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Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz are two of the most anticipated tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open, the first ATP Masters 1000 of the season which will be played on the Californian hard-courts of Indian Wells.
Alcaraz, who will have to defend the title he won last year, is going through a difficult time. Since the historic victory at Wimbledon, the former ATP No.1 has not managed to win any other tournament. In recent months his most accredited rival for the future has risen forcefully in level: Jannik Sinner, who has the concrete possibility of overtaking him at the end of the Californian tournament.
Alcaraz, seeded number two after Novak Djokovic, will make his debut, after an initial bye, against Matteo Arnaldi. Should he move forward he could find himself facing Felix Auger Aliassime. In the round of 16 there could be Karen Khachanov, who recently won in Qatar. In the quarterfinals one between Alex De Minaur, Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik. In the semi-final, there could be a confrontation with Sinner.
Murray has already passed the first round of Indian Wells. The British champion beat David Goffin in straight sets, with a score of 6-3 6-2. Myrray will challenge the Russian Andrey Rublev in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 in California.
🔥 @andy_murray starts with a WIN at the @BNPPARIBASOPEN
Andy brilliantly beat David Goffin 6-3, 6-2 at Indian Wells#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/PtKl2JT0FO
— LTA (@the_LTA) March 7, 2024
“He was saying to me ‘this is the best I’ve ever seen you serve man!'” 😂
Andy Murray explains why he gave his towel to one particular fan after beating David Goffin 😅 pic.twitter.com/yupsr2XBr6
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 7, 2024
During an interview with Tennis Channel, the Scottish champion focused on the talent of Carlos Alcaraz, explaining how he loves watching the young Spaniard for the way he plays tennis.
“I love watching Carlos Alcaraz because of the way he plays. He has so much variety and power, and he tries things. He doesn’t always get it right; he makes mistakes, and that’s something I like too. You never know what’s going to happen next,” explained Murray.
Alcaraz, Monfils & Świątek!@Andy_Murray reveals players he enjoys watching himself, as well as who was nice to young Andy on tour!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/HApAnsboqw
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 7, 2024
Andy Murray and retirement
“I probably won’t continue after the summer. They ask me after every game, so I won’t talk about it again until it’s time to stop. But I don’t intend to play much after this summer,” Murray explained during a interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
The hypothesis that the Scotsman could leave after Wimbledon is naturally concrete.
“Obviously it is a tournament that means a lot to me. But I would like to take the field once again at the Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics. It will certainly be a complicated change to manage, especially for those who have reached the bottom of Wimbledon. And then, after the Olympics, there will be concrete action again immediately with the tour of the United States of America,” he explained.
“He was almost like a second coach!” 😂
A classic @andy_murray interview after his opening round @BNPPARIBASOPEN win
— LTA (@the_LTA) March 7, 2024
The 36-year-old will naturally try to impress in France after winning two gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 editions.
Andy Murray and retirement: a topic that has returned to the foreground right now, at the start of the 2024 season. The British tennis player has somewhat confirmed recent statements regarding the possibility of not playing other tournaments after the summer.
The real goal of the former world number 1 in the ATP ranking is to try to do his best at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and represent Great Britain again at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but the questions, especially from the British media, they naturally annoyed him about his retirement. How they annoyed his mother Judy.
“I get the same question after every single game, I’m fed up. I won’t talk about it again between now and when the time comes to stop,” Murray said.
By posting the video of the conference on her account, Judy Murray defended her son by making some things clear.
“Every single press conference they ask him the same question. When he started competing on the ATP Tour it was: When are you going to win Wimbledon? Every single time. Let him enjoy whatever time is left of his career. He is the world number 50 with a metal hip, a split kneecap and four children,” wrote Judy Murray.
That one feels good for @andy_murray 🙌
A big victory on his return to #TennisParadise
🎥 @TennisTV
pic.twitter.com/F39krTCMw7— LTA (@the_LTA) March 7, 2024
