Greg Rusedski: Another Grand Slam win by Andy Murray "difficult"
In conversation with Sky Sport News,Greg Rusedski commented on the idea of an ATP and WTA merger and explains what he believes Andy Murray will make on his comeback.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Apr 27, 2020, 09:55 am
Roger Federer got a stone rolling with his tweet. "Am I the only one who believes that now is the time for men's and women's tennis to unite and emerge together as one?" The Swiss wrote his thoughts on Twitter. A few days later it is clear that he is by no means the only one who thinks of such an option - since then, many active and retired athletes have been extremely positive about Federer's suggestion - Barbara Schett also thinks a lot of this idea in conversation with tennisnet.
Greg Rusedski, who discussed this option in an interview with Sky Sport News, is also very positive: "I think it would be a good idea." You only have to take a look at the biggest events, all Grand Slams as well as some Masters events rely on combined events: "And that's a good thing for sport. If you take the tournaments of men and women together, I think so for a better product. And I think it's better for the fans, "said the former fourth in the world rankings.
Rusedski sees a very interesting mixture in an association: on the one hand the rising stars of the WTA tour - youngsters like Coco Gauff and Bianca Andreescu - on the other hand the long-standing dominators for the men - Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. "If you had them all on the same map at the same time, I think it would be brilliant," said Rusedski. For him it was definitely an option.
Grand Slam victory "a big request"
But not only the WTA and ATP merger was the subject of the interview, the planned comeback of Andy Murray was also discussed. "Hopefully his body will come back, but challenging Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Tsitsipas week after week will be difficult," said the former British tennis player. In any case, Rusedski believes that Murray has titles on the tour, but that it could be enough for a really big one, the Britons doubt: "But winning Grand Slams is three out of five sets, seven games, that's a bit difficult. It is possible that he can move into the quarter-finals, round four, but with the operations he has completed, that's a big request. "
The former fourth in the world rankings, Andy Muray, does not want to write it off completely: "Of course I hope he teaches me better. He has done this on several occasions," said Rusedski. He is also responding to Murray's sensational comeback in the previous year, who was able to get a title at the ATP 250 event in Antwerp after a serious hip operation at the beginning of the year. A title that could give the former world number one confidence for this comeback too.