Andy Murray has reiterated that he “doesn’t miss tennis at all” following his retirement last year. The Scotsman’s stance is the complete opposite to Roger Federer’s, one of his biggest career rivals, who himself retired in 2022.
Murray enjoyed a stellar career, widely being considered the fourth best player of his generation, which included fellow legends Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The 38-year-old won two Olympic gold medals and three Grand Slams, including Wimbledon twice. But injuries caused him persistent problems towards the end of his 19-year career, prompting his decision to hang up his racket in August 2024 after the Paris Olympics. The Brit appeared highly emotional at the time, even shedding tears at his Wimbledon farewell the previous month.
But despite the huge role tennis has played in his life, Murray insists he doesn’t miss his playing days and is now relishing the freedom to pursue other hobbies, including golf and spending time with his children.
He said on The Chipping Forecast recently: “I thought I was going to miss it a lot because I loved tennis. I loved the competition, the training, I enjoyed travelling and playing the events. My body just wasn’t able to do it anymore.
“But since I stopped I haven’t really missed it at all. I’ve got four young children at home so I’m very busy with them and, when they’re at school, golf has replaced that routine of training at something and I’m really enjoying that.”
Murray played 1,001 singles matches over the course of his career, but eventually found that leaving his four children and wife, Kim, for long periods was difficult as he tried to balance parenthood with playing.
“Since I’ve stopped, I feel really free and have got lots of time to do whatever it is I want,” Murray told BBC Radio 4 shortly after his retirement last year. “I can dedicate time to my children and have free time to play golf or go to the gym on my own terms.
“It is really nice and I didn’t expect that. I was expecting to find retirement hard and be missing tennis a lot and wanting to get back on the tennis court on tour. So far it has been the complete opposite to what I was thinking.”
Conversely, 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer still misses the action, despite having had three years to adapt to life away from the limelight. The Swiss maestro is set to return to the court for a celebrity doubles match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters on October 10.
The 44-year-old said recently: “I would love to play some tennis again. I would like to start playing two/three times a week and hopefully be back on exhibition courts.
“Hopefully, I can fill a couple of stadiums around the world. I don’t have plans at the moment, but I know I need to train for it. I miss it a bit, honestly, because I have hardly played since I retired.”
