SYDNEY TENNIS CLASSIC

January 13, 2022

Andy Murray

Press Conference

A. MURRAY/N. Basilashvili

6-7, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. That was one hell of a topsy-turvy match. How did you get out of that one?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, to be honest, I mean, I had most of the chances throughout the match. Obviously I served for the first set, had set point, maybe a couple of set points at 5-4 in the first set on his serve and missed a backhand return into the tape. I was up in the tiebreak, as well. Didn't manage to get it.

Was up again in the second set, served for it, didn't get it, had two set points on serve. Then managed to win the tiebreak.

Yeah, I served really well in the third set, too. Yeah, he only had the chance right at the end. Missed a few balls trying to close the match out. But on the whole, I mean, he played really well. He was hitting loads of winners, hitting great shots. I feel like I created more of the chances throughout the match and deserved to win.

Q. You have broken another drought. The other day you commented about first match win in Australia for a thousand days. This is the first time in five years since the 2017 Australian Open that you've won back-to-back matches here.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, there is reasons for that. I don't feel like I have been coming here every year and sort of playing, playing poorly. Yeah, the situations I have been in, yeah, contributed towards that, but it's a place I have always loved playing. I really feel like the conditions and the courts suit me well.

I always feel really comfortable in Australia. So, yeah, hopefully I can string a few more together.

Q. It's already really late and you're back on tomorrow night against David Goffin. What are your thoughts for that match?

ANDY MURRAY: Unfortunately, it's not in the night. I have been put on early tomorrow. So, yeah, I need to get back and get myself to sleep, because I've got, yeah, 3:30 or 4:30 currently I'm scheduled to play. Need to get some rest before playing that one.

He's also coming back from, you know, some injuries. I think he had elbow surgery. So, yeah, he'll be eager to have a good run this week, as well.

Q. That was three hours, two tiebreaks. Looks pretty warm, as well. How are you feeling physically? How good is that in terms of a test ahead of a Grand Slam physically?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think it was -- I mean, in that respect it was good. Obviously I would have liked to have closed the match out sooner, but I think physically I did well this evening.

It wasn't too hot. It was very humid on the court, which, you know, your body can react slightly differently to, you know, being out in the sun as opposed to sort of playing in really humid conditions.

But, yeah, not easy playing a match like that. A long one, finishing kind of late, around midnight and stuff, and hanging around the whole day to play the match.

So, yeah, I was happy how I handled the match physically. Like I say, I would have rather it was shorter, but I think that can also give me a little bit of confidence. I still had a bit left in the tank there at the end, as well, so that will stand me in good stead if I'm in that situation next week in Melbourne.

Q. A great win. How important does it feel to get a win over kind of a top player as a confidence boost going into next week, as well?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it's good. I had a few at the end of last season. But yeah, I think also I have changed racquets, as well. Just to get a match win like that early in the season with, you know, the new racquet is good and will give me confidence that, you know, I have made the right decision there.

You know, if I was losing lots of matches early in the year, close ones, you know, not winning against sort of players that maybe last season I won against, I might start to doubt that decision.

But, you know, I think it's a good win for me for a number of reasons, and, yeah, I'm hoping, like I said, I can string more together in these next couple of weeks.