Andy Murray has been backed to coach British tennis stars Emma Raducanu or Jack Draper by former mixed doubles partner Laura Robson. The retired two-time Wimbledon champion is open to moving into a coaching role after hanging up his racket after the Olympics.
Murray stepped away from the sport after he and Dan Evans were beaten in the Paris quarter-finals. Speculation has now turned to what the 37-year-old tennis icon will do in his post-playing career.
Having hinted at a coaching role after his Wimbledon farewell, Murray has since said that he does not yet want to engage with the travel commitments that the job would demand.
However, once he does become a coach, Robson insists he would be an excellent candidate to oversee the careers of either Raducanu or Draper. And she revealed he has already taken a step towards coaching by helping out young junior players.
“Andy would be a great coach to anyone. I’ve said this to him over the last couple weeks when I have seen him: You would be amazing!” she told the Metro.
“He’s got such an analytical mind. He loves the technique and the tactics and all the minor details you can do in tennis to improve by one per cent.
“He’d be great at working with anyone. I know he has been helping some of the junior guys.
“He invited them to some practice sessions and he had some time in Greece with them before the Olympics. I think in a way he would prefer a junior, because then it’s a fresh challenge.
“He loves the sport so much. He would be a huge advantage in anyone’s player box. I can definitely see him working with Emma Raducanu or Jack Draper. He’s just got so much advice to give.”
Murray has previously listed Raducanu and Draper as players he would enjoy coaching. Asked to name some stars whose careers he wants to oversee, the three-time Grand Slam champion said earlier this year: “Female player – Emma Raducanu. Male player – between [Carlos] Alcaraz, [Stefanos] Tsitsipas and [Jack] Draper.”
Murray mentored 17-year-old Scottish player Charlie Robertson during Wimbledon. He and Robertson were pictured alongside each other by Murray’s mother Judy ahead of the Olympics.
She wrote: “Charlie Robertson: the teenage Scot following in Andy’s footsteps is heading to New York next month to compete in the boys singles at the US Open. He’s ranked 25 in the world juniors and has just spent a week as Andy’s training partner as he prepares for the Olympics.
“It’s 20 years since Andy won the US Open junior event in 2004 and it’s great to see him investing in the next generation. No better and quicker way to learn than working alongside someone who has been there and done it. Go Charlie.”