Novak Djokovic 'has no idea where Andy Murray is' and reveals Monte-Carlo coach

has confessed that he has "no idea" where is, as the Brit will not be coaching him at this week's Monte-Carlo Masters. The Serb is back in action for the first time since he suffered defeat in the recent Miami Open final, where Murray watched on from his box.

The world No. 5 has agreed to link back up with his old rival later on in the clay season. For now, he will be working with a familiar face as his temporary coach this week. But Djokovic isn't expecting big things from his first tournament on the dirt.

Djokovic and Murray formed a blockbuster player-coach partnership during the off-season, less than four months after the Brit officially retired from professional tennis. Murray has since been seen in the 24-time Grand Slam champion's box and most recently joined him in Indian Wells and Miami.

However, the retired former No. 1 is not in Monaco for this week's Masters 1000 event. Djokovic has now confirmed that the Monte-Carlo Masters was never part of their working agreement.

"I have no idea, to be honest," Djokovic laughed when asked where Murray was.

"I spoke to him about, four or five days ago, and he was back home. I mean, obviously occupied with family and I guess he's working on his golf swing that that's his priority, I guess, this week."

Instead, Djokovic will be mentored by his younger brother, Marko. A former player himself, Marko reached a career-high ranking of No. 574 in 2019 and played a few tour-level events.

"I'm here with my brother, my brother is helping me as a tennis coach role this week," the two-time former champion in Monte-Carlo said.

"It was never part of the program or an agreement in the schedule to work with Andy this week. So I was thinking about who I want, if I want to have anybody besides my fitness coach and physio.

"And then Marko, my brother was happy to join me so, of course, that helps me on a different level, emotionally as well. I mean, to have my brother spend some time with him as well on the road, I don't get to see him much, so it's great for me."

Djokovic will reunite with Murray at the Madrid Open, another Masters 1000 event kicking off on April 23. It will be their first tournament together since Miami, where the Serb reached his first final in almost six months.

The 37-year-old added: "We spoke about Miami, obviously a little bit of a bitter feeling in the end to lose the finals.

"But I think it was overall a great tournament with high-quality tennis from my side, haven't dropped the set until the finals and served great, played well. Yeah, just a bit unlucky in that finals two tiebreaks, but he was better, that's all.

"But it gives me a lot of a great deal of encouragement and positivity I think reflecting on my game and how I played in Miami. And we are planning to be together in Madrid. And then we see, I don't know, I mean, probably Roland Garros, we still have to talk about it after Madrid."