Former world No 1 makes Andy Murray ‘guts’ claim as he issues ‘legacy’ verdict

Ewan West
Andy Murray at the Miami Open 2024
Andy Murray reacts at the Miami Open

Andy Roddick has proclaimed that Andy Murray continuing to compete as a “compromised version” of the player he was before his hip issues “adds to his legacy” after his Miami Open farewell.

The 2003 US Open champion lauded Murray for the fact his “guts” have remained the same in spite of the fact he has not been the same player since having to undergo hip resurfacing surgery.

Murray fell to a brutal 7-5, 5-7, 6-7(5) defeat to world No 60 Tomas Machac in an enthralling match in the third round of the 2024 Miami Open on Sunday.

The three-time major champion battled back from 5-2 down in the third set, before he saw a 5-4 lead in the tiebreak agonisingly slip away as he was cruelly denied in the three-hour-and-25-minute battle.

The 36-year-old tennis great revealed last month he is unlikely to play beyond this summer, meaning this was almost certainly his final match at the Miami Open.

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Speaking on Tennis Channel following Murray’s loss to the 23-year-old Czech, Roddick expressed his respect for his fellow former world No 1.

“Since 2019, with the hip issue, he will tell you he hasn’t been the same. But the guts of him have been the same. Even if he used to turn these matches [around] and pull them out, and lately he hasn’t been able to, the drama’s still there, the fight is still there,” the American said.

“In a weird way, I think this kind of compromised version of Murray almost adds to his legacy, the way he’s grinded out the last four, five years. I certainly respect it, I don’t know that I could’ve done it.

“I don’t know if a lot of us could’ve done it, so props to him if it is the last time we see him in Miami. Hell of a run, pal.”

Monica Puig, a former world No 27 who won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, also shared her thoughts on Murray’s fighting qualities.

“I mean as a player who retired due to injury, and seeing what he has done coming back from injury, which is incredibly challenging to do,” the Puerto Rican began.

“You have to deal with the pain, you have to deal with the monotony that is the rehab, and at his age already, when he had all of these injuries, he could’ve called it quits a long time ago.

“But we’re talking about that fight, especially on the court today in those pressure moments. He just looked at his best, where he thrives is in the thrill of the fight.

“You know, we never like to say goodbye to anybody who has left as big a footprint in tennis as he has. But, he’s given us some pretty great memories over the years, that’s for sure.”

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