Former British number one Laura Robson has weighed in on the debate around Andy Murray’s tennis future, arguing he does not face the same criticism as Stan Wawrinka, despite being in places similar in their careers.
The Sky Sports Tennis expert believes that the three-time Grand Slam champion can still achieve good results despite a winless start to 2024.
Robson compared him to another three-time Grand Slam winner, Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, who has had a similar battle with injuries in recent years but has fallen from outside the top 300 in 2022 to return to the top 50 last year.
Robson told Express Sport: “He’s still pretty highly ranked as well. That’s what I feel like people don’t necessarily understand is that he’s doing well. Maybe not the stellar results you would expect from someone who has won as many Grand Slams as him, but at the same time, Stan Wawrinka is in a very similar position.
The pair were widely considered the only two players to seriously challenge the “Big Three” of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during their decade of dominance on the ATP Tour, earning them the nickname ” Big Five.”
Referring to Wawrinka, Robson added: “I felt like no one was really asking him when he was going to retire and that line of questioning didn’t really come up as much for some reason.
“So I feel like Andy still has a lot of life left in him and I think he has a tournament in mind that he hopes to stop at, but that path is constantly changing.”
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Murray has previously suggested that 2024 will likely be his last year on tour, but has not made a definitive statement on his retirement, leading to widespread speculation among fans and pundits.
The 2012 Olympic singles gold medalist lost 5-7, 4-6 to Czech Tomas Machac, 23, in the first round of the ATP 250 event in Marseille last week. It was his fourth straight first-round loss and added to a winless streak in 2024.
The world number 50 has lost his last six competitive matches and nine of his last 10 dating back to September, but was also the only player to lose to eventual Brisbane international champion Grigor Dimitrov in January.
Murray defiantly responded to a recent BBC Sport article suggesting he should quit, which claimed he risked “tarnishing his legacy” by continuing despite his disappointing run of results.
The former world number 1 responded on X, formerly Twitter: “Tarnishing my legacy? Do me a favor.
He added: “Most people would quit and give up in my current situation. But I’m not like most people and my mind works differently. I won’t give up. I will continue to fight and work to produce the performances that I know I am capable of.
And former Wimbledon junior winner Robson echoed his views alongside fellow former British number one Tim Henman.
Robson reached a career-high world ranking of No. 27 in 2013 and joined Murray in the mixed doubles at the 2012 London Olympics, where they won a silver medal.
By Flo Clifford (@floclifford_ on)
