Judy Murray: “I would never coach a player again”

People who know about tennis always have a place on our pages, especially if it’s someone who hasn’t given in to an interview for a long time. Luckily there are still media that travel to tournaments, as has been the case with CLAY and this talk with Judy Murray made in the last Doha tournament. The british talks about her little one Andy MurrayEven though I’m already 35 years old. She confesses that her return to the circuit is one of the greatest things she has ever seen, but she also talks about the weight of the woman inside the circuit. tour and of his future away from the slopes, assuring that he would never train anyone again.

Andy’s worst moment

“When he injured his hip he was number one in the world, he was playing the best tennis of his career, it was really unfortunate. He passed in the 2017 Roland Garros semifinal against Wawrinka, that led him to undergo some surgeries, it took him many months before he returned. But I never stopped believing that he could do it, even though the rehab and recovery were tough, the problem was getting back to the level he wanted to play at. His resilience was insurmountable, but now I see him moving very well again, playing spectacularly, at 36 he continues to give himself opportunities. He has not lost his love for the game or the fight, he is an example for the youngest ”.

No doubts about his son

“It was impossible to tell, he needed a lot of things to rebuild himself again, he had to allow his body to get used to having some metal on his hip, he learned to take care of his body to make it strong enough to do what he wanted: run inside a tennis court and compete. If you look at his recent Australian Open matches, you’ll see that he managed to do it. He’s setting a great example for other players who get injured, in terms of believing that if you do everything in your power to recover, the rewards are possible.”

Mother before coach

“I only give him advice if he asks me, he is already 35 years old and has a great team around him, but he always needs emotional support. It is good when the family travels and supports you, because we love you, not because they are employed. It has always been this way, the bigger the event, the more stressful the occasion and the more you need your family and friends around. At the Grand Slams, all the best players have their people with them, because they are two very long weeks and you need time to disconnect. It’s great to see him back, playing at this level again.”

Nadal situation

“I have known Rafa since he was 11 years old, I saw him for the first time in a sub12 in France when he played against Jamie, my eldest son. During all this time I have recognized him as an incredible competitor, a tireless fighter who loves the game. He’s a lot like Andy, he’s focused on what he wants, he still has that desire to go out there and compete, at the end of the day you trust your body to perform. I have no knowledge of his physical condition, but I am sure that the desire is maintained, he will continue to perform at a high level. Mind you, as you get older, if your body doesn’t work, you don’t work.”

Equality yes, but women are missing

“I have been saying it for a long time, we need more women in the tennis labor department, at all levels. When you look at the WTA circuit you find very few female coaches, but it’s not just that, we also need more directors, physiotherapists, trainers, journalists, photographers, etc. Tennis is the sport with the most gender equality in prize money, sponsorship, opportunities and television coverage, even at the fan level, more or less 50% are men and the other 50% are women. But when you get to the top of the game, the workforce is predominantly male.”

The future is clear

“I would not work on the circuit with any player again. I made that very clear five two years ago, when I stopped being captain of the FedCup. I’m back to base, I spend a lot of time teaching people how to teach players effectively. I am one of the global ambassadors of the WTA in a program that stopped after the pandemic and that will return in a couple of months. I have extensive experience at all levels, I know how the tour works and what things demand, both tennis and your business. I am in a good position to advise players, coaches or parents.”