Andy Murray returns after his brilliant but exhausting Australian Open. The British tennis player gave it his all on the courts of the Rod Laver Arena, overcoming two exciting and very long matches in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, both resolved in the fifth set in favor of the Olympic gold medalist.
After losing in the third round at the hands of Roberto Bautista Agut, the winner of three Grand Slams has decided to take a break until the end of February: it has been announced that he will return, thanks to a wild card, to the ATP 500 in Dubai, scheduled for the 27th of February to March 4.
This was announced on the official page of the tournament on social networks: «We are delighted to announce that former world number 1 and Olympic gold medalist @andy_murray will compete in this year’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.» Fresh off his heroic run at the Australian Open, the two-time Wimbledon champion will return to the Middle East this month.» The two-time Wimbledon winner will join Slam champions on the entrant list for now: Novak Djokovic, who makes his return after last year, and Rafael Nadal, who, however, is expected to be absent due to an injury sustained earlier in the season.
Andy Murray’s initial program included a stop at the Rotterdam 500 indoor tournament, but due to Australia’s efforts, he withdrew. The return, therefore, will be to another 500 tournament, that of Dubai: an appointment that the Scotsman has played seven times.
The former world number one has reached two finals, one lost to Roger Federer in 2012 and another won in 2017 against Fernando Verdasco. His last participation, however, is not far away: last year, the year he returned after winning the tournament against the Spanish, Murray participated in the Dubai tournament, again thanks to a wild card, and was defeated in eighths by hands. by Jannik Sinner.
Andy Murray is a true champion
If Andy Murray is obviously known for his great combativeness on the pitch, his tactical precision as well as his incredible defensive moves, the Briton, whom some even call «The Man with the Golden Globes», is undoubtedly an expert.
Pass the ball over your opponent’s head. During an interview on this topic with Tennis TV, the former world number one went back to the genesis of this shot. “When I was young, with my mother and brother, we really liked to play little games around the net and work on shots and lobs.
And I think it’s because I practiced so much when I was very young that I got used to playing these shots. The reason my lob is so effective is because I hit it pretty high. So the height of the opponent doesn’t really matter, because I always have enough height to run, you know, a little bit above them. I know if I hit that ball with good height, there’s nothing you can do to defend it.»
