Tennis Legend Andy Murray Grinds Out Victory in Queen’s Club Opener
British tennis icon Andy Murray kickstarted what may be his final appearance at the prestigious Queen’s Club Championships with a hard-fought win over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday. The former world number one prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 in a tightly contested first-round encounter.
The 37-year-old Murray, a five-time champion at this iconic grass-court event, is not expected to continue playing beyond the 2024 Paris Olympics as he contemplates the next steps in his illustrious career. It has been a challenging year for the Scot, who ruptured ankle ligaments in March and has recently struggled with a nagging back injury, causing him to slip outside the top 100 in the ATP rankings.
“It has been a difficult season, but I’m proud of the way I fought to come through in the end today,” remarked Murray after the match. “Any win you can get is important, especially with Wimbledon just a few weeks away. I’m looking to build up my confidence and get more matches under my belt.”
Elsewhere, compatriot Dan Evans was forced to retire from his opening-round clash against American Brandon Nakashima due to a knee injury sustained after a slip on the court. However, there was better news for British player Billy Harris, who earned the biggest win of his career by defeating Argentine world number 32 Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Jack Draper, the British number one, is set to begin his Queen’s Club campaign later on Tuesday against Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
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