By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 31 2024
Even Andy Murray is fast to confess, as he did this week on the web site previously often known as Twitter, that he’s within the midst of a “Horrible Second”. And the three-time Grand Slam champion, former No.1 and Sure Corridor of Famer is aware of, as he additionally mentioned on social media, that most individuals would give up in the event that they had been in his state of affairs proper now.
However that doesn’t make it a good suggestion to name for his retirement.
However, tennis followers and pundits can’t appear to assist themselves.
How lengthy has it been since Murray reached the second week at a significant? Effectively, nearly seven years, truly, at Wimbledon in 2017. Again when Murray was a spry 30-year-old who didn’t but have a metallic hip.
Tennis journalists can’t assist themselves both. Even Scottish ones, who you’d assume can be decidedly loyal to Andy’s self-proclaimed needs.
Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favour. I’m in a horrible second proper now I’ll provide you with that. Most individuals would give up and quit in my state of affairs proper now. However I’m not most individuals and my thoughts works otherwise. I gained’t give up. I’ll hold combating and dealing to supply the… https://t.co/nF0var6IfL
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) January 30, 2024
In a latest column for the BBC, Kheridine Idessane asks:
When does it develop into clear that the huge funding of time, vitality and energy isn’t paying any form of dividend in any respect?
At what level does bravely soldiering on begin to injury his legacy?
Murray, stern combatant that he’s, shortly took offense to the article and jumped on his cellphone to bang out a heated reply.
“Tarnishing my legacy?” he wrote. “Do me a favour. I’m in a horrible second proper now, I’ll provide you with that. Most individuals would give up and quit in my state of affairs proper now.
“However I’m not most individuals and my thoughts works otherwise. I gained’t give up. I’ll hold combating and dealing to supply the performances I do know I’m able to.”
There have been many – specifically Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and Andy’s mum Judy – who took Andy’s aspect. Sure, journalists have a proper to write down what they went, however we do, then, have a proper to inform them sufficient is sufficient….
Preach! Think about telling an completed iconic grownup your opinion on what they need to select for work and when they need to do it …. That is such a dumb, thirsty article. Can’t take a legacy away. Accomplishment lives without end
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) January 30, 2024
We will reply with our personal questions:
How is being one of the vital unbelievable fighters within the historical past of our sport tarnishing a legacy? Does it matter if Andy returns to the highest 20 or makes a deep run at Wimbledon, or luggage his first title since 2019?
Allow us to not neglect that Murray was shut final yr when he reached the ultimate in Doha, and he might but get shut once more – however not if he does what so many individuals seemingly need, and hangs up his racquets for the final time.
So to those that assume it’s a waste of time for Murray to wrestle on this horrible second, with a yucky five-match shedding streak in tow, we are saying this: Don’t tune in.
As for the remainder of us, who actually recognize Murray’s want to finish his good profession on his personal phrases, let’s benefit from the trip (nevertheless bumpy) and recognize the person’s effort – not simply whether or not he wins or loses.
One factor we will all agree on? We’ll miss the heck out of Andy Murray when he’s gone.