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Andy Murray has revealed that retirement has been a surprisingly liberating experience, contrary to what he had anticipated. The 37-year-old, who retired after the Paris Olympics in August, shared that he is not missing tennis as he thought he would.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the three-time Grand Slam champion said, “Since I’ve stopped, I feel really free and have got lots of time to do whatever it is I want. I can dedicate time to my children and have free time to play golf or go to the gym on my own terms.”
Murray, who underwent hip resurfacing surgery in 2019 and battled various injuries in his final years, admitted he had expected to find retirement difficult, but his experience has been quite the opposite. “I was expecting to find retirement hard and be missing tennis a lot… but so far it has been the complete opposite to what I was thinking.”
Family Life and Relief from Guilt
Murray, who played his last match at the Paris 2024 Olympics, acknowledged that while there may be no “perfect ending” for a tennis player, he now feels at ease being fully present with his family. “There was always a guilt associated with what I was doing,” Murray admitted, reflecting on the tension between his professional career and family life. “If I was going away for a trip of like three to four weeks I would feel guilty leaving my children at home or being away from my wife for a long time.”
The former World No. 1 highlighted how the physical demands of tennis made it hard to balance training with quality time at home. Now, he relishes the ability to be with his four children without the pressure of his tennis schedule.
The Loneliness of Tennis and the Challenges of Success
Murray also opened up about the emotional toll of the sport, particularly dealing with media scrutiny during the height of his success. Despite winning Wimbledon twice and earning Olympic gold, he struggled with feelings of inadequacy due to the high expectations placed on him.
“It was really hard for me at times, reaching the final at Wimbledon and being criticised for your work or feeling you are not good enough,” he said, adding that he often felt he was being unfairly “attacked” despite his achievements.
New Goals on the Golf Course
Though his tennis career is over, Murray remains passionate about staying active in sports. He now has his sights set on the golf course and hopes to achieve a scratch handicap. “I’ve got a lot of time on my hands to practise,” he said with determination, despite the physical challenges posed by his previous injuries.
