Weighty issues for Murray in off-season break

Andy Murray has had a glimpse into a possible life after tennis over the last few weeks – and it is one he is keen to avoid.

Murray has been back at his Surrey home following the birth of his third child last month, which came less than a week after his 2019 season ended in glorious style with a first title since his career-saving hip surgery.

That win in Antwerp capped off a successful four-week stint back on the ATP Tour – which gave great promise for a return to the top of the men’s game – but the Scot picked up a niggle in his elbow.

That meant, other than an endless cycle of changing nappies and feeding following the arrival of son Teddy, Murray did not do any training and put on the best part of a stone in weight.

Chocolate biscuits, sweets and cakes from family celebrations left Murray heavier than he ever has been before.

“I didn’t do anything for 12 days, literally nothing,” said Murray, who has launched the AMC clothing range with sportswear brand Castore.

“I got up to my heaviest weight in my career probably. My elbow was pretty sore afterwards so I needed to take a break because of that.

“The baby came five or six days after we got back from Antwerp.

“It was evenings that were the issue. When the newborn has been going to bed at seven, sleeping for a three-hour period, my wife would sleep upstairs and get a period of good sleep in before the baby would wake up.

“I’d be on my own downstairs with chocolate biscuits and stuff. There was Halloween and second daughter’s birthday party, then also my sister-inlaw had a birthday so there was lots of cake and junk and no training is not a good combination. I was 88.5 kilos and I’m usually 84.”

Being overweight, Murray could not avoid his mind drifting to two-time coach Ivan Lendl and the Scot found it even harder to resist a jibe at the Czech’s current body shape.

“He’ll probably kill me for saying this but I always said I don’t want to end up with what happened to Ivan,” Murray joked.

“When he was playing he was in great shape and very thin. And when he stopped things went south so I need to avoid that.”

Andy Murray: biscuits and cake saw him at his heaviest in career.