Andy Murray In Abu Dhabi

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 24th December 2013

Andy Murray In Abu Dhabi

epa03777299 Andy Murray of Britain celebrates his victory over Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in their semi-final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 05 July 2013. EPA/TOM HEVEZI |

Andy Murray, currently in Abu Dhabi and warming up for the start of the tennis season where he will be attempting to reacclimatize himself to the men’s circuit after back surgery in September, is so motivated by unprecedented support from the British public he wants to repay them after admitting a sometimes ungrateful youth.

Murray has been festooned with British sporting awards after becoming the first British male to win the Wimbledon singles title for 77 years but appreciates his often surly attitude in past years hardly endeared him to Britain at large.

He now appreciates the best way of winning even more support is to add further Grand Slam event titles to those he already holds from the US Open and Wimbledon.

“I maybe let people down over the years but they stuck by me,” said the 26 year-old Scot who will make his comeback in two days day against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the exhibition Mubadela World Tennis Championship. “I’ll try to repay their faith.”

Nine days ago Murray won the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award with a massive 56% of the total vote. “I know I’ve not always been the easiest person to support but I’ve been under a lot of pressure for a long time so I’m just really pleased to break through,” he said.

“The support I got at Wimbledon this year was by far the best I’d ever had. None of the other Wimbledons could compare to this.”

Murray has been meticulous in recovery from the back surgery and the only day he wasn’t active was when he travelled from his Miami training base to the Middle East. “I’ve been training and having rehab every day,” he said.

“Getting back to playing competitively is the next step in my preparations for the new season, which starts for me at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

“Coming back from injury is never easy and the line-up this year is so strong but it’s exactly the test I need to see where my game is at. I’m looking forward to being part of what is always a great tournament.”

Aside from Murray and Tsonga, the three-day tournament also features the world’s top three players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer, and number eight Stanislas Wawrinka.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Abu Dhabi, Andy Murray, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, David Ferrer, Grand Slam, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wimbledon, World Tennis Championship