WALK ON WILD SIDE
Murray win boosts hope of invite to French Open
ANDY MURRAY won his first clay-court match of the season last night after the French Open claimed he will only request a singles wild card if he feels he will be competitive in Paris.
Murray and Liam Broady battled back to beat Aussie duo Max Purcell and Luke Saville 5-7 7-6 10-6 in the men’s doubles at the Rome Masters.
And Murray started to prove his fitness in his first competitive match since March 3 in a season disrupted by Covid-19 and a groin strain. His post-match celebration also showed the fire is still there.
The world No.123, who turns 34 on Saturday, had travelled to Rome to get top-level singles practice before playing in either Geneva or Lyon next week. But this doubles win will help his case to get an invite to Paris.
The 2016 finalist was given a wild card to the French Open last September but was thrashed in straight sets in the first round by Stan Wawrinka. It caused former champion Mats Wilander to ask: “Does he have a right to be out there taking wild cards from the young players?”
Murray has entered the qualifying for Paris but French
Open tournament director Guy Forget said earlier yesterday: “Andy is a great player, he sure deserves one [a wild card].
“He hasn’t played any matches yet, which is obviously what any player wants to do before committing to a big tournament, especially when you are going to be play the best of five sets.
“We will probably speak to him and his entourage again and then we will make a decision next week.”
Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep is a doubt for the French Open after limping off in tears with a calf injury to
concede her match to Angelique Kerber in Rome. Serena Williams played – and lost – her 1,000th career match 7-6 7-5 to Argentinian Nadia Podoroska. The American, 39, was beaten by the world No.44 in her first appearance since her Australian Open semifinal defeat in February. Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka also went out to world No.31 Jessica Pegula, while Vera Zvonareva upset Petra Kvitova.