Andy Murray, the retired tennis star, has extended an invitation to his former rival Roger Federer to join him in padel, a sport he now prefers over tennis. In a recent interview, Murray highlighted padel's social and healthy aspects as reasons for his enthusiasm. The pair, who competed fiercely 25 times on the tennis court, could form a strong partnership in this emerging racket game.
Andy Murray has embraced life after tennis retirement by diving into padel, and he wants Roger Federer to join him. Speaking with Advantage Padel, the Scotsman named Federer as his dream doubles partner when asked about ideal teammates. Murray explained his shift in preferences: "I play more padel than tennis now. So it’s got to be padel."
He elaborated on what draws him to the sport, which combines elements of tennis and squash on an enclosed court. "Padel for me is sociable. That’s why I play the game now, because I get to spend time with my friends. It’s also very healthy. Promotes an active lifestyle. So yeah, that’s why I love it," Murray said.
Their potential collaboration evokes memories of a storied tennis rivalry. Federer and Murray clashed 25 times, with Federer securing 14 victories to Murray's 11. They often vied for supremacy alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a dominant era of men's singles. Murray claimed two Wimbledon titles and a US Open, cementing his legacy with three Grand Slams.
Murray retired at 37 following the 2024 Paris Olympics, briefly coaching Djokovic for six months before parting ways. Now 38, he stays active through golf, sharing his passion on YouTube channels like Fore Bros and Ian Poulter's 'The Postman.' He has expressed interest in regional qualifying for The Open, though he acknowledges the gap between amateurs and professionals: "I’m fully aware of how good the players that play in those events are and how good the pros are in comparison to amateurs. Even guys that play off +2, 3 are miles off what these guys are."
Meanwhile, Djokovic remains the sole active member of that elite quartet, advancing at the Australian Open via a walkover when Lorenzo Musetti retired injured.