Advertisement

Andy Murray optimistic for future after European Open win leads to huge rankings jump

BELGA/AFP via Getty Images
BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

Andy Murray is hoping Sunday's ­European Open title win can act as a springboard for a climb up the rankings.

Less than nine months after undergoing hip surgery, Murray saw off Stan Wawrinka to win his first tournament since 2017 with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in Antwerp.

The result catapulted him 116 places up the world rankings to No127.

Murray said: “I need to now start talking more about my future and I am certainly a lot more optimistic now. I didn’t feel prepared really to win because I wasn’t expecting it.”

Murray had warned in January at the Australian Open that his first-round defeat might be his last ever match.

But having worked back from hip resurfacing surgery, he admitted he can be competitive again.

He said: “I still hit the ball the same and can serve better than the past couple of years. I made the quarters of Wimbledon when I was pretty much on one leg.

“So I was like, ‘if I could get my leg strong again, I’m in a different spot’. I just thought it would take longer to get to this point but obviously I’m happy that it hasn’t.”

Read more

Andy Murray wins his first ATP Tour title since 2017

Robson motivated by Murray return as she targets comeback