Team over individual glory for Murray
Briton may skip World Tour Finals for Davis Cup decider
PHOTO: AFP
GLASGOW:
Andy Murray has revealed that he may decide to skip this year’s World Tour Finals in order to prepare for Great Britain’s Davis Cup final against Belgium in November.
Murray inspired Britain to victory over Australia in the Davis Cup semi-finals, securing their first appearance in a final since 1978 with a straight-sets defeat of Bernard Tomic in Glasgow on Sunday.
Belgium are expected to stage the final on clay and with the hard-court World Tour Finals not due to finish until the week before, Murray is thinking about sitting out the prestigious event at London’s O2 Arena.
“If you reach the final and play on the Sunday, you also need to take time off,” Murray, a two-time World Tour Finals semi-finalist, told BBC Radio 5. “You can’t just play five matches against the best players in the world and then not take any days off.”
Missing the World Tour Finals would oblige Murray to forego prize money ranging from £300,000 to £1.25 million, as well as 1,500 ATP points.
Belgium, who defeated Argentina 3-2 in the other semi-final, will host the final on November 27-29.
Victory puts nine-time winners Britain, on the verge of relegation to Zone Group III five years ago, a step closer to an historic first title triumph since 1936.
Murray is now looking to become only the fourth player ever to win the Davis Cup, Olympic gold and multiple Grand Slams. “It would be an incredible achievement to win it, but there’s a long way to go,” said the former US Open and Wimbledon champion.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2015.
Andy Murray has revealed that he may decide to skip this year’s World Tour Finals in order to prepare for Great Britain’s Davis Cup final against Belgium in November.
Murray inspired Britain to victory over Australia in the Davis Cup semi-finals, securing their first appearance in a final since 1978 with a straight-sets defeat of Bernard Tomic in Glasgow on Sunday.
Belgium are expected to stage the final on clay and with the hard-court World Tour Finals not due to finish until the week before, Murray is thinking about sitting out the prestigious event at London’s O2 Arena.
“If you reach the final and play on the Sunday, you also need to take time off,” Murray, a two-time World Tour Finals semi-finalist, told BBC Radio 5. “You can’t just play five matches against the best players in the world and then not take any days off.”
Missing the World Tour Finals would oblige Murray to forego prize money ranging from £300,000 to £1.25 million, as well as 1,500 ATP points.
Belgium, who defeated Argentina 3-2 in the other semi-final, will host the final on November 27-29.
Victory puts nine-time winners Britain, on the verge of relegation to Zone Group III five years ago, a step closer to an historic first title triumph since 1936.
Murray is now looking to become only the fourth player ever to win the Davis Cup, Olympic gold and multiple Grand Slams. “It would be an incredible achievement to win it, but there’s a long way to go,” said the former US Open and Wimbledon champion.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2015.