FOREVER, ANDY

Over the last few years, the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar has seen numerous stars compete on its courts. But one of those charismatic tennis players who competed in the tournament was able to shine in a special way, with his own light. It is none other than Sir Andy Murray. The Scot, an illustrious member of the ‘Big Four’ alongside Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, competed in the second edition of the tournament in 2019. A luxury participant who has just said goodbye to the courts. A legend of our sport who says goodbye.

Andy’s track record is practically endless: champion of three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds, former world number one, winner of 46 ATP titles and Davis Cup champion, among many other achievements. A string of successes, an example of overcoming and capacity for sacrifice that places the player born in Dunblane in the Olympus of the tennis gods.

Let’s go back to 2019. At that time, the Briton was recovering from a hip operation and took advantage of the week of the Rafa Nadal Open to get into shape and try to lift the trophy at the home of one of his great teammates on the circuit. It wasn’t to be, he fell in the semi-finals, but he was full of praise for the tournament and the Academy: “I’ve been here several times, but the Academy wasn’t quite finished. It’s an opportunity to have been here again. The accommodation is very good, the gym is very well prepared and thinking about the competition it’s lucky that everything is so close. They’re doing a fantastic job.”

Andy Murray is known for all his successes on the ATP circuit, where he was number one in the world for 41 weeks. Perhaps Andy’s time on the Challenger Circuit is less well-known, but no less important. It was a springboard for the start of his career and also helped him at certain times to get back on the path to victory.

Before making the definitive leap to professionalism, Andy made his debut in Challenger tournaments in 2003 in Manchester. However, it was not until 2005, and after suffering a serious knee injury, when he won his only two titles on the circuit, both on the American summer tour. However, we have to go forward 16 years to 2021 to find the Scot’s last final in this category, since after one of his numerous recoveries due to injury he played the final in Biella. As previously mentioned, nothing like the unforgettable week in which we were able to enjoy Murray here in 2019 when he played the second edition of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar Challenger. It is not every year that you have a Grand Slam champion, it is not every year that you have a legend like Murray. Andy, thank you for everything and good luck in your new projects.