Mac attack gets fast Andy return
ANDY MURRAY has hit back at John McEnroe’s description of him as “a distant fourth” in the men’s game, inviting the American legend to take a look at the rankings.
Speaking in a Sunday newspaper magazine on the eve of this week’s Aegon Championships at Queen’s in London, former Wimbledon champion McEnroe, below, was disparaging about the current world No1.
“He’s always been top four, but it’s been a distant fourth,” he said of Murray. “In a way, he’s still a distant fourth. I think it’s amazing that he reached No1, considering the obstacles, the competition that he was up against.
“I think that’s tremendous. That’s part of why he’s struggling now. It took such an effort to get there, I think even he was shocked. Those three guys are better than him. No disrespect. They’re better overall.”
Murray’s three Grand Slams do seem somewhat slim pickings alongside the 18, 15 and 12 won by Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic respectively.
However, that ignores the two Olympic gold medals – more than the other three have managed put together, plus the ATP’s complicated yearround system of ranking all players whenever they play, which says that Murray has been untouchable for the past 32 weeks.
Murray said: “For me, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I’m very proud of the Olympic medals, they mean a lot to me. Within tennis, a lot of people just go, ‘Oh that guy was a better player because he won more Grand Slams than that one, or that woman was better because she won more Grand Slams’.
“If that’s the case then what is the point in all of us being here at Queen’s? There are other tournaments outside the Slams as well. Most of the players enjoy competing in them.
“Everyone’s criteria for judging a player will be different. If it’s purely on Grand Slams, then my Olympic medals mean nothing to that person, but they mean a lot to me.
“If you look at the titles and everything that those guys have won overall, I can’t compare myself to them.
“There are maybe one or two things that I have done that they won’t have but, for the most part, I would have been fourth if you look at a whole career.
“But it’s not true of the last year because I’m ranked No1 in the world. I’ve been better than them for the last 12 months, that’s how the rankings systems work.” He will maintain pole position until at least the end of Wimbledon but after a difficult clay-court season, Murray’s focus is on continuing his dominance beyond that with a strong defence of his Queen’s and Wimbledon titles. Earlier in the week the focus had been on his potential retirement date but, after a couple of positive days back on grass, he sounds as fresh as ever. “It’s always tough to stay at the top of any sport,” he said. “I hope I stay at the top of the game for five, six, seven years but I think just because Roger’s done it doesn’t mean that’s going to happen to everyone and every player that plays – that’s not going to be the case.
“I want to make the most of the last few years of my career, if that’s two years, four years, or six years, it doesn’t matter.”
JAMIE MURRAY and partner Bruno Soares warmed up for their own Wimbledon challenge by winning the Mercedes Cup doubles title in Stuttgart, beating Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic in the final.
Murray and Soares, the second seeds, won 6-7, 7-5, 10-5 against the No4 seeds to claim their second title of the year after February’s success in Acapulco, Mexico.
It was a 25th tour title for Soares, who said: “Twenty-five is amazing, hopefully I can make it to 50.”
Murray, who now has 18 titles to his name, said: “We had a few close losses this year and it was nice to see it through, get it over the line and get another trophy.”
I’m proud of Olympic golds, they mean a lot to me