Andy Murray faces ‘push back’ as retired Brit returns to Wimbledon as a coach | Tennis | Sport

Andy Murray will be returning to the tennis tour as part of Jack Draper’s coaching team for the grass season. The two-time Wimbledon champion retired in 2024 and then coached his old rival, Novak Djokovic, for six months. But their partnership ended last May, and Murray has not had a role in the sport since then.

Now, he is set to support Draper during the grass swing, which likely includes events in Stuttgart, Queen’s and Wimbledon, as the British No. 2 continues his comeback from injury. However, Mark Petchey – who previously coached Murray and fellow Brit Emma Raducanu – believes Draper won’t be afraid to “push back” at the three-time Major champion.

It’s something he says can only help their relationship. “Andy and Jack spent a lot of time together on the practice courts before Andy’s retirement. They know each other well and there’s a huge amount of respect there,” Petchey said on Tennis Channel.

“I’ve been party to some of their conversations. Jack is very comfortable saying his piece to Andy. It’s not a case of, ‘Well, he’s a two-time Wimbledon champion, so I just need to listen’. He’ll push back. I think it will be a very productive relationship between the two of them, and I’m excited to see how it goes.”

Draper has also confirmed his split from Jamie Delgado, who previously coached Murray himself. Delgado joined the team in October, but they only worked together during four tournaments this year, with injuries derailing the Brit’s season again. The current world No. 50 will also be supported by LTA staff.

And Petchey is intrigued to see whether this could include James Trotman, Draper’s ex-coach who left his team last autumn. Trotman has since returned to working closely with the LTA, and Petchey says he also has a good relationship with Murray.

The coach and pundit added: “It’s an interesting time and an interesting decision. I guess I’m slightly surprised because Andy has been out for so long, at least from the press reports. I only saw when I went on air that Jamie Delgado isn’t going to be working during the grass season.

“That that says to me is that James Trotman, who was Jack Draper’s coach before Jamie Delgado, has been working at the LTA base at home. I have a strong suspicion, and this is not based on anything I’ve heard directly, that because James Trotman and Andy are pretty good friends – not that Andy and Jamie aren’t – James may well be coming back into the fold to work with Jack alongside Andy.”

It remains to be seen who joins Murray in Draper’s box during the grass season. But the three-time Major champion’s presence will surely be a huge boost for Draper, who needs it after months of injury struggles.

The Brit started 2025 on a high when he won Indian Wells, and finished runner-up in Doha and Madrid. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world, but then spent six weeks sidelined by an arm injury after losing in the second round of Wimbledon.

Draper made a short-lived return at the US Open, winning his opening match before withdrawing from the tournament and ending his season. He returned to action during a Davis Cup tie in February but still hasn’t played a full schedule since then. The 24-year-old then injured his knee in Barcelona last month and soon ruled himself out of the rest of the clay swing.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page