Andy Murray has been backed to put his frosty experience with Emma Raducanu at last year’s Wimbledon behind him and become the 2021 US Open champion’s coach.
Murray and Raducanu were scheduled to partner each other in the mixed doubles event at the Championships, with the latter pulling out just before their opening match in order to focus on her singles run.
It ended Murray’s Wimbledon career for him, with the Scot opting out of playing in the singles draw after just coming back from surgery and also having already been eliminated from the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie.
The move sparked plenty of controversy, with Andy’s mum Judy blasting Raducanu’s decision, labelling it “astonishing” – something she later clarified was meant with tongue in cheek.
Murray was quick to defend his mum, saying: “Everyone’s emotions are obviously running high but my mum’s obviously always going to support me and look out for my best interests. She’s been the best supporter.”
Despite the very public standoff between the pair’s camps, Murray, who made his coaching debut at this year’s Australian Open with Novak Djokovic, has been touted as a future Raducanu mentor.
That’s according to former British tennis star Mark Petchey, who told Casino.org: “I can definitely see Andy working on the women’s tour one day, 100 per cent.
“I think that’s going to be a natural evolution for him, and I’m sure a lot of the top women on tour will want to tap into his tennis IQ…
It’s a different style of play, and something that he’s super well acquainted to given how much of it he’s watched. He’s always been a champion of gender equality and, if you are one of the top women’s players, you’d be crazy not to pick up the phone and see if he has some availability to work with you.”
The prediction comes after Raducanu parted ways with coach Nick Cavaday following a run to the third round of the Australian Open, where she was defeated by eventual semi-finalist Iga Swiatek.
On Murray’s future coaching prospects, he continued: “Obviously he’s a bit tied up with Novak now and that will take up his time in the immediate future if they continue their trial after Australia, but, post that, when he has got availability I won’t be surprised to see him teaming up with one of the marquee women’s players.
Could he coach Emma Raducanu one day? It would be a dream partnership for Brits in terms of his knowledge, the stage of her career and his ability to guide her.
“Tactically he could help her, and also from a drive point of view. We all know that, as a player, Andy never left a stone unturned.
“He has a great energy and work ethic about him, and that could only be a boost to Emma and her game. I genuinely believe there’s no bad blood after what happened between them at Wimbledon last year.
