Andy Murray and his last performance at the Australian Open 2023

During the Australian Open in Melbourne over the past month, Andy Murray has displayed a remarkable level of perseverance and resilience, reminiscent of the legendary knights of medieval times. Despite his profession as a tennis player, Murray's physical trials and tests of endurance have been similar to the heroic feats shown in movies. Even after getting backlash from his team, doctors, and crowd, Andy triumphed to win hearts and respect. 

Andy Murray, the former world number one tennis player from Scotland, is one of the most talented and successful players in the history of the sport. Murray began playing tennis when he was three years old when his mother Judy took him to the local courts. He competed in his first competitive competition when he was five years old, and by the age of eight, he was competing with adults in the Central District Tennis League. Murray was first coached by his mother Judy and his elder brother Jamie. He began his professional career at the time that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal established themselves as men's tennis's leading players.

Murray’s dedication and passion led to quick success on the ATP Tour, debuting in the top ten at the age of 19 in 2007. By 2010, Murray and Novak Djokovic had joined Federer and Nadal in the Big Four, the group of men's tennis players that dominated the decade. Despite his many achievements, including three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals, Murray has faced numerous setbacks in his career due to a series of debilitating injuries. However, he has yet managed to mount a remarkable comeback and continues to compete at the highest level of the sport.

Murray first rose to prominence in the mid-2000s, quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young players in the world. He reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2008 US Open, losing to Roger Federer, but he went on to win his first major title at the 2012 US Open, beating Novak Djokovic in the final. He then went on to win the Wimbledon championship in 2013, becoming the first British player to do so in 77 years. 

However, even after these early successes, Murray's career was soon interrupted by a series of injuries that would plague him for many years. In 2013, he was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a back injury, and he underwent back surgery the following year. Despite this, he continued to play at the highest level, reaching the final of the 2016 Australian Open and winning his second Wimbledon championship later that year.

In 2017, however, Murray was forced to withdraw from the sport due to a persistent hip injury that had been bothering him for some time. Despite undergoing surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process, the injury continued to linger, and he was forced to miss most of the 2018 season. At this point, many people wondered whether Murray would ever be able to return to the sport and play at a high level again.

Despite these setbacks, Murray refused to give up, and he began working tirelessly to make a comeback. He returned to the tour in 2019, and although he struggled at first, he soon began to rediscover his form. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open that year and went on to win his first title since 2017 at the European Open in Antwerp.

After suffering several injuries during his career, including undergoing hip surgeries in 2018 and 2019, Murray has continued to play at a high level, and he has been one of the most successful players on the tour. He reached the final of the Antwerp Open in 2020 and won his first title of the 2021 season at the Murray River Open in Melbourne. He has also continued to compete at the Grand Slams, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2021 and the fourth round of the French Open in 2022. 

Talking about Murray’s journey so far, it is pretty visible that he has been on a roller coaster with not only his injuries but his mental health too. The recent Australian Open where Murray competed recently shed light on how his team and other players reacted to him trying to come back. A lot of his competitors thought he should retire whereas his team, including his doctors, had fewer hopes to see him win keeping his medical history in mind. The amount of pressure and stress, Murray may have gone through where he probably felt like everyone was against him teaches us a lesson of a lifetime!

Here are 6 things we can learn from Andy Murray’s journey-

A- Persistence and resilience goes a long journey

Overall, the lesson is about persistence. A simple phrase that is far more difficult to put into action. When things get tough, we all get sad, have doubts, and even quit. Andy Murray has demonstrated that the more you work at something, the sweeter the reward when it arrives. That is something that should motivate us when circumstances are tough.

B- Learn to control your emotions

Andy Murray was known to lose his cool on the court and has smashed several rackets in his career. Many people felt his outbursts were holding him back from reaching the top, referencing the examples of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two of the finest players who rarely lose their cool. With the correct help from psychologists, Murray was able to work on his anxiety and anger and mastered these lessons throughout the years.

C- Self-belief is the key

Even if the crowd is very supportive, it is still a lonely existence. As a player, you certainly don't have the backing of a crowd, yet you still feel alone and lonely. Why should anyone else believe in you if you don't believe in yourself? Murray displayed amazing confidence in this match. Leaders must have faith that the path they are on is the correct one.

D- Pushing outside your comfort zone 

Andy Murray relocated to Spain at the age of 15 to join a tennis academy. Most individuals would be terrified about leaving their hometown, friends, and family behind and relocating to a distant country with a different language. We may all learn from his dedication to doing whatever it took to follow his ambition. Murray would not be where he is now if he had not stepped outside of his comfort zone.

E- Overnight success does not exist

Murray started his journey to play competitively when he was 5. By the age of 19, he was debuting into the top 10! Currently, at the age of 35, Murray is still competing and is considered one of the most talented players. 

F- Having a mentor

While Murray may have to go out and win the match on his own, it is his whole professional support team that contributes to the success.  He is quick to acknowledge this often. 

In conclusion, Andy Murray is one of the most talented and successful tennis players of his generation, and despite a series of debilitating injuries, he has managed to mount a remarkable comeback and continue to compete at the highest level of the sport. His perseverance and determination in the face of adversity are a testament to his character and his love of the sport, and he remains a beloved figure in the world of tennis.

We at Mental Point recognize how this rollercoaster of a ride affects the athletes and we work with our athletes not only on how to perform better mentally, physically, and intellectually on the court, but also on how to recover from extreme losses and injuries!

By Kanishka @lifewithkanish