Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Andy Murray column: I asked Ashleigh Barty to partner me at Wimbledon

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Thursday, 20 June 2019 23:33

In his regular BBC Sport column, Andy Murray reveals how he approached French Open women's singles champion Ashleigh Barty to play with him in the Wimbledon mixed doubles, discusses his emotional journey from possible retirement to making his competitive comeback at Queen's and getting around on his new electric scooter.

I would like to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon next month and I have spoken to a couple of players about partnering up.

But I've been rejected a couple of times so far - in the nicest possible way, of course!

One of those people was Ash Barty.

I asked her during the French Open and she said no because she is already playing in singles and doubles, so didn't want to play in three competitions.

Of course, I understood that.

She also said: "There's many better out there than me.' Then a few days later she won the French Open, so I fired her a message saying I told her she was one of the best - but she still rejected me!

It is a shame we can't play together because I want the best partner possible.

I'm sure I will find another great partner, providing I feel good enough to play the men's and mixed doubles. That said, I need to wait and see how I'm feeling first.

'Tennis hasn't made me emotional recently'

Making my return at Queen's was a special moment; it was really nice being back on a tennis court and I enjoyed it.

I was happy playing again. But I wasn't overcome with emotion on the court.

The past couple of years have been an emotional time for me, and when it came to the Australian Open I decided I had had enough and was able to speak out about it.

Before that it was really difficult for me to do that.

Because of how professional sport is, you end up telling everyone you're OK and you're feeling a bit better. But you're not.

You say things like that to try to sound optimistic and not tell everyone how much you're struggling.

I might have had to play against those people asking me how I was, so I wasn't going to tell them that my hip was killing me and then play them the following day.

But over the past few months I haven't been emotional with regards to tennis.

I was nervous going out on to the court for the doubles match with Feliciano Lopez - and I was nervous throughout most of the match.

It felt very different to when I came back here last year, playing Nick Kyrgios in the singles. I was really emotional that day.

There have only been a couple of other times in the past few months when I have been nervous.

That's been on aeroplanes, because I get butterflies and sweaty palms when I take off on flights. And the other time was playing in the golf club championships at Wentworth last week - especially when I handed in my card having shot triple figures!

When I'm on court I notice my nerves in my legs a bit and sometimes I don't breathe properly.

Nerves are funny because they manifest in players in different ways.

For some, it affects the way they think, but it doesn't affect me in that way. I feel I am able to think quite clearly and calmly.

'I didn't see Scotland's VAR controversy'

Before the match I received plenty of messages of support from my family and friends. The people closest to me - my wife and my team, particularly - know exactly what I've been going through and they have been with me throughout the whole journey.

They have seen everything I've been through and I think they were a bit apprehensive and a bit nervous, even though they didn't want to show it.

That's because it was my first match playing with what is essentially a metal hip! But it was great, it went well and I'm pleased that they were there to see it.

The match being pushed back a day by the rain didn't affect me too much. I practised as normal on Wednesday but, unfortunately, I didn't get to see Scotland's match in the Women's World Cup. I heard it was another video assistant referee (VAR) controversy though...

And on Thursday morning I had a swim with my kids and then we all walked the dogs. I say walked, we hopped on my electric scooter - which I got for my birthday - for most of it!

I love being able to do things like that, especially now I'm pain free.

Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko at Queen's.

Read 1801 times

Soccer

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe draw for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals was made on Frid...

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFind out who is missing through injury, who's in a race against tim...

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Premier League has announced changes to its Associated Party Tr...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit guard Cade Cunningham left Thursday nigh...

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhiladelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise in his left k...

Baseball

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing fr...

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The St. Petersburg City Council reversed co...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated