Andy Murray has officially joined the coaching staff of British No. 2 Jack Draper for the upcoming grass-court campaign. The three-time Grand Slam champion, 38, has not been active on the ATP Tour since his six-month stint coaching Novak Djokovic ended last year. This move comes after Draper parted ways with Jamie Delgado.
Murray will be part of Draper’s support team throughout the grass-court season, including Wimbledon, which starts on 29 June. “I am very grateful for everything Jamie Delgado has done for me over these past six months. He is a world-class coach and a great man,” said Draper, who reached a career-high world No. 4 ranking last year. “In the interim, I will continue to be supported by the excellent team at the LTA, with the addition of Andy Murray, who will be supporting me throughout the grass-court season.”
The 24-year-old Draper has struggled with a series of injuries throughout his career and will miss this month’s French Open due to a knee tendon problem. The 2024 US Open semi-finalist has slipped in the rankings as a result of his extended absences and is projected to fall outside the top 75 after the Italian Open. He plans to return for the grass-court swing after Roland Garros but has not yet finalized his schedule. A comeback at the Stuttgart tournament in early June – where Draper won his first ATP title in 2024 – remains possible, followed by the Queen’s Club event in London the next week.
Draper hired Delgado, who was in Murray’s corner when he became world No. 1, as head coach in October last year. However, due to Draper’s recurring injury issues, they only worked together at four tournaments this season. The left-hander was sidelined for nearly six months after last year’s US Open with a bruised humerus bone in his serving arm. After playing one match for Great Britain in the Davis Cup tie against Norway, Draper returned to the ATP Tour in late February in Dubai. Since then, he has played only eight tour matches and cut short his clay-court season after retiring with a knee problem in Barcelona.
Analysis: Master guiding apprentice always felt inevitable
Draper convincing Murray to mentor him feels like a natural union between the master and apprentice of British men’s tennis. The bond between the two has been strong for years, with Draper often referring to Murray as a “big brother” figure and Murray always available to offer career advice. The strength of their personal relationship was famously captured in a viral video of a beer-swigging Draper singing on their way home together from a Davis Cup win in 2023, with Murray playing the role of an exasperated older sibling.
This warm, natural friendship made a player-coach partnership seem inevitable, though the timing is a surprise. Draper already had a highly experienced coach in Delgado, best known for his work with Murray but also guiding former world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov to two Grand Slam quarter-finals. Delgado had already made changes to Draper’s serving motion and would have provided valuable knowledge on British grass, having been part of Murray’s team when he won his second Wimbledon title in 2016.
For Murray, it appeared he was content to take an extended break from the sport he dedicated his life to. His partnership with Djokovic was a steep learning curve, but he found it valuable. Just last month, Murray spoke about not wanting to return to coaching yet, prioritizing time with his family, expanding his business investments, and improving his golf game. However, the opportunity to help nurture Draper – especially without the commitment of traveling far from his Surrey home – proved too good to turn down.
Nobody knows more than Murray about the expectations and stress placed on a British player at Wimbledon. He also understands what it’s like to battle physical issues as a younger player and build the resilience needed for sustained success. This partnership has the potential to thrill British sports fans.
