Andy Murray is being linked with a potential return to tennis in a coaching role within the UK, just days after announcing his split from Novak Djokovic.
The Brit had spent six months working with his former on-court rival, but the two parted ways ahead of the French Open and Wimbledon.
Coaching Djokovic marked Murray’s first role since stepping away from professional tennis. Their unexpected collaboration made headlines across the sport, and now many are curious about Murray’s next move.
It’s unclear whether the two-time Wimbledon champion plans to pursue a long-term coaching career or simply saw the chance to work with Djokovic as a unique opportunity late in the Serb’s career.
Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open winner, believes Murray is unlikely to step into another lead coaching role right away following his departure from Djokovic’s camp.
He told the Tennis Channel: “I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon, I think this is an exceptional circumstance with someone he probably wanted to learn from.”
“They have a friendship before,” Roddick added regarding Murray and Djokovic. “I don’t think this is going to be something we see from Murray, at least on the travelling side, and maybe we see him work with people in London.
“I think his brain always wants to work in the tennis space. But I would be shocked if he went on the road with someone else any time soon.”
Staying in the UK would allow Murray to be closer to his family — a major factor in his decision to retire from playing and one he emphasized again before accepting the traveling role with Djokovic.
“I want to spend time with my family and see my kids growing up as that’s something you miss when you are on the road and the last few years when you have been away for three or four weeks at a time I have found that difficult,” Murray told Eurosport in September.
“But with all the British players when I’m at home I will try to help, whenever I can if any of them wanted to I would try my best to make that happen. It is a big commitment to coach if you want to do it properly and I want to ensure I do it properly.”
Murray might end up collaborating with players like Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu at the LTA’s London headquarters, even if he isn’t formally listed as their coach on the professional circuit.
