Murray: Preparation not to blame
Fallen Brit Andy Murray has defended his preparation for the Australian Open, despite a surprise first round defeat to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 5-7. 4-6, 6-0, 6-7.
Murray won in Qatar only a week ago, with the Middle-Eastern tournament beginning to have a cursed look about it, after 2007 champion Ivan Ljubicic exited Melbourne Park last year in round one.
“I trained in the hot conditions. It’s not like I’ve been stuck indoors, you know, for a long, long period of time. I thought I was much fresher than him at the end of the fourth set,” Murray said.
“I don’t think winning a tournament is going to affect your preparation for a slam.”
Tsonga has a reputation for being hot and cold. Both versions were on show on the Rod Laver Arena, with the Frenchman producing key plays in key moments. Murray pointed to the fourth set, with Tsonga down 0-1 and a break point. Murray appeared to be in control of the point, until the Frenchman found a way to sneak back a ripping passing shot.
“That would have been eight games in a row, and I was feeling good on my serve. So that was a pretty big point,” Murray said.
Murray felt he was regaining the ascendancy through the fourth set, however he couldn’t find a way to break the Tsonga’s serve.
“He seemed like he was cramping at 5-4. Then he came out and hit a 210km/hr serve, ran six, seven balls down, was hitting jump smashes and chasing every drop shot down. I don’t know how bad his cramp was or whatever was wrong with him.”
Another key play was the double fault Murray served at 4-4 in the fourth set tiebreaker.
“I played the better tennis in the fourth set and should have won it.”
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