Andy Murray has recalled how his relationship with Roger Federer shifted during their early years on the ATP Tour. The former world number one described training frequently with the Swiss star at the start of his career before Federer stopped wanting to practice together.
Murray made the comments during an interview for the YouTube channel The Switch. “When I started out on the tour, I trained a lot with Federer at first, but then as I improved, he didn’t want to train with me anymore,” he said.
He explained the typical pattern among top players. When a promising newcomer appears, established stars often train with them to assess their game, but that changes once the newcomer becomes a direct rival.
Murray, who reached the tour in 2005, went on to secure a 6-2 head-to-head lead over Federer in their first eight meetings. He won three Grand Slam titles before retiring in 2024 after a long injury battle.