“It’s Not the Same,” British Former ATP Pro Andy Murray Makes Controversial Claim As He Discusses Extended Masters Events

“Never even liked tennis anyway,” Andy Murray said after wrapping up his last dance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Brit had teamed up with fellow countryman Dan Evans for his final professional campaign, which ended in the quarterfinals. But he was obviously joking, because his time away from the sport didn’t last long. Just a year later, Murray made a surprise comeback—not as a player, but as a coach. He joined forces with longtime rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Just two days ago, the duo were seen at the Madrid Open where the Serbian had a disappointing opening round exit. As the Masters season rolls on, the Brit has weighed in on a divisive issue that has been stirring debate across the tennis world.

Currently, five Masters tournaments stretch over two weeks, but earlier this year, the ATP announced a change. Starting in 2025, seven Masters events will be played over 12 days each. This expansion has not been a popular move among many players. Over the past couple of years, the two-week format has become a hot topic, with several players voicing their preference for the shorter, one-week setup.

Recently, during his Barcelona campaign, Carlos Alcaraz did not hold back while criticizing the new format. “The one week ones are better. Some will think that in two weeks there are days of rest, but that is not the case,” he told the media. “You train, you have to mentally prepare for the game, prepare for it… you’re not resting, really. It’s two full weeks. That’s why I prefer the one-week Masters 1000. For me, it’s better for tennis.” Adding to the criticism, Stefanos Tsitsipas also chimed in. He called the two-week change a “backwards move” and said it was “fixing what wasn’t broken.”

Now, Andy Murray has made his opinion clear too. Speaking to Arab News and Tennis Majors in Madrid this week, Murray was asked why it’s harder to imagine today’s generation producing the same kind of dominant runs we saw during the “Big Three” era.

“I think just because of the longer events now, I think it’s harder to do that,” Murray explained.”I preferred how it was before because, it probably allowed you to play more matches in a condensed period, but then you had more time to rest and recover, whereas now the rest and recovery happens at tournaments and that’s not the normal rest. Physically and mentally, it’s not the same because you come into the courts, you practice, you’re around lots of people.”

“As much as I know it’s nice like to be here playing but it’s a stressful environment when you have lots of people and cameras and everything watching your practices rather than having a quiet environment where you can work on things and practice in peace is a bit different.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion has already advised some players and coaches to prioritize their health. He suggested that skipping some events, if necessary, should not be seen as a “big deal.“

While Murray had a stellar career of his own, his new role as Djokovic’s coach is still a work in progress. So far, the results haven’t been extraordinary, but that was never the main goal.

Novak Djokovic reveals key “priority” for him and Andy Murray

Murray has been part of Djokovic’s coaching setup since November. According to Djokovic, Murray plays a big role in helping him stay motivated, especially during training sessions. The Serbian ace also said that both of them are happy with the arrangement for now.

After reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open, Djokovic hit a rough patch. He crashed out early at the Qatar Open in the first round and then suffered a second-round defeat at Indian Wells. These early exits raised a few eyebrows, with many wondering if the tennis legend was starting to fade.

But Djokovic answered back at the Miami Open, reaching the final before losing to teenager Jakub Mensik. Still, consistency has been hard to find. Djokovic followed Miami with a second-round exit from the Monte Carlo Masters and another early loss at the Madrid Open.

Despite the setbacks, the Serbian made it clear that the bigger picture remains the same. “The priority is obviously trying to take the level of tennis that currently is maybe not where we want it to be to the higher level, so that I can peak at [the] French Open,” Djokovic told Sky Sports. “That’s where I really want to play my best tennis, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.”

The duo will next be seen at the Italian Open, which kicks off on May 6. It’s clear Murray is bringing fresh energy into his coaching journey, and Djokovic knows exactly where he wants to shine. Will this partnership finally hit top gear just in time for the French Open?