James Blake thinks Andy Murray has “earned the right” to play as long as he feels like doing so. Murray, 36, sustained a serious hip injury in 2017 and he underwent surgery in early 2018. The following year, Murray had another major hip surgery and since then he has been playing with a metal hip.
Since 2017, Murray – a three-time Grand Slam champion and a former world No 1 – hasn’t made a deep Grand Slam or a Masters run. While some are praising Murray’s competitiveness and fighting spirit, some believe the Briton should have retired by now.
Murray, now ranked at No 36 in the world, has won one ATP title since returning from two hip surgeries. Blake, a former world No 4, believes no one should be criticizing Murray for his career decisions.
Blake defends Murray’s decision to still play pro tennis
“He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants to do.
He’s such a great champion and the fact that he was always one of the hardest workers now coming back with a metal hip and still working as hard as he does and showing that he loves it, because he has no reason to, he’s already a first ballot hall of famer and one of the all-time greats.
He probably has more money than he ever could spend in five lifetimes. He’s doing it because he loves the game so as long as he loves it, do what you love. You only have so long to do what you love and get paid for it and have fans while you’re doing it.
So if he wants to continue enjoying it, go as long as he can and then enjoy the rest of your life. Our life is long after tennis too, which a lot of people don’t realize when you’re in that bubble of the world of tennis,” Blake told Sky Sports.
