Greg Rusedski warns there will be no Andy Murray fairytale at Queen’s and Wimbledon this year

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When Andy Murray finally calls time on his career, Queen’s, while seemingly relatively inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, will always be central to the memories.

His traditional grasscourt warm-up might not eclipse the Wimbledon titles, Olympic golds or his brief reign as world No1 before his body began to break down.

But nowhere in the world has he won more ATP Tour singles titles than outside the small pocket of greenery in west London and it was at the last championships at Queen’s Club in 2019 that he proved victorious in his comeback tournament – albeit in the doubles.

Tuesday is another comeback and a bigger obstacle to overcome than sharing a doubles court with Feliciano Lopez when he faces former top-20 player Benoit Paire in his first singles match for three months.

The idea of another Queen’s fairytale seems far-fetched, with Murray himself pleading ignorance as to how his body will perform under the rigours of top-level competitive tennis for the first time after weeks of merely practice.

One of Murray’s predecessors as British No1, Greg Rusedski, warned the 25 per cent capacity Queen’s crowd cheering him on needed a dose of realism this week.

“It’s hard to dream of a Queen’s fairytale like last time in the doubles or else a Wimbledon fairytale,” Rusedski said. “He just hasn’t had the matches in his body for that.

“For me, every time he wins a match, that’s a positive. Should he win tomorrow against Benoit Paire, that in itself is worth celebrating. And every win at Queen’s and Wimbledon is worth celebrating.”

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At 34, Murray has no immediate plans to call time on his career despite tumbling down the rankings and admitting his days of battling it out for Grand Slam singles titles are over.

Instead, he said before facing Paire that he carries on simply for his enjoyment of the game, a facet the crowd at Queen’s and Wimbledon should embrace.

“I’d say to people this week and at Wimbledon to enjoy him while you can,” said Rusedski.

“I’d never talk him down but he’s realistic about what’s possible. He’s got nothing more to prove. He’s won two Wimbledon titles, two Olympic gold medals and was world No1.”

Murray has managed to win a singles title since his return from hip surgery, beating Stan Wawrinka in three sets to clinch the European Open in Antwerp back in October 2019. Whether he can claim a 47th career title before retirement remains to be seen.

And Rusedski added: “With everything he’s been through, it makes you realise how astonishing an achievement it was him winning that title in Antwerp against Stan Wawrinka. And with Andy Murray you never say never.”

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