Tennis

Murray to join Draper’s coaching team for Wimbledon

Published: 

British tennis players Andy Murray, left, and Jack Draper wave flags from a boat on the Seine River during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Naomi Baker/Pool Photo via AP) (Naomi Baker)

LONDON (AP) — Andy Murray will join Jack Draper’s coaching team for the upcoming grass-court season, including Wimbledon.

Draper, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2024, was ranked as high as No. 4 last year but he has struggled with injuries and is now down to No. 50.

Draper recently announced he was parting ways with coach Jamie Delgado.

Murray, who retired in 2024, won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016 and also claimed Olympic gold at the All England Club at the 2012 London Games.

It will be Murray’s second coaching role since retirement, having previously supported Novak Djokovic last year.

“I am very grateful for everything Jamie Delgado has done for me over these past six months,” Draper said. “He is a world-class coach and a great man.

“In the interim, I will continue to be supported by the excellent team at the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), with the addition of Andy Murray, who will be supporting me throughout the grass-court season,” Draper added Tuesday in an announcement from the LTA.

Murray was an idol for Draper and they played together at the 2023 Davis Cup Finals in Manchester, and also faced each other in Indian Wells, California, that year.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The Associated Press