"Giving up, that's not my nature": Indomitable Andy Murray enthuses at the US Open
When Andy Murray took a seat on the bench a few moments after his unreal US Open opening victory, on Tuesday evening one looked not just at the worn-out Grand Slam warrior - but at the same time at a whole tennis life, at a man who likes and often making the impossible possible. And who, like no other in his industry, stands for the go ahead, always go ahead mentality.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Sep 02, 2020, 10:50 am
Completely exhausted, completely pumped out, Murray (33) crouched there with more than a dozen empty water bottles piled up next to him, sweat-soaked towels lying around as well as used rackets. For almost five hours he had run around in the largest stadium of the traveling circus against the nimble Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, he had fought with wild passion until his feet were sore and every step "hurt immensely."
It would have been easy for him to throw in the towel after two lost opening sets and with a break residue in the third round, but Murray is Murray. "Giving up, that's not my nature," said the indestructible Scot later, after his memorable 4: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6 (7: 5), 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 4 success . Murray even fended off a match point in the fourth set of a rousing Houdini unleashing act, which a number of prominent colleagues also watched spellbound in the orphaned arena, including Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem.
Andy Murray: Actually, already tennis retired
Involuntarily, on this shimmering comeback mission, one thought back to the bigger comeback of Murray, to his actually crazy presence at this tournament in New York. Because a good one and a half years ago, during his last major assignment in January 2019, all the signs were actually goodbye. When Murray lost his Australian Open first round match against the tough Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut, a “Farewell Andy” video flickered on the screens of the Rod Laver Stadium, in which prominent fellow campaigners such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Djokovic stirred the obituaries sang. Murray had announced his retirement from professional tennis a few days beforehand, and Federer was hoping for a great time for Murray after tennis in the little film: "By the way, I'm your biggest fan, Andy."
Murray: "Couldn't have been more amazed"
Then everything turned out differently. There was no life after tennis. There was a new life in tennis thanks to an operation that included a metal implant for his damaged hip. Murray went on a marathon mission back into his sport, first he only played doubles, then, almost exactly a year ago, followed the first outing at the Masters in Cincinnati. “I couldn't have been more astonished about this myself,” says Murray, “back then, in Australia, everything still felt like the end of the world to me.” At least like the end of the tennis world.
Last November, Murray even won the first tournament after the seemingly impossible return to top tennis, in the grim Antwerp final he defeated the Swiss Stan Wawrinka - just like Murray a three-time Grand Slam champion. It was an “unbelievable moment”, says Murray, the Braveheart from Dunblane who has always been characterized by one thing above all else throughout his career: the defiant attitude of ultimately asserting oneself against all odds, doubts and also one's own fears. “He always had to fight. Nothing was given to him, "says his mother and former trainer Judy Murray," even the press and many other players laughed at him at first. "
Murray after US Open victory: "I need an ice bath now"
Most colleagues, however, quickly lost their fun with Murray. He won three majors, in 2013 he won the first British Wimbledon victory since Fred Perry. He was two times Olympic champion, was number one in the world. He once belonged to the elite group of the "Big Four", together with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, he was one of the champions of the tennis universe, one who won because he trained harder and more ruthlessly than everyone else. And never tired of trying to improve. However, it also had its price, this exhausting exercise and play quota, it pinched every nook and cranny at Murray. Until the damaged hip almost forced him to stop. But only almost.
Now he's still there. A man who appears to have had nine tennis lives. And can still wear down younger and very young competition with his indomitable willpower. On Tuesday evening, Murray initially only had one longing for the 278-minute thriller on Center Court: “I need an ice bath now. This is an absolute emergency. ”On Thursday he will run, bite and fight again. Then it goes against the ambitious Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, it could be another long affair. Murray-like.