Andy Murray made progress in overcoming his career’s lowest point by outperforming France’s Alexandre Müller in most of their match. He maintained his composure until the end to secure a spot in the second round of the Qatar Open with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) win, boosting his confidence.
Prior to this, Murray had never experienced a losing streak of more than four matches in his 21-year career. However, during his match in Doha, he was on a six-match losing streak, with his last victory being in October. Murray expressed his struggles on the court in recent months, saying, “I haven’t had many wins and have lost a lot of close matches as well. It was getting tense towards the end there. I’m thrilled to have made it through.”
Although Murray’s age of 36 may pose some physical restrictions, his recent struggles can largely be attributed to mental hurdles. In crucial moments of his recent matches, the 50th ranked player in the world has appeared to lack confidence. However, during his match on Tuesday, he displayed a sense of freedom and determination from the very beginning. He added more power to his forehand and actively sought to control the game. He also successfully ended points at the net, utilized angles to open up the court, and effectively executed drop shots.
After recovering from a knee problem, Murray appeared to be on his way to winning the match with a set and break lead. However, he lost the break and faced a tough battle. Müller, ranked 75th in the world, took control of the baseline and utilized effective drop shots. But Murray remained calm and composed. Despite a challenging tie-break, he managed to win the last three points from being down 4-5, sealing the victory with a decisive backhand return on match point.
Murray showed extra excitement after winning the match, a reaction that is not typical for him in first-round matches at ATP 250 events. He pumped his fist multiple times before going to his player box to give high fives to his team members. When the interviewer mentioned that it was his first win of the year, Murray playfully raised his arms in triumph.
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“I am proud that I was able to overcome the match and secure another victory,” he stated. “I am grateful for my team’s hard work and dedication in helping me find ways to navigate through this challenging time. Hopefully, this marks the beginning of a successful streak.”
Murray’s upcoming opponent is Jakub Mensik, a Czech player who is 18 years old. This will be Murray’s first time winning back-to-back matches in a tournament since August.
Unfortunately, despite being the reigning Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka faced an unexpected loss in her first match at the Dubai WTA 1000 tournament. She was defeated by Donna Vekic of Croatia with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-0. Sabalenka, who was seeded second in the tournament, had not played in a competitive match since her victory in Melbourne back in January.
Last week, Iga Swiatek emerged as the champion of the Doha WTA 1000 tournament. She continued her winning streak by defeating Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Dubai tournament.
