Andy Murray Reflects on Retirement: "The Complete Opposite" of What He Expected

Andy Murray, one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes, has opened up about his unexpected ease with retirement, describing it as "the complete opposite" of what he anticipated. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who retired after the Paris Olympics in August, has revealed that life off the tennis court has been more enjoyable than he ever imagined.

At 37, Murray stepped away from the sport after a 19-year career marked by incredible highs, including two Wimbledon titles and Olympic golds in 2012 and 2016. In a candid interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the former world number one admitted that he initially expected to struggle with retirement but has found himself relishing his newfound freedom.

"Since I’ve stopped, I feel really free and have got lots of time to do whatever it is I want," Murray said. "I can dedicate time to my children and have free time to play golf or go to the gym on my own terms. It is really nice and I didn’t expect that. I was expecting to find retirement hard and be missing tennis a lot."

Murray’s decision to retire followed years of battling injuries, including a hip resurfacing operation in 2019 that threatened to end his career prematurely. Despite these physical setbacks, the Brit managed to continue competing at the highest level for several more years before finally calling time on his career after the Paris 2024 doubles quarter-final loss.

A Guilt-Free Life with Family

One of the most significant changes for Murray in retirement is the relief from the guilt he felt during his tennis career, particularly when it came to balancing his professional and personal life. As a father of four, Murray admitted that leaving his children for long periods of time while on tour weighed heavily on him.

"The thing that I always found difficult in recent years was that there was always a guilt associated with what I was doing," Murray explained. "If I was going away for a trip of three to four weeks, I would feel guilty leaving my children at home or being away from my wife for a long time. But when I was at home, I would think about how being on my feet with the kids might affect my training or performance. I found that stuff difficult over the last few years."

Now, without the demands of professional tennis, Murray is able to fully enjoy time with his family, free from the pressures of his former life on the court.

Reflections on Tennis and Media Scrutiny

While Murray is embracing his post-tennis life, he reflected on the challenges he faced during his career, particularly the intense media scrutiny and high expectations. Even during his most successful years, when he won three Grand Slam titles and became Britain’s first men’s Wimbledon champion in 77 years, Murray often felt he was falling short in the eyes of the public.

"It was really hard for me at times, reaching the final at Wimbledon and being criticised for your work or feeling you are not good enough," he said. "I was extremely successful, but I felt I was being attacked even when I was doing really well. That was pretty hard."

The pressure to meet those expectations, combined with the physical toll of tennis, often left Murray feeling isolated. "Tennis is a very lonely sport," he admitted, hinting at the emotional strain of competing at the top level for nearly two decades.

Shifting Focus to Golf

Now that his tennis career is behind him, Murray is setting new goals—this time on the golf course. Despite back and hip problems limiting his ability to play in recent years, the ever-competitive Scotsman is determined to improve his golf game.

"I want to get to scratch, whether that is possible or not I don’t know," Murray said. "I’ve got a lot of time on my hands to practise."

While his focus may have shifted to golf, Murray is not entirely leaving the sport he loves. He still plans to stay involved in tennis, though his main priority now is enjoying life after tennis, without the weight of expectation or guilt.