Tennis stars playing football: Andy Murray doing keepy-uppies and Novak Djokovic whipping in crosses

Shahida Jacobs 10 Dec 2022 10:37 AM

The 2022 Qatar World Cup has reached the business end and the likes of Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro have been enjoying Lionel Messi’s performances for Argentina.

“Messi is the man,” Murray tweeted recently after the football superstar produced yet another glorious performance in Qatar.

And of course Messi’s compatriot Del Potro was quick to echo the former world No 1’s sentiments replying: “You know Andy!!!”

Tennis players do love their football, but are they any good at playing football?

How long do you think Murray can play keepy-uppy with a tennis ball? What about Novak Djokovic whipping in a cross with his left peg?

We already know Andy Murray loves his football and he has football in his genes as his grandfather Roy Erskine – Judy Murray’s father – was a professional footballer and he made 46 appearances in the Scottish Football League back in the 50s.

Back in 2014, Murray took part in a keepy-uppy challenge, which also featured football great Clarence Seedorf, and he managed to get a total of 78. Not bad for someone who’s day job is tennis.

The quality of the video is not the greatest, but you get the drift.

And here is Murray and his coaching team playing football tennis during a warm-up session at Wimbledon in 2010.

Much better video quality to check out the skills.

When your uncle was fondly known as the “Beast of Barcelona” when he played for the Spanish giants, then chances are pretty good that you will be good at football.

Rafael Nadal doesn’t disappoint.

Here is a full video of Nadal – who is a big Real Madrid fan despite his family’s ties to Barcelona – taking on the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo in a Nike commercial.

Nadal, Murray, Serena Williams, Iker Casillas and about a hundred other people all on a tennis court playing football tennis. We are also not too sure what’s going on.

Roger Federer is a big fan of the Swiss national football team and also supports FC Basel in the national league, but here he is wearing a full Brazil kit showing off his football skills alongside German Tommy Haas.

Novak Djokovic on the left wing whipping in a cross with his left peg?

A compilation of former world No 1 and five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova enjoying her football.

Gael Monfils is one of the most mercurial tennis players and he regularly produces keepy-uppies when he plays tennis so it is no surprise that he is quite good a football. Here is the Frenchman playing a game of doubles.