Andy Murray: ‘There’s nothing you can do to defend it’

British tennis legend Andy Murray has confirmed his entry into this month’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, accepting a second straight wild card from the organizers and adding even more quality to a men’s field that already boasts eight of the best in the world. Top 20 male players. The annual two-week tennis extravaganza, which kicks off with the annual WTA event, is scheduled for February 19-March 4. While capturing three Grand Slam times is a big part of Murray’s successful tennis career, the Scotsman reached World No. 1 in 2016 and made history at that year’s Olympics when he became the only player to win. consecutive gold medals in tennis. Murray, a two-time finalist in Dubai, defeated Fernando Verdasco in 2017 to lift the trophy, before a series of injuries dropped him down the world rankings. Murray, who at the 2012 US Open became the first British man in 77 years to win a Grand Slam, accepted a wild card return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium last year. Making his first appearance at the ATP 500 event since his triumph five years earlier, he reached the last 16 and will be looking to improve this time around after some encouraging performances at last month’s Australian Open. “Coming back to Dubai brings back a lot of good memories, especially 2017 and the final with Fernando,” said Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion who also reached the final in Dubai in 2012. My form is improving and my game is improving, so the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships gives me another great opportunity to continue climbing the ranks.” Murray joins an all-star field that includes new No.1 Novak Djokovic, who is chasing a sixth Dubai title, last year’s champion Andrey Rublev, 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev and No.7 in the world Felix Auger-Aliassime, among others.

Murray doesn’t want to give up

If Andy Murray is obviously renowned for his great combativeness on the court, his tactical accuracy as well as for his incredible defensive moves, the Briton, whom some even call “The man with the golden lobs”, is undoubtedly an expert to pass the ball over his opponent’s head. During an interview on this subject with Tennis TV, the former world number one returned to the genesis of this shot. “When I was young, with my mother and my brother, we really liked to play little games around the net, and work on drop shots and lobs. And I think it’s because I practiced so much when I was very young that I got used to playing these shots. The reason my lob is so effective is because I hit it pretty high. So the height of the opponent doesn’t really matter, because I always have enough height to run it, you know, a little above them. I know if I hit that ball with good height, there’s nothing you can do to defend it.”