Queen’s was a killer but Andy ain’t done... hecanwinWimbers
ANDY MURRAY’S demise has been blown out of all proportion and the Scot can still win Wimbledon, according to former British No 1 Greg Rusedski.
Murray crashed out in the first round of the Aegon Championships on Tuesday after a shock defeat to Australian world No 90 Jordan Thompson.
The loss came just 12 days before the start of Wimbledon and leaves Murray short of both match practice on grass and confidence ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year.
It also continues a worrying dip in form for the world No 1, who has lost nine times already in 2017, six of those coming against opponents ranked outside the top 20.
Rusedski, however, insists there is no reason to panic.
“Everyone is blowing it out of all proportion,” said Rusedski, an analyst for Eurosport.
“It’s one match. At the end of the day this isn’t Wimbledon. He has another 10 days left before he has to open up the tournament so we shouldn’t read too much into this.
“It means he’s going to get a bit more practice time, he’ll be able to get on the grass at Wimbledon, which is a little slower, and on top of that the conditions are not going to be as hot. I really think Andy is going to be fine.”
It remains to be seen whether Murray now chooses to enter any additional events next week, with Novak Djokovic announcing yesterday he had accepted a wildcard for the Aegon International at Eastbourne.
Djokovic has tended to play only the odd exhibition match in the build-up to Wimbledon while Murray entered Hurlingham when he last failed to win Queen’s in 2014.
“I don’t see the lack of matches as a problem,” Rusedski said. “He’ll just go play a few exhibition matches. Novak has won Wimbledon before without playing any matches leading in and Rafa [Nadal] has done the same, so let’s all not panic.
“The other thing it’s three out of five sets at Wimbledon. In a two out of three match at Queen’s a guy can beat you but the best players tend to come out on top in longer battles.”
ON THE same afternoon Murray was crumbling against Thompson, Roger Federer looked ominously relaxed as he took just 52 minutes to beat Japan’s Yuichi Sugita at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
Federer is many observers’ favourite to win a recordbreaking eighth Wimbledon title, while Nadal is the man in form, having sealed his 10th French Open triumph.
But Rusedski insists Murray is among the chief contenders.
“Andy has a great shot at Wimbledon, make no mistake,” he said. “At the start of this week I had him joint favourite with Federer. Now maybe Federer is a little ahead and even Rafa will be a threat.
“It’s a little bit more open but you still have to put Andy as one of those three or four guys that can win the title.” NAOMI BROADY is hoping the money she earns from a Wimbledon wild card will allow her to hire a coach again.
The world No 111 was only just outside the cutoff for direct entry and is one of seven British players to be awarded singles wild cards.
Broady lost 6-2 6-2 to Petra Kvitova in the second round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham but is having a good grass-court season.
The 27-year-old had the best results of her career when she teamed up with coach Andrew Fitzpatrick in 2015.
She is currently back working with father Simon, but is planning to put the minimum of £35,000 she will earn from Wimbledon to good use.
Broady said of the wild card: “Although I was hoping to get one, you really can never be sure. I’m just so grateful I have got one.
“A few years ago the wild card funded me to employ my coach and that took me into the top 100, so they really do make such a big difference.
“I hope to do the same again with my prize money from this year and I I’m not too far off being b back inside the top 100 n now anyway.”
Heather Watson, Laura Robson and Davis Cup stalwart James Ward were also among the players who will be in the main draw.
Watson has dropped outside the top 100 after a difficult 12 months, while Robson continues to work her way slowly back up the rankings following debilitating wrist problems.
Katie Boulter, 20, Brydan Klein and kilted Kiwi Cameron Norrie, who has just turned professional after finishing his US college career as the top-ranked player, also received wild cards.
Not so l ucky was 26-year-old Marcus Willis, who last year caused a sensation with his run through pre-qualifying and qualifying before going out in the second round against Roger Federer on Centre Court. But Willis, ranked 387, has made limited progress since and was only awarded a free pass into qualifying.