Andy’s junk food jolly
But now Scot is focused on Davis Cup tie
Andy Murray celebrated winning last month’s European Open in antwerp by taking 12 days off — and piling on the pounds.
Such behaviour is an indication of how the double Wimbledon champion has changed his outlook and health-management regime since coming back from career-threatening hip problems. during what became effectively a mini off-season, he also welcomed a third child, a son named Teddy Barron Murray.
‘I didn’t do anything for 12 days, literally nothing,’ said Murray. ‘My elbow was pretty sore so I needed to take a break because of that, but overall it was pretty good in terms of how the body felt. The baby came five or six days after we got back from antwerp.
‘I got up to my heaviest weight in my career. There was Halloween and my second daughter’s birthday party, my sister-in-law had a birthday. So there was lots of cake and junk food, and no training, not a good combination. I was 88.5 kilos and I’m usually 84.’
For Murray — yesterday launching his new clothing line with sponsors Castore — it has served as a warning of the temptations which could occur when one day he hangs up his racket. He has seen them close up before. ‘He’ll probably kill me for this but I always said I don’t want to end up with what happened to Ivan (Lendl, his former coach),’ he added, smiling.
‘I know I’ll get a message from him tomorrow. When he was playing he was in great shape and very thin. and when he stopped, things went south, so I need to avoid that.’
Murray now has two dogs and three children, with Teddy also inheriting his father’s second name, which has been passed down among men in his family for several generations.
‘This time has been really good. The first time, when we went from one to two children, the first week or so was a bit of jealousy. But this time they’ve been brilliant.’
Having his children watch him play in this final phase of his career has become less of a priority. He said his daughters were ‘eating at Wagamama’s’ during the antwerp final.
‘Selfishly, I’d like for them to watch me play but ultimately it’s not that important,’ said Murray. ‘My daughter’s at school now and she’s really happy there.
‘I don’t think it’s fair to start pulling her around everywhere when she’s happy and settled. Occasionally, they might do short-haul when I’m in Europe.’ Murray plans to do a slightly truncated version of his annual december training block in Miami before heading to Scotland for Christmas, and then going to australia. ‘I think my body showed I’m going to be able to play at a high level,’ he said. ‘That’s where I need to be smart with my scheduling and the amount of tournaments I play.’ He is now focusing on next week’s davis
Cup finals in Madrid and is optimistic Great Britain — who also feature Kyle Edmund, dan Evans, Jamie Murray and neal Skupski — can emerge to the quarter-finals from their group, which will see them play Kazakhstan and the netherlands.
He is aware it may feel different without the feverish atmospheres generated by the old home and away ties, which are now only in the qualifiers.
‘I’m excited and intrigued to see what it’ll be like with the new format,’ he said.
‘I’m going to miss the atmosphere because I don’t think the atmosphere is going to be the same as some of the home ties or the away ties that I played.’