Andy Roddick feels Andy Murray’s decision to continue to play as a “compromised version” of himself – after the hip injury – “adds to his legacy” following his Miami Open farewell.
Former American World No. 1 praised Murray’s guts which have remained unchanged despite having a compromised body that has to work with a metal hip now. Murray was handed a heartbreaking 7-5, 5-7, 6-7(5) loss by Czech Tomas Machac in the R3 of Floridian Masters on Sunday. The 2-time Wimbledon champion fought back form 5-2 down in the third fame before he secured a 5-2 lead in the tiebreak that eventually slipped from his grip in a contest that went on for 3 hour and 25 minutes.
The former World No. 1 divulged last month that he is unlikely to play past this summer which means this was his penultimate match the Miami Open.
Talking to Tennis Channel following Murray’s loss to the World No. 60, Roddick lauded his fellow former ATP #1.
“Since 2019, with the hip issue, he will tell you he hasn’t been the same. But the guts of him have been the same. Even if he used to turn these matches [around] and pull them out, and lately he hasn’t been able to, the drama’s still there, the fight is still there,” said the 2003 US Open champion.
“In a weird way, I think this kind of compromised version of Murray almost adds to his legacy, the way he’s grinded out the last four, five years. I certainly respect it, I don’t know that I could’ve done it.
“I don’t know if a lot of us could’ve done it, so props to him if it is the last time we see him in Miami. Hell of a run, pal.”
Monica Puig, a former WTA #27 who clinched a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, also expressed her respect for 36-year-old’s fighting instincts.
“I mean as a player who retired due to injury, and seeing what he has done coming back from injury, which is incredibly challenging to do,” the Puerto Rican began.
“You have to deal with the pain, you have to deal with the monotony that is the rehab, and at his age already, when he had all of these injuries, he could’ve called it quits a long time ago.
“But we’re talking about that fight, especially on the court today in those pressure moments. He just looked at his best, where he thrives is in the thrill of the fight.
“You know, we never like to say goodbye to anybody who has left as big a footprint in tennis as he has. But, he’s given us some pretty great memories over the years, that’s for sure.”