ATP: Murray: Talent alone is not enough

Andy Murray was on the throne of the world rankings at the beginning of the year, although his career choice could have been different.

“Muzza” – Murray’s nickname in his homeland – has proven in his professional tennis career that he is one of the best players of the Open Era.With three Grand Slam titles and a reigning Olympic gold medalist, it’s hard to believe the Briton almost chose another profession.Murray played football up to the age of eleven years – and very successfully.Murray’s affinity for football is no accident.His mother Judy, former head of the British Fed Cup team and tennis coach, is the daughter of former Scottish professional footballer Roy Erskine.

Murray’s artistry at the big leather ball did not go undiscovered.To agree on tennis and football, however, was a difficult matter:”After my first trial training at the Glasgow Rangers, I was invited to come back, but it was really difficult to play tennis and football at the same time,”said the Scotsman in an interview with FIFA.

World number one Rafael Nadal and record champion Roger Federer are also prominent examples of such a development.Both superstars play excellent football and had a career as professional footballers in their youth.

Scotland’s best tennis player of all time chose the yellow felt ball because his talent for tennis was “simply bigger,”confessed the double Wimbledon champion.Murray had never, however, taken a long distance from football.In his youth Andy and his brother Jamie, also a tennis pro and double specialist, moved to Spain to train better.The “fútbol” made it easier for Murray to move to Barcelona,”Of course it was not easy to leave home so early.But living in a football stronghold like Barcelona made things easier for me.I’ve been to the stadium with friends a lot of times as a teenager.We’ve seen some great games,”admitted the Scot.

It’s no secret that professional athletes have to sacrifice themselves for their dreams and professions.The 30-year-old also knows this experience:”I had to sacrifice a lot in order to make it to the top.It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.The passion for sport must be correspondingly high.You have to love what you do.”

To be the best in his sport, as Murray did for 41 weeks at a time, the Scotsman says, is more than just talent:”To be the best, you have to believe in yourself and be extremely committed.You have to constantly and continuously strive to improve yourself,”admits Murray, appealing to himself:” There are still aspects of my game that I want to improve.

The talent for a sport slumbers in many active athletes – only a few make it to the very top.Murray also sees that the gift for tennis alone is not enough.Hard work is the key to success, according to the Scotsman:”Remember that your natural talent only carries you a part of the way.There’s no substitute for hard training.”

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I have spoken to some hip specialists and together with my team I have decided that this decision is the best one for my future,”said the 30-year-old on Instagram.Murray would not be able to defend his title at the ATP finals in London.

The men’s world ranking list