Andy Murray has revealed he sought advice from a former mentor to help improve his coaching skills after his high-profile collaboration with Novak Djokovic.
Murray, who retired from the sport at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris, was briefly a member of Djokovic’s team for just over five months between December and May. During this period, the Serbian reached the Australian Open semi-finals before having to retire from his match injured, as well as the final of the Miami Masters. However, the partnership was brought to an end due to what both described as a ‘mutual agreement.’
After his first taste of coaching on the Tour, three-time Grand Slam champion Murray told The Tennis Mentor that he wanted to improve his skills further for the future, especially when it comes to the technical side of the game.
“I think, first of all, you learn a lot about your weaknesses. I think a lot of ex-players…it’s very different being a player and a coach, which I expected. Obviously, when you’re working with someone at that level, it probably shows up your strengths but also your weaknesses as well as a coach,” said Murray.
“Something that I would say most ex-players are sort of weak at is the technical side of the game. At times, Novak was looking for quite a lot of technical feedback and it was something that I didn’t really feel comfortable with.
“One, in terms of how to teach somebody technique. I think coaches that work with younger players and are used to doing that are actually stronger than a lot of coaches that work on tour, because once a player is sort of 20, 22 years old, you’re not trying to overhaul their game and technique. It’s like little changes here and there. So that was something that definitely, if I was going to coach in the future, I would want to work on and learn from someone who’s very good at that.”
In recent weeks, Murray has spoken to one of his former mentors, Louis Cayer, for tips. Cayer, who is from Canada, is a former Davis Cup captain and coach who has been instrumental in the rise of major success for British players in the doubles.
Murray’s mother, Judy, watched one of Cayer’s coaching sessions in 2006 and was so impressed that she hired him to work with her other son, former world No.1 doubles player Jamie.
“Louis Cayer is one of the coaches that I worked with during my career on the technical side, who was fantastic,” said Murray. “He’s someone I’ve reached out to since my time with Novak to talk about potentially getting some coaching for my coaching on that side of things.”
The desire to improve his skills is a clear indication that the former world No.1 is happy to resume his coaching duties in the future. Although if he does, Murray plans to do so in different circumstances compared to when he did with Djokovic. Ideally, working with a younger player with a good possibility of being a fellow Brit.
“Yeah, I would [return to coaching] if it was the right sort of project,” he confirms. “I think I probably enjoy working with a younger player and trying to influence them from a younger age. Try to help any of the British players if they want and it works out just now.
“I think I would coach again in the future but I’m just not sure if that will be in the immediate future. I was not planning on going back on the road when Novak called.
“It wasn’t something that–I was not missing tennis and desperate to get back on the road. It was a pretty unique opportunity. I think at some stage I would like to do it again.”
During his career, Murray won 46 ATP titles and spent 41 weeks as world No.1. He is the only British male player in the Open era to have won Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as the only player to have won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in singles.
