By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, January 15, 2024
Parting may be painful.
An emotional Andy Murray conceded his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat to No. 30-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry within the Australian Open first spherical was greater than a fast exit, it was doubtless the tip of an period.
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5-time AO finalist Murray stated this was “in all probability” his remaining farewell to the Australian Open ending a superb run of 16 Melbourne Park appearances.
“I imply, undoubtedly. Positively a risk,” Murray replied when requested if this was his remaining AO match. “Yeah, it is a particular risk that would be the final time I play right here. And yeah, I feel in all probability due to how the match went and all the things, I do not know.
“While you are enjoying the match, you are clearly attempting to manage your feelings, concentrate on the factors and all the things. If you’re one level away from the tip, you are like, I am unable to imagine that is over so shortly, and like this. Yeah, compared to the matches that I performed right here final 12 months, it is the exact opposite feeling strolling off the court docket. Yeah, want I concerned the gang extra. Simply disenchanted with the best way I performed and all of that stuff, so… Yeah, robust, robust method to end.”
Former world No. 1 Murray electrified Melbourne followers with magical comebacks on the 2023 AO.
Dealing with a dire two-set deficit, Murray roared again to ship a comeback for the ages on Margaret Courtroom Enviornment final 12 months.
Displaying fierce urge for food for the battle, Murray staged his second straight five-set stand conquering Australian Open doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5 in an epic 5 hour, 45 minute victory. That got here one spherical after he battled by Matteo Berrettini in 5 units.
Age cannot diminish Murray’s devotion to the sport, however after a number of hip surgical procedures the two-time Wimbledon winner couldn’t summon the power obligatory to hassle the 24-year-old Argentinian baseliner.
In his prime, Murray owned a sniper return. Immediately, he managed to transform considered one of 5 break factors as Etcheverry served 71 % and pumped 11 aces in opposition to no double faults.
Murray stated when he tried digging deep he got here up empty at present.
“Yeah, it was a poor efficiency. It was, like, very, very flat,” Murray stated. “IIt was an incredible crowd on the market that have been… Yeah, I felt like they have been attempting to select me up, help and get behind me. Often I might at all times interact the gang and get them going and convey some power into the match.
“It was, yeah, actually only a flat efficiency. I do not know precisely why that was the case as a result of I have been feeling good getting into. Performed fairly nicely in Brisbane. Practiced very well the final 10 days or so. Do not know.”
After pouring his emotional depth into 985 profession matches, the 36-year-old Murray is 2 wins shy of scoring his five hundredth profession hard-court victory.
This loss hurts Murray extra as a result of it chips away his perception he can carry his stage.
“I additionally know, like, what good tennis is. I’ve, yeah, performed nicely earlier than,” Murray stated. “I do know within the final week, 10 days, how nicely I used to be enjoying in opposition to the very best gamers on the planet. That is why it is so irritating that on the match court docket, yeah, it isn’t there.
“I imply, I have been telling myself that at some stage it is going to. However clearly when you’ve got performances like at present, or a batch of outcomes over a time frame like I’ve performed, it is robust to maintain believing in that.”
Photograph credit score: Andy Cheung/Getty
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