ANDY MURRAY said he would only help train Jack Draper if he could still do the school run, after turning down multiple approaches to return to coaching.
Murray, 39, will coach fellow Brit Draper for his return to the court at Eastbourne next week and guide him through Wimbledon after he battled injuries that have kept him out since mid-April.
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Andy Murray has said he would only help train Jack Draper Credit: Getty
Murray says he spoke to his wife before taking up the role to train Draper Credit: Getty
The Scottish tennis legend, who retired in 2024, spent six months coaching Novak Djokovic after hanging up his racquet and needed some convincing to return to the role.
He said: “In the last year since I stopped working with Novak, I’ve had a number of opportunities to coach.
“I just had no interest in travelling and being on the road, being away from my family. It wasn’t that I disliked coaching. It’s just I didn’t enjoy it more than I do being at home with my family.
“When Jack asked me, I thought about it, spoke to my wife about it, and then I spoke to him and said I’d really like to help him. I really like Jack. I think he’s a brilliant player.
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“We live about 30 minutes from one another and he does a lot of his training in the UK.
“I said I’d help him as much as I can, but I still want to be able to drop my kids at school and pick them up from school and I don’t want to travel much and be away from them for long periods.”
“I said (to Jack) that if that didn’t work for you, then I completely appreciate that, it’s fine. I said I can help you in this context. We spoke the following day and he wanted to give it a go to work alongside his current team. I’ve been doing that for the last few weeks.”
Draper has been battling a left arm injury that forced him to withdraw from last year’s US Open.
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Murray spent time training one time rival Djokovic after retirement Credit: Reuters
The lefty has not played a major since, pulling out of this year’s Australian Open and French Open, but looks fit to return for Wimbledon.
His first match back on the court since April 13 will come next week when he takes on in-form Brandon Nakashima at Eastbourne.
Draper has been practicing on grass alongside Wimbledon champ Jannik Sinner in SW19 this week.
But coach Murray is focusing on getting the former World No4 to trust his body first.
The two-time Wimbledon champ added: “The number one priority for Jack and the team just now is getting him back on the match court competing and gaining trust in his body again.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed with his tennis on the practice court and he is a super quick learner.
“He’s a brilliant player as well, so there is no doubt that when he gets back on the match court he will win matches at the highest level. Right now the focus is trying to get him back on the match court.”
