Andy Murray is one individual who can sincerely describe what it’s like to be the opposing player in a high-profile match against one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
In 36 meetings at the highest level of tennis, Murray and Djokovic have faced off. The 24-time Grand Slam champion leads Murray 25–11 in terms of outcomes, and the Serbian also leads that stat 11–8. Nineteen of those matches have taken place in finals.
Only two of their seven Grand Slam finals meetings have Murray’s victories come from the 2012 US Open and the 2013 Wimbledon Championship.
Given that Djokovic and Murray’s careers have coincided, Murray was asked how tough it is to play Djokovic in a final. With just two trophies separating them from 100 championships, Djokovic would only become the third player to accomplish the feat, after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.
Obviously, quite difficult. The former world number one began, “You know, and then the sort of middle, the latter stage of his career, you know, I think even stronger.”
“It’s no secret that I’ve faced him in numerous finals, and even though we’d grown up together and faced each other in important tournaments, it was still really tough for me.
But given what he’s accomplished over the last five or six years, I believe that some of the younger players coming through will find it difficult to play in a Masters Series or Grand Slam final when he’s on the other side of the net and has won, say, 24 majors and 98 titles. It’s also difficult to be on the other side of the net against someone who has won as much as he has. That is quite challenging.
To emphasize the daunting challenge that the next generation of players faces when facing the greats, Murray also faced Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at their best.