Former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has joined British tennis player Jack Draper as his coach for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament this summer, marking a swift transition into coaching following his recent retirement from the sport.
The partnership follows Murray's previous coaching stint assisting Novak Djokovic, whom he guided to the Australian Open semifinals and the Miami Open final last year.
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The quick move surprised many tennis observers according to reports.
Clijsters Weighs In on Murray-Draper Partnership
Former tennis star Kim Clijsters shared her insights regarding the new coaching relationship during an episode of the 'Love All' podcast, noting that Murray's approachable nature and demeanor behind the scenes would benefit the 24-year-old Draper.
"Oh, yeah, I think it can definitely go both ways," said Clijsters, responding to whether Murray's presence could overwhelm Draper.
Clijsters explained that Murray's willingness to share advice with any player looking for guidance makes his connection to an athlete highly valuable.
"Andy has always been such an open person, you don't even have to be from his part of the world, or you don't have to be a male player, if you go up to him and ask him questions about tennis or advice, he will give you his time, sit down, and give you his advice," said Clijsters.
She emphasized that a strong personal connection between a player and a coach often outweighs a prestigious resume.
"I think, a lot of the time, understanding and connecting to somebody like that is a lot more valuable than having a great coach with a huge resume and thinking, ok, he's going to tell me what to do," said Clijsters.
