Andy Murray has made his future plans clear after splitting with Novak Djokovic this year.
The former world No. 1 has ruled out an imminent return to coaching because he is loving being a full-time dad—and losing at chess to his five-year-old son. Murray returned to the grass for the first time since his Wimbledon farewell last summer for the official naming of the *Andy Murray Arena* at Queen’s Club
But the 38-year-old Scot is in no rush to get back to work after his first coaching role with Djokovic ended last month.
*“I think I would do it again at some stage—I don’t think that will happen immediately,”* Murray told the BBC in an interview with Clare Balding. *“I wasn’t planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing, but it was obviously a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. The results weren’t as we wanted, but I gave it a go. We’ll see about coaching in the future, but I don’t think that is going to happen for a while.”*
Murray admitted he had been *“worried”* about retiring but stated: *“It has been brilliant.”* The father of four added: *“Right now, I’m just at home with my family, being a dad. Immediately, my main priority is to give my kids a good upbringing and to be around for them. Be with my wife and support her.”*
He shared a humorous anecdote about parenting: *“My five-year-old boy [Teddy] has got massively into chess, which I’m really enjoying playing with him. I’m not a particularly good chess player, but I’ve got quite an analytical mind and I enjoy the game and watching him learn. It’s difficult losing to a five-year-old when, in the middle of the game, he’s asking you to come and wipe his bum. He’s going to the toilet in the middle of the game and then comes back and beats me at chess. It’s humbling for my intelligence.”*
### **Tennis in a “Good Place”**
Murray believes tennis is thriving despite the retirements of himself, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, citing the historic French Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as proof.
*“They’re both brilliant athletes and very different personalities, which I think for fans is really exciting,”* Murray said. *“Alcaraz has an exciting brand of tennis to watch, and they complement each other well. They’ve already had some brilliant matches, and from what I’ve been told, it was one of the best finals for a long time.”*
He added: *“Men’s tennis is in a great place. People always worry at the end of a generation what’s next, but sports continue to evolve and improve. Jack Draper’s right in the mix now and will give himself opportunities to win majors over the next 5–10 years.”*
### **Family First**
Murray emphasized his joy in being present for his children’s milestones: *“My daughters [Sophia, Edie, and Lola] play netball, hockey, and cricket. None are massively into tennis. Being there for school pickups, Father’s Day celebrations, and sports days—one had a piano recital the other day—it’s those moments. When I was playing, I didn’t realize how important they were, but now I see how happy they are when I show up. It’s really nice.”*
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