STILL GAME
Andy insists he hasn’t forgotten how to play as he targets return to Wimbledon and Olympics
ANDY MURRAY is targeting a third Olympic medal in Tokyo next summer and insisted: “I haven’t forgotten how to play tennis.”
The former world No. 1 ended his 2020 season because of a muscle injury in his back after three heavy defeats, and stinging criticism from Mats Wilander over taking a wildcard at the French Open.
But Murray, 33, is back in full training and looking forward to next year, whenever the season starts.
And the double gold medal winner, who carried the Team GB flag in Rio before retaining his title, is already planning a hectic schedule and a fourth Olympic Games.
Murray, who will qualify for a wildcard as a past winner, said: “I would love to compete in the Olympics again, to get another opportunity to do that would be huge for me. It would be in the top few priorities for the year.
“Obviously I’d love to get the opportunity to play at Wimbledon again, same with the Aussie Open, and then, if I’m fit and well, I’d be pumped to go and try to win another medal in Tokyo.”
Retirement rather than returning to former glories seemed more likely after the
Scot’s worst ever Grand Slam defeat to Stan Wawrinka at the French Open. Wilander slammed Murray for taking wildcards off younger players and told him to consider quitting after winning only three matches in four events with a metal hip in 2020.
The world No.121 said the remarks gave “short- term motivation” but insisted he had the drive to return to the top of the game – and will be competing for titles again. “If
WIMBLEDON TROPHY
I’m fit, I will. I haven’t forgotten how to play tennis,” he said.
“I’ve seen enough in the limited amount I have played in the last year - basically from Asia through until Antwerp last year - and then the matches I played over in New York.
“I was beating a top 10 player in Cincinnati (Alex Zverev) so I know I’ll perform and win big matches if I can get properly fit and healthy for an extended period of time.
“And that’s why I’m doing the work just now to try to avoid having any issues next year. I think next year I’m going to be all right. With my age and also with the metal hip, I cant’ really afford to be slightly heavier than I should be or have weaknesses in my body that I maybe could have got away with when I was younger.
“I’m really motivated. The only thing I maybe won’t get to the same level is the speed. There’s no reason why with everything else I can’t get back to what it was before. I feel good.”
Murray had been planning to spend Christmas Down Under preparing for the Australian Open but players are now banned from arriving before January 1.
He will not travel if there is a strict twoweek quarantine and no warm- up events but the five- time finalist reckons the first Grand Slam of the year will be delayed. “I think that would be the best case scenario now,” he said. “I’ll go as soon as I can.”
Andy Murray wears AMC, a premium tennis clothing brand, created and designed by Andy and Castore