Being written off because of dip in form and his hip injury rekindled Murray’s burning desire for success

ANDY MURRAY has revealed getting written off before Wimbledon has given him fresh motivation to retain his title. Before the French Open, the world No.1 said he was struggling to “set new goals” this year following a stunning 2016. And the top seed limped into his home Grand Slam with a sore hip which caused him to drift out to fourth favourite in the betting. The 30-year-old also said he could only have a “couple of years” left at the top of the game – sparking talk of his retirement. But before facing the combustible Fabio Fognini on a big day for British tennis today, Murray said he had used the doubts to relight his fire. “Throughout the course of a year you need to have the motivation yourself to want to be the best or to want to win tournaments, and want to train hard, all of those things,” he said. “But there are different stages in the year where someone says that you can’t do something or people think that you’re struggling or you might be coming towards the end, that I’m thinking about retiring, or how many more years I’m going to play, or am I starting to slip a little bit. “So those things at different stages, they can help. Like before the French Open, when I’m in a ‘terrible’ place in terms of my game and I’m not playing well, having that little bit of extra motivation can help.” Murray today is also seeking home revenge on world No.29 Fognini, who blitzed him in their last meeting on the Rome clay in May. “I think he’s always dangerous,” said the Scot. The self-confessed “hot head” was hit with a record £21,220 fine here in 2014 for his behaviour. But Fognini claimed getting married and becoming a father has changed him at the age of 30. “I’m finally calm and thinking about my family allows me to face matches with a peace of mind I didn’t have before,” he claimed. “Andy and I have known each other since we were 14, we know off by heart each other’s strengths and weaknesses. There are many factors to make him favourite. But I know my game can give him problems.” The last time four Brits reached the fourth round was in 1975. Aljaz Bedene, who beat Ivo Karlovic in his first match, faces the big serve of the in-form Gilles Muller (above). “The first match was exhausting, but I came through it,” said the British No.4. “But I didn’t sleep afterwards.”