Murray was not just talking tennis’s greatest of all time, because Djokovic’s ownership of that honour has long since been put to bed. He was backing Djokovic’s claim to be the pre-eminent performer across the whole of sport; nay, the whole of sporting history.

Australian Open, Novak Djokovic was uncharacteristically cast as an outsider for the title. With questions surrounding his fitness, form, and the rising dominance of younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner,

Andy Murray has been labelled ‘pure class’ for consoling Carlos Alcaraz after Tuesday’s Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic. Murray is currently working as part of Djokovic’s coaching team at Melbourne Park – but has always spoken highly of the young Spanish star.

Novak Djokovic headed straight to his former rival-turned-coach Andy Murray after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals.