Andy Murray has a good opportunity to go far at the Australian Open says former British Number one Johanna Konta.
After overcoming what many thought would be a career-ending injury in 2019, Murray has suffered a series of drawbacks but reached his first ATP Final in three years this week.
Unfortunately for the Scot, he lost the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic to Aslan Karatsev and struggled to control his emotions in the post-match speech admitting it had been a ‘long road’ to get there.
But Konta believes that Murray’s form shows he is more than capable of having a good run at the Australian Open which starts in two days.
“Ever since he’s come back from his injury he’s got more consistent, the more he’s playing, the more he’s training,” said Konta.
“I actually feel he’s got a good opportunity to go deep and make it to the very last stages, who knows? The fourth round, the quarters, its possible.
“He’s gotten some matches under his belt. The possibility is always there.
“It’s important to remember there’s a whole field of other players striving for the same thing. It’s never going to be a simple equation for him to do but for Andy he’s always giving himself the best chance of doing that.
“That’s what he’s striving to do, to be in the latter stages of the Slam, to win a Slam one day. There’s every possibility it depends on how the body holds up on a consistent basis.”
Konta, a former world number four, who recently announced her retirement from tennis said that Murray’s resilience is something very special.
“I think you admire it,” she said.
“It’s not a normal trait of every athlete, however it’s not unexpected because of how we know Andy, the kind of athlete he is. He’s resilient, he’s tough.
“Every time in his career, he’s maximised his abilities and is still looking to do that. Full of admiration for his tenacity.”
Murray will begin his Australian Open campaign against Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili whom he beat in the Sydney Tennis Classic this week.
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