LAVER CUP

September 25, 2022

Andy Murray

Matteo Berrettini

Press Conference

AUGERALIASSIME-SOCK/Berrettini-Murray

2-6, 6-3, 10-8

Team Europe - 8

Team World - 7

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray.

Questions.

Q. A question for Andy. Your reaction to Friday night and the emotional scenes we saw with Roger's retirement? Can you give us any insight what it was like behind the scenes, please.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, look, it was obviously a special night. It was very emotional, especially seeing Roger's family there and his children and everything. Yeah, for me it was really nice but very emotional, as well.

And yet you could see, like, what it meant to Roger and Rafa. I heard some of the words that Rafa said afterwards, and yeah, I found the few days in the buildup to that day as well, like, I found myself thinking a lot about these last sort of 10, 15 years more than I probably have done before.

When I was going through some of the injury problems, I didn't know if I was going to play, I was thinking about it from my own perspective. But maybe looking at it more in a broader perspective, like thinking about what Roger's done for the game and what Rafa and Novak, as well, and what this period has been like, it has been special. Yeah, we're lucky to be here and be present for Friday night.

Q. I think you were asked on Thursday about it made you think about your own final act, whenever that is. I just wondered if watching that on Friday, did that make you think differently or change or bring it even further to the forefront of your mind, like I guess everybody in their mid-30s are thinking how they want to finish?

ANDY MURRAY: Look, I'm really not thinking about that right now. I certainly won't and don't deserve to have a sendoff like that. You know, Roger did deserve that night, and it was super special having all of those guys there, you know, watching on the side of the court, and having them there made it really special.

I mean, look, for me, I'm not going to have a farewell match, I guess, like that. I probably would announce when I'm going to play my last event and stuff, but when that is, I don't know. Like, I'm still playing competitive tennis and physically feeling good against top players. I just need to start really turning some of these, you know, tight losses and close matches into wins. It's as simple as that.

Q. This is a question for both of you. What are the biggest challenges you both find when you transfer from singles into doubles at this level?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Sometimes a little bit like being up at the net, like, when you're playing against guys, and especially against two singles players who hit the ball as big as them, just making sure your reflexes and stuff are sharp enough.

We very rarely see those sorts of shots in singles, whereas the serve and return you can kind of do from everywhere, and you hit a lot of first volleys in singles when you come to the net. But not many when you're standing close to the net and you've got Jack Sock winding up to hit a forehand. You know, it's difficult. You don't get that.

Often the ball is coming right at you when you're at the net, whereas in singles guys tend to be trying to hit away from you and try and pass you so you're hitting more volleys on the stretch, where often in doubles the ball is coming right at you. So for me it would probably be that.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, probably the same thing. I think also the approach on the return, I think it's a little bit different from my side. Especially in the first serve.

You know, like in doubles I feel like you have to be a little bit more aggressive, because you have the guy at the net who is moving. Sometimes in singles it's okay to just put the ball in the court and in doubles it's not enough.

I feel it's really important percentage of serve. Yeah, like he said, volleys and this kind of reaction time, it's very important. Yeah, tough loss today.

Q. Question for both of you. How did you prepare for this doubles? It's your first Laver Cup, Andy, so did Matteo give you advice because he did doubles yesterday? How did you manage to prepare for that? Andy, how is your knee?

ANDY MURRAY: My knee is fine.

Yeah, obviously Matteo played a great doubles yesterday against Jack, so we spoke a little bit about that.

I felt fine. I felt better today going into the match than I did on Friday. I felt quite nervous and anxious going into that match, whereas today, yeah, I felt good. I mean, I feel like I have said this a lot recently, but I felt like we played a good match. I thought we were a solid team and did enough to win the match.

You know, we were in the locker room afterwards talking about, you know, should have done this on this point, could have done this on this point, but yeah, I mean, we played a good match. We just didn't manage to get over the line. It's a shame, because I enjoyed playing a lot with Matteo. He played very well. Just a shame we couldn't win.

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, I actually felt the same. Really good doubles. Yeah, a few points went against us. We were a little bit unlucky, we say, or, yeah, we double-faulted in super-tiebreak, which we never did before. Doubles is like this.

You know, like sometimes even though you're feeling the momentum and you're playing maybe better than them, like everything can change in a second.

Yeah, it was a tough one. I think I played even better than yesterday. But again, doubles is like this. It's tough to digest, I think tougher for me, and I'm playing singles mostly, tougher to digest than singles.

Q. A question about the format of the Laver Cup, now that you have had a chance to play in it. It seems like it's a very popular event. Look at the ticket sales in cities around the world. A sense that people probably don't particularly care who wins ultimately. Is there anything you could suggest to make sure it becomes a major event for years to come?

ANDY MURRAY: Sorry, I got a bit distracted in the middle of the question, but the players care a lot about who wins. Like I was really disappointed the other night. Yeah, like, we were in the locker room after the matches, you know, which finished late yesterday, and we're all discussing about, like, who should play in the matchups, who should play the doubles and which lineup we should go with tomorrow, now today.

From a player's perspective, like, yeah, this event is special and it is unique, and you cannot be on the tennis court with all of these guys, top players that we all have huge respect for, and the captains on the side of the court, Rod Laver in the stands, and not care, like, about the result.

I believe this competition has a lot of potential for the future. You know, I'm sure Roger is going to stay involved in the event in some capacity and maybe one day, you know, captain the team and things like that.

For all tennis players, that is special to be a part of. I like the format, as well. It keeps all of the matches interesting. Going into the last day, you know, both teams have an opportunity to win.

Yeah, I think it works well.

Q. To both of you, a final Roger question, if I may. What kind of a coach do you think Roger will make, would make, if he decides to go and be a coach in the future? How important is it for a legend like that to remain involved in the game in some capacity?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I think he would be a great coach. He sees tennis as like not a lot of people sees tennis like that.

Not just because the way he was playing but just because, you know, the love that he has for the game and how he watches matches. He always has the right things to say, so I think he would be like a great coach.

I don't know if he wants to do that (smiling). Also, you know, I don't think he's just going to coach like everybody. He's going to pick wisely.

I think for tennis obviously would be really important, would be special, but I feel like he should do what he likes to do.

He said that he's gonna be in tennis, but I don't know how. Obviously I think, like Andy, he's going to be involved in the Laver Cup, but yeah, hopefully he's going to be on tour. I would like to see him more often, yeah.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, like Matteo said, I'm sure if he was to coach one day, which he obviously doesn't need to -- you know, he'd pick players that I'd imagine he'd be motivated to be coaching in the big matches and helping there.

Obviously with his experience, the one thing that is I think difficult when you are as talented and have as many options as him is to remember that not everybody can, you know, can do the things that he did, and sometimes, like, I don't know, like he might see a shot and be, like, Oh, maybe, you know, he should have played that one.

But, you know, he had the ability to play everything and he had so many options at his disposal that that's I think the challenging thing also as a coach sometimes, especially someone in his position. But yeah, look, he's great on the side. He watches a lot of tennis. He loves the game.

I think for ex-players that go into coaching, I think that's important to sort of stay current and know a lot of the players and, you know, study the matches and stuff to understand the players' strengths and weaknesses.

Yeah, I don't know if that's something that he will go into, but I hope he remains, you know, part of tennis. He said he would. Like I said, I'm sure he will be here. Maybe he does a little bit of TV here and there. I know how much he loves Wimbledon. Yeah, great for tennis if he can stay around a little bit.