If you think Andy Murray needs a break after squandering seven match points bowing to lucky loser Dominik Koepfer in a three-hour Paris marathon today, then you’re not thinking like Andy Murray.
Meeting the media in Paris after a disappointing 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(9) defeat, Murray said he’s still committed to playing the Stockholm Open next week after a series of physical matches in recent weeks.
More: Djokovic Still Undecided on Playing Australian Open
“I mean, that’s the plan just now. Yeah, that’s currently my plan,” Murray told the media in Paris. “That’s not changed. You know, obviously have a chat after tonight. I played a lot of tournaments in a row, and played a lot of long matches in those tournaments. Granted, I have not gone very deep in any of them, but, you know, like tonight was another three-hour match.
“Last week was, I don’t know, I played I think it was three hours against Hurkacz, but longish one against Alcaraz, same against Tiafoe the week before. But yeah, just playing a lot of long matches. Yeah, you know, I’ll have a chat to the team a little bit about that in the next couple of days, but the plan is to go to Stockholm.”
Stockholm may be the last ATP event on Murray’s 2021 schedule, but the two-time Olympic gold medal champion suggests he plans to play the Battle of the Brits exhibition led by brother Jamie Murray next month and could be part of the lineup for the Abu Dhabi exhibition in December.
“[I will] potentially play in the Abu Dhabi exo, as well, which is kind of middle of December,” Murray said. “And then, you know, there is a thing in Scotland match, as well, which will get a couple of good matches there too.
“I don’t know 100 percent if Abu Dhabi is happening or not, but certainly if I wasn’t going to go there I would definitely go away and practice for a little bit outdoors in the sun. But even if I was to play in Abu Dhabi I may potentially do that a little bit, as well.
“I have had played a lot of tennis recently, so, you know, maybe first few weeks, you know, it would be nice to just be at home and rest and let the body recover a little bit and the mind, as well.”
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook