Friendly advice: Murray warns Federer of Mars bar
HEALTH TIP World No 1 asks Swiss to avoid deepfried chocolate during his Scotland trip
LONDON: Andy Murray warned Roger Federer to avoid sampling the questionable delights of a “horrific” deep-fried Mars bar after the tennis great accepted an invitation to play in Scotland for the first time.
Scottish star Murray will face Federer in a charity exhibition match in Glasgow on November 7.
Scotland is notorious for having one of the worst average diets in Europe, with the deep fried Mars bar -- where the chocolate bar is shoved into hot oil and coated with the kind of batter more commonly seen covering fried fish -- one of its most infamous dishes.
Murray and Federer may be rivals most of the time but that didn’t stop the 29-year-old from offering his Swiss visitor some advice about the local ‘cuisine’.
“Don’t try the fried Mars bars,” Murray joked. “I tried one of them for the first time last year and it was horrific. Stay away from them.”
Federer won his 18th Grand Slam singles title at last month’s Australian Open, beating old foe Rafael Nadal in a Melbourne final few pundits had foreseen.
Murray, by contrast, suffered a shock fourth round defeat at the hands of the unheralded MischaZverev.
Federer’s success in Australia, at the relatively advanced age, in tennis terms, of 35 came following a long spell out with injury and a self-imposed break.
Double Olympic champion Murray, 29, said he might now reduce his schedule in a bid to prolong his career.
It’s incredible what he (Federer) did in Australia after such a long break. We play so much, a lot of the year. Sometimes coming to events fresh can have huge advantage. Him (Federer) and Rafa were coming back from a significant period of time out and they both played extremely well. That’s something we can learn moving forward. I was definitely tired when I got back from Australia and my body was pleased I took some time off. But away to France (Davis Cup), I’m into the swing of things.
“It’s incredible what he did in Australia after such a long break,” Murray, a three-time Grand Slam-winner, said. “We play so much, a lot of the year. Sometimes coming to events fresh can have some huge advantage. “Him and Rafa were both coming back from a pretty significant period of time out and they both played extremely well. Maybe that’s something we can all learn from moving forwards.”
Federer decided to take up Murray’s invitation after the Scot took part in the Swiss ace’s charity event in April.
Such is Federer’s global popularity that sell-out-crowds at Glasgow’s 10,800-capacity SSE Hydro are expected.
“I saw a little video where he was wearing a kilt when he was announcing that I was going to play in his event over in Switzerland,” said Murray.
“He’s just extremely popular. He’s one of the best players that’s ever played the game.” Murray will play against France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in April after missing the firstround victory against Canada last weekend.
“The tie against Canada was tricky,” Murray, who was surprisingly beaten by Germany’s Mischa Zverev in the fourth round of the Australian Open, told Sky Sports. “I needed to have a break, I was definitely tired when I got back from Australia and my body was pretty pleased I took some time off. But away to France, after Miami, I’m into the swing of things and I’ve had enough rest.”
Murray was instrumental in Britain winning the Davis Cup in 2015 when he won all 11 rubbers in four rounds.
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week’s Rotterdam Open after being advised by doctors to rest, he said on Thursday.
The world No 6, who lost to Federer in the Australian Open final, was left out of Spain’s Davis Cup squad for their World Group first-round tie against Croatia last weekend due to fatigue.