ATP Masters Cincinnati: Andy Murray still sees room for improvement
Andy Murray once again demonstrated his great fighting spirit in the first round of the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 tournament. But the 35-year-old is not completely satisfied.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Aug 17, 2022, 07:51 am
Andy Murray 's love of tennis cannot be denied. Instead of following the events of these days from afar after his serious hip problems, the 35-year-old Scot continues to torment himself on the center courts of the world. This week at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.
On Monday, Murray was on the pitch for almost three hours in his hard-fought three-set win against Stan Wawrinka, including cramps. "I've been struggling a little physically since Wimbledon. I'll have to work on that with my team in the next few weeks," the Scot admitted frankly after the match.
Murray is in the late fall of his career
In any case, at this stage of his career, Murray no longer makes his heart a murderer's pit, which the on-court interview, in which the three-time Grand Slam winner could hardly hold back his tears, made clear once again. Murray knows he's in the late fall of his career, but he wants to attack again this time.
For this - Murray himself knows best - he needs an increase in performance in terms of playing: "I had the feeling that I didn't win as many matches as I would have liked this year because I didn't play well enough . Even in some of the first-round matches I survived, I didn't necessarily play great tennis and then not improve in the next match when I played better opponents."
Murray against Norrie in round two
But that's exactly what Murray will need if he wants to stay in Cincinnati any longer. Because in the second round, the world number 47 hits. on Wimbledon semi-finalist Cameron Norrie, who has made an impressive development over the past 24 months. "We've spent a little time together on the pitch so there won't be many surprises for me," Murray said.
Physically, he doesn't expect any restrictions, at the same time he hopes to improve in terms of play - both against Norrie and in the further course of the season: "I would like my tennis to be better sometimes because I'm still convinced that it can be better than it is now."