This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
On November 20, 2019, Britain's Andy Murray faced a tough test in the Davis Cup Finals, narrowly avoiding a shock defeat to unheralded Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Murray, who had not played a competitive match since winning the European Open title in Antwerp in October 2019, was dealing with an elbow injury and the added pressure of becoming a father for the third time.
Despite his struggles, Murray eventually scrambled to a 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(5) victory in a match he admitted he had not deserved to win.
Afterward, Murray acknowledged that he was carrying extra weight around the court, which affected his performance. “When I was 25, it’s quite easy, after a couple of weeks of practice, it’s quicker to get going whereas now it takes a little bit longer,” he told reporters.
He also admitted that he had made big changes to his training routine off the court, but struggled with his weight and fitness. “If you’re weighing four or five kilos more than you’re used to, that is probably going to affect how you feel moving around. You go the gym and lift a medicine ball up that’s five kilos, it’s pretty heavy. So I need to do better with that,” he said.
