Andy Murray will likely pose a danger to many top names in the draw at this year’s Wimbledon championships, according to a former world No.1 player on the men’s Tour.
Mats Wilander believes the Brit can ‘upset people‘ in the tournament due to his credentials. Murray has won 10 out of 11 matches played on the grass so far this season after claiming back-to-back titles on the Challenger Tour. His winning streak came to an end last week at Queen’s where he was beaten in the first round by Alex de Minaur, who went on to reach the final.
Murray is a two-time champion at the All England Club, winning the trophy for the first time in 2012 and then again in 2016. However, since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery he has not gone beyond the third round of the tournament.
“I think Andy Murray thinks that this is the tournament where he still feels that he can do very well. And very well, in Andy Murray’s mind, is most probably winning it,” Wilander said during an interview with Eurosport.
“And do I think he can? Yeah, he can upset people. Can he win it? Well, I don’t know. He’s won it already a couple of times, so yes.”
Due to his current ranking of 39th in the world, Murray has missed out on a seeding for the grasscourt major. Meaning he could play a top-20 player in the first round. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, he defeated Matteo Berrettini who at the time was ranked 14th in the world.
The 36-year-old recently indicated that he has an idea of when he might retire from the sport but states that it will not be soon unless he suffers another serious injury. So far in his career, Murray has won 46 ATP titles and spent 41 weeks as world No.1.
“That’s an experience I went through where I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play again.” He told The Press Association.
“So I certainly don’t want to put myself in that position – I want to finish my career on the tennis court. It’s something I have an idea about when it is I would like to stop and a plan for that – certainly nothing immediate.”
Whilst he is not giving away a date when he will step away from the court for good, Wilander believes Murray still has a few more years of playing left in him.
“I think we will see Andy Murray figure out a schedule where he can still keep playing Wimbledon for another four or five years, which is so welcome because we want to see these stories,” he commented.
“It’s great for the sport, it’s great for Andy Murray because he’s also turning a leaf around where his attitude early in his career was one way and now his attitude on Wimbledon Centre Court is he wants to bring every person that’s watching him into the match emotionally.
“And he’s so positive and he’s using every possible angle to play better tennis and to make the people enjoy watching him.”
Murray will find out on Thursday morning who he will be playing in the first round at Wimbledon this year. So far he has played 72 matches at the Grand Slam, winning 60 of them.
