Andy Murray departs Roland Garros, most likely for the ultimate time, happy with
his legacy on the French Open and saying most gamers would join the outcomes he has had on Paris’ clay floor.
The previous world No 1 was nicely crushed by fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka, 6-4 6-4 6-2, beneath the lights on Court docket Philippe Chatrier on Sunday night.
Murray, who continues to be anticipated to retire this yr, has by no means gained the French Open due mainly to the dominance of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
However on his least favorite floor, and one which he has struggled on bodily, the 37-year-old nonetheless reached the ultimate in 2016 the place he was runner-up to Djokovic.
“Yeah, I’ve done really well here over the years,” he stated.
“I believe the difficulty for me is that whenever you examine it to what Rafa or Novak achieved in the identical time, it clearly is minuscule as compared.
“Most gamers would join the outcomes I’ve had right here. I performed a remaining, I believe 4 semis and made the quarters a few instances as nicely. I misplaced within the semis to Novak in 5, Stan in 5, and twice to Rafa. Clearly no disgrace in that.
“In a different time maybe the results would have been a bit different. But I’m proud of the results that I had here. I had great memories.
“It was not a straightforward floor for me. However I at all times confirmed up and, you recognize, put in some sturdy performances, contemplating. It was run right here through the years.”
It was a well-known feeling on Sunday for Murray, whose final three matches on the Paris clay have now resulted in defeat to his Swiss rival.
The primary was the epic semi-final defeat in 5 brutal units in 2017, a match which in the end proved an excessive amount of for Murray’s hip and nearly pressured him into retirement.
This one was extra just like the second, a straight-sets first-round defeat in 2020, but it surely has most likely nonetheless nudged Murray one other step nearer to calling it a day.
Murray has, after all, offered loads of unforgettable late-night drama through the years. However sadly, it appears to be like as if the nicely has lastly run dry.
In equity, the two-time Wimbledon winner had achieved nicely simply to get right here having ruptured ankle ligaments 9 weeks in the past.
“I wish I could have done a little bit better,” he added.
“Disappointed but I didn’t have extremely high expectations with the way the preparation had been coming in.
“However clearly I might have favored to have achieved higher.”
Murray and Dan Evans are the primary non-French pair to be awarded a wildcard into the lads’s doubles at Roland Garros in over 20 years
Murray, who had an extended dialog – a “private” one, he insisted – over the online along with his opponent, nonetheless plans to play within the doubles with fellow Brit Dan Evans.
“Physically tennis is not easy for me nowadays,” he stated. “It’s hard and clay has always been a surface that since the very beginning of my career I’ve had back issues on.
“It had been a little bit of a battle within the coaching and within the build-up, however I felt fairly good going into the match, contemplating. Hopefully, I will be advantageous for the doubles.”
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