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Andy Murray is dedicated to new sport after quitting tennis as unlikely rival speaks out

Andy Murray has taken up a new sport in retirement.

Andy Murray challenged Declan Rice to a round of golf (Image: Getty)

It’s been more than two years since Andy Murray retired from professional tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals in men’s doubles alongside Dan Evans. After playing and losing his final match, the three-time Major champion famously tweeted: “Never even liked tennis anyway.” While he was joking, the Brit has mostly turned his attention to a new sport in retirement – golf. Murray has never made a secret of his goal to become a scratch golfer after hanging up his racket, and he seems to spend most of his time on the golf course nowadays.

The former world No. 1 is still involved with tennis. He spent six months coaching Novak Djokovic from December 2024 and now works with British star Jack Draper. They announced their partnership over the summer.

But injury-prone Draper has played just two matches since June and has already ended his 2026 season, though Murray plans to continue their partnership when the 24-year-old is ready to return.

Otherwise, Murray is keeping his word and trying to become a scratch golfer. And he’s now planning to take on another sporting star in Declan Rice, asking the Arsenal midfielder what conditions they’d need for a competitive round.

Andy Murray has already competed in some Pro-Am events since retiring (Image: Getty)

But the England star believes the two-time Wimbledon champion could outdo him, given that he’s almost reached a scratch handicap – and has even braved the elements to continue improving his game.

“I saw him yesterday. The rain was coming down, torrential, and he was there putting, grinding. That just shows his mentality,” Rice told TNT Sports. “His handicap's gone from like 18 two years ago to one. People that know golf, he puts in serious effort.”

As for what it would take to make things competitive between the two, the 27-year-old added: “You'd have to give me, on my current handicap, seven shots, which I think is perfect because I'm not playing as much as you, and it gives me a chance to have a competitive game with you. Let's sort that out soon.”

Murray might spend more time on the golf course nowadays, but he recently got back on the tennis court for the Rafa Nadal Academy Slam – an exhibition tournament staged to celebrate 10 years of the Spaniard’s academy in his hometown of Manacor, Mallorca.

Team Nadal, which also included Carlos Moya, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet, faced Team Murray, as the Brit was joined by Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini and Marat Safin. Nadal’s team came out on top in a series of 10-point tiebreaks, and the 22-time Major champion also proposed a round of golf.

“Perhaps next time we can hold a golf event, so you’ll have a chance. I know you’re practising a lot, quite a bit more than I am, so perhaps the next Nadal Academy Slam can be golf,” the Spanish star joked.

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