Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open

The recently retired Andy Murray is going to team up with longtime rival Novak Djokovic as his coach, they both announced Saturday, with plans to prepare for — and work together through — the Australian Open in January.

It was a stunning bit of news as tennis moves toward its offseason, a pairing of two of the most successful and popular players in the sport, both of whom are sometimes referred to as members of a so-called Big Four that also included Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals and finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He ended his playing career after the Paris Summer Games in August.

Both men are 37 and were born a week apart in May 1987. They started facing each other as juniors and wound up meeting 36 times as professionals, with Djokovic holding a 25-11 advantage.

“We played each other since we were boys — 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers,” Djokovic posted on social media over photos and videos from some of their matches. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out, it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board, Coach — Andy Murray.”

Djokovic's 2024 season is over, and it was not up to his usual, high standards. He didn't win a Grand Slam trophy; his only title, though, was meaningful to him: a gold medal for Serbia in singles at the Summer Games.

Djokovic has been without a full-time coach since splitting in March from Goran Ivanisevic.

“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open," Murray said in a statement released by his management team. "I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”

Their head-to-head series on tour includes an 11-8 lead for Djokovic in finals, and 8-2 at Grand Slam tournaments.

Djokovic beat Murray four times in the Australian Open final alone — in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Two of the most important victories of Murray's career came with Djokovic on the other side of the net. One was in the 2012 U.S. Open final, when Murray claimed his first Grand Slam title. The other was in the 2013 Wimbledon final, when Murray became the first British man in 77 years to win the singles championship at the All England Club.

Next year's Australian Open starts on Jan. 12.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

FILE - Britain's Andy Murray, left, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic attend a press conference ahead of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 in London, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray holds their trophy after their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Sunday, June 5, 2016 in Paris. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FILE - Serbia's Novak Djokovic, right, and Britain's Andy Murray pose for a picture at the net prior to their match in the final of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, June 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, greets Serbia's Novak Djokovic after deleting him at their final match of the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Sunday, May 16, 2021. Nadal won 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE - Andy Murray of Britain reacts after scoring a point against Kei Nishikori and Toro Daniel of Japan during the men's doubles tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Tampa Bay (4-6) at N.Y. Giants (2-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS

BetMGM NFL Odds: Bucs by 5 1/2.

Series record: Giants lead 16-9.

Against the spread: Buccaneers 6-4, Giants 3-7.

Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Giants 30-10 in Tampa, Fla. on Nov. 22, 2021.

Last week: Both teams had a bye. On Nov. 10: Buccaneers lost to 49ers 23-20. Giants lost to Panthers 20-17 in OT in Germany.

Buccaneers offense: overall (8), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (5)

Buccaneers defense: overall (30), rush (16), pass (30), scoring (27)

Giants offense: overall (24), rush (14), pass (26), scoring (32)

Giants defense: overall (17), rush (29), pass (4), scoring (T16)

Turnover differential: Buccaneers: even; Giants minus-6.

WR Mike Evans returned to practice this week after sitting out three full games and much of a fourth because of a hamstring injury. The Bucs have struggled to throw deep in his absence and WR Chris Godwin (ankle), who also has been sidelined since being hurt against Baltimore on Oct. 21. Evans has 38 receptions for 655 yards and seven TDs in six career games against the Giants. He’s a 10-time, 1,000-yard receiver, and QB Baker Mayfield is sure to try to get him involved.

Taking over for the benched and now-released Daniel Jones, all eyes are going to be on quarterback Tommy DeVito in his first game of the season and his first start since last season. In nine career games, the free agent from Illinois is 114 of 178 for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns, including one rushing. He has thrown thrown three interceptions and is 2-0 at home.

The Giants have struggled stopping the run, giving up an average 147.1 yards, which is 29th among the 32 teams. Bucs RB Bucky Irving is the league’s second-leading rusher among rookies with 492 yards. Rachaad White is his backup and has gained 306 yards on 80 carries. However, his bigger role is as receiver. He has 37 catches and four TDs receiving.

Tampa Bay: In addition to Evans, the Bucs could get another boost if CB Jamel Dean (hamstring) returns from injured reserve. ... LT Tristan Wirfs suffered a knee sprain against San Francisco two weeks ago and could be a game-day decision. The status of starting CB Zyon McCollum (hamstring) is uncertain.

Giants: OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux is ready to return from broken wrist against Seattle in Week 5.

The Giants are 8-2 at home against Tampa Bay. The Bucs have won the past two games between the teams. The 2007 Giants won the only postseason matchup, defeating Tampa Bay in a wild-card game. New York won three postseason road games that season and then beat the previously unbeaten New England Patriots to win their third Super Bowl title. It was the first of two under former coach Tom Coughlin.

The Buccaneers have lost four straight, with the past two coming against the Chiefs and 49ers. ... They’ve allowed 31.3 points and 425.3 yards per game over that stretch. … With Evans and Godwin sidelined the past month, TE Cade Otton has emerged as a primary option for Mayfield. He has 30 catches for 293 yards and three TDs over the past four games. ... Evans is tied for fourth in the league with six TDs receiving. …. … The Bucs have a league-leading 26 sacks since Week 4, including least two sacks in seven consecutive games. ... The Giants have dropped five in a row and benched and then released Jones this week. He had started every game. ... RB Tyrone Tracy's 545 yards rushing and three 100-yard games leads rookies in both categories. ... Rookie WR Malik Nabers has 61 catches, tied with Puka Nacua for most by a player in his first eight games. He has at least five catches in seven games. ... WR Wan'Dale Robinsin has at least five catches in seven games. His 56 catches are four shy of his career best set last season. ... The Giants have not had an interception since the opening game. ... DT Dexter Lawrence is second in the league with nine sacks. ... OLB Brian Burns has six sacks, including five in the past six games. ... ILB Bobby Okereke had 11 tackles in the previous game and leads the Giants with 75. ... Rookie S Tyler Nubin had a career-high 12 tackles against the Panthers and is second with 69 overall.

Mayfield needs one TD pass to reach 25 for the fourth time in his career. He has thrown 28 TDs and seven interceptions in 13 road starts since last season, the most road TD passes in NFL over the span. He's trying for his fourth straight road start with two or more TDs. In two starts against the Giants, he has three touchdowns and no interceptions.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll attends a news conference after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) in action after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sept. 15, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)