Novak Djokovic’s Shanghai Return and Belgrade Academy Expansion

Novak Djokovic lost his opening match in Shanghai to Hubert Hurkacz with a score of 6-4, 6-3. This loss follows his recent win at the China Open, where Alex de Minaur retired while trailing 7-6(3), 0-1. In Beijing, Djokovic defeated top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals and advanced to the final after Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the semifinal. This victory extended his unbeaten record at the tournament to 34-0 and earned him 500 ranking points. The win lifted him from 11th to 8th in the rankings, though the loss in Shanghai dropped him to 10th in the live Race to Turin. He currently holds 2,840 points, which places him behind Alex de Minaur, who has 2,880 points. Djokovic, who recently won his seventh Beijing title and 102nd career title, faces a difficult climb to stay in the top eight for the Race to Turin after his opening match loss in Shanghai, which follows his recent success in China. You likely know that Djokovic’s rankings fluctuate based on defending points from previous seasons. Will the veteran manage to secure his place in the season-ending tournament?

The end of the Murray coaching partnership

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic ended their coaching partnership after six months by mutual agreement. Murray retired from professional tennis after the Paris Olympics and joined Djokovic’s team for the 2025 season. The collaboration included the Australian Open and training sessions at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Murray told media that he found the role demanding and noted a struggle with the technical side of coaching. He stated that most former players find it hard to provide technical feedback to players who are already 20 or 22 years old. Djokovic, the 37-year-old 24-time Grand Slam champion, also experienced a difficult season where he failed to win a Grand Slam or any ATP event in 2024. The partnership lasted only four tournaments, ending before the upcoming Wimbledon tournament in July. Murray also joined Redrice Ventures as an associate partner in May. During their time together, Djokovic mentioned that sharing insights with a former rival felt strange at first. Murray expressed that he enjoyed the analysis and planning but found the responsibility of leading a team to be difficult. He previously noted that he would return to coaching if the project was the right fit. Murray also stated he was a poor communicator and preferred working with younger players to influence them from an earlier age.

Training at the Novak Tennis Centre

The Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade contains 14 outdoor courts, including 11 clay courts and 3 hard courts. Djokovic uses this riverside facility, located in the Dorcol neighborhood near the Nebojsa Tower and Kalemegdan fortress, to test a multidisciplinary approach for his future academy plans. He also provides indoor hard courts, which are a rare commodity in Serbia, to help players during the winter. The complex includes a trophy room that displays Djokovic’s career hardware. The academy provides various programs for different age groups:

Djokovic supports players like Filip Krajinovic, Laslo Djere, and Viktor Troicki through this mini-academy. He also provides assistance to junior players such as Hamad Medjedovic, Boris Butulija, and Lola Radivojevic. The facility includes a fitness gym, a hyperbaric chamber, and a salt room for recovery. Coaches at the center focus on technical clarity on clay and economy of movement. Training sessions include pattern drills that encode footwork choices and serve plus first-ball plans. Before training, players undergo blood tests and body fat percentage checks to determine workload and nutrition. A top chef prepares meals, and a smoothie bar provides organic drinks like chokeberry. Players use the training center to build footwork on clay or practice faster patterns on hard courts. The pricing for these programs is available on request.