Who Was The Best Man At Djokovic's Wedding?

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic's rivalry on the tennis court is well-known, but the two players also shared a friendship. They first met as 11-year-olds at a tennis tournament in France and struck up a rapport, with Djokovic recalling Murray's curly hair. As their careers progressed, they found themselves frequently competing against each other, with Djokovic maintaining an edge over Murray. When Djokovic married his long-time fiancée Jelena Ristic in 2014, rumours circulated that Murray would be the best man. However, Murray denied these rumours, and when asked about the wedding, stated that he was not invited.

Andy Murray was not the best man at Novak Djokovic's wedding

> "No, he hasn't [asked me to be his best man]. I don't know where that came from."

Djokovic also confirmed that Murray was not invited to his wedding, saying:

> "Not invited. But I wish him all the best."

Djokovic and Murray's relationship has been described as a "rivalry", with the two tennis stars meeting 36 times on the court. While the pair were once close friends, their friendship has been strained by their competition. Djokovic has said:

> "I really like the guy — but how can you go and be best friends with a guy who you know you are going to be doing battle with?"

Murray and Djokovic first met as 11-year-olds at a tennis tournament in France. Djokovic recalled:

> "I remember his curly hair. That’s all I remember. I remember I had a short visit on the tennis court... On and off the court we have lots of respect for each other. Always very fair, very honest relationship."

Djokovic and Murray's rivalry began highly competitively and remained so for many years

The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray began highly competitively and remained so for many years. The two tennis stars, born just a week apart, first met as 11-year-olds at an Under-12 tournament in France. Their first match, won by Murray, finished 6-0, 6-1. Despite this lop-sided first encounter, the two became friends, bonding over their shared passion for tennis and similar experiences in their young lives.

As they progressed through the ranks, their friendship endured, even as they began to compete more directly. Both men turned professional in 2005, with Djokovic always maintaining a slight edge over Murray. They were rarely rivals, however, as Nadal and Federer dominated the sport. This dynamic began to change when Djokovic and Murray started to challenge the duopoly.

Djokovic was the first to reach a grand slam semi-final and final, and the first to win a grand slam title. Murray soon followed, and their rivalry intensified. After Murray won Wimbledon in 2013, Djokovic took control, winning 14 of their last 17 encounters. They met a record four times in the final of the Australian Open, with Djokovic winning three times. Overall, they played each other 36 times, with Djokovic leading 25-11.

Their rivalry extended beyond the tennis court, with Djokovic revealing he was not invited to Murray's wedding in 2015. Murray, for his part, denied rumours that he was Djokovic's best man when the latter married Jelena Ristic in 2014. Despite their friendship, the competitive nature of their relationship endured for many years, with Djokovic himself acknowledging that he could not be best friends with Murray while also competing against him.

Djokovic and Murray's friendship was strained by their battle to be the best

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray's friendship was strained by their battle to be the best. The two tennis stars, born just a week apart, first met as 11-year-olds at a tennis tournament in France. They struck up a friendship, bonding over their shared experiences of pursuing a career in tennis, leaving their comfortable family surroundings, and their mutual excellence at the sport.

However, as their careers progressed, their rivalry intensified, and they became each other's main challengers. While they remained friends, the strain of their competition took its toll. Their relationship was further complicated by the involvement of other players, particularly Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who were once the dominant forces in tennis.

Djokovic was the first of the two to achieve significant success, reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 French Open and winning the Australian Open the following year. Murray struggled to keep up, and their dynamic began to change. While they tried to support each other, the pressure of their rivalry took a toll on their friendship.

Their relationship was further strained by incidents during their matches, such as Djokovic's controversial injury breaks, which led to criticism and accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct. The increasing tension between them culminated in a notable fracturing moment during the 2015 Australian Open final, where Djokovic employed similar tactics, causing Murray to suspect unsportsmanlike play.

While they continued to interact and collaborate on issues affecting the tennis world, their friendship had noticeably cooled. When Murray got married in 2015, Djokovic was notably not invited, and the two maintained a more business-like relationship.

Despite their strained friendship, Djokovic and Murray's rivalry remained an important part of their careers. They met a record four times in the final of the Australian Open, with Djokovic winning three of those encounters. Overall, they played each other 36 times, with Djokovic leading 25-11 in wins.

In the end, their friendship was unable to withstand the pressure of their intense rivalry, and the two found themselves in a battle where only one could come out on top.

Djokovic and Murray first met as 11-year-olds in an Under-12 tournament in France

The Djokovic-Murray rivalry was one of the most prominent in tennis, with the two players meeting 36 times. However, their relationship goes back much further, to when they were 11-year-olds at an Under-12 tournament in France.

"I can't imagine how difficult this year has been for you," Djokovic once said of their early encounters, laughing as he recalled how Murray "destroyed" him in their first match. "He had a lot of hair, a lot of curly hair. He was also quite pale."

Despite this lop-sided first clash, which ended 6-0 6-1, the pair quickly became friends, bonding over their shared experiences and the sacrifices they were making to pursue sporting excellence. Both left their family homes at a young age to pursue tennis, with Murray leaving Dunblane for a tennis academy in Spain, and Djokovic moving from Serbia to Munich, Germany.

Their paths crossed frequently as they became stars of their age group, and they would push each other to improve. Their early friendship was perhaps aided by the fact that, at that stage, they were not direct rivals. Murray, a few days older, was the yardstick with which Djokovic measured himself, and the two would stand as rare individuals who could offer each other insight and advice on the unique pressures they were dealing with.

Djokovic once recalled:

> "On and off the court, we have lots of respect for each other. Always very fair, very honest relationship."

However, as their careers progressed, the dynamic began to change. Djokovic turned his sights to the senior ranks earlier than Murray and reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam first, at the 2007 French Open. He also became a top-10 player before Murray, in March 2007.

As Djokovic and Murray started challenging the duopoly of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, their friendship became strained. The two began to view each other as antagonists, and their relationship took on a more business-like tone.

By the time Murray got married in 2015, the pair were barely on speaking terms. Djokovic revealed he had not been invited to the wedding, and Murray, for his part, said he and his wife had decided not to go "celebrity-heavy" with the guest list.

Their on-court rivalry concluded after Murray's retirement at the 2024 Olympic Games. However, in a twist that perhaps hints at a rekindling of their early friendship, it was announced that Murray would serve as Djokovic's new head coach through the 2025 Australian Open.

Djokovic and Murray were rivals but also struck up a friendship

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have had a storied rivalry on the tennis court, facing each other 36 times, with Djokovic leading 25-11 overall. However, their relationship goes beyond that of competitors. The two tennis stars first met as 11-year-olds at a junior tournament in France, where Murray won their first match. Despite this initial defeat, Djokovic recalls the encounter fondly, remembering Murray's "curly hair". Over the years, as they rose through the ranks, their paths crossed frequently, and they developed a friendship based on their shared experiences and sacrifices.

Djokovic and Murray's relationship has been described as a "sporting bromance". They have travelled the globe together on the same tour and, according to Djokovic, have "lots of respect for each other". He describes their relationship as "always very fair, very honest". Despite their rivalry, they have helped each other throughout their careers, discussing matches and strategies, and even formed a brief doubles partnership in 2011.

However, as their careers progressed and the competition between them intensified, their friendship appears to have been tested. In 2015, when asked about Murray's wedding, Djokovic revealed that he had not been invited. This came after Murray stated that he and his wife had decided against a celebrity-heavy guest list, opting instead for those they felt close to and saw themselves spending time with in the future.

Despite this apparent snub, there are indications that the pair's friendship may have endured. In 2016, they continued to meet on the court, with Djokovic stating that it was hard to be best friends with someone you are competing against. However, he expressed hope that when they both retired, they could spend more time together. This hope may have been realised, as it was announced at the end of 2024 that Murray would serve as Djokovic's new head coach through the 2025 Australian Open.

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