Smith hits back at Murray critics
LEON SMITH feels criticism of the timing of Andy Murray’s withdrawal from the US Open is completely unfair.
The world number two tested out his problematic hip during a week of training in New York before announcing on Saturday that he was not fit enough to compete.
Had Murray pulled out before Friday’s draw, Roger Federer would have become the number two seed and placed in the opposite half to Rafael Nadal, opening the possibility of a final clash between the pair.
Instead, Federer and Nadal stay in the same half with fifth seed Marin Cilic taking Murray’s slot in what is clearly a much weaker section.
Critics claim Murray would have known before Saturday that he would not be fit given he has been battling the hip problem for two and a half months.
But Great Britain Davis Cup captain Smith hit back and said: “If you look at Andy, how many times has he ever retired from matches? This guy has given everything to the sport, he’s always competed hard.
“If you look at what happened at Wimbledon when he was clearly in pain, he still fought to the end, he didn’t turn round and shake hands.
“You’ve worked all your life to get to this point and give yourself a chance to play.
“Sport’s like that, you have to wait. Sometimes you think another 24 hours and you’ll get there.”
Murray made the decision after a final practice session on Saturday, during which he was still limping.
He had spent the six weeks since his quarterfinal exit to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon doing everything possible to try to recover in time for Flushing Meadows.
Murray fought back tears as he made the announcement,and close friend Smith said: “He’s in the truest sense of the word a competitor.
“He works so hard to get on the court, it’s not for the money or anything else, it’s playing tennis matches and figuring out opponents, fighting.
“And it’s a real shame that opportunity has been taken away at this tournament and maybe more weeks or months to follow.
“Just watching him in the press conference yesterday, when he sat down and he looked so emotional, you really felt for him.”