Reflecting on his loss to Holger Rune at Hurlingham, Andy Murray commented, “He’s considered one of the top players globally, so it provides a clear assessment of my current game. There are areas I need to improve, but it helps me stay focused. Although I would have preferred a better outcome, I can take this as a starting point and build upon it.”
The two-time Wimbledon champion, who sought additional match practice following his early exit at Queen’s Club last week, faced a 6-4 6-4 defeat at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.
Murray displayed good court movement against his 20-year-old opponent but couldn’t seize his opportunities, notably missing four break points during the closely contested first set.
A double fault from the 36-year-old gifted Rune the first break of the match, and Murray was unable to recover after losing his serve in the opening game of the second set. Prior to this, Murray had won ten consecutive matches, securing back-to-back grass-court titles in Surbiton and Nottingham, before being eliminated early by Alex De Minaur at Queen’s.
Expressing his thoughts in an on-court interview after the match, Murray said, “It’s definitely valuable to play matches like these just a few days before Wimbledon. He’s considered one of the top players globally, so it gives me a clear understanding of where my game stands. There are areas I need to work on, but it keeps me sharp. Although I would have liked to perform better, I can use this as a starting point and progress from here.”
With just two days left to find out his position in the unseeded players’ draw at Wimbledon, the Scot faced a challenging test on a warm afternoon in west London.
A fashion show entertained the spectators before the match on the north bank of the River Thames, and it was the dynamic Rune who displayed a more stylish performance on the court.
Similar to the models on the catwalk, the Danish player wore his baseball cap backwards, exuding the confidence of someone who has recently won four ATP titles, including a victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Paris Masters final.
Former world No. 1 Murray gradually settled into the match, demonstrating glimpses of his Grand Slam-winning form throughout, with deft touch at the net, powerful groundstrokes, and exquisite lobs.
However, when it mattered most, Rune often had the advantage in the exhibition match that lasted approximately one hour and forty minutes.
Murray, currently ranked 39th by the ATP, was eventually broken in the ninth game, following a few double faults in the high-profile exhibition match.
Rune wasted no time in securing the set and quickly followed it up with another break, further enhancing his impressive victories as a rising star, which highlight his potential as a dark horse for success at SW19 over the next two weeks.
