Andy Murray‘s retirement from the sport is approaching, and the British legend has spoken about staying in shape after he hangs up his racket.
Tennis fans have consistently speculated over the last few years about when the three-time Grand Slam champion may retire. Murray has defied the odds by continuing to play at a reasonable level despite having a metal hip.
Some, like Murray’s mum, Judy, have been bothered by constant questions about when he will quit the sport he loves. The 37-year-old always said he would confirm when the time came, and Judy did not like her son having to repeat himself all the time.
However, before Wimbledon, Murray finally announced it was unlikely he would play beyond the upcoming Olympics. It is a fitting event for Murray to end his career since he won two gold medals in the men’s singles in 2012 and 2016.
After playing doubles with his brother, the two-time Wimbledon champion also had an emotional farewell at SW19. However, there was also some controversy about Murray’s planned appearance in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu.
Tennis fans were divided when Raducanu withdrew from the mixed doubles, citing soreness in her wrist. She was still able to play in her next singles match at the tournament, meaning it was clear she prioritized that over the doubles.
Raducanu defended her decision to withdraw from the doubles, saying it was a no-brainer. Many fans also felt the criticism of the 21-year-old was unfair and argued that Murray would have done the same thing in her situation.
Judy Murray did not seem as understanding at first. She said she was astonished by Raducanu’s decision on social media, although the Scotswoman tried to play down her annoyance afterward.
Andy will now focus on playing doubles alongside Dan Evans at the Olympics before considering post-retirement life. In a recent interview with Hello! Magazine, Murray stated he wants to stay in shape after he retires.
“I’ll definitely still be playing tennis. Just not on the Tour. I plan to play a lot more golf, and I’ll probably carry on working with my Strength and Conditioning coach, Matt Little, as I transfer from being a full-time athlete and adjusting to not needing to do quite so much.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion also mentioned an aspect of his diet he will be focusing on to stay in good condition. Murray plans to keep taking collagen proteins, which became essential after his ankle injury.
“I’ve also been taking Vital Proteins collagen for a while. Following problems with my ankle, I was advised to use collagen supplements as I was only getting small amounts of collagen in my diet, so supplementing is a good option for me and supports my overall fitness plan. It’s all about consistency; I will continue to add a scoop to my morning coffee.”
Top athletes often struggle to stay motivated after retiring. Without the adrenaline of professional sports, it is hard for them to keep working hard. Murray seems to have a good plan for avoiding that fate.
