Andy Murray apologises after coming out of retirement for Australian Open tennis event
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Andy Murray made a self-deprecating return to tennis yesterday, apologising to Melbourne crowds for his "dreadful" performance during a charity exhibition match.
The 37-year-old Briton, who retired from tennis five months ago, was brutally honest about his current form ahead of taking to the court.
"Look I'm dreadful at tennis now. I've hardly hit a ball for the last few months, it's going to be ugly," Murray told spectators at Rod Laver Arena.
After losing the first game, Murray doubled down on his earlier assessment, telling the crowd: "Sorry everyone - I told you I was terrible. I wasn't lying."
Andy Murray came out of retirement briefly before the Australian Open
Reuters
Murray partnered with Victoria Azarenka in the doubles match against Novak Djokovic and Zheng Qinwen at the Melbourne venue.
The contest proved to be a closely fought affair, with the first six games shared between the pairs.
Djokovic and Zheng eventually emerged victorious after clinching the win in a tiebreak.
"Obviously the result isn't important tonight, it's about having fun and doing it for the right cause," Djokovic said after the match.
The Serbian champion praised the crowd's enthusiasm, adding: "The fans are amazing, they respect the sport and they love tennis. And showing up in these huge numbers is very meaningful to all of us."
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The exhibition match formed part of 'A Night With Novak', a charity event launched in 2023.
The showcase drew 15,000 fans to Rod Laver Arena, who were treated to unique insight into the players' thoughts during the match.
All four stars wore microphones throughout the contest, allowing spectators to hear their running commentary.
Andy Murray played in an exhibition event before the Australian Open
Reuters
The evening's entertainment also featured a singles match between Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, with the German winning via tiebreak.
The night concluded with a wheelchair doubles match, where Djokovic teamed up with Tokito Oda against Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson.
Murray's return to tennis comes as he takes on a new role as Djokovic's coach ahead of the Australian Open.
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Andy Murray retired from tennis last year
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The Serbian star will be pursuing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title when the tournament begins on Sunday.
Djokovic, who has claimed 10 previous titles at Melbourne Park, opens his campaign against American Nishesh Basavareddy.
Despite his historic dominance at the venue, Djokovic enters the tournament as third favourite to lift the trophy.
Jannik Sinner leads the betting ahead of Carlos Alcaraz, after Djokovic failed to secure a Major title in 2024.
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