Andy can take some positives
Andy Murray will take a number of positives away from the Battle of the Brits. But the Scot lamented inconsistencies on court after yesterday’s semi-final defeat to Dan Evans.
The former world No. 1 showed glimpses of the form that brought him three Grand Slams before a hip injury stalled his career, but Evans battled back in Roehampton to snatch a 1-6 6-3 10-8 victory in a riveting contest. This was Murray’s fourth match in five days in his first event since last November, having been sidelined because of bone bruising on his pelvis, and he has enjoyed the physical challenge.
But following defeat in the behindclosed-doors exhibition event, Murray (right) said: “I thought I started the match well and then like in all of my matches this week, my levels dropped off.
“I’ve just not been able to sustain a high level for long enough. My game is there, I just need more time to practise and prepare and I’ll get there. “It was a big step up this week from what I’ve been doing, and I coped with it physically relatively well, I thought I moved better with each match and was a bit more confident. It was a positive week.
“Some of the tennis has been very encouraging, I just wasn’t able to do it for long enough in the matches. “When I was at the top of the game and competing regularly, my level was the same throughout whereas I’m struggling to maintain that, probably just with lack of matches.” Murray suggested he will not compete again until the ATP Tour resumes with the Citi Open, which is scheduled to start on August 14. However, the Scot plans to skip the following week’s Cincinnati Masters, which has been moved to New York because of the coronavirus pandemic, as he does not want to risk an injury surfacing on the eve of the US Open.
He added: “It’s just so close to a Slam and I would hate to pick up a niggle or something that prevented me from playing in New York.
“I’d rather play Washington and miss the event the week before the US Open, if they all go ahead.” Evans will face Kyle Edmund in today’s final after he saw off Cameron Norrie 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 10-8 in the other semi.