Andy Murray accepted a wild card into Monte Carlo to try and shake of the demons that have plagued him since the Australian Open with the Scot freely admitting he wasn’t enjoying playing and his heart wasn’t in it. What it has been confirmed is that his heart is back with Kim Sears, with the former partners of 4 years reuniting after separating in November 2009. Murray fans will be hoping the renewed stability in his private life will have a positive effect on his game and maybe remove ‘Angry’ Murray off court.
Murray’s body language on court has reflected his mental state recently, and his mind came under early pressure with Philipp Kohlschreiber taking the early break for a 2-1 lead. With Murray winning just 8 points it wasn’t long before the German took a 4-1 lead. Ultimately Murray made 13 unforced errors and served terribly with only 40% of 1st serves in (only 8 first serves in total) to allow Kohlschreiber to take control of the first set, winning it 6-2.
The German then went too build on his lead serving to stride ahead 3-1
and winning 8 of the previous 10 points in the process. Murray was serving woefully, getting just 32% of his first serve in, and still looking lacking in terms of his will to be on court. It didn’t take long for Kohlschreiber to find himself at match point against the Scot with Murray looking like he’d given up.
Throughout the entire match it looked like Murray never should have come to Monte Carlo. He should have stuck to his original plan to sit the tournament out. Kohlschreiber won 6-2, 6-1.
As Murray walked off the court the crowd booed and whistled him off the court, unimpressed with his game with just 37% of first serves in and just 5 winners to 26 errors. Murray wasn’t the only big name sent packing today with Juan Monaco being beaten by Michael Berrer 6-4, 6-4.
“It hasn’t really happened to me since I’ve been on the Tour. It happened to me a few times in the juniors, when you’re just not enjoying yourself on court … and it’s kind of hard to put your finger on. You guys know the kind of the stuff that was going on, on and off the court and within tennis. You need to make sure you’ve got a clear head. I took four or five days after Miami, stayed there, practiced and I feel a lot better than I did.
The guys that I work with, we know each other really well now and we spend a lot of time together. They want me to win every tournament I play, but it’s not always about results. It’s about being yourself on court, fighting hard, being in a good frame of mind and enjoying yourself. For some reason that month in Indian Wells and Miami was not how I play on court, not really how I compete. I wasn’t myself at all. It’s not their fault. I need to sort it out myself.
I can’t say 100% I’m going to be great this week but I feel fine. I have practised really well, a lot better than I have done the last month or so. I want to be playing good tennis again, feeling confident, ready to go for it at the French, and Wimbledon right after that.”
