Now into his retirement from tennis, Andy Murray explained how the next generation of superstars have it ‘easy’ compared to those of his era, due to the development of new rackets.

Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament founded in 1877, saw many wooden rackets come and eventually go. Most manufacturers made their equipment from wood until the 1960s, but a technology boom has since rendered them obsolete in favour of new fibre rackets that today’s stars have grown up with.

Advancements have continued to make huge strides regarding rackets, a facet that Murray is well aware of after a 20-year tennis career at the very top.

He went in depth at how new professionals have been given a helping hand compared to those who came before them, never having to work with a difficult racket.

“You have to be more precise with the wooden racket,” Murray told the DP World Tour. “With the wooden racket (you have to hit the sweet spot). And now the players grow up with these big-headed rackets, and the rackets are a lot lighter now than they used to be.

“So they essentially can swing faster at the ball and it doesn’t matter if you miss the middle of the racket.

“I mean playing with a wooden racket is so difficult. For certain shots it’s fine, but the way the technique has gone is that guys play with a lot of topspin now. Your swing before had to be back-to-front, now it’s like this (motions swinging up) and if you try that with a wooden racket, with a small head, you will hit the frame.

“Serving (was) not too bad because you are in control of that shot as well, it’s the same technique every time. Whereas the other shots change based on, the ball can be low, high, spin, short, deep.”

Having retired from tennis following the Paris Olympics and a last hurrah at SW19, Murray himself will be hoping to take advantage of the equipment in a new sport – golf.

He featured in the Pro-Am prior to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week, partnering fellow Scot Robert MacIntyre.

Murray is bidding to become a scratch golfer, having seemingly ruled out the possibility of moving into tennis coaching, and impressed his playing partner despite finishing 13 shots behind the leaders.

“Got Andy Murray on my diet,” MacIntyre wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Unreal to spend time with Andy today, one of my sporting heroes. Won’t be long till he’s off scratch.”