LONDON, March 3, 2016
Andy Murray has just become a father, celebrated ten years since his first ATP World Tour title, and now returns to start the defence of the Davis Cup, which Great Britain won in November last year.
The 28-year-old told on the Tennis Podcast about his relief at arriving home from Australia in time for the birth of his daughter, Sophia.
“I felt relieved and also excited. I just wanted to be home for the birth. I have hardly seen Kim, as she wasn’t able to travel through December and we did training work in Dubai. So I had a few days at home and we went up to Scotland for Christmas before I went straight to Australia for five weeks. It was nice to see her at the end of pregnancy before she gave birth. It was good. Everyone is pumped and excited that there is a new kid in the family,” Murray said.
“So far everything is fine. The baby is sleeping well but of course it has been a huge change in terms of responsibility. Things have changed quickly with kids at that age. It’s been amazing. Every day I have enjoyed it so far and I am not particularly looking forward to going away from her for the first time. But going to Birmingham is only one and a half hour away from where we live but it will be a challenge I think.”
Murray commited to play the Davis Cup tie next weekend.
“I love the tournament as well as the guys. What we achived last year was something I have never expected and everyone is extremely close on the team. I feel a responsibility to them as much as anyone else to be part and try to help the team as much as I can. It’s going to be a tough match against Japan. They have a good team and I think they also like to play on hard courts. So we need to get the crowd right behind us,” the world number two explained and is going to face a full schedule for the next couple of months, as Indian Wells, Miami, the clay court season as well as the Olympics will follow.
“The time around the Olympics is a bit tricky. My further schedule, however, depends on the result of the Davis Cup first round tie. The rest is pretty self-explanatory, as I will play Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome ahead of the French Open as well asQueen’s as the only tournament on grass.”
Andy watched his brother Jamie winning his first Grand Slam doubles title down in Australia,partnering Bruno Soares.
“It was amazing. Until the last year I didn’t think that I get to see him to do that, as he only made a pass to a third round at a Slam. Then he made three finals in a row and is number two in the world, obviously won the Davis Cup. He deserves to be where he is. Changing the partner by the end of the last year was a big and brave change, as both have done extremely well together(with John Peers), but it obviously paid off in Australia. I am really proud of him and I hope he can do well in the future.”
Almost 10 years ago Murray captured his first ATP World Tour in San José.
“I haven’t watched any videos of it but I actually spoke about it with Kim a few days ago because someone messaged us that it had been ten years. That was actually the first time we were away on a trip together. I didn’t have a coach with me that week either. It was Valentine’s Day during the week and we went out for dinner. Winning the tournament was nice. Beating Lleyton Hewitt, a player I loved watching when I was growing up 7-6 in the third set was an amazing way to end the week.”
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