"He's got a good opportunity" says Konta on Murray going deep in Melbourne

Retired British tennis player Jo Konta is backing compatriot Andy Murray for a deep run at the 2022 Australian Open.

Murray did not have the best of draws getting Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round, a player whom he defeated recently in a 3-hour match. Despite that, Konta was very positive about Murray's chances at the event especially after seeing his run to the final in Sydney. Talking to Eurosport, she said:

"Ever since he’s come back from his injury he’s got more consistent, the more he’s playing, the more he’s training. I actually feel he’s got a good opportunity to go deep and make it to the very last stages, who knows. The fourth round, the quarters, it’s possible."

She further said:

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"The possibility is always there. It's important to remember there’s a whole field of other players striving for the same thing. It's never going to be a simple equation for him to do but for Andy he’s always giving himself the best chance of doing that. That’s what he’s striving to do, to be in the latter stages of the Slam, to win a Slam one day. There’s every possibility it depends on how the body holds up on a consistent basis.”

As a player who was forced into retirement by injury, Konta understands how much work and dedication it took for Murray to get even this far. She said:

“I think you admire it. It's not a normal trait of every athlete, however it's not unexpected because of how we know Andy, the kind of athlete he is. He’s resilient, he’s tough. Every time in his career, he’s maximised his abilities and is still looking to do that. Full of admiration for his tenacity.”