Dubai organisers may punish Murray
• Organisers complain to Murray’s management company
• ‘It wasn’t really the place to be trying new tactics’
Andy Murray could yet land in trouble for his post-match remarks at the Dubai Open on Wednesday, following the tournament organisers’ admission that they have sought an explanation from his management company, Entertainment 19.
Murray, who had already “disappointed” the title sponsors Barclays, has also caused the “concern” of the tournament for volunteering that he was trying new tactics and shot-making during a surprise second-round defeat to Janko Tipsarevic, the world No39.
“The stuff that I was doing in the matches is similar to what I’d be doing if I was training this week,” said Murray, who is believed to have received about $400,000 (£26,000) appearance money.
The Barclays consultant John Beddington commented: “It’s just unfortunate that remarks like these slip out. At least you know he’s being honest. But possibly a more experienced player would think it, but wouldn’t say it, for fear it would hurt the event.”
Now the matter will go further, with Colm McLoughlin, the managing director of Dubai Duty Free, the tournament owners and organisers, admitting that he had spoken and written to Entertainment 19.
“They say that Andy’s always very candid with the press,” McLoughlin said. “We responded by saying we don’t dispute that, but it wasn’t really the place to be trying new tactics and we would love to see him clarify what he meant.”
Even though Murray only said what other players appear to do but rarely admit, McLoughlin said he took the matter further because spectators expressed concern.
“It’s a pity about the things he said, because I thought he played with commitment,” McLoughlin said. “It did indicate that he wasn’t really practised for the tournament and was experimenting with new things. It led a lot of people to think it was just a warm-up.”
McLoughlin added that the Dubai Open would welcome Murray back next year provided he is still a top player. But, depending on what Murray’s management company say, the controversy could yet end up before the ATP World Tour for disciplinary consideration.
Murray’s ‘training exercise’ dismays Dubai
• Scot plays down importance of 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 loss to Tipsarevic
• ‘A more experienced player wouldn’t say it,’ says sponsor
The sponsors of the Dubai Open have reacted with dismay to Andy Murray’s suggestion that he treated their tournament as a mere training exercise.
“It’s disappointing that it could be construed in a way which indicates he wasn’t taking the event quite as seriously as he does,” said John Beddington, a Barclays consultant. “It’s as disappointing for us as it is for Dubai Duty Free who work so hard and operate the event.”
Murray’s remarks came after his shock second-round defeat yesterday. With a $383,000 (£250,000) first prize available, and appearance fees as big as $500,000 commonplace at one of the most popular tournaments on the tour, Murray was bound to cause displeasure by volunteering that what he had done in matches was similar to what he would have been doing were he training.
Novak Djokovic was later asked whether he regarded the Dubai Open as a time for practice. “It’s just the tournament and people who come to watch you,” the world No2 said, though it was unclear whether he was aware of the criticisms by Murray.
“You carry certain responsibility when you are top five, top 10 in the world. You cannot just go out there and practise, you know.”
Murray’s comments, which included the claim that his style of play in Dubai would have been different had it been a grand slam event, may have been fuelled by mixed emotions from his lost 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 loss to Janko Tipsarevic, the world No38, in which Murray appeared to be introducing the more aggressive elements others have been urging upon him for some time.
They sounded like a throwback to the days before 2008, when the former Sun editor Stuart Higgins was appointed as Murray’s PR adviser and when the Scot, now 22, regularly opened his mouth and put his foot in it.
“Andy’s public persona has improved so much over the last 18 months, in tandem with his dramatically improved tennis,” said Beddington. “It’s just unfortunate that remarks like these slip out. At least you know he’s being honest. Possibly a more experienced player would think this but wouldn’t say it for fear it would hurt the event.”
Murray surprised by Tipsarevic in Dubai
• Scot loses 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 to Janko Tipsarevic in second round
• Attempts more aggressive style of play before US tournaments
Not for the first time Andy Murray may discover that candour can turn into questionable wisdom, after he admitted he used his second-round match in the Dubai Open to try out new ideas. Although his 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 setback against Janko Tipsarevic had a wonderful finish in which it seemed Murray might cheat defeat at the last moment, the Serb was the lowest-ranked opponent to whom he had lost in 10 months.
“I was trying some things out and it was a good learning experience for me,” Murray said, explaining why he had served-and-volleyed more than usual against the world No39.
He also attacked from the baseline with more frequent hard-hitting combinations to supplement the cagier stuff for which he has become famous, and advanced more to the forecourt during rallies.
“It’s not the end of the world,” he said, laughing at a suggestion that he might be frustrated at the loss. “If it had been a slam, my tactics and game style would have been a bit different.”
When this triggered an allegation that it sounded as if he had used a big-money tournament, in which he will have received a large six-figure appearance fee, merely for practice, Murray went on the defensive. “I am not using it as a practice session – I said at the beginning that when I am getting ready for big events you need to try something out,” he said, referring to next month’s Masters Series tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
“I have been asked for years to play more aggressive, and when you play more aggressive you make more mistakes. That’s bound to happen.”
Murray did get caught up in the passion of a match in which he fought back obstinately in a climax full of great rallies with 5,000 people screaming their lungs out, when it seemed that he may have been experiencing confused objectives. At the end he cracked his racket on the ground in fury.
By turns Murray had been passive, determined, fatalistic, confident and annoyed in a match in which he almost saved the first set from 5-3 down. He looked as though he had saved the third set from 4-1 down and again did not, somehow letting it slip from 30-15 up on his serve.
Just as important as his performance level is his physical condition after he had aches and pains in back, hip, knee and groin on Monday. “I felt a lot better in the first, that’s for sure,” he said. “It just takes a few matches, few long practice sessions, and you’re back to how you were.”
But he has not had those few matches, which suggests there is plenty to do before Murray is fully fit for the one-month swing in the States.
Andy Murray suffers surprise defeat in Dubai to Janko Tipsarevic
• Murray loses in second round 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 to world No39
• Scot not able to carry second-set momentum into decider
Andy Murray was beaten in three sets by Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic at the Dubai Tennis Championships in his first tournament since losing in the final of the Australian Open to Roger Federer.
Murray looked to have overcome losing the first set of the second-round match when he took the second set to force a decider, but Tipsarevic raised his game to complete a 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory in two and a half hours. Despite the defeat, Murray claimed he was not too disappointed to have lost.
“The first set I played a very different game, trying to get forward and work on some different things,” he said. “I think it was a good learning experience – if it was a slam, my tactics would have been different. I wasn’t coming in as well prepared as I have done in previous tournaments.”
Tipsarevic claimed an early break of serve in the first set but squandered the chance to serve it out, missing an easy smash to allow Murray to break back and level at 5-5. Murray then hammered down three aces in the next game to signal a change in momentum, but the world No39, Tipsarevic, commendably held serve to love to force a tie-break.
A superb forehand winner down the line gave Tipsarevic four set points at 6-2 and an ace two points later gave the 25-year-old Serbian the upper hand. There was controversy following the point, with Tipsarevic successfully appealing against a serve fault. Murray looked on bemused, unsure if the point would be replayed.
“Every time the rule kind of changes – it’s basically a judgement from the umpire whether his call came before or after you made contact with it,” Murray said.
That sparked Murray into life and a break of serve in the opening game of the second set was enough for the third seed to take it 6-4 and level the match. But Murray could not carry that momentum into the decider as Tipsarevic claimed an early break and then saved five break points in an epic fifth game to lead 4-1.
After the first set it was perhaps no surprise that Tipsarevic was unable to serve out for the match, two woeful backhand errors helping Murray to reduce his arrears to 5-4. However, Murray himself was broken in the next game and Tipsarevic sank to his knees in the middle of the court in celebration of one of the best wins of his career.
Murray to face Tipsarevic in Dubai
• Murray coming back after post-Australian Open break
• John Lloyd confirms James Ward’s Davis Cup debut
Andy Murray will face Janko Tipsarevic tomorrow in the second round of ATP Dubai Championships.
Murray defeated Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-3 in the first round after taking a month off following defeat by Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open and has admitted that coming back after the break was difficult.
His challenge will continue against Serbian Tipsarevic who beat Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 today.
Murray had already decided to skip the Davis Cup match for Great Britain against Lithuania next weekend, which has allowed James Ward to make his debut.
Captain John Lloyd today confirmed his four-man team for the Europe/Africa Zone Group II tie in Vilnius, with Ward and Dan Evans given the two singles spots.
Lloyd had to choose between Ward, Evans and Jamie Baker, who will travel with the squad as a reserve.
Ward is the highest ranked of the trio at 252 in the world but has had a mixed start to 2010, qualifying for the ATP World Tour event in Chennai but losing his last three matches. Evans played in Britain’s last tie against Poland but lost both his rubbers in straight sets, leading to Britain’s relegation.
Doubles team Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming, as expected, make up the remainder of the team. The pair, known as Flemski, made an instant impact on the ATP Tour last year but have lost in the first round of their last three events.
Fellow doubles specialist Ross Hutchins finds himself a reserve despite reaching two main tour finals already this year and yesterday reclaiming the British number one doubles ranking.
Victory over Lithuania in the tie, which starts on 5 March, would put Britain on the road to promotion but is far from a certainty. Lithuanian number one Ricardas Berankis is ranked 198th in the world and has been in good form this year while Britain’s team cannot boast a single Davis Cup victory between them.
Murray makes muted return despite win
• Scot beats Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-3
• Briton’s first game since Australian Open final
It was rather odd to see Andy Murray jerking his head, bending his body, and whacking his racket on the court in the second set of a 6-2, 6-3 win over Igor Kunitsyn, a Russian qualifier who has only just crept into the world’s top 100.
As re-starts go, the outcome sounds satisfactory enough, and there was rarely much doubt that he would make his way into the second round of the very lucrative Dubai Open. But in fact it was not as comfortable as Murray would have liked, given that he has been suffering from aches and pains in the back, the knee, and the hip during most of the three weeks since losing to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.
The second game was a monster. It lasted 25 minutes, contained 14 deuces, and was apparently the second longest in the history of the ATP Tour. By the end of the match Murray had been out there for more than an hour and 40 minutes and was being asked by the interviewer if he was going to go straight off and get into an ice bath. “I shouldn’t think so,” said Murray, rather grumpily. “My physio is usually keen to get me in straight away,” adding that he did not like baths anyway.
“My ankle was sore at the start of the match and I was really out of breath early on,” he added. “I have not practised that much or trained that much and there were a lot of long rallies. You don’t think that at 1-0 it could make a huge difference to the match, but I think it did. I’ve never played a game like that before.”
The huge wait for the match to reach 2-0 caused spectators to come pouring in during the next game, and there were other curiosities such as Murray focusing with steely intent through the many long rallies and then slashing a couple of points impatiently into the net, the assortment of wails and other noises from outside the centre court, and the two world‑class lobs with which his opponent punished him when he tried to force the issue.
That was what contributed to Murray’s gestures and expressions of discomfort in the second set. When he tried to step it up and finish it off, he found it difficult to do so. His body looked stiff, there was a suspicion early on that there may have been twinges in his groin as well as a knee, and he wore supportive cycling shorts throughout. He has not done a lot since Australia and it showed. He may like his body to respond a little more willingly when he plays his second round on Wednesday, against either Janko Tipsarevic, a tenacious Serb, or Italy’s Andreas Seppi.
Murray downbeat over Federer’s absence
• World No1 could miss six weeks with lung infection
• Scot has clear route to final but doubts his own fitness
Tennis Andy Murray’s chances of winning the Dubai Open and edging back up the world rankings have improved markedly with the sudden and unexpected withdrawal of Roger Federer with a lung infection he contracted six days ago. But there was no way Murray wanted to talk about that.
As he had been in Federer’s half of the draw, the main obstacle to Murray, the world No4, reaching the final is now Marin Cilic, the Croat whom he impressively beat in the semi‑finals of the Australian Open. But talking up this significant advantage, gained at the world No1’s expense, might hint at Federer’s supreme-again status.
And so Murray was as downbeat as a double bass. “It’s a disappointment for the tournament obviously,” he said. “But if he’s sick and not feeling well. You know, he had an illness a couple of years ago and kind of played through it, which didn’t help him that much. You don’t want to let those sort of things drag on. I’m sure he made the right decision for himself.”
Murray acknowledged that he “loved” playing against Federer, but when asked if his chances of winning the tournament had improved with the absence of his conqueror in the Australian Open, he laughed. And then, with deliberate blinkers on, he answered no. “If I get to the semis it might be a bit different, but I’m not thinking about winning the tournament,” Britain’s No1 reckoned. “I haven’t practised or trained that much since Australia. I don’t know how well I’ll shape up or how well I’m gonna play.”
Murray, who had annoyed the organisers of the Marseille Open with his late withdrawal from the tournament earlier this month, has had a sore back, painful knees and trouble with his hip, he volunteered, and felt so tired after the Australian Open that it was not until recently that he wanted to return to the gym. For a while it was five-a-side football instead.
But his comments about Federer and his illness of 2008 went to the quick. That, it transpired, was glandular fever, and Federer was affected by it not only while losing to Murray in the first round here, but possibly even while he was losing his Wimbledon title and No1 ranking.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, Federer warned that he might be out for as long as six weeks, though he hopes to be in action much sooner. “On Wednesday I couldn’t get up any more,” Federer said. ”Breathing was difficult. I feel I am fine now but I am still very tired and slow, and the doctors say it’s serious enough that I don’t play for two weeks. And I can’t take any chances. If it’s treated properly, everything should go away fairly quickly. I’m hoping to be back for Indian Wells [which starts on 10 March] but there is no guarantee. It may be possible, it may be not. I will do some tests and we will see how it is.”
Perhaps Federer’s biggest disappointment is that this pause could affect his momentum just when he had returned to the best form of his life after almost two years. Indeed the gossip says that the Federer renaissance has altered the Murray camp’s view of what it would take to get the better of the 16-times grand slam winner in overdrive in a major final.
Murray, however, would not go along with that – publicly at least. “It’s not as though there was a whole lot I would have done differently there,” he said of the Australian Open final. “Obviously I would like to have taken one of the set points, but in terms of the way I played in that [third] set I couldn’t have been far off.
“And in the first set I felt like I had chances. I could have done better, but in the second set he played too good. I would like to have changed that, but I was relatively happy with the way I played.”
Smokescreen it may have been, but in the meantime Murray’s focus is on returning comfortably to the fray, and then trying to step up his level for the four-week swing in Indian Wells and Miami in March. After that the priority is keeping better rested and prepared for the year’s three remaining grand slams.
Nevertheless, there are clearly opportunities for Murray over the next six days. The climate is nice, the chance to ease his way into things with a first round tomorrow against Igor Kunitsyn, a Russian qualifier, and the top seed is now Novak Djokovic, his fellow 22-year‑old. Murray might fancy his chances against him.
ATP officials back Murray’s withdrawal
• Tournament director denies calling for Murray suspension
• ‘I was disappointed I lost my top two players’
Tennis officials have backed Andy Murray’s decision to pull out of this week’s Marseille Open. Murray was due to be top seed in Marseille but has withdrawn from the event as he continues to recover from his efforts at the Australian Open, where he lost in the final to the world No1, Roger Federer.
The tournament director, Jean-François Caujolle, has denied calling for Murray to be suspended for missing the tournament for the second year in succession. The ATP has confirmed it would not have been inclined to do so anyway.
“There are clear rules and regulations in place with regard to player withdrawals and Andy Murray followed them,” the ATP said.
“We understand a situation like this can be frustrating for a tournament but we are looking forward to a great week of tennis in Marseille with a strong field led by six of the world’s top 20 players.”
Caujolle had been quoted in a newspaper calling for Murray’s suspension but this morning told Sky Sports News: “I never said that he should be suspended but it’s true I was really disappointed because he was my top player.
“There is a responsibility for the credibility of all the game when it’s a top player. Sometimes you have to force yourself and be responsible. I understand he’s quite young and it’s not a huge tournament but it’s quite disappointing and we had the same last year.
“Last year he played in Rotterdam and was a bit injured and I understand that. He sent me an email saying next year I will play. I understand everything but the fact is it’s going to affect the tournament.
“One week before, to phone and say I am not coming would have been good. In that case I could have found another player, not as good as Andy, but made an offer to Marin Cilic or someone, but it was too late. A few minutes later Juan Martín Del Potro pulled out with a real injury, so I lost my top two players.
“I think the top seed and marquee player … they have to not pull out because all the promotion is framed around them. There should be something but the ATP is working on that. It’s not the fault of the ATP or even Andy. It’s just life.”
Marseille organiser attacks Murray
• Claims this is second Marseille Open cry-off in two years
• ‘The No1 seed should have a sense of responsibility’
The organiser of the Marseille Open has denied insisting that Andy Murray should be suspended for a late cry-off.
Jean-François Caujolle was quoted in the Daily Express as saying: “Murray did the same thing to me last year. He can’t know what it is to keep his word.”
Murray had been due to be the No1 seed and main draw in Marseille, but pulled out as he continues to recover from the Australian Open, where he lost in the final to Roger Federer.
“The No1 seed of a tournament should have a sense of responsibility,” Caujolle is supposed to have told the Express. “If he does not respect his commitments, he should be suspended by the ATP.”
However, Caujolle later softened his stance. “I never said that he should be suspended,” he said on Sky Sports News, “but it’s true I was really disappointed because he was my top player.
“There is a responsibility for the credibility of all the game when it’s a top player. Sometimes you have to force yourself and be responsible.
“I understand he’s quite young and it’s not a huge tournament but it’s quite disappointing and we had the same last year. Last year he played in Rotterdam and was a bit injured and I understand that. He sent me an email saying next year I will play.
“One week before, to phone and say I am not coming would have been good. In that case I could have found another player, not as good as Andy, but made an offer to Marin Cilic or someone, but it was too late.
“A few minutes later Juan Martín Del Potro pulled out with a real injury so I lost my top two players. I think the top seed and marquee player … they have to not pull out because all the promotion is framed around them. There should be something [done about it] but the ATP is working on that, it’s not the fault of the ATP or even Andy. It’s just life.”
Caujolle was quoted in the Express as saying he had gone out of his way to help Murray, organising a wildcard to play doubles with his brother Jamie and booking five hotel rooms on Murray’s behalf.
Murray wants ATP event in Scotland
• Ambitions to stage an indoor event in “a few years’ time”
• Murray’s priority remains breaking grand slam duck
If Andy Murray has his way, Scotland could have its own ATP tournament within the next few years. The world No3 is keen to cash in on his growing profile in the sport and bring a tournament to his home country for the first time.
Scotland has already shown its appetite for tennis with the staging of Davis Cup ties in Glasgow in 2006 and 2009, both of which were sold out within hours of tickets going on sale. Now Murray feels Scotland could be ready to stage an indoor event, probably in February. “I’ve spoken to a few people about it,” he said. “I think if you’re going to do it you make sure you do it well. If I was to do something like that I would want to make sure I’m really involved in it.”
Murray’s top priority remains winning his first grand slam title, having come so close last month at the Australian Open, where he was beaten by Roger Federer in the final. In a few years’ time, though, having his own event, in his own country, is clearly something that appeals. “You need to make sure you’ve got the time and the right people behind it,” he said. “It is something that would definitely interest me [especially] when I am a bit older, when I am playing maybe fewer tournaments than I am now and maybe not doing as much training.”
Murray has been inspired by the efforts of his peers. The world No2, Novak Djokovic, staged his own tournament in Serbia last May and the Spaniards David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero held an event in Valencia last November, which Murray won. “I think all the players would love to put on a tournament,” Murray said. “They obviously know what the players need. The players just like to be near restaurants, have enough practice courts and have the hotel close to the courts, and that’s it. I think sometimes it’s easy for tournaments to try and overcomplicate things, to try to outdo the other ones and make it a little bit more fancy, but players are pretty simple.”
With the exception of the ATP World Tour Finals, which came to London in 2009 for a four-year run, Britain has not staged a top-level indoor event since 2000, when a three-year run – two in Battersea Park and one in the Docklands – came to an end amid complaints from players about its unsuitability. Before that, Wembley Arena staged a respected event every year from 1976 to 1990.
Murray also intends to invest in his mother’s plans to build a tennis club with its own coaching academy in Scotland. Judy Murray is in the final stages of securing finances and agreeing the site to be developed, and she believes Scotland would relish a tournament of its own. “I think the interest is there,” she said. “Most of the tournaments in Britain now are edging further and further south. There is a massive interest in tennis in Scotland and, of course, if you were bringing some of the big names, I think you’d get huge interest in watching that. You could see the interest that there was when they brought the Davis Cup ties to Scotland. People do want to watch.”
Murray is due to return to the tour in Dubai on 22 February, having pulled out of an intended appearance next week in Marseille in order to recover fully from his efforts in Australia.