The 2024 season thus far has been one in which Murray has not yet emerged victorious in a competitive match. Recent consecutive eliminations in ATP 250 tournaments in Marseille and Montpellier have led to the 36-year-old facing allegations that he is tarnishing his own legacy by refusing to retire from the sport in a timely manner. Murray opened up about his struggles in a recent conversation with Sky Sports and revealed his determination to learn from this ordeal and quickly turn his performance around.
“In terms of tennis, the beginning of the year has not been particularly successful. I have never encountered a period like this in my professional career. It has been challenging, a new experience for me which is not pleasant, but it is beneficial to encounter new things and attempt to derive lessons from them,” Murray expressed.
“When I eventually overcome this slump and begin to feel better, I hope to emerge stronger from it. However, it has been difficult. I have not been playing well and winning as many matches as I would prefer, so I am hopeful that I can reverse this trend here.”
When asked whether there was a mental or physical obstacle hindering his ability to perform at his best, Murray admitted that it was likely a combination of both. “It is probably a combination of the two,” Murray conceded. “Physically, I do not anticipate feeling the same as when I was 20, so as you reach your mid to late 30s, it becomes challenging to maintain the level required to defeat the top players. Without a doubt, in terms of tennis, I know that I am capable of performing much better than I have been.”
Murray asserts that while his tournament preparations have been robust, he has struggled to maintain the same level of consistency on the tennis court. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic that he will soon regain his peak performance. “I have never experienced excelling in practice only to struggle to replicate it in a match before. It used to be the opposite for me,” stated the former world No 1. “I was never exceptional during practice matches or exhibition matches. Recently, it has been the complete opposite. I know that I have better tennis within me than what I am currently displaying, so I am hopeful that I can reverse this trend.”
Murray declared his intention to continue playing and emphasized that he will not be swayed by the opinions of others, despite the considerable speculation surrounding his future. “When I was in my early 20s, my fan base primarily consisted of young individuals who would approach me for autographs. Now, I encounter more mature individuals whose bodies are deteriorating,” Murray revealed. “They express sentiments like ‘it’s fantastic that you keep going; you have inspired me to continue training.’ So, the demographic has shifted somewhat. Nevertheless, it is liberating. I can do whatever I please. I am not obligated to adhere to the desires of fans, journalists, or anyone else. Based on my qualifications for various tournaments, my ranking, and the matches I have won, I want to continue playing at this time, so I will not cease.”
According to the Source tennis365.com