ROLAND GARROS

May 27, 2024

Andy Murray

Press Conference

S. WAWRINKA/A. Murray

6-4, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Andy, can you just sum up your emotions after that result tonight?

ANDY MURRAY: Obviously disappointed. You know, it was always going to be tough, tough match. You know, Stan has, over the years, played brilliant tennis on that court. Yeah, I was expecting him to play very well tonight. I think he did that. He gave me very few opportunities.

You know, I wish I could have done a little bit better. But yeah, disappointed but, you know, I didn't have extremely high expectations with the way, you know, the preparation had been coming in. But obviously would have liked to have done better tonight.

Q. What did you feel maybe didn't go right on your side of the net tonight?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I didn't break serve, so I'd have to say returning is the thing I probably could have done, you know, better. Obviously went down an early break in all of the sets, as well, which didn't help. I would say, yeah, I mean, I would have liked to have returned a little bit better.

You know, he did well, not just with the serve but the first ball after the serve. He was very aggressive. He timed the ball very well, even when I put a decent return in play.

And, yeah, would have liked to have done a bit better on return.

Q. You looked a little bit ginger in the third set. I wonder if you were maybe feeling something with your back? The serve looked like a problem. Are you still confident to be playing doubles later in the week? How are you feeling physically overall?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, physically tennis is not easy for me nowadays. It's hard, and, you know, clay has always been a surface that since the very beginning of my career I've had back issues on, you know, on the clay, and it's something I'm sort of used to, to be honest.

Yeah, it had been a bit of a struggle to sort of in the training and in the buildup, but I felt pretty good going into the match tonight, considering. And yeah, it wasn't much of a factor out there this evening, to be honest.

Hopefully I'll be fine for the doubles. I don't know when we're scheduled to play but I imagine it would be a bit later in the week with the other guys, with Dan and the opponents, I think they're both playing tomorrow, one of them pretty late.

Yeah, hopefully will be all right.

Q. Did the change of equipment a contributing factor at all in that performance or not, the lack of familiarization perhaps?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't think so. I mean, in the last few years I really haven't played loads of clay court tennis. When I have I've not won many matches.

You know, last year I lost in the first round of Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome. Yeah, I don't think it had much of a factor tonight, but we'll also take a wee bit of time to get used to, you know, it's different. But there is positives to it, particularly with, you know, for my serve.

Yeah, we'll keep working on it.

Q. Wondered what you thought of the night session, conditions seemed to be reasonably slow, and was that difficult? And also what's the vibe like in a night session out there?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think it was obviously a brilliant atmosphere for a first-round match of the tournament. I have never played a night session here before. Yeah, it was obviously great that, you know, so many people are able to come out and watch and support.

In terms of conditions, yes, it's obviously significantly slower than it is in the day, a bit lower bouncing, as well, but that's pretty much the case when you play night matches anywhere, very different. When you play a match in Australia in the day when it's 40 degrees and then in the evening when it's 20, it plays pretty differently. Yeah, conditions definitely are slower in the evening.

But, yeah, great atmosphere. Great atmosphere out there for a first round. Lots of people came out to watch.

Q. You had quite an extended exchange with Stan at the net afterwards and kind of a warm embrace. What did you guys say to each other then?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, it's a private conversation, but I said well done for winning. Yeah, we have obviously played each other and known each other for an extremely long time. I first played him back in 2005, and had some great matches with him. You know, we spent a lot of time on the practice court and stuff with each other over the years.

Yeah, we're obviously, both of us, are close towards the end. Yeah, just had a chat with him, yeah, at the net.

Q. A big-picture question about your legacy here at Roland Garros. Wonder how much pride you do take in what you have been able to accomplish here, given the things you mentioned, how tough it is physically, how it's not your most natural surface and yet you're still fourth among active players' wins here, reached the final, first British man in 79 years. How much pride does that all give you?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I did really well here over the years. You know, a lot of the, like, I guess results and stuff that I think the issue for me is that when you compare it to, like, what Rafa or Novak achieved in the same time, it obviously is minuscule in comparison.

But yeah, most players, you know, would sign up for the results I've had here. I played final, I think four semis and made the quarters, I don't know, I don't know how many times, a couple of times as well, maybe. Yeah, lost in the semis, I lost to Novak in five, Stan in five, and twice to Rafa. Obviously no shame in that.

Yeah, in a different time maybe the results would have been a bit different. But yeah, I'm proud of the results that I had here. I had great memories. Like you said, it was not an easy surface for me. But I always showed up and, you know, put in some strong performances, considering. And yeah, it was a good run here over the years.

Q. You mentioned your preparation. Where do you feel you're in your recovery from the ankle injury and where you feel like you might lack as you're building back up? And also, is Stuttgart your next tournament?

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, that's the plan just now. Yeah, it's always difficult, you know, when you come back from or when you're coming back from an injury to get everything right. You know, my ankle feels really good. But then you also need matches, and obviously time on the practice court, and not just have the ankle feel good but the rest of the body as well.

You know, when you're 37, it's also not the same as when you're 21. You bounce back much, much quicker. Sometimes now, like, when you do have an injury it just takes a little bit longer for your body to get used to the intensity of the matches and stuff.

Yeah, my body isn't what it was, you know, 10 years ago. I'm fully aware of that. It takes a lot of time and effort to get it in a position to go out there and compete. It's not always perfect. But it is what it is, and, you know, I still enjoy giving a go and trying to get myself out there and, yeah, be as competitive as possible.