Andy Murray wants to play ‘one more’ Roland Garros before retiring
Andy Murray has revealed his plans to play the clay swing this year, including Roland Garros, after deciding to skip it in 2022.
Murray chose not to play the second Grand Slam of the year in 2022, but did make an appearance on the clay of Madrid where he made the third round, before pulling out with illness ahead of his match with Novak Djokovic.
However, the British No.4 says he intends to give the full clay swing a go this year, “My plan just now is to play in Rome and Madrid and hopefully the French Open, providing my body is good.”
He continued, “You know, I’ll do a training block after Miami on the clay. I’m going to do that in Europe somewhere for a few weeks, three or four weeks. I’ll train, try and get my body used to the clay courts and to monitor how my body is feeling.”
Murray last played at the Paris major in 2020, when he was beaten in the first round by former champion Stan Wawrinka. This was the only time in the last five years that the Brit has played Roland Garros, with injuries keeping him from playing on the dirt.
“Because, yeah, the last – I don’t know how many times I have played it in the last five or six years, but when I have, like, I physically was not good the year I played against Wawrinka, and I can’t remember too many other times I have played it in the last five or six years,” said Murray.
“So I’d like to get the opportunity to play it one more time before I stop playing. Whilst I feel physically really good, I would like to play there again.”
Despite history showing clay to be Murray’s weakest surface, he has had some success on it over the years. The 35-year-old reached the Roland Garros final in 2016, and has reached four other semi-finals.
The former No.1 has also had success at the clay Masters 1000 events, winning both Madrid and Rome.
While the No.70 feels in better shape to play the clay swing than last year, he declared that he is still nowhere near his previous peak, “I don’t believe I’m in the best shape of my career.”
He added, “I just gained a lot of confidence from what happened in Australia, more than at any other moment in my career, like just from a physical perspective because of what I was able to do there.”
Before taking to the clay, Murray is playing in the Middle East and then will be competing at the sunshine double of Indian Wells and Miami.
Murray is currently playing the ATP 250 of Doha, where he will play Alexander Zverev in the second round, after saving match points to beat Lorenzo Sonego in the first round.
WHAT A MATCH ?@andy_murray saves 3 match points en route to a 4-6 6-1 7-6 victory over Sonego ?#qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/Xc6BEk6r9A
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2023
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