‘No injuries just yet’ jokes Andy Murray as he takes up new sport for 2025 after tennis retirement
ANDY MURRAY was spotted enjoying his New Year skiing instead of coaching Novak Djokovic in Australia.
The three-time Grand Slam champion retired from tennis in emotional after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Scot then shocked his fans by signing up to work with one of his biggest rivals in the build-up to the Australian Open.
But Murray, 37, was missing as his old adversary took care of Aussie wildcard Rinky Hijikata by a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline at the Brisbane International event on New Years Eve.
The agreement was initially announced as a short term one for pre-season training, before Murray joined Djokovic’s set-up for the first Grand Slam of 2025.
But before linking up with his former rival, Murray had planned a short trip with wife Kim and their four children.
Djokovic paired with Nick Kyrgios in doubles this week, and after their match he was asked about the Scot’s absence from his box.
He said: “He’s actually skiing at the moment. He has a family ski trip, and I’m sending all my love to the Murray family.
“I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne… that wouldn’t be great.
“We spoke before the match, we’re communicating daily. I’m excited to have him in my team, my corner.
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“For 20-plus years he’s been across the net, but for the first time ever he’s on the same side of the court as me so it should be fun in Melbourne.”
Murray saw Djokovic’s comments on social media and hilariously responded with a video of himself skiing.
He added the caption: “I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet.”
Murray is expected to be in the Serb’s corner for the Australian Open which gets underway on January 12.
Djokovic added: “Being on the same side of the net is actually great for a change because he’s been one of my greatest rivals.
“In a way it was strange for me to share all these kinds of insights about how I feel on the court, sharing some of the secrets of what I’m going through, what I’m thinking about, how I see my game with somebody that has been always one of the top rivals.
“‘But I’m so glad and very thankful that he has accepted to work with me here in Australia.”
Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, a competition he has won 10 times on his way to 24 Grand Slam titles.
Andy Murray's career timeline
SIR Andy Murray is Great Britain's most successful tennis player of the Open era.
After breaking through in 2005 to reach the Wimbledon third round at 18, the Scot was British No1 by the following year.
In 2008 he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, only to fall to Roger Federer in straight sets.
Two more final defeats at the Australian Open to Federer and Novak Djokovic followed in 2010 and 2011 before heartbreak at Wimbledon in 2012.
Despite taking the first set against Federer, he fell 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 in front of a home crowd before breaking into tears on Centre Court.
But a month later on the same court he beat the Swiss legend to earn Team GB a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
And weeks after that he broke his Grand Slam duck at the fifth attempt, beating Djokovic in five sets in the US Open final.
In 2013, following another Australian Open final loss, Murray beat Djokovic in straight sets to become the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title.
Three more losing Grand Slam finals followed, at the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens and the 2016 French Open.
But in his third Grand Slam final of 2016, Murray won Wimbledon again with a straight sets victory over Canadian Milos Raonic.
He followed it up with his second Olympic gold medal, beating Juan Martin del Potro in a four-hour epic in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
Later in 2016 Murray became world No1 – the first British man to do so in history.
Over his career Murray reached 11 Grand Slam finals, winning three. He won two Olympic golds and a silver (in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson).
He finishes his career with 46 titles and over £50million in earnings, making him the fourth all-time leader in earnings.
His final match was at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost in the quarter-final of the men’s doubles at Roland Garros to USA pair Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.