Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou praises Andy Murray for his courage to keep battling after setbacks

ByEurosport

Updated 22/05/2021 at 10:48 GMT

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray is facing a pivotal summer in his career after deciding to skip this year's upcoming French Open. The 34-year-old is set to play the Nottingham Open before Queen's and then Wimbledon. Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou has praised the Scot for continuing to play on despite his numerous setbacks.

Andy Murray

Image credit: Getty Images

Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou praises former British number one Andy Murray for being "incredibly courageous" as he continues to try to get back to his career best.

Murray has only been able to play in three tour-level singles matches since the start of 2021 with coronavirus and a groin injury picked up ahead of the Miami Open in March hampering his progress further.

The 34-year-old hopes to return to the top of the men's game, but has only one tour win since last August.

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Mouratoglou admires Murray's bravery to keep coming back despite being unable to get a consistent run of matches together.

"Every time he feels 'wow, finally, I can start playing' then he has bad news about his physicality which stops him," he told Sky Sports.

"If he continues to stop and start all the time, it's very difficult because he makes progress and his fitness starts to be at a level. He needs competition.

"He starts, but then 'boom', he stops again and then he restarts almost from scratch because when you do nothing for a few weeks you lose all the benefit of what you've done.

"I think he's incredibly courageous to be honest, because he's had a lot of setbacks with his body and he's still here.