“Obviously unbelievably tough. You know, and then the sort of middle, latter stage of his career, you know, I think even stronger,” the former world No 1 started off.
ATPMonday, 19 February 2024 at 04:30
Britain’s veteran tennis star Andy Murray has revealed how
difficult it is to face someone of the quality of Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian tennis star is often regarded as one of the greatest
players in the history of men’s singles tennis in the Open era, having won as
many as 24 Grand Slam titles.
Murray, who has won three Grand Slam titles, was recently
quoted in a report where he stated how difficult it is to face someone like
Djokovic in major finals.
“I have obviously played lots of finals against him and it
was extremely difficult for me even when we’d sort of grown up together and had
a lot of experience of playing against him in major competitions,” he said.
“But I think with what he’s gone on to achieve, you know, in
the last five or six years, I think for some of the younger players coming
through to be stepping into playing a final of a Masters Series or a Grand Slam
and he’s on the other side of the net when he’s won you know, 24 majors and,
like you say, 98 titles.
“It’s not easy when you have limited experience in those
situations and, you know, you’re standing across the net from a guy who’s won
as much as he has. That’s really difficult. I felt that a bit early on like
when I played Roger in my first US Open final or when I was playing Rafa in the
latter stages of events when I was quite young.
“It’s not the same, not the same as playing them in the
quarter-finals or semi-final. And I certainly think that for the younger guys
now, when it’s Novak on the other side of the net, you know, really, really
difficult for them to win against him.
“Not just from the tennis side where, you know, he’s
obviously exceptional, but I think from the mental side, as well, because he’s
done it all, whereas a lot of the younger players coming through haven’t.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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