Google News ATP Doha: Andy Murray and the quarterfinals Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
A super positive start to the season for Andy Murray. After the two fantastic comebacks at the Australian Open, the Briton is continuing his positive streak at the beginning of 2023. In fact, the Scotsman won another marathon in Doha, in which he defeated Alexander Zverev, before beating three sets Alexandre Muller reaching the semifinals.
In the press conference he told: "I played very passive tennis in the first set. In the beginning I put in a lot of balls, which wasn't bad, but when he found his rhythm that was enough. He is a very solid player from the baseline, he moves very well and puts in a lot of shots.
On slow courts like this, you can't leave the ball in the middle of the pitch. He forces you to run a lot. In the beginning I found the game very physically demanding. At the start of the second set I started taking more risks, trying more with my shots.
When I did, I found that I controlled virtually every exchange, hitting with more depth and more speed. I was able to go to the net a lot and put pressure on him like that. I played very well in the last two sets, but in the first set you can see that I'm looking for the balance between playing offensively and aggressively, but at the same time keeping my way of playing, and in the first set I didn't find this balance.
If you look at the players I've faced this year, it's not easy matches. Zverev, I know he's coming back from an injury, but it's still a very tough match. In these conditions, Sonego can play very well and played a very solid match.
Berrettini in the first round of the Australian Open will never be an easy game. Of course I would like to have quicker matches but sometimes things go like this and I'm sure it won't be like this for the rest of the season.
I'm just going through a period where the matches are difficult. However, with each of these victories I'm gaining more and more confidence, and hopefully this will allow me to win faster and play a little bit better. I know easier victories will come, just as I know I will meet equally easy defeats.
I'd love to win one, of course, but my goals go beyond that. I'm putting myself in a position to do it now, I have a couple of games left, even if with the players left in the tournament it won't be easy. These past few weeks are a step in the right direction and if I continue to play and compete like this, I know I will have not only a chance to win a title, but several opportunities to do so at this point in my career."
Below the highlights of the quarterfinals matches, in Doha: