Can analytics help Andy Murray coach Novak Djokovic to Australian Open victory over Carlos Alcaraz?

Novak Djokovic looks to remain undefeated since Andy Murray formally joined his coaching team during the 2025 Australian Open, and the Tennis Channel Live panel posits that data and analytics may be the duo’s secret weapon ahead of a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

“Andy Murray a decade ago was already consulting analytics and biodata,” noted journalist Jon Wertheim. “I think there’s a lot going on that we’re not seeing. We see Andy Murray courtside and he gives some instruction and encouragement. I think Andy Murray’s doing a lot of work not in front of the cameras: data-driven, analytics-driven. I think that might be where his real value is, not, ‘Hey, it’s break point, let’s knuckle down and get this one.’”

Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport echoed Wertheim’s comments later in the segment, arguing that the numbers may help Djokovic adapt as much as attack his eighth career meeting with Alcaraz, whom he has beaten in three of their last four meetings but has lost to twice at major tournaments.

[Djokovic and Murray] have fought the same battles with each other. The same things Novak Djokovic was feeling in Grand Slam finals, they’ve spilled the same blood together. They know what the other person was going through, when they couldn’t breathe in these big moments. Prakash Amritraj

“Novak’s been a player who has been at the leading edge of analytics for years and years,” said Davenport. “He’s been there with Murray going over this. He’s always going to hire someone who also goes all into the data. I can see these two having a lot of conversations about patterns, where to hit second shots, where to hit particular shots.

“But also, if something didn’t work in the first set, and we’ve got to pivot here, Murray will be pretty good with coming up with that game plan.”

Alcaraz is bidding to become the youngest man to win the Career Grand Slam, having already captured major titles at the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023-2024), and Roland Garros (2024), defeating Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals to help launch him into the top tier of men’s tennis.

But Djokovic, 16 years older than his 21-year-old rival, is on course to win a 25th major title—and his 11th in Melbourne. The Serb appears invigorated by the Murray partnership, winning his third- and fourth- round matches in straight sets against seeded opposition: No. 26 seed Tomas Machac and No. 24 seed Jiri Lehecka.

“I think there is a certain connective tissue between Djokovic and Murray in the fact that, you’ve been coached by a [Boris] Becker and these sort of idols you’ve looked at but there’s a separation because of generations,” said Prakash Amritraj.

“But [Djokovic and Murray] have fought the same battles with each other. The same things Novak Djokovic was feeling in Grand Slam finals, they’ve spilled the same blood together. They know what the other person was going through, when they couldn’t breathe in these big moments.”

Strategizing for match like Djokovic-Alcaraz, ponders Amritraj, may be exactly why Murray so quickly came back to tennis after retiring from the game last summer, while Martina Navratilova believes Djokovic had nothing to lose by taking Murray on as a coach.

“You never know what someone will tell you that may not have clicked before that may bring something good to the table,” said the 18-time Grand Slam champion. “It could be one sentence or a whole bunch of data that Andy has always pored over that could make a difference on a break point in the third set, and it could turn the match around.”

Djokovic and Alcaraz will face off Tuesday night on Rod Laver Arena.