That isn’t a threat, nor are we on speaking terms anyway (although I’d happily relinquish this wish for a round of golf), but seriously, let news of his split with Novak Djokovic be the last we hear from Murray until 2026.
Tennis is relentless. Take Murray’s annus mirabilis, 2016, when he grafted his way to the summit of the world rankings.
His singles campaign started in Melbourne and ended in London, taking in five continents along the way, including a jaunt down to Rio de Janeiro to defend his Olympic title in between Wimbledon and the US Open.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole)
Get the violin out, many will say, especially as Murray picked up more than £10m in 2016 alone, but tennis is undeniably exhausting, boasting arguably the most demanding schedule of any sport – mainly because of the travel.
“Once that all drops away you actually feel lighter, relieved that you can actually live normally again after 25 years.”
square TENNIS Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic end coaching arrangement
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He comes into view, wears a suit, dazzles the adoring crowd, then slinks back to family life. It’s entirely in keeping with the Federer that graced the courts during his glittering career.
This work ethic took him to the top. He achieved world No 1 status by the end of 2016, and despite the injury problems that followed he doggedly persevered, only relenting a metal hip and several other surgeries later when playing the final match of his career on 1 August last year.
That is until a phone call in November.
“He said ‘Do you have any plans to do any coaching’? And I said, ‘Honestly, I can’t think of anything worse to do right now’.
Djokovic reached the Australian Open semi-final in a promising run for their partnership (Photo: Getty)
So there Murray was in Melbourne, five months into his retirement, beginning his first calendar year away from the tennis circuit by spending time on the tennis circuit with old rival Djokovic.
Going cold turkey on tennis was never going to suit Murray’s temperament, but what was perhaps more unexpected was the decision to continue this partnership beyond the Australian Open, where Djokovic had retired hurt in the semi-finals.
It wasn’t exactly full-time for Murray, he headed to Val-d’Isere with wife Kim in April – only his second ski trip just months after his first saw him struggle with the ski lifts and rescued by snowmobile – but in Djokovic’s words this union was “indefinite”.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray)
But from Australia to the US to Spain, silverware eluded Djokovic. He is still searching for ATP title No 100, a landmark only Jimmy Connors (109) and Federer (103) have reached, with a shock loss in the Miami final as close as he has come this year.
square TENNIS Sport AnalysisWhy Emma Raducanu needs another new coach - and soon
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“Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over last six months on and off the court – really enjoyed deepening our friendship together,” Djokovic said on Tuesday.
The inevitable question for Murray is, again, what now? Wimbledon is around the corner, and while he may yet swap coaching for a trial at commentary, there is only one place for him at SW19: in the plush seats on Centre Court lapping up the royal levels of hospitality.
Unless it’s proof he has finally mastered a ski lift or lowered his golf handicap, I don’t want to know about it. For the love of god, Andy, take an actual break.
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Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( My memo to Andy Murray – just take a bloody break! )
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