"This sport needs you!": John McEnroe rallying cry to Andy Murray after Novak Djokovic coaching flop

John McEnroe has urged Andy Murray to remain part of the tennis world after a short-lived and "horrific" coaching stint with Novak Djokovic.

Murray, 38, officially retired after last summer’s Paris Olympics Games, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career that included three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals, and an unforgettable run to world number 1.

While many hoped the Scotsman would naturally transition into coaching, punditry or commentary roles, his first steps into post-playing life have been anything but straightforward.

After declining offers to join the BBC’s punditry team at Wimbledon 2025, Murray surprised the tennis world by briefly becoming part of Djokovic’s coaching setup late last year.

Their partnership, however, lasted just six months, with both men later admitting that the arrangement hadn’t gone to plan.

Speaking during Murray’s recent Centre Stage theatre tour, his own reflective four-date journey through his career, McEnroe made an emotional and public appeal to the former British No. 1: "Andy, I hope that you stay involved with the sport, in whatever way you’re happy with,".

The seven-time Grand Slam winner didn’t hold back in underlining Murray’s significance to the game. His four-word plea left no doubt about his views: "This sport needs you," McEnroe said. "And it would love you to be around on a somewhat regular basis.".

Murray opened up about his time coaching Djokovic during the opening night of his theatre tour, held at the New Wimbledon Theatre, where McEnroe had adjusted his own schedule to attend.

Reflecting on how the coaching gig came about, Murray said: "We had a chat on the phone and he [Djokovic] asked me if I would consider coaching him, which I wasn’t expecting. I think it was a pretty unique opportunity.".

"I was really enjoying being at home but I thought I should give it a go and see whether I enjoyed it," he added. "I’m not sure if I did.".

He also joked about the experience: "I had better not say any more as I can see Novak’s agents are in the audience.".

Though their partnership was short-lived, Murray’s involvement coincided with Djokovic reaching the Australian Open semi-finals, a campaign that ended with a surprise defeat to Jannik Sinner, who went on to win the title.

Following their split earlier this year, Djokovic publicly thanked Murray for his contribution, saying he appreciated the “honest discussions and shared perspective.” According to Murray, the decision to part ways was mutual:

"It was mutual. We both wanted to have a call to talk about it and came to the same conclusion.".

Murray’s quiet absence from Wimbledon this year, for the first time since his debut two decades ago, has left a noticeable void. Injuries and surgery plagued his final years on tour, but he remained a fan favourite to the very end.

While many in the tennis world hoped Murray would become a fixture in the sport’s post-playing scene, his reluctance to dive fully into coaching or punditry has raised questions about what comes next. McEnroe’s emotional message reflects a growing sentiment among fans and fellow players alike: that Murray still has a vital role to play in tennis, even if he has not figured out exactly what that is yet.

With his trademark wit and dry humour on display throughout the Centre Stage tour, Murray hasn’t ruled out future appearances in the game, just not yet. For now, it seems he’s still deciding what post-retirement life really looks like.

However, one thing is certain: if and when Andy Murray chooses to return to tennis in any form, the sport, and its fans, will welcome him with open arms.