ANDY SHOWING HIS TRUE METAL
It’s funny how artificial hip is holding up says beaten Murray
ANDY MURRAY admitted “something needs to change” after falling outside the world’s top 170 with defeat by Alex Zverev at the BNP Paribas Open.
The three-time Grand Slam winner showed glimpses of his old magic against the world No.4.
Murray also said later that he found it “quite funny” to be able to compete against the top players with a metal hip.
But he showed his anger by twice throwing his racket during the 6-4 7-6 defeat and later took to social media to post just a fourletter word to sum up his frustration.
There were lots of reasons the former world No.1 did not want to lose to his successor as Olympic champion.
Murray revealed the two players were not “best friends” after he called for an ATP policy on domestic violence. Zverev is facing an ATP investigation into allegations of assault made by the German’s former girlfriend Olga Sharypova in 2019, which he denies. Even in the heat of the Californian desert, their frosty relationship was clear.
The 34-year-old Scot has still not won three consecutive matches at an ATP Tour event since capturing his last title at the 2019 European Open.
Murray will now lose those Antwerp points and his projected new ranking is No.172. He reported it was “physically the best I’ve felt for a while” but he was a break up in each set against Zverev, below, and lost his fifth consecutive tie-break.
This defeat showed he has lost the habit of winning, but it gave him enough encouragement that he is close.
“There were lots of mistakes,” Murray said.
“There was some good stuff in there but it was mixed in with bad.There was no consistency.
“I didn’t feel like I played a great match and still had chances, so that’s positive.
“I’m disappointed though because I want to be winning these matches.
“I haven’t in the last few months – something needs to change.
“We don’t know exactly what the limit is or how long the hip will be able to tolerate playing high-level sport.
“No one can guarantee me that my hip will be fine for the next five or six years but that’s the risk I’m willing to take.”
Murray will next play in Antwerp and Vienna but is now unlikely to qualify automatically for the Australian Open in January.
The five-time runner-up in Melbourne said he will seek – and probably get – a wild-card spot.
“If I play like I’m playing just now, qualifying shouldn’t be a problem,” added Murray.
But he has elected to miss out on Davis Cup combat for Britain next month in order to get ready for 2022.
Murray, who sustained a pelvic injury while playing in the team event in Madrid in 2019, said: “I’ve given a lot to the Davis Cup and sometimes to my own detriment physically.”