THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2021

Andy Murray

Press Conference

A. MURRAY/O. Otte

6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations on that win. I'm guessing that must give you a tremendous amount of satisfaction. I know you'll say that you have played better against better opponents, et cetera, but just tell me what that meant to you to be able to dig that out and whether that might even be one of the most satisfying wins of your career?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, a lot of -- yeah, a lot of what I'm doing now is harder than a lot of the stuff I was doing when I was in my mid 20s in many ways, because, yeah, because of the physical issues that I have had and stuff.

Yes, it's tough obviously going out and playing matches of that length when you know you have not had, yeah, not had many matches, not had loads of preparation. And, yeah, not played a whole lot of grass court tennis in four years.

So, yeah, it's been tough. But, yeah, I mean, that's one of the reasons why I'm still playing is because of moments like that. Like, why would you want to give that up (smiling)? You know, the atmosphere the last -- I mean, it was good the whole match, but especially the last sort of, you know, hour and a half was, yeah, was brilliant. I still enjoy that.

Q. I mean, playing atmospheres like that, moments like that, is that what kind of kept you going through all the rehab, what makes it worth it to come back?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's not the only thing. Like I said the other day, there is many factors that go into it, but that's one of them. I mean, playing in atmospheres like that, and, yeah, creating moments and memories like that, yeah, is one of the reasons why I'm still playing.

Q. Obviously you're someone who's renowned for providing some matches with sort of roller coaster of emotions. I know you get nervous sometimes watching other sports, you used to get nervous watching your brother. I wondered if you had ever spoken to friends and family about what it's like watching you? Because you are renowned for these dramatic matches.

ANDY MURRAY: No, I haven't really, to be honest (smiling). I mean, the one time where I kind of realized, it's slightly different from a match, say, like tonight, but when I watch back like the highlights of the Wimbledon final in 2013, like, seeing my mom in the crowd and at the end of the match, like when I had the match points and then he came back in that game and stuff -- sorry, I'm shaking, I just got out of the ice bath. I'm so cold.

Yeah, I found that quite difficult to watch, actually, like to see, yeah, how hard it was for my mom and my wife. I kind of realized then what it must be like for them. But that was in the most kind of intense of matches and intense of moments. But, yeah, they should be used to it by now.

Q. Well played. Are you able to, in a situation like that, are you ever able to take yourself out of the moment, the battle, and sort of realize exactly what's going on and how incredible an atmosphere, how amazing a match it is?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I think in the last, like I said, the last hour and a half probably of the match when we came back out after the roof, I was, like, you know, I need to have more energy, I need to try and engage with the crowd more. You know, I picked a few people in the crowd and was basically, like, staring at them pretty much after every point and trying to, yeah, just engage with them.

You know, the crowd created a great atmosphere, but I think I was also, yeah, engaging them and we were feeding off each other a lot at the end. Yeah, like, I'm aware in the moment, like, I know what a great atmosphere is in tennis. I have played in a few of them over the years, and that was definitely one of them.

Yeah, obviously when the atmosphere is like that and things are going your way, it's a nice feeling.

Q. Just the roller coaster nature of these last two matches, how much is it down to physical issues or is it you haven't played so much so you're lacking in concentration or sharpness? What can you put it down to?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, yeah, I think it's lack of match play, personally. I mean, in both the matches, I was up and playing well, and in good positions. Yeah, just was not -- you know, like the concentration and stuff and the focus that's required to play.

You know, like if I looked at that match, like, as a whole, I could break it down into probably three or four parts. There was, you know, a couple of those parts or couple of quarters of it were really, really good, the beginning part, the first quarter and the fourth quarter, and there was a bit in the middle that was poor. Whereas in the match the other day with Basilashvili was kind of like I did well for three out of the four quarters of it.

It's just not easy when you've not played matches and you're not practicing that much just to maintain your concentration and focus for, you know, two-and-a-half, three hours at a time. I don't know if you guys find that difficult sometimes as well in what you do. I'm sure, yeah, if you took sort of four or five months away from writing a story and then you've got to come up with one like on the spot, it's not that easy.

Yeah, I think once you start to play more matches again and get into that rhythm and get used to winning again and stuff, it becomes a bit more instinctive, a bit more natural. But it's, yeah, it's just been a bit tough so far.

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about those fans that you really latched onto in the crowd, the two guys with the Scotland rugby shirts and I think there was a guy in a denim shirt and a white baseball cap, as well, who you seemed to have a lot of eye contact with, a lot of fist pumping towards.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, there's also a lady on the other side of the court to where the guys in the Scotland tops were. They were just really loud and it was quite close to where I was getting, like, getting my towel and stuff, and they were always sort of standing up. It was the same with the guy who was down where the radio, I don't know if that's where you are, like the TV guys were where the Scottish guys were.

Then there was the other guy that was down at near where the radio booths were. Yeah, he was just standing up all the time and getting pumped and he just, yeah, caught my eye. Then, yeah, just, I was just trying to, like, each time I won a point, and even when I lost points, just, yeah, looking at him. Yeah, I don't know, the crowd feel that I guess and feel like you're feeding off them and stuff. It was, yeah, it was nice.

I mean, it helps. It's something I have done a number of times over the years in certain matches. Yeah, I hope, I hope the fans like it and don't think that it's a bit weird that I'm sort of staring at them and screaming at them for like an hour, but they seem to enjoy it, as well.

Q. You slipped on the grass and seemed to clutch your groin a little bit. Is that an issue? Was that in pain? Did you get it seen to to a degree in the break? And secondly, you made the point on Twitter last night about Serena Williams, when she slipped on the grass. Is this something you want to be seen done? Because a number of players slipped today on the surfaces.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it is slippy. And it's not -- it actually, it felt better today than it did when I played my first match, and hopefully it will continue to get better throughout the tournament.

But I don't remember it being quite like that. I know guys, you know, fall down a lot at the beginning of Queen's, and it happens at Wimbledon, as well. That's the nature of grass court tennis.

But it just does feel like the way that players are falling down. Like, there was one where I ran back for a lob, and it was -- yeah, it was close to being quite bad. I saw Isner fell and did a sort of similar thing like moving forwards today.

Yeah, it's just, yeah, you just don't want it to be like that. Hopefully it dries out a little bit in the next few days. Some warmer weather I think would help with that. But it's been a tough few days and a few players have obviously got hurt during matches, and a few have been lucky, me being one of them this evening.

Yeah, like, I saw Kyrgios fall down as well in his match. So, yeah, there has been a few.

Q. Is the groin an injury, a problem? You seemed to be clutching it.

ANDY MURRAY: I don't think so, but sometimes when you make, like, those movements and stuff, like, it can get, I don't know if it's a bit of a sharp pain, and then either it's bad or it's fine.

Yeah, it was like sore for probably five, ten seconds, and then, you know, got up and walked around. You know, was feeling it a little bit, but it's not too bad.

Q. What has it been like for you this week playing in front of so many people who have played prominent roles in the fight against the pandemic? On Monday of course there was Captain Tom's daughter in the Royal Box, the Oxford vaccine developers, and there's been a number of key workers and just workers too in the Royal Box. What's that mean to you and how does it make you feel?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I think the whole country kind of realized how important they all are, and maybe hadn't got the recognition that they probably deserve up until now.

So, yeah, it's fantastic that they have been able to come along and watch some of the tennis. Hopefully they can enjoy it and, yeah, hopefully the politicians can realize that they deserve more than what they are getting paid just now.

I think what is it, they got something like a 1% pay rise? It was pathetic. So, yeah, they obviously deserve a lot more than that, and, yeah, they have done an amazing job getting us through the pandemic.

Q. What opportunity have you had to watch English football? What are your thoughts about what's ahead?

ANDY MURRAY: I got to see a little bit of yesterday's match but not much, because I was actually practicing during the first half. I actually went along to the Scotland/England match at Wembley, which was brilliant, great fun. Went with one Scottish friend tennis player and two English friends and had a great night, so enjoyed that.

I think England have got a pretty decent chance, it seems like, of winning. Ukraine is a solid draw, I think, and then if they can get back to Wembley for the semifinals, I think that's against Denmark or Czech, they'd be favorites there. Yeah, it's a great opportunity for England to win a major competition for the first time in a while. Hopefully they can do it.