© Getty Photographs Sport – Scott Barbour
Andy Murray described going through Novak Djokovic in a remaining as “unbelievably robust” because the Briton highlights that it is not solely concerning the Serb’s high quality but additionally concerning the psychological edge he has within the largest matches because of his astonishing success.
Murray and Djokovic, each 36 years previous, created one of the fascinating and greatest rivalries in males’s tennis as they’ve performed in opposition to one another 36 occasions, with the vast majority of these matches being finals or coming within the latter levels of tournaments. A bit shockingly, all of these 36 conferences got here between 2006 and 2017 as Murray and Djokovic have not clashed in opposition to one another since 2017 January.
Whereas Murray has had sure success in opposition to Djokovic, the Serb nonetheless holds a fairly good 25-11 head-to-head in opposition to the Briton. Nonetheless, eight of Murray’s 11 wins in opposition to Djokovic got here in finals – the Serb has received 11 of their 19 conferences in finals. Whereas Murray nonetheless has a shedding report in opposition to Djokovic within the finals, he nonetheless managed to beat Djokovic within the 2012 US Open remaining for his first Grand Slam title and in addition within the 2013 Wimbledon remaining for his second Grand Slam title.
Since present process two main hip surgical procedures, Murray hasn’t been a powerful pressure within the final a number of years. On the opposite facet, Djokovic continues to win the most important titles and set new information.
“Clearly unbelievably robust. You understand, after which the form of center, latter stage of his profession, you understand, I feel even stronger,” Murray mentioned when requested about the way it feels to play Djokovic in a remaining.
“I’ve clearly performed a number of finals in opposition to him and it was extraordinarily tough for me even after we’d form of grown up collectively and had plenty of expertise of taking part in in opposition to him in main competitions.
“However I feel with what he’s gone on to attain, you understand, within the final 5 or 6 years, I feel for a few of the youthful gamers coming by means of to be getting into taking part in a remaining of a Masters Sequence or a Grand Slam and he’s on the opposite facet of the online when he’s received, you understand, 24 majors and, such as you say, 98 titles, it’s not simple when you’ve gotten restricted expertise in these conditions and, you understand, you’re standing throughout the online from a man who’s received as a lot as he has. That’s actually tough.”
Murray on going by means of probably the most tough interval of his profession
For a few years, former world No. 1 Murray was top-of-the-line gamers within the sport and always successful titles on the most important stage. As talked about above, Murray hasn’t had a lot success during the last a number of years however the final couple of months have been particularly robust.
After shedding 5 of his final six matches in 2023, Murray additionally began the 2024 season with 4 consecutive first-round exits. Throughout his pre-tournament interview at this week’s ATP 250 event in Doha, Murray admitted being on this place is a totally new expertise for him.
“Tennis-wise it hasn’t been an awesome begin to the yr. I’ve by no means skilled a interval like this as knowledgeable. It’s been tough, a brand new expertise for me (which) shouldn’t be the nicest, however good to expertise new issues and try to be taught from them,” Murray mentioned.
“After I do get myself out of it and begin to really feel higher, hopefully I’ll be stronger for it, but it surely’s been arduous. I’ve not been taking part in properly and successful as many matches as I would love, so I’m hoping I can flip it round right here.”
Murray working towards properly however that’s not translating into matches
What makes it much more baffling for Murray is the truth that he’s doing properly on the apply court docket however when the second comes for him to ship in an official match, it’s simply not occurring for him. Murray famous that is additionally one thing fully new for him.
“I’ve by no means actually skilled taking part in rather well in apply and never with the ability to translate it to a match court docket earlier than, it was at all times the alternative for me,” Murray mentioned.
“I used to be by no means an awesome apply participant, I didn’t use to win apply matches, exhibition matches, it’s been the exact opposite for me lately. I do know there’s higher tennis in me than I’m displaying simply now, however I’m hoping I can flip it round.”
In the meantime, Murray shall be trying to clinch his first win of the season when he meets Alexandre Muller within the Doha first spherical. When Murray and world No. 73 Muller meet, will probably be their second assembly. Curiously, their first and solely assembly got here in Doha final yr, when Murray created a formidable comeback to beat Muller 4-6 6-1 6-2.
Muller is actually a good matchup for Murray and a superb likelihood for the three-time Grand Slam champion to register his first win of the yr.
