Andy fails to have the final say
NO EGO BUT NO TITLE FOR MURRAY
ANDY MURRAY’S Italian job has ended in defeat to the world No212 in the final of the Biella Challenger.
His brother Jamie claimed the double Olympic champion had no “ego” regarding playing in the second-tier event in Italy as he backed him to return to Wimbledon this summer.
But in his latest comeback, the world No125 was easily beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko, right, in his fifth match in six days.
Murray, 33, ended last season in October due to a pelvic issue and was unable to travel to the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid.
Seeking match practice, the former world No1 won his first four ties in a sports hall a world away from the main event in Melbourne.
But yesterday he was broken four times and Marchenko did not face a break point as he cruised to his eighth Challenger Tour title. Murray had won both of their previous matches, at the Australian Open in 2011 and 2017, in straight sets, so this defeat shows the Scot the size of the task as he bids to return to the top of the game. He had entered a second Challenger event in
Biella this week but his next tournament could now be on the full ATP Tour in Montpellier next week if he secures a wild card.
Jamie Murray said: “He is just excited to be able to play because he couldn’t go to Australia.
“He trained so hard for 10-12 weeks in the offseason to be ready to go to Australia and he couldn’t.
“He doesn’t have an ego to say, ‘I am too good to go and play a Challenger tournament or whatever’. He is happy to be there and compete.” Andy Murray last played fully fit atWimbledon in 2016, when he won his second singles title.
Jamie added: “If he is fit, there is no reason to think that he won’t be at Wimbledon. I’d assume we will both be at Wimbledon. From what I hear, they are going to put the event on.”
British qualifier Fran Jones claimed her first victory on the WTA Tour by beating No11 seed Zheng Saisai 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at the Phillip Island Trophy in Melbourne.
British No1 Jo Konta, who pulled out of her firstround match last week with an abdominal issue, has also entered the tournament.