Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have both recently opened up about life after tennis following their respective retirements in 2024 and have distinctly different outlooks on the sport
Tennis legends Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have differing perspectives on the sport after retirement. Both players hung up their rackets last year, with Murray stepping away after the Paris Olympics and Nadal playing his final match at the Davis Cup in November.
The pair, along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, have inspired a generation of fans in the men’s game. Murray concluded his career as a three-time Grand Slam champion, including two Wimbledon victories, and also secured two Olympic gold medals.
In a surprising move late last year, Murray revealed he had joined Djokovic’s coaching team just three months after retiring, although their partnership ended in May. Speaking at Queen’s on Monday, the British tennis star confessed that, unlike Nadal, he still yearned to compete on the court.
«I’ve obviously missed being out here,» Murray admitted. «It’s the first time, obviously, not being involved in a grass court season for a while, but I’ve got a new life now and I’m enjoying being away from the sport a little bit.»
On Monday, Murray was present at Queen’s Club, where the centre court was officially renamed the Andy Murray Arena in recognition of his record five men’s singles titles. As he prepared to join 10-year-old Gloria for a ceremonial rally against Laura Robson and her seven-year-old partner Jay, Murray quipped: «My tennis is diabolical. Apologies for what you are about to witness.»
However, Nadal doesn’t share Murray’s longing to keep playing. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who was recently celebrated at Roland-Garros ahead of the French Open, where he clinched an impressive 14 titles, admitted he hasn’t picked up a tennis racket since his last match.
«I don’t miss tennis much, because I feel that I gave it all that I had,» Nadal told journalists last month. «I arrived today with the peace that I can’t be on court. My body won’t allow me to be on court. So that’s all. I am in peace.
«I did all that I could to have the best career possible, and now I am enjoying this new phase of my life, that I am sure is going to be less exciting than the tennis career, because the adrenaline that sports gives to you, I think it’s impossible to find in other things in life. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be less happy.»
When asked if he had played tennis since his final match, Nadal admitted: «I didn’t touch a racket yet after my retirement. So it’s [six] months without being on a tennis court. But I will. I will be back at some point, because at some point I will prepare myself to play an exhibition or something like this.»
While Murray has remained involved in tennis through his collaboration with Djokovic, Nadal confessed that stepping away from the game briefly dulled his competitive edge. «I don’t know why. But I was playing golf or anything else, and I didn’t care if I lose, if I win, if I play well, if I play bad. It was a strange feeling for me, and not funny,» he shared.
«I didn’t like to experience that, being honest, because I understand the sport in another way. But that’s past. I am competitive again.»
In terms of Murray’s next steps, he clarified that he isn’t eyeing an immediate coaching comeback after his stint with Djokovic. However, Murray hasn’t dismissed the idea of taking up a new coaching role in the future. «I think I would do it again at some stage. I don’t think that will happen immediately,» he told BBC Sport.
«I was not planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time.
«You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. As an individual athlete, you have a team of people around you, but you’re the focal point whereas when you’re coaching an individual, you’re working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick.
«That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future. It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren’t as we wanted but we gave it a go. We’ll see about coaching in the future but I don’t think that will happen for a while.»
