Enigma Variations

Andy can’t win

February 7th, 2008

So now everyone’s queueing up to criticise Andy Murray for not playing in the Davis Cup. He really can’t win can he? If he plays and aggravates an injury then they’ll slag him off for being injury prone. If he protects the injury then he’s lacking national pride. Good grief!

A few months ago before the wrist injury which put him out of Wimbledon I listened with disbelief as a Radio 5 tennis correspondent wrote off his chances of being a great player because he wasn’t as physically developed as Nadal. Nadal, as plenty of teenage girls will doubtless affirm, is not only a great player but has a musculature way ahead of his age. This criticism was at a time when Murray was winning tournaments, rising steadily in the rankings towards a top ten place and clearly developing as a player and a person.

As usual there were plenty of people quick to complain when he was knocked out of the recent Australian Open in the first round. Strangely enough no-one retracted that when his conqueror went on to reach the final with a series of inspired displays. No wonder Tim Henman retired early. Britain doesn’t deserve good tennis players if this is how we treat them.

Entry Filed under: sport