Andy Murray offers profound perspective on the psychological challenges of competing against Novak Djokovic in a championship match.

Andy Murray is uniquely positioned to offer an authentic perspective on what it’s like to compete against one of the greatest tennis players of all time in a high-stakes match. Murray and Djokovic have faced each other 36 times at the highest level of tennis, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head record 25-11. Notably, 19 of these matches have been in finals, where Djokovic also holds the advantage at 11-8.

Their rivalry includes seven finals at Grand Slam tournaments, of which Murray has emerged victorious in only two instances: the 2012 US Open and Wimbledon in 2013.

Given Djokovic’s pursuit of his 100th title, a milestone achieved only by Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, Murray was asked about the difficulty of facing Djokovic in a final, considering the overlap of their careers.

“It’s incredibly challenging,” the former world No. 1 began. “Especially in the latter stages of his career, I believe he’s become even more formidable.”

“I’ve competed in numerous finals against him, and it was always an immense challenge, even though we grew up together and had considerable experience facing off in major competitions.”

“However, considering his accomplishments in the last five or six years, I think it’s even more daunting for younger players stepping onto the court to compete in a Masters Series or Grand Slam final against someone who has amassed 24 major titles and nearly 100 titles overall. It’s not easy when you have limited experience in those high-pressure situations and find yourself facing off against a player with such an illustrious track record. That’s incredibly challenging.”