LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Andy Murray plays a forehand during his singles match against James Ward on day 3 of Schroders Battle of the Brits at the National Tennis Centre on June 25, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Battle Of The Brits)
Andy Murray is closing in on a very rare feat as he looks forward to joining the 700-club along with Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.
The two-time Wimbledon winner won a round of 32 match against Australian Christopher O’Connell on Monday in the Dubai Tennis Championships. It was a thriller as O’Connell took the first set but Murray came back and won the next two to seal the encounter. This was Murray‘s 699th career win. He will look to get his name etched in an illustrious club come the round of 16.
Andy Murray cut a frustrated figure at various junctures in the match. He made a morale-boosting comeback after losing the first set. Now, he finds himself on the cusp of history. as he’s one win away from becoming the 18th man in the Open Era and fourth active male player to reach 700 career wins.
The Match lasted 2 hours and 51 minutes. Murray, who broke into the Top 100 for the first time since his comeback from hip surgery in 2018 would feel relieved as he survived four break points serving at 4-4 in the third set. The win will hold him in good stead after a Qatar Open debacle where he lost in straight sets to Roberto Bautista Agut. Murray and O’Connell produced some magnificent tennis as the game ebbed and flowed beautifully.
“It’s not great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events,” Murray said after winning his round of 32 match against Christopher O’Connell.
Djokovic, in his first match of 2022, won in straight sets (6-3, 6-3) against Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai. Musetti fought hard and used all his aggression and skill, but it wasn’t enough. Djokovic eyeing his sixth title in Dubai, used all his experience to enter the round of 16.
Djokovic showed no signs of rust as he produced a polished display against the teenager Musetti. He will now take on either Alex de Minaur or Karen Khachanov in the next round.
The 34-year-old couldn’t defend his Australian Open Title last month after being deported from the country as he wasn’t vaccinated. Nadal won his 21st Grand Slam to take the lead in the G.O.A.T. race.
“I think it would be a lot easier for him obviously if he was to get vaccinated,” Murray said. “But I also didn’t like seeing him in the situation that he was in Australia as someone that I respect, have known since I was a child.”
It is evident that Murray has a different opinion regarding vaccination, but the respect that he has for Djokovic was visible and heart-warming. Murray and Djokovic will both be seen in action in the round of 16.
Djokovic has been in the news since the Australian Open for off-field occurrences. A win at the Dubai Open will do him a world of good. We love reading about Djokovic for his on-field exploits. Hopefully, this vaccination saga will be resolved and we will see the Serb mesmerize us through his skills.
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