Even his few remaining critics found it hard to begrudge him victory on Sunday. Back in January, as Andy Murray sat sobbing at a press conference ahead of the Australian Open, it was almost impossible to imagine that he would taste success on court again. After all, he was finished, wasn’t he?
Not quite. Murray must have had some dark moments over the past 18 months, but his return to form at Queen’s Club last week was a sight to behold. Defeating the first and third seeds en route to claiming the doubles title with Feliciano López was as joyful as it was unexpected.
Murray’s ability to move freely around the court, and his impressive match sharpness, has led to growing speculation over when, rather than if, he will play on the singles tour. The US Open at the end of August is an obvious goal. Regardless, the Briton’s performances have demonstrated he has the option of pursuing a wonderful swansong to his career as a doubles player. Like a Harlem Globetrotter, he could travel from tournament to tournament, playing when it suited him alongside a variety of partners. Alternatively, he could play with his brother and world number eight, Jamie.
At Wimbledon, Andy Murray will be teaming up with Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. No slouch himself, Herbert has won the career Grand Slam as a doubles player. Nevertheless, he must have been delighted to see Murray play with such fluidity in London. The question now remains who Murray will choose to play mixed doubles with at SW19. The opportunity to play with a former Wimbledon champion, one who is a national treasure and has a recent tournament victory to his name, will certainly tempt many players.
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