went to him as a result of I felt very grateful that he is there.”