Andy Murray was the grumpy driver. That image — the legendary British tennis champion behind the wheel, listening to 24-year-old Jack Draper sing his heart out after a Davis Cup victory in 2023 — tells you everything about the mentorship that has now become something more official. This summer, at the All England Club, Murray will return to Wimbledon not as a competitor but as Draper's "super-coach," a role model that mirrors the dynamic he once had with eight-time major champion Ivan Lendl, who helped him win his three Grand Slam titles.
The timing caught many by surprise. Just months earlier, in April, Murray had said he wasn't ready to return to coaching. He had spent the previous 12 months enjoying life outside tennis — being a husband to wife Kim and a father to their four children, honing his golf game, and diversifying his business interests. "I had a number of opportunities to coach again," Murray explained. "I had no interest in being on the road and away from my family. It wasn't that I disliked coaching — I just didn't enjoy it more than I do being at home with my family."
But when Draper asked, something shifted. After speaking with Kim, Murray agreed to help. "When Jack asked me, I thought about it, spoke to my wife and told Jack that I'd love to help him," Murray said. Over the past few weeks, the pair have been working together on the practice courts at the National Tennis Centre in London as Draper recovers from ongoing fitness problems that have derailed his rise up the men's rankings.
Draper, once the world number four, has lost his place at the top of the game after a series of injuries over the past year. But his latest comeback begins at Eastbourne this week, with Wimbledon on the horizon. Murray, who experienced his own physical struggles in the early part of his career, sees long-term potential in the partnership. "I think Jack's a brilliant player," Murray said. "There is no doubt that when he gets back on the court he will perform well and win matches at the highest level. But right now the focus is on trying to get him back competing consistently again."
The story took an unexpected turn when Serena Williams — another legend who has returned to Grand Slam tennis — emerged in the conversation. Murray recalled a chat with Williams at last year's Miami Open, where she asked if he missed playing. "She asked if I missed playing. I was like, 'not at all, to be honest'," Murray said. "She said, 'yes, I miss it every single day. I absolutely loved competing, love playing. If I could, I'd be back out there again'." Could Murray see himself making a similar comeback? "As much as I would love to, I don't think I'd physically be capable of doing that," he smiled. "I haven't missed the sport enough yet to want to get on the court and even hit tennis balls."
Those who know Murray well describe a man who throws himself into everything with curiosity and purpose. He spends hours on the golf course in his mission to become a scratch player, has tried padel, and even helps his six-year-old son with chess. He and Kim remain hands-on owners of a hotel near their hometown of Dunblane. "The advice I was given when I finished was to just try lots of new things because, as athletes, we just do one thing," Murray reflected. "My whole life — since I was 14 or 15 — was wrapped up in tennis and that's all I knew. So I've tried to do different stuff, see whether I like it and I'm good at it."
For Murray, this new chapter isn't about returning to the spotlight. It's about being present — for his family, for the sport he loves, and for a young player who grew up watching him. And on his own terms, that feels like a victory worth celebrating.