In Melbourne, Andy had 5 unfortunate finals (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016).
Four years ago, he shocked the tennis planet by announcing that betrayed by a worn-out body he was perhaps living the last tournament of his career in Australia.
In the aftermath, the epic match, played in 5 sets against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, had once again proven the strength of character of a lion who limped low but still roared.
After a second hip operation, Andy Murray continued to think, live and dream about tennis.
To discover
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
The road has sometimes been long, the challenge seemed impossible, but through perseverance, the Briton has found a level of play that allows him to nurture certain ambitions.
The former world No. 1 (66th player in the world today) will land on the road to the Italian Matteo Berrettini, this Tuesday in an opposition of styles which he loves.
Without wanting to give the confrontation the contours of a last fight.
“
I think now that my body has gotten used to the metal hip, I don't have as much pain anymore
”
Andy Murray
Because Murray assures that he has not felt so good for a long time.
In The
Telegraph
, he confides: “
I think now that my body has gotten used to the metal hip, I don't have as much pain anymore.
At 33, I had a lot more problems than I do now at 35.5, just because my body got used to the new hip.
When I move well, I tend to play well and that's really important to me.
"Before sliding:"
I feel like I'm playing much better than at the US Open last year.
I feel a lot better when I step onto the court in terms of how I'm going to play and my understanding of what I need to do to be successful.
That's probably the thing I've been happiest with.
The playing conditions are quite fast, so it's even more important to be light on your feet.
»
In Melbourne, the Scot relies on the advice of Ivan Lendl
In New York, in the 3rd round last September (Andy Murray's best Grand Slam performance since a quarter-final at Wimbledon in 2017), Matteo Berrettini struggled to extricate himself from the clutches of eye-catching Andy Murray.
In Melbourne, the Scot relies on the advice of Ivan Lendl, with whom he reconnected last year but who often advises him from a distance.
With the one who had led him to his three Grand Slam titles (US Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013 and 2016), Murray hoped to be able to continue to give free rein to the passion that still drives him: "
I still like to hit balls tennis, I'm lucky to be able to do it at a high level, it's not the level of five or six years ago but (…).
I like this sport.
»
A big court (Rod Laver Arena), on the night of Monday to Tuesday, a shock against a seeded player, in Melbourne where he experienced a lot of emotions, everything is there to make Andy Murray want to once again , the one who was presented as the fourth man behind the legendary Big 3 (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) to defy time.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/SIL73HWCGXKSZBZRANYT36EZLI.jpg)
