Murray decides to play doubles at Italian Open
ANDY MURRAY will play competitively at the Italian Open this week after he and compatriot Liam Broady made it into the doubles draw.
Murray travelled to Rome for a week of practice with leading players, including Novak Djokovic, ahead of what he hopes will be a singles comeback in either Geneva or Lyon next week.
However, he will have some match practice this week after all, with Murray and Broady sneaking into the doubles draw as alternates following the withdrawal of Hubert Hurkacz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Murray, who has been recovering from a groin problem suffered in his sleep ahead of the Miami Open in March, and Broady will take on Australian duo Max Purcell and Luke Saville in the first round.
It will be Murray’s first doubles match on the ATP Tour since he partnered Spain’s Feliciano Lopez at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati in August 2019.
Meanwhile, World number one Novak Djokovic admitted he lost his cool as rain in Rome held up his second-round match against Taylor Fritz. The Serbian, back in action after sitting out the Masters in Madrid, had taken the opening set 6-3 before moving a break ahead in the second to lead 5-4.
However, Djokovic then failed to serve out for the match as American Fritz, who had beaten British No.1 Dan Evans in the previous round, rallied.
With conditions worsening and rain getting heavier, Djokovic’s temper boiled over, shouting at the umpire “how much more do you want to play?” then adding “I asked you three times and you are not checking anything” as his remonstrations with the chair continued.
Eventually, play was suspended, with the players coming back onto court to resume action some three hours later once the weather cleared around the Foro Italico.
Fritz, the world No.31, held his service game after the resumption to force the tiebreak, which Djokovic came through to win 6-3 7-6 (5).
Speaking afterwards on Amazon Prime, Djokovic said: “I kind of lost my cool towards the end of that second set when I served for the match, but at the end of the day when you overcome these kinds of circumstances and challenges, I think it brings even more confidence in you.”