Sir Andy Murray has suggested that he currently has no plans to return to coaching after a brief period as Novak Djokovic’s coach. In a surprising turn of events in the sport, Murray collaborated with the 38-year-old during the Australian Open, merely three months after he had played his last professional match.
The collaboration lasted for six months before both players announced in May that they would cease their working relationship. Djokovic has since reverted to his previous coach, Dusan Vemic.
Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, acknowledged in July that he was uncertain whether coaching was the right path for him. However, it was revealed in September that should Murray decide to return to coaching, he would likely consider options closer to home, potentially paving the way for a future partnership with Emma Raducanu.
The Bromley-based athlete, who is presently coached by Francisco Roig, frequently trains at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Nevertheless, any immediate prospects of a collaboration with Raducanu have been quashed by Murray, who has stated that his current priority is to be a good father and husband.
“At this moment, I simply want to be present for my children,” he expressed to the i. “I believe it is a challenging time for children growing up, given the issues related to screens, phones, and social media.
“Navigating this landscape can be somewhat difficult. My goal is to strive to be a good father and husband, and once the children are older and more self-sufficient, I will concentrate more on what I wish to pursue in that phase of my life. For now, I am genuinely content with what I am doing. Raising children is a significant responsibility.”
In a comprehensive interview, Murray also disclosed that he began to recognize the disparities in the treatment of women when he was coached by Amelie Mauresmo. He remarked: “I truly became aware of the differences in how women are treated when I started being coached by Amelie Mauresmo [his coach from 2014 to 2016].
Numerous players have remarked on the fact that I was receiving coaching from a woman, and the media frequently questioned me about it, especially following a loss, an experience that was new to me. It felt unjust.
“As time went on, I began to observe the increasing disparity with journalists posing questions that would either undermine women’s accomplishments or overlook them entirely. Addressing this issue was not something I had planned, but I found myself becoming more aware of it.”
Reflecting on the injuries he faced throughout his career, the three-time Grand Slam champion stated: “The injuries I sustained during my career certainly imparted lessons about patience.
“There exists a sentiment – I believe this holds true for everyone – that life is inherently unfair. It is. Unforeseen events occur that are beyond anyone’s control, every single day. It is simply a reality one must confront.
The sole method I employed to cope with it was to concentrate on all the factors that would provide me with the best opportunity to recover as swiftly as possible, including proper training, gym workouts, a balanced diet, and ensuring I received the necessary nutrients.”
Since retiring, Murray has developed a passion for golf and recently participated in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alongside professional golfers such as Ryder Cup champions Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre.
Murray has engaged in several pro-am golf tournaments since he put away his tennis racket last August and has previously expressed his ambitious goal of attempting to qualify for the Open Championship at the regional level.
“I do not harbor ambitions of competing in The Open, but I aspire to participate in the regional qualifying at some point,” he remarked.
“A few of my friends have accomplished this, and it would simply be an enjoyable experience if I reached a level where I could do so. I would pursue it, but I certainly do not believe I would have any realistic chance of qualifying for The Open.
“I am fully cognizant of the caliber of players who compete in those events and how they compare to amateurs. Even individuals with a handicap of plus-2 or 3 are significantly behind the skill level of these professionals.
