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3/18/11 10:03 PM | Johan Lindahl
Andy Murray will try and cure his current case of tennis lethargy after a second Australian Open finals loss by returning to a scene of happier memories.
The 23-year-old Scot, has made an entry into the high-profile Barcelona Open clay event next month in the city where he polished his tennis as a teenager a decade ago.
The world No. 5 will be joined by fourth-ranked Swede Robin Soderling and - of course - the king of clay Rafael Nadal, who will be bidding for a sixth title after being forced by injury to miss what he considered his "home" event a year ago.
Murray last played the tournament in 2008 and has won a single match in three appearances. "We believe this is the best tournament ever held in Barcelona," said tournament director Albert Costa, who doubles as Spanish Davis Cup captain. "Including David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Jurgen Melzer, we have six of the world Top 10. For a Masters 500 that is a big thing. I do not know if it has happened before, but certainly only a very few times."
Murray still has next week's Miami Masters 1000 to try and come good after losing matches in Rotterdam and Indian Wells in the wake of his late January Melbourne title defeat at the hands of Novak Djokovic.
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If I'm not mistaken, Nadal did not pull out of the Barcelona Open due to injury last year, but rather because he wanted to avoid playing too much tennis so as to look after his knees. In 2009 he was foolish enough to play Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Madrid before the French Open with dodgy knees, to his detriment when they packed in during Roland Garros. I can't understand why he would play Barcelona again this and overload his schedule, unless it is some kind of sense of obligation. If his knees give out again this year he'll have no-one to blame but himself.
On a different topic, wasn't Rome played before Estoril and Madrid last year? If so, does anyone know why they have scheduled Rome as the last Masters 1000 event before the French Open this year?
jrbro4 , 3/19/11 7:22 AM
guys, if u google "Andy Murray Outnumbered Comic Relief Youtube" u'll get Andy sending himself up in his usual dry way! Some classic lines.
Comic Relief big night in UK, BBC raises money for charities at home and abroad. restoring sight to kids in Africa seems to be a focus this year. How can 2 year old children have cataracts??? U might even feel like donating ;)
deuce , 3/19/11 8:35 AM
@jrbro4, 3/19/11 7:22 AM
You are correct, last year Rafa withdrew from the Barcelona tournament because he didn't want to play 3 weeks in a row. In the 2011 ATP calendar, there is a week off after the Barcelona tournament.
The Rome and Madrid Masters switched dates because the playing conditions in Rome are similar to those at the French Open. The altitude in Madrid had become a problem for the players.
Augustina08 , 3/19/11 9:28 AM
Murray is not playing M. Carlo, nor are Sod and Delpo.
nadline , 3/19/11 5:43 PM
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Good for him, didn't he go there last year anyway after MC to train?
SGHIceman , 3/18/11 11:51 PM