LONDON: The return of Andy Murray at the Fever-Tree Championships is one that brings mixed emotions for Nick Kyrgios.
The Australian No.1 will be the first player to take on the three-time grand slam champion this year. Murray has missed almost 12 months of the tour due to a hip injury and underwent surgery in January. Both men are good friends with Kyrgios referring the Brit as one of his ‘better mates’ on the tour.
“I’m excited. Obviously (Murray) is one of my better mates on tour.” He said. “It’s just good to see him back ultimately. I think it’s been pretty shitty without him.”
“I’m looking forward to going out there and playing. But to see him healthy is obviously the main thing. I think he’s awesome for the sport.” He added.
In their head-to-head Kyrgios trails 0-5. Although he enters their upcoming match as the favorite due to his opponents recent misfortunes. Murray last played at the Wimbledon championships where he went out in the quarter-finals to Sam Querrey. In contrast, Kyrgios began his grass season last week in Stuttgart, where he reached the semifinals before bowing out to Roger Federer.
“I’m going to go out there and play like I always play. I want to serve big and play big and try and win. You know, I’m going to go out there and do the same thing. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose.”
Murray’s reservations
Murray, who is a five-time champion at Queen’s, knows that his comeback isn’t one without risk. Returning to the tour from an absence on the grass is by no means an easy task. Pointed out by Marin Cilic on Sunday, who believes the surface will ‘expose’ Murray’s movement.
“There’s never a time when you feel perfect,” Murray told the BBC. “It’s not a gamble in terms that I’m going to re-injure my hip. But if I missed the grass court season and tried to play in five weeks’ time the same doubts would be there.
“You re-evaluate. You find that out by being out there. It’s very different from the controlled environment of the practice court. I didn’t want to get back on the match court until I felt I could compete. Hopefully the body responds well. I expect to be a bit stiff and sore after it.”
As for his looming showdown with 23-year-old Kyrgios, Murray is ready for his first test of the season against a player he has high regard for.
“Nick is a brilliant player on all surfaces but particularly on grass because of the way he plays and serves,” he said.
“When he is mentally switched on he is one of the best players in the world.”
The match between Kyrgios and Murray will be third on center court on Tuesday.
