MURRAY: I AM NOT EXPECTING TO NICK A WIN
ANDY MURRAY is determined not to “roll over and play badly” on his return today.
But the former world No.1 warned he expects to lose to Nick Kyrgios (below) for the first time at the FeverTree Championships – and he could need four months to find his old form.
John McEnroe has cautioned that Murray risks “semi-humiliation” returning to court after 342 days away from competitive action.
And the world No.156 has been handed a tough opening match against the Aussie, who took new world No.1 Roger Federer to three sets in Stuttgart at the weekend.
The three-time Grand Slam winner admitted: “I’m not expecting to win against Kyrgios – but obviously I want to be competitive.
“I don’t want to just go out there, roll over and play badly. I want to try and play well, but my expectations are pretty low.”
Murray, 31, said he took heart from the older Federer, 36, and Rafa Nadal, 32, winning the last six Grand Slams – and the return to fitness of Juan Martin del Potro.
“There are a lot of case studies around now that give you hope and optimism,” he said. “Maybe in three or four months, when I’ve had more matches under my belt and I’ve had training time, I’ll be able to get back to that level again.” Murray has a 5-0 record against Kyrgios.
But the Aussie said: “I don’t know if it’s business only and ruthless. I don’t know if I ever have that mentality. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose.”
British No.2 Cameron Norrie lost in straight sets to Stan Wawrinka and then echoed Novak Djokovic’s warning about playing on grass.
He said: “I felt like I was going to slip, so I played it safe.”