When Novak Djokovic announced he was employing Andy Murray as his coach at January’s Australian Open, there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Now that Tennis: 2024 is over, the Djokovic-Murray partnership is on the podium alongside Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner’s positive doping tests in the gasp of the year awards.

The famous photograph of Djokovic and a hair-raising Murray playing doubles did the rounds as the tennis world began to make sense of this new partnership. Their career paths as juniors were suited to sharing growing pains; the Scot and Serb were born only a week apart in 1987. There was a synergy from the beginning. “I thought our story may be over – turns out it has one final chapter,” said Djokovic.

Historically, a decade and then some normally passes before a former great is summoned to the corner of a current champion. Boris Becker was 46 when he became Djokovic’s coach. In 2013, Roger Federer hired his “childhood hero” Stefan Edberg, who was 47. Murray brought 51-year-old Ivan Lendl on board in 2011 to finally get over the line in majors. Djokovic and Murray are peers. It feels a bit like the odd couple, but there’s method in the madness.

Djokovic has reached the pinnacle and needs a reason to go again. Murray has been a direct witness to many steps of that summit at the other end of the court. The duo share 48 Grand Slam singles final appearances between them and a warrior spirit that screams “never say die.” Their double act will be full of fist pumps and intensity that will attract the camera work at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic completed the full set by throwing his body and soul at the Paris Olympics, capturing the elusive singles gold medal at 37 years of age. The relief and joy of beating Carlos Alcaraz on such a stage was palpable in a year where his major face went missing in action elsewhere.

While his former doubles partner was still winning big, Murray had to get used to life as a journeyman in a second life after hip surgery took away his ability to compete at the business end of Slams. In the last eight years, their paths barely crossed on court as the Scot had to get used to a second life as a journeyman player aiming to stay relevant.

Yet, Murray and Djokovic have always had a mutual respect that has extended off the court. Their relationship transcends the polite respect that Djokovic has given to Federer and Rafael Nadal, the duo that powered post-2000 tennis. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi’s storied histories were dwarfed by the new gods of the game.

There’s always been a sense that the 24-time Grand Slam champion had to bend the knee to the Fedal Empire, even when he started beating them on a regular basis to start his era of dominance.

Murray still has a burning passion for the game. This may counteract the emptiness Djokovic feels about the lost world of the Big Four which he referred to before Indian Wells. “I remember John McEnroe was saying in one of the documentaries that I’ve seen recently that when Bjorn Borg retired, that he felt like part of him also retired, even though he kept going. That’s, I must say, a similar feeling that I have with Roger retiring and Rafa not playing much at all. It’s a strange feeling,” Djokovic remarked.

The Scot says he’s enjoying retirement more than expected, but a dalliance with Djokovic on a long-haul two-week tour of duty makes sense.

Australia means a lot to both of them in so many ways. Murray’s story against Djokovic may never have contained a ‘W’ in the column in Melbourne – he lost four Australian Open finals to his nemesis. However, he has lived with the Serb in so many huge matches and beat him at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. That counted for something, especially when Djokovic made the Rod Laver Arena his invincible perfect ten version of Nadal’s Philippe Chatrier.

Having someone who has seen it, done it and been in the modern era also carries some positive weight for the Serb. He will enjoy the camaraderie and Murray’s dry sense of humor as much as his work ethic, defiant defense and tennis IQ. Murray is past his best before date only in body.

It’s a bubble that both know and that shared knowledge behind and beyond the locker room could be vital. The beginning of 2025 could lead to Djokovic’s 25th major. That really would be Andy and Novak’s Excellent Adventure Down Under.