Murray trying to enjoy his tennis more: “It’s about being kinder to yourself”
The Scot says he’s working on his mental side to free him up on court
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Andy Murray has never been one to laugh and joke on the court. For him, the business of winning big matches and the biggest tournaments was always too serious, too important not to give everything he has.
His intensity has been a large reason behind his success; he would surely not have won three Grand Slams, been ranked No 1, won 46 tournaments, including the Davis Cup, without it.
When you’re struggling out there on your own, it can be difficult
At the end of 2023, Murray openly admitted he was not enjoying his tennis, leaving many to wonder if this coming year would be his last. But the 36-year-old world No 44 quickly regrouped, vowing to sort out his attitude and as he faced the media at Melbourne Park on Friday, he was in good spirits, looking ahead with genuine hope that he can get himself up the rankings and enjoy more success.
“I definitely feel like I’m enjoying it better,” Murray said. “I think part of that is obviously, it’s the mental side of it. Tennis is a difficult game in that respect. When you’re struggling, you’re obviously out there on your own, it can be difficult at times. Part of it is that.
“Also the way you’re playing. When you know you’re capable of doing more than what you are, if you’re not happy with the way you’re hitting forehands and backhands and serving and those sorts of things, there’s the technical aspect as well.
“Fixing some of those problems has helped me feel better on the court. Definitely some focus on the mental side, as well, reframing the way you look at things definitely helps.”
MURRAY: “I won’t be giggling on court”
Of course, Murray’s not about to come out looking like Mansour Bahrami, the great Iranian-French entertainer, whose trick shots continue to excite crowds when the legends play at the back end of Grand Slams.
“I won’t be out there giggling on the court,” he said, smiling. “That won’t be happening.
“It’s more about how you’re dealing with frustration and disappointment and everything when you’re playing. I don’t see Novak (Djokovic) out there when he’s playing his matches laughing and joking around. I never saw that with Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal). It’s not about that.
“It’s probably how you’re treating yourself in those moments and being a bit kinder to yourself, the people around you, lowering some of your own expectations, controlling what you can control. All of the players will sit in here and say exactly the same thing. It’s just not that easy to do it when you’re out there competing. That’s the hard part, just to focus on the next shot, the next point. It’s a very easy thing to say. We all know it. But doing it is difficult.
The balance between having intensity and being relaxed is never easy to find but Murray said last year, he found matches difficult because he was not converting winning opportunities, or finding his best tennis when he needed to.
Five years on from the hip operation which saved his career but which has reduced his mobility, at least compared to when he was in his pomp, Murray still has the fight and desire to go deep in the big tournaments.
“When I was younger, I obviously always got frustrated on the court, but I always felt like in the really important moments, I was always competing very well,” he said. “Last year I was getting frustrated, was not competing well in the important moments. That’s something that I hope to change this year.”
Etcheverry a tough first-round opponent
Murray plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry, the 30th seed from Argentina, in the first round in Melbourne, their third meeting after two intense battles last year.
The Scot won their contest in Indian Wells but then lost in Basel. Both matches went the distance, which Murray said was mostly his fault, even if Etcheverry seems to enjoy long matches.
“I made most of my matches quite physical last year,” Murray said. “I don’t know if that was necessarily him. But yeah, he has a game that can make the matches that way, as well. We played in Basel, I don’t know if it was over three hours, but it felt like it was. In Indian Wells, yeah, another long one.
“Again, I know that last year when I wasn’t serving well, you end up getting into lots more long rallies and everything. Because of the way I return, I put quite a lot of returns back in play, you can end up getting into lots of long points when that’s the case. Yeah, matches will go on.
“Hopefully that’s not the case in a couple of days.”
