The former world No. 1, the former “Little Mozart of French tennis” and the angry Avignonnais climbed this Tuesday in Melbourne on the 1is round of the Australian Open. Small pleasures savored without moderation after complicated months.
Andy Murray, the fire is still burning. Andy Murray in his characteristic style has, at the end of the effort, composted his ticket for the 2e round of the Australian Open by dismissing Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (seeded n°21) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. “It’s incredible. It has been three or four difficult years. I worked hard to be back“, summed up the Scotsman (113e world) who had, three years ago, cried with hot tears on the Rod Laver Arena. His hip problems then seemed insoluble and the former world No. 1 was slowly heading towards retirement after a magnificent defeat of stubbornness against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. He limped but had offered the rage, passion and determination which, throughout his career, allowed him to sneak into the fight at the top in which Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were engaged.
The Scotsman, bruised in his flesh, could have admired his trophy room (3 Grand Slam titles: US Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013 and 2016; two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016; 14 Masters 1000 titles and the Davis Cup 2015, in particular). But the fire still burns. After two operations and with a metal hip, he returned to the courts. And nothing was easy, as his sometimes heavy step between the points and the criticisms received on social networks remind us. The former world No. 1 kept the flame alive and assured, last March: “Give me a good reason why I should stop playing. With this hip, I can always compete with the best players in the world. I find it quite amusing.After the debauchery of effort, Andy Murray who was an unfortunate finalist 5 times in Melbourne (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016) will have to manage to continue. Perilous. At 2e round, he will meet the Japanese Taro Daniel (120e worldwide).
Richard Gasquet, driven by the love of the game. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon slip irremediably in the hierarchy. But two of the members of the magic square of French tennis of the 2000s and 2010s are resisting. Gaël Monfils seems to be getting younger when Richard Gasquet (81e world) remains capable of a good shot. When his body leaves him in peace. The Biterrois always displays the pleasure of playing. Grand Slam tournaments and matches in five sets seem to represent an obstacle, but the school setback remains the barometer of a game that can still do damage. Even without preparation. And Gasquet does not spare the new generation. He had sketched Hugo Gaston (at 1is round) at the last Roland-Garros. He offered Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3, better taming the whims of the wind.
«You still feel a little alive after such a match. But of course you have questions. You feel that you are playing the last Grand Slams. You see the end coming. The more you lose, the harder it is. I’m going to be 36 in June… 36 is scary. I hope to finish in the top hundred, otherwise it will be time to stop. I doubt I’ll still play in 2023, we’ll see. What keeps me going? I enjoy it here, I take pleasure (…) I will miss all that when I stop“, he explained to L’Équipe. At 2e tour, Richard Gasquet has an appointment with the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (26 years old; 56e world) who had created the surprise by reaching the quarter-finals of the last US Open after coming out of the qualifications.
Benoît Paire, torn between excess and outbursts. He got into the bad habit of exposing himself for his mood swings, his provocations, for example, his exasperation with the health situation, he who, after a positive test for Covid-19, had to respect a seven-day isolation upon arriving in Australia. But his results were dormant. Benoît Paire had not spent a Grand Slam round since Roland-Garros in 2020. Winner 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 of a disjointed match against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro ( 83e), the Avignonnais was able to rely on his service (30 aces) to avoid the dispersion which often awaits him and to clinch his first victory of the season. In the next round, Benoît Paire (56e global; 32 years old) will challenge the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (seeded n°26) whom he has beaten twice in three matches.
Without knowing what face he will present:receiving this support is something that touches me, that does me a lot of good. I’m quite sensitive and seeing that, I say to myself: ”You still owe it to yourself to do something for them, for yourself.” Arriving today with this atmosphere, is that what makes me gate ? It helps me a lot. But I don’t have all the answers to what’s going on, why there are days when I’m less well, why there are days when I’m good. But I will savor this moment when I was well. »
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