Hutchins Deliberated Before His Disease Revelation

Written by: Staff on 10th January 2013

Hutchins Deliberated Before His Disease Revelation |

Ross Hutchins admitted he deliberated long and hard on whether to tell his diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma to close friend Andy Murray for fear that it might ruin the world no.3’s preparations for the Australian Open.

In the end 27 year-old Hutchins, who has been reassured his prognosis is good by doctors at London’s leading cancer hospital The Royal Marsden, opted to telephone Murray immediately after informing his parents of his illness.

Hutchins was actually diagnosed on December 27 and today begins a six months long course of chemotherapy. He revealed: “I said to Andy, I don’t know whether to tell you; I don’t want to ruin your preparation because I know you’ve been working hard.

“I said: ‘But as my closest friend, I want you to know something before it gets out because I kind of want you with me on this one’. He’s been brilliant. He’s sent a gift and is asking every day how I’m feeling. He wants to know every single detail, however bad or good it is.”

Murray dedicated his victory in Brisbane last weekend to “a sick friend” but refused to name Hutchins. “It makes me feel good he won Brisbane, because I think it was quite upsetting for him to hear,” continued the British Davis Cup player.

“I’m just pleased that it didn’t affect him, not that it would because he’s such a professional and is able to switch off and get back into tennis mode. He’s been absolutely unbelievable and so supportive with me the whole way.”

Hutchins’ regular doubles partner Colin Fleming has also given reassurance that their partnership will reform as soon as possible. “Colin said, ‘don’t worry; I’ll be here when you’re back and we’ll win grand slams together,’” he said.

The feeling for Hutchins throughout the game is strong and he admitted to having received more than 1,000 messages of good luck from fellow players, coaches, writers and administrators as well as fellow sufferers.

“I read every single one, from people who are currently going through Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, people who are going through cancer, people who’ve had it and come through strong, people who are in remission and people offering advice,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot of messages on Twitter, not just from players from Britain, which is nice, but also from foreigners who you have spent time with in locker rooms, who you’ve been to dinner with. I wouldn’t expect it and I didn’t expect it, but as well as the people who texted me directly, it’s been very nice, very supportive.”

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Australian Open, Davis Cup, Ross Hutchins, Sports, Tennis, Twitter