‘I’ve worked hard to get here’ – Andy Murray proud of Grand Slam involvement
Andy Murray has shared he “kept trying” to compete at Grand Slams and is “proud of that work and effort” he put in to perform at the Australian Open.
Three-time Slam titlist Andy Murray underwent hip surgery in 2019 and has struggled with both recovery and other injuries as he staged an impressive return to the ATP Tour and the Grand Slams.
Towards the end of last year, Murray picked some notable results against World number nine Hubert Hurkacz and promising youngsters Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
With his injury woes seemingly behind him, Murray has started the 2022 season in fine fettle as he beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in two physically taxing matches in the span of one week.
Murray beat Reilly Opelka whilst David Goffin retired en route to what was his first final since 2019, before eventually losing to Aslan Karatsev.
The Brit’s return to the tour has earned him plaudits from seven-time Grand Slam victor Mats Wilander, who feels his comeback is a “huge success.”
In a BBC column, Murray wrote “to be finally back at the Australian Open again this year – playing on the same court as 2019 and then beating Basilashvili in five sets – was a brilliant experience.
“In 2019 it didn’t feel like it was me out there on the court. I was severely hampered physically and had little to no preparation.
“After the hip surgery, and loads of stops and starts with more niggles, playing in Grand Slams again is a place which I have worked so hard to get to.
“It would have been easy to stop playing – but I kept trying and trying. I’m proud of that work and effort.
“There was another setback last year when I couldn’t come to Australia because I tested positive for coronavirus shortly before I was supposed to fly out.
“That was brutal for me. I had trained really hard through the end of November and December, I was playing really well,” Murray shared.
“I had played lots of practice, I felt really fit and then that positive test happened. I was gutted.
“The injuries and setbacks I could take but that was difficult because when the Australian Open was on I was competing in a Challenger event in Italy.”
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