‘One of my biggest inspirations’ – Draper thanks Murray for joining coaching team
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Murray brought his playing career to an end after a memorable Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing with three Grand Slam crowns and 46 ATP Tour titles.The 39-year-old won Wimbledon twice, establishing himself as one of Great Britain’s greatest ever players and battling against the famously dominant ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Now hoping to elevate Draper’s game, Murray has revealed the moments he felt a rare longing to pick up his racket again.
“I have no interest [in returning to tennis]. The only time since I stopped… well, there’s been two times where I was like, ‘that would be nice to play’,” he said in an interview with The Sports Agents at the Laver Cup.
“One was when I was working with Novak and he was playing [Carlos] Alcaraz in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.
“That match (four set quarter-final win for Djokovic) was amazing. Unbelievable atmosphere. It was cool that I got to play in those environments and play against him. So that was one time.
”And the other was the year after I stopped. I was driving around Wimbledon a couple of days before the tournament because I had to do a commercial thing there. I drove past the venue and I was like, ‘oh, it would be nice to be playing’.”
He added: “But apart from that, no. I have no motivation to go out there and hit tennis balls anymore.
“I don’t miss it and I am really happy about that because I feel a lot of people want you to say something different or want you to desperately miss the sport.
“But when you finish something where you put everything into it for 20-25 years, it’s great to be able to step away and not have that feeling that I must go hit a tennis ball or I really miss being involved in this event.
“I am happy being at home with my family and kids and that’s enough for me.”
Murray also spoke specifically about the significance of the Laver Cup, where Federer bid an emotional farewell to the sport in 2022, with Murray, Djokovic and Nadal watching on.
“It was unbelievable to be a part of that,” he said. “Obviously we knew he was going to finish here.
“On the court after the match, seeing him with Rafa and the way that his career ended… people always want a fairytale, Hollywood ending.
“Everyone would have loved to have seen Federer having one last great run at Wimbledon potentially.
“But I personally thought that the way he did it here, playing doubles with his biggest rival and seeing the two of them really emotional next to him was really special to be a part of.
“I love being here. It was a really special experience.”
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