While attending a golf tournament in the UK last week, Murray stated he wasn't actively seeking a return to tennis as a coach. However, he didn't rule out the possibility if the opportunity arose to work with players he's close to.

"I had a great experience with Djokovic," Murray told British media on 14/9. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it definitely gave me a lot of insight. To do the job well, you have to put in a lot of effort and dedicate significant time. If there were a British player, living in London, who wanted to work with me, that would be ideal. Right now, I've only recently retired and I don't want to be away from my family too much."

Murray is believed to be referring to Raducanu, whom he mentored years ago. Raducanu frequently trains at the Roehampton National Tennis Centre, a familiar venue for Murray. Currently, the British number 1 appears settled with her new coach Francisco Roig, who previously worked with Rafael Nadal.

Murray (left) and Raducanu at Wimbledon 2024 - the tournament where they planned to play mixed doubles together but withdrew due to Raducanu wanting to focus on the singles competition. *Photo: Reuters*

Under Roig's guidance, Raducanu's form has improved. She narrowly lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the Cincinnati Open before reaching the third round of the US Open. This week, the world number 34 will compete in the WTA 500 tournament in Seoul.

Since her surprise US Open victory in 2021, Raducanu has struggled to find a consistent coach. She has worked with several coaches in recent years without forming a long-term partnership. If Roig doesn't bring Raducanu significant success, it's likely they will part ways, potentially opening the door for Murray.

"I've practiced with and offered advice to Raducanu, and she's a talent," Murray said in an interview at Wimbledon this year. "I think she has everything it takes to succeed, and she has plenty of time to do it."

Murray partnered with Djokovic in late 2024, a few months after retiring from professional play. He helped the Serbian player reach the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year and the Miami Open final. By the clay court season, the two stars announced the end of their partnership, and Djokovic subsequently entered Roland Garros without a coach. Currently, the Serbian player has not appointed a long-term coach, only collaborating with fellow Serbian coaches Dusan Vemic and Boris Bosnjakovic on a short-term basis for individual tournaments.

Vy Anh