Andy Murray has dismissed suggestions he could move into science after retirement, as the tennis legend heads into the final months of his career.
The 37-year-old downplayed the prospect of becoming a talking head when his playing career ends, admitting he “didn’t particularly enjoy it” in his previous attempts and lashed out at the role, claiming that “everyone agree with each other. always.’
The two-time Wimbledon champion, who hopes to peak at the tournament next month, admitted he was ‘not happy’ with the looming specter of retirement.
Murray, who also wants to compete in tennis at the Paris Olympics this summer – he previously won gold in the men’s singles at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – said he still feels young and that quitting the sport will be a huge help to him. gap would result. fill his life.
The father-of-four has suggested he could ‘possibly’ go into coaching, with his ambitions not being limited to tennis as the sports star could try his hand at football or golf.
Andy Murray swings his tennis racket at the ball during the Rolex Paris Masters in France in October 2023
The three-time Grand Slam champion pictured with his wife Kim Murray at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2019
However, a switch to experts such as former professional Tim Henman – who succeeded Murray as the British top tennis player of his generation – does not seem to appeal to the Scot.
Retirement itself isn’t going to happen either, says the three-time Grand Slam champion The Sunday times he is ‘not happy’ that he may end his playing career.
He said that while many people see retirement as an opportunity to “put your feet up and enjoy the rest of your life,” he regrets that he will have to do that as he still feels young even as he begins his body feeling the pressure. toll on his nearly twenty-year career.
He told the newspaper: “I am aware that it will be difficult for me when that time comes. Because this gives you a lot. I invest a lot of my mental energy in tennis. Waking up in the morning with a routine? To improve yourself? That is enormous motivation, every day. And if that’s not there, it’s going to be hard to replace.”
‘I’m sure there will be other things in life that I will love, enjoy and be motivated by. But right now? I still love tennis.’
He seems less enamored with the idea of talking about the sport on television, telling The Sunday Times that he “didn’t particularly enjoy” his previous attempts at punditry.
He added: ‘Everyone always agrees – there’s no thread in the analysis and I don’t think it’s entertaining, or the best for the sport. One thing I like about football is that they disagree. Like last night, after the Scotland game…’
For Murray, football could mean a new lease on life after retirement. The Scot is a keen Arsenal fan and has previously suggested he could use his coaching badges in the sport. He told The Sunday Times that he could ‘potentially’ move into coaching outside of tennis.
Andy Murray holds his head in his hands during a press conference after an injury forced him to retire from his maths against Jordan Thompson at Queen’s Club on June 19.
Murray, pictured here training for the US Open in New York City in August 2023, has expressed his fears about retirement
It’s something he’s been thinking about for a while; he spoke last year of his ambition to keep himself busy and has also expressed an interest in assisting professional golfers as a caddy.
He told British Airways’ High Life magazine in July 2023: ‘I’m looking for something that I’m really passionate about and want to work really hard on to achieve a specific goal. One area that meets this requirement is coaching, but not necessarily in tennis. I definitely want to keep busy.’
As he decides which direction he wants to take his career when he finally throws in the towel, Murray will have a number of business ventures to keep him busy.
In 2013 they bought the luxury Scottish country house hotel Cromlix, close to the town of Dunblane, where he grew up, and oversaw its renovation. They have also submitted planning applications for nine additional huts which they hope to build later this year.
Murray also has a substantial stake in British sportswear brand Castore, is a shareholder in Game4Padel, a fast-growing game that is a cross between tennis and squash, and TMRW Sports, a venture launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
And he’s a supporter of British startups – he has a long partnership with British crowdfunding platform Seedrs – and is a global ambassador for Unicef and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
In 2022, he donated £510,000 – his entire year’s prize money – to help displaced Ukrainian children and received an Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts. Murray is the first British man to win multiple Wimbledon singles titles since Fred Perry in 1936.
But he had to wait for his success. He gave a tearful speech after losing his first Wimbledon final to Roger Federer in 2012.
Twelve months later he finally ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a male champion – including the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and former champions Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker watching from the Royal Box.
He then became Wimbledon champion for a second time in 2016 when he defeated Canadian Milos Raonic in five sets, repeating his 2013 triumph and claiming a third Grand Slam title.