By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 31 2024
Even Andy Murray is fast to confess, as he did this week on the web site previously referred to as Twitter, that he’s within the midst of a “Horrible Second”. And the three-time Grand Slam champion, former No.1 and Sure Corridor of Famer is aware of, as he additionally stated on social media, that most individuals would stop in the event that they have been in his scenario proper now.
However that doesn’t make it a good suggestion to name for his retirement.
Nonetheless, tennis followers and pundits can’t appear to assist themselves.
How lengthy has it been since Murray reached the second week at a serious? Effectively, nearly seven years, truly, at Wimbledon in 2017. Again when Murray was a spry 30-year-old who didn’t but have a steel hip.
Tennis journalists can’t assist themselves both. Even Scottish ones, who you’d suppose can be decidedly loyal to Andy’s self-proclaimed needs.
Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour. I’m in a horrible second proper now I’ll offer you that. Most individuals would stop and quit in my scenario proper now. However I’m not most individuals and my thoughts works in a different way. I received’t stop. I’ll maintain preventing and dealing to supply the… https://t.co/nF0var6IfL
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) January 30, 2024
In a latest column for the BBC, Kheridine Idessane asks:
When does it turn into clear that the huge funding of time, power and energy just isn’t paying any sort of dividend in any respect?
At what level does bravely soldiering on begin to injury his legacy?
Murray, stern combatant that he’s, rapidly took offense to the article and jumped on his cellphone to bang out a heated reply.
“Tarnishing my legacy?” he wrote. “Do me a favour. I’m in a horrible second proper now, I’ll offer you that. Most individuals would stop and quit in my scenario proper now.
“However I’m not most individuals and my thoughts works in a different way. I received’t stop. I’ll maintain preventing and dealing to supply the performances I do know I’m able to.”
There have been many – specifically Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and Andy’s mum Judy – who took Andy’s aspect. Sure, journalists have a proper to write down what they went, however we do, then, have a proper to inform them sufficient is sufficient….
Preach! Think about telling an achieved iconic grownup your opinion on what they need to select for work and when they need to do it …. That is such a dumb, thirsty article. Can’t take a legacy away. Accomplishment lives without end
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 30, 2024
We are able to reply with our personal questions:
How is being one of the crucial unimaginable fighters within the historical past of our sport tarnishing a legacy? Does it matter if Andy returns to the highest 20 or makes a deep run at Wimbledon, or luggage his first title since 2019?
Allow us to not overlook that Murray was shut final yr when he reached the ultimate in Doha, and he might but get shut once more – however not if he does what so many individuals seemingly need, and hangs up his racquets for the final time.
So to those that suppose it’s a waste of time for Murray to battle on this horrible second, with a yucky five-match dropping streak in tow, we are saying this: Don’t tune in.
As for the remainder of us, who actually respect Murray’s want to finish his good profession on his personal phrases, let’s benefit from the journey (nevertheless bumpy) and respect the person’s effort – not simply whether or not he wins or loses.
One factor we are able to all agree on? We’ll miss the heck out of Andy Murray when he’s gone.
