Andy Murray bags new coaching job after | Sports News

Andy Murray will lend his experience to Jack Draper forward of Wimbledon, the world No. 50 has confirmed. Draper has tumbled down the rankings after an injury-plagued 2026 marketing campaign, competing in simply 5 occasions and securing solely 5 victories thus far this season.

He missed the Australian Open attributable to bone bruising in his serving arm, an harm sustained finally yr’s U.S. Open in August. Draper ultimately returned after 5 months on the sidelines this February, however a knee downside has since pressured him to withdraw from one other Grand Slam, the upcoming French Open. It is anticipated he will probably be match for the grass-court season starting subsequent month, although he’s more likely to have dropped outdoors the world’s prime 100 by that time.

This would imply the Brit, who was ranked fourth on the planet simply final yr, would enter Wimbledon as an unseeded wildcard, doubtlessly going through a seeded opponent within the first or second spherical. The 24-year-old has performed solely as soon as on clay in 2026, in Barcelona, and was pressured to retire towards Tomas Etcheverry attributable to a proper knee tendon challenge. The left-hander bypassed the ATP 1000 occasions in Madrid and Rome earlier than confirming he would additionally sit out Roland Garros. It comes as Venus Williams was dealt a French Open wildcard blow as a tennis sensation is set to make her debut.

Despite the setbacks, there’s trigger for optimism as Draper will crew up with three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, the one British man in 89 years to say the singles title at Wimbledon. A press release from Draper learn: “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.

“In the interim, I’ll proceed to be supported by the superb crew on the LTA, with the addition of Andy Murray, who will probably be supporting me all through the grass courtroom season.” Murray has not officially been given the title of coach by Draper.

This marks Murray’s first involvement in tennis since parting ways with Novak Djokovic in May of last year, with the coaching partnership dissolving after just six months amid disappointing results. “Thank you coach Andy for all of the exhausting work, enjoyable and help over final six months, on and off the courtroom. Really loved deepening our friendship collectively,” Djokovic said.

Murray reflected: “Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable alternative to work collectively and because of his crew for all their exhausting work over the previous six months. I want Novak all of the best for the remaining of the season.”

Draper had only brought Delgado on board in October of last year. Delgado had previously worked alongside Murray during his rise to world No. 1 and subsequently coached Grigor Dimitrov.

Draper is eager to return to consistent competitive play following a remarkable 2025 campaign. He climbed into the world’s top four and claimed his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, building on his U.S. Open semi-final run in 2024 — the same year he captured his first two ATP titles in Vienna and Stuttgart.

Regarding his withdrawal from the forthcoming French Open, he stated in April: “My knee is on the mend and I’ve began back hitting balls however sadly I’ve been suggested to not play Roland Garros. As gutting as it’s to overlook one other Slam, the advice is to not rush straight back into enjoying five-set tennis on clay.

“Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again. See you soon!”