MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

August 4, 2023

Andy Murray

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/A. Murray

6-7, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Really tough one, Andy. I want to start with the first set, facing those set points. What was kind of the game plan at that moment?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, to be honest, I don't remember too much about the beginning of the match. Yeah, there is a lot of close games, a lot of tight moments. It felt to me, like, all of the sets kind of, you know, could have gone either way.

You know, he probably had more chance in the first set; I had more chance in the third set. You know, there wasn't so many opportunities in the second, but he took his breakpoint when he got it, and I lost, like, a short point you're going to win probably nine times out of ten. He came up with a couple of great sort of reflex volleys on that point.

Yeah, disappointing one to lose because I had my chances.

Q. I'm also wondering just with the logistics of the tournament today, do you do anything different in your preparation when you know there is a possibility you could be playing twice in one day?

ANDY MURRAY: Not really. I mean, you sort of, I guess, you just try and get through the first match and see what happens.

I mean, I can't remember the last time I played two matches in a day. I think it was in Munich in, like, 2015. It's pretty rare that it happens.

Yeah, there is not necessarily, like, a strategy for that. Because it's so rare, you just try and focus on the first match. And then if you get through it, you know, try and rest and recover as much as you can before going out there, but it's far from ideal.

Q. Just to follow up on that, is there a specific amount of time they are required to give you before you would head back out there?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I think it's at least a couple of hours, but I don't know if there is an exact rule on it, like, from a time perspective.

Usually it says "after suitable rest." I don't know who decides what "suitable" is. I think it's the tournament supervisor, but yeah, I'm not sure there is a strict time on it.

Q. At this stage of your career, do you think you could have gone back out there in a couple of hours now?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I could have done it. It just wouldn't have been very pretty, to be honest (smiling). You know, it's brutal conditions out there. That's obviously a long match. Yeah, I'm not really sure what else they can do in that situation.

You know, I have been in situations before here where the matches -- not just here but in other tournaments -- where the matches are finishing at, like, 2:00, 3:00 in the morning, and that also, for me, is unacceptable. So I'm not really sure what else you can do except, like, shorten the format or something if there is rain delays.

Yeah, I don't know.

Q. If I could just ask you, I mean, it was lengthy match, three hours, physical match out there. What were the conditions like? How much of an effect did that have, the heat, the humidity?

ANDY MURRAY: It was extremely humid at the beginning of the match, and then it seemed to change a little bit, like, it became hotter once the, you know, the clouds sort of went away and the sun came out. It felt like it became warmer but maybe not quite as humid.

Yeah, you get sort of lulled into a false sense of security when it's like that this morning, because it really didn't feel that warm, like, in the warmup, but it was unbelievably muggy and humid. You know, that takes it out of you, as well.

Yes, it's nice when it's not extremely hot, but the humidity makes it tough.

Q. A tough loss, but what are the positives or takeaways from this week that you can take with you through the summer hard court swing?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, in comparison to where my game was last year when I played Taylor, like, I was in a pretty bad place when I played him in Canada. I really wasn't feeling good with my game. You know, so my game is in a better place. I have made some improvements.

You know, he's one of the better hard court players in the world. Certainly had my chances to win today. So, yeah, that's a positive.

But obviously you want to be getting through those matches. They were matches I have been used to winning. So, yeah, it's frustrating right now.