Andy Murray’s crucial role in Novak Djokovic’s quest for Australian Open glory revealed by former world No1

ANDY MURRAY has provided the much-needed “spark” to Novak Djokovic’s singular quest for a record-breaking 25th singles Slam.

That is the opinion of Jim Courier – a erstwhile tennis satellite No.1 and two-time Australian Open champion – who has been watching manager Muzza this past fortnight successful Melbourne.

Incredible Djokovic, 37, rolled backmost the years erstwhile helium eliminated two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, 21, from the quarter-finals.

Assuming helium has recovered afloat from that bruising battle, helium present faces Alexander Zverev successful the semis and if helium gets done that – and the German is simply a serial choker – past it mightiness beryllium satellite No.1 Jannik Sinner successful the final.

Beating the apical 3 players successful a enactment and winning a record-extending 11th rubric successful Oz would beryllium an bonzer achievement, adjacent for idiosyncratic similar the palmy Serbian.

Murray, 37, has played an tremendous relation behind-the-scenes, with his calm demeanour and tactical nous, adjacent though helium is typically unwilling to instrumentality overmuch credit.

American Courier, 54, told SunSport: “When I walked retired for the on-court interviews, I walked close by the subordinate pod wherever Novak’s squad were.

“I saw Andy. I congratulated him and helium said: ‘I had precise small to bash with that.’

“I bash deliberation helium was being a small spot tongue-in-cheek and astir apt modest.

“I would accidental decidedly that Andy’s beingness successful Novak’s campy is inspirational.

CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“The inspiration came and went with Novak past year. It was crystal wide that helium was motivated astatine Roland Garros, Wimbledon and particularly astatine the Olympics.

“But travel the Fall, helium was flagging a small bit. At the US Open, helium wasn’t arsenic dialled in.

“Well, helium surely seems dialled successful here. I deliberation Andy has a batch to bash with that.

“I wouldn’t enactment thing past Novak but I deliberation helium knew helium needed a spark and Andy has provided immoderate of that spark.

“He volition decidedly merit immoderate of the credit, though Novak is the 1 hitting the balls. He’s going done the toughest gully possible.

“If helium is capable to propulsion this off, I’d enactment this successful the aforesaid benignant of cannon arsenic Roger Federer coming backmost from wounded and beating Rafa Nadal successful that 2017 final.

“This would beryllium 1 of his astir important achievements if helium wins. One due to the fact that of the spot of the tract and two, due to the fact that helium gets to 25. And that has ne'er been done, successful antheral oregon pistillate tennis.”

Sinner, the defending champion, takes connected American No.11 effect Ben Shelton successful the different semi-final connected Friday with £1.75million connected the enactment for the singles champion connected Sunday.

Yet determination is simply a doping proceedings hanging implicit the Italian’s run and helium volition find retired aboriginal this twelvemonth if helium volition service a lengthy prohibition arsenic his lawsuit is taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Watch each infinitesimal of the Australian Open unrecorded connected discovery+ with the men's semi-finals instrumentality spot connected Friday