During interviews, Murray consistently showcases politeness, patience, and generosity with his time, providing great value to those who speak with him. I can recall on just one hand the instances when he declined my interview requests, with one notable occasion being right after the 2016 Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic. He went directly from Rod Laver Arena to the airport to catch the last flight of the night, as his wife Kim was at home, expecting their first child.
Murray often appears to be chilly during our conversations, likely a result of his recent ice bath; however, it reflects his character to participate in a (non-mandatory) radio interview following a Grand Slam final or semi-final defeat, an experience he has faced several times.
As is common with high-profile athletes, there can sometimes be a palpable tension as the media round approaches after a match—especially at Melbourne Park following one of his many semi-final victories. While early morning commitments are honored, the urgency of the impending Sunday final is always at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Murray is consistently a strong source of material, as we often say. He has remained firm in his stance against doping violations and has passionately advocated for equal pay and the inclusion of female coaches—once calling the level of sexism in sports “unreal.”
His robust opinions, however, are conveyed with diplomacy. On occasions when time permitted and microphones were turned off, he was willing to candidly elaborate on his views in private.
There were instances of differing views—and even occasional disputes—between Murray and the British tennis media. After his unexpected withdrawal and hasty departure from the 2018 Brisbane International, he expressed dissatisfaction regarding the coverage in light of the absence of a formal explanation.
A rather unusual off-the-record, clear-the-air discussion took place via speaker phone about a week later—but only after he had updated us from his hospital bed in Melbourne about the hip surgery he had undergone earlier that same day.
