Andy Murray says that he is not stunned that Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, plans to largely not come to tournaments in 2018.

Toni Nadal has been coaching Rafael Nadal since he was very young, but now wants to coach full-time at Nadal's new academy. Murray said it shouldn't produce a big difference in Nadal's play.

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“I think it’s quite understandable if maybe he wants to do something else,” Murray told sport360.com. “He has great people working with him with [his other coaches], Carlo Moya and Francisco Roig, so I’m sure Rafa will be fine. But I think everyone, obviously, was a bit surprised. You expected them to always be together, but I think it’s very understandable.”

While Murray was surprised by the announcement, he knows it can be demanding to be on the tour.

“Obviously yes, for sure, everyone was surprised,” Murray said. “But it’s not easy traveling on the tour for so many years. I know [Toni] hates flying. I’ve been on a couple of planes with him, and I know he doesn’t enjoy the traveling. Rafa is 31 this year, and he was on the tour since he was 16. So it’s been 15 years of traveling on the tour, and a lot of time before that as well.”