Beaten Murray is ready for big time
ANDY MURRAY declared himself ready for a return to the ATP Tour despite losing to Kyle Edmund in the Schroders Battle of the Brits.
His opponent, ranked 44 in the world, moved through the gears in the final deciding tie-break as Murray finally wilted after more than two-and-a-half hours in the sauna-like conditions of the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
But Murray, who still faces a showdown with JamesWard today for a place in the semi-finals, declared himself happy despite losing 6-7, 7-6, 10-5.
And the 33-year-old is already encouraged enough to look at a possible return to the tour in Washington when the ATP cranks back into gear on August 14.
“My tennis is only going to improve over the next two months,” he said.
“The hip feels good and if I play like that and sharpen up a couple of things I will be playing high-level tennis. I am more likely to be playing in Washington than the rearranged Cincinnati event because I am trying to avoid playing back-to-back and my priority is to be playing in the Slams.
“I want a few more cracks, even if it is just one at each of them.
“Today is a positive sign. My groin was a little bit sore at the start of the match but actually started to feel better.The test will be if I don’t have to take two or three weeks off to recover after it.”
There were no doubts that Murray is still the player of old as Edmund managed only his second win against the Scot.
“There were a few errors from me,” Edmund said. “I hung in there and got through those two tie-breaks.
“Even though he has had a big operation he can move well, he has great anticipation.
“You are still playing Andy Murray, the guy who has won so much. I felt pressure out there.”