MURRAY A LIKELY LAD
Andy ‘confident’ of playing at Wimbledon after he’s drawn against the ‘Eric Cantona’ of tennis
ANDY MURRAY said he is “most likely” to play Wimbledon next week after being drawn against the man he beat in his last match at SW19.
The former world No.1 has played only three competitive matches since hip surgery in January – and said after losing in Eastbourne earlier this week that he would play only if he could do himself justice.
But after two hours of practice at the All England Club yesterday, the double Olympic champion seemed confident of facing world No.48 Benoit Paire of France on Tuesday. “I feel all right – not much different from the last couple of days,” said the world No.156. “Am I going to play? I think most likely yes. I will chat to my team this afternoon and also see in the next couple of days. I can’t predict how I am going to feel in two days but, if I feel like I do today, I will be playing providing there are no setbacks.”
Bearded Paire, French tennis’s answer to Eric Cantona, declared after losing here in 2014: “I hate Wimbledon and I’m glad to leave as soon as possible.” He was thrown out of the France Olympic team in Rio and filmed himself driving home at 203kmh last week after blowing two match points against Roger Federer at Halle.
Murray beat him in the fourth round at SW19 last year despite his dodgy hip, only for Paire to declare he was running around like “a rabbit.” Murray, who lost in the quarter-finals last year, said: “Playing Paire in the first round is tricky for me. He is a very, very talented guy. He is awkward to play against.”
Paire (right) said: “If he comes on court he’s 100 per cent. It will be tough but after I had two match points against Federer I know I can beat him.”
Murray next opponents would be no easier with either No.26 seed Denis Shapovalov or in-form Jeremy Chardy lying in wait in the second round and No.5 seed Juan Martin del Potro in round three.
British No.1 Kyle Edmund will face Aussie world No.105 Alex Bolt in the first round and could play Novak Djokovic in round three.