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• Djokovic: Murray is 'perfect' coach to help execute 'big plans'

  Novak Djokovic believes former rival Andy Murray is the "perfect" coach for him at this stage of his career as he still has "big plans".

  The Serb, a 24-time grand slam winner, announced last week that Murray, who retired after the Paris Olympics, would be working with him during the off-season and through the Australian Open.

  Djokovic failed to win a major title for the first time since 2017, though he did clinch a long-awaited Olympic gold medal in August. It is also the first time since 2005 that he did not win an ATP event despite reaching two finals.

  Djokovic admitted Murray did not agree to the role straight away, but he thinks it is the best decision he could have come to.

  "I took about six months to figure out what I needed at this stage of my career," he told Sky Sports.

  "I realised the perfect coach would be someone who has been through the experiences I'm going through, possibly a multiple grand slam winner and world number one.

  "We discussed Andy Murray, and I said I would give him a call and see how it goes. It caught him a little off guard. We connected really fast, and he accepted after a few days.

  "I couldn't be more excited about it. This collaboration is a surprise to everyone, including me, but it's exciting for tennis."

  Djokovic is currently level with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles by any player and needs one more to become the outright leader.

  He has a good record in Australia, winning 10 times in Melbourne, beating Murray in four of those finals, with the first major of next season starting on January 12.

  The 37-year-old is the only one of the 'Big Four' still playing after Murray and Rafael Nadal's retirements this year, and Roger Federer's in 2022, but he shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

  "We all know we have to stop and say goodbye at some point," he added. "Even though it was expected for Rafa and Andy, both of them saying farewell to the sport is a shock for all of us.

  "My body is serving me well; I still have motivation to win grand slams. The reason I asked Andy to work with me is because I still have big plans.

  "I'll keep going as much as I can feel like I can keep being a candidate for the biggest titles."

• Sinner: Italy handled the pressure to retain Davis Cup

  Jannik Sinner believes his Italy team-mates handled the pressure of representing their country well as they retained the Davis Cup on Sunday.

  Italy beat the Netherlands in the final, with Matteo Berrettini and Sinner both winning their singles matches in straight sets to clinch the title.

  They are the first team to retain the Davis Cup since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013, and, after also winning the Billie Jean King Cup last week, they are only the third nation to claim both trophies in the same season in the last 30 years.

  Sinner, on the back of an incredible season that saw him win the Australian Open, US Open and ATP Finals, became just the second player in the Open Era to finish a calendar year by winning at least one set in every match throughout a season since Roger Federer in 2005.

  "We are very happy to be back here holding this trophy. It feels like we are in Italy," Sinner said.

  "You have a different pressure and a different weight of having Italy on your shoulders - I think we handled it really well.

  "If it was not important, I would not be here. For me, it means so much to me."

  However, Sinner's year has been disrupted by an ongoing doping controversy, which has cast doubt on his immediate future in the sport.

  "Of course, it's [the doping case] in the head a little bit," Sinner said.

  "The most important part is all the people who know me as a human being trust me - that's why I kept playing the level I have.

  "I was emotionally a bit down, a bit heartbroken. Sometimes life gives you difficulties, and you just have to [deal with] it."

  Berrettini missed last year's Davis Cup through injury, but still went to Malaga to support his team as they won the title.

  "I would tell him 'don't give up'," Berrettini said of his former self from 12 months ago. "Last year was really nice to be here, but at the same time, I remember a moment, like, why did I come?

  "But after the whole week, I said it was really important for you to come, because I support them, but also for me. I took so much energy from those matches.

  "I once again realised how much I care about the Davis Cup. And living those moments, I took all this energy, and I was like next year, you're going to be here, you're going to be fighting for Italy.

  "I used that as an engine for the training sessions and everything that happened afterwards."

• Sinner guides Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup triumphs

  Jannik Sinner capped his outstanding year by helping Italy retain the Davis Cup, beating Tallon Griekspoor to ensure Italy downed the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday's final.

  World number one Sinner overcame Griekspoor 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 after Matteo Berrettini had registered a 6-4 6-2 win over Botic van de Zandschulp in the opener.

  Sinner saved the only two break points of the first set as Griekspoor put up a fight, but the Italian put on a show in the tie-break to inch ahead.

  Griekspoor hit back after giving up an early break in the second set, but Sinner immediately responded with two further breaks, with the Dutchman double-faulting for the first then wildly miscuing with a backhand for the second.

  Sinner was untroubled from then on, sealing a triumphant end to a spectacular season. 

  The Italian has only dropped one set throughout that streak, finishing a year that saw him win the Australian Open, US Open and ATP Finals with a 73-6 singles record.

  Data Debrief: Sensational Sinner leads the way

  This has been a truly remarkable year for Sinner, who has become the first man in the Open Era to win at least one set in every match throughout a season since Roger Federer in 2005.

  His victory ensured Italy became the first team to retain the Davis Cup since the Czech Republic triumphed in 2012 and 2013.

  Italy also captured the Billie Jean King Cup earlier this week, and they are just the third nation to claim both trophies in the same season in the last 30 years, after the Czech Republic in 2012 and Russia in 2021.