PARIS — Britain’s Andy Murray is hoping his first title in three years will be platform to build on after “a bit of a struggle” over the last 18 months.
With the French Open looming, Murray won an ATP Challenger event in southern France over the weekend for his first tournament victory since 2019 – and first on clay since 2016.
Murray won the second-tier event in Aix-en-Provence by defeating 17th-ranked Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
“This last year, 18 months has been a bit of struggle with my game,” Murray said. “But (my team) have been there supporting me and working with me to try and get better. We keep going from here.”
The French Open starts on May 28.
Murray, a former top-ranked player with three Grand Slam titles, claimed his first tournament victory since winning in Antwerp back in 2019.
His previous title on clay was the 2016 Rome Masters.
It was Murray’s third challenger title and first since 2005. According to the tour, the gap of 17 years and 8 months between challenger titles was the longest ever.
Murray climbed to No. 42 in the ATP rankings released recently, his highest since returning from two hip operations in 2018 and 2019.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer hopes that Rafael Nadal will recover in time for the French Open and that it would be “brutal” for Tennis should the Spaniard miss the tournament.
While talking to Sky Sports at Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix, the Swedish Tennis star addressed the injury issues of his old rival.
“It would be brutal, it would be tough for tennis if Rafa isn’t going to be there,” he said. “I still hope so; I saw he pulled out of Rome. So, I wish him the best.
Federer also mentioned the 22-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who along with Nadal, missed the Madrid Open due to a fear of injury.
“Obviously Novak (Djokovic) hasn’t been playing that much so I hope he’s going to be strong as well and then all the young guys coming through as well,” added Federer, who retired from tennis last year.
Nadal has competed at the French Open every year since winning the first of his men’s record 22 major titles in Paris in 2005. The clay court major begins on May 28.’
Recently, Spanish young-sensation Carlos Alcaraz also wished his fellow countrymen Nadal all the best.
“Hopefully he will be in Rome and then at Roland Garros, where he will be a rival to beat,” said the number two Tennis ranked player.
“Although he hasn’t played since Australia, a man who has won a tournament 14 times will always be difficult to beat in that tournament, even if he comes without match rhythm. It’ll also be difficult for him, tennis requires that competitive rhythm, but Rafa is Rafa, even if he arrives without many matches, he’ll surely show a spectacular level,” he added.
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