Murray: 'I'll Keep Trying My Best To Have More Nights Like This'

  • Posted: Jan 16, 2022

Andy Murray has won 46 tour-level titles, reached No. 1 in the ATP Rankings and accomplished plenty more in his distinguished career.

But the Scot is hungry for more. That was plenty apparent on Saturday evening during the Sydney Tennis Classic trophy ceremony following his loss in the championship match against Aslan Karatsev.

“What an amazing atmosphere to play in, thank you, it was so good. I’ve really missed playing in front of these sorts of crowds and these sorts of matches,” Murray said. “Unfortunately the result didn’t go my way tonight but I’ll keep trying my best to come back and have more nights like this.”

The 34-year-old has played on the biggest stages in the sport countless times. However, he still is keen to return to those big matches. And Murray made it clear this week he does not just want to play in those moments, but succeed in them.

The No. 135 player in the ATP Rankings, who is still working towards his best form following hip surgery, has said on multiple occasions one of his big goals is to reach 50 tour-level titles. He currently has 46.

“I have made some of my shorter-term goals quite clear and things I still want to try and achieve,” Murray said earlier in the week. “I want to try and win tournaments again. That’s one of the reasons why I’m still playing, because I believe I can still do that.”

Karatsev had too much firepower on Saturday. The Russian, who broke onto the scene in Australia last year by reaching the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier, saved all five break points he faced. It was their first ATP Head2Head clash.

“What he [is doing], for me it’s unbelievable… I arrived a bit late to this kind of level, but especially to get this kind of player, one of the greatest players in the world and all time, for me it was a really important match,” Karatsev said. “I think it’s a huge comeback from him to play at this level after what he had in the past with the injury.”

It was a positive effort for Murray, who did not reach an ATP Tour semi-final in 2021. Now he will travel to Melbourne, where he will play Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of the Australian Open. 

Murray is not just doing this for himself, either. The 34-year-old made that clear during his speech Saturday.

“I would like to thank my family back home,” Murray said. “I don’t know if you’re all watching, but I miss you all.”

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