Andy Murray highlights 'big concern' ahead of US Open

Andy Murray highlights ‘big concern’ ahead of US Open: ‘I need to try and understand what’s going on’

When Andy Murray uses the phrase “it’s a big concern” several times during a press conference to describe his current physical issues then it must be “a big concern”.

The three-time Grand Slam winner went down 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against in the “Battle of the Brits” against Cameron Norrie in the second round of the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday.

Murray started brightly against the current British No 1, but fell away as he once again struggled with cramp. He also needed treatment for the same issue during his draining three-set victory over Stan Wawrinka on Monday.

But it appears that there is a theme developing when it comes to cramping as he also battled with the same problem at the Hall of Fame Open and Citi Open.

After his exit in Washington DC last month he admitted that he might need to “make a few changes” to his training, but two weeks later he still has not come up with an answer to deal with the problem.

“I think pretty much every tennis player in their career has cramped usually in these sorts of conditions,” the former world No 1 said after the match against Norrie.

“But the consistency of it for me is a big concern. It’s not something that I have really experienced. I have experienced cramping but not consistently like over a number of tournaments.

“It’s a big concern for me because it’s not easy to play when it gets bad like it was at the end [of the match]. I feel like it had an impact on the end of the match.”

Murray’s defeat to Norrie also ended his hopes of being seeded for the US Open, which starts on August 29. It means he could face one of the big guns in the opening round at Flushing Meadows.

He will want to make sure that he finds a solution for the cramping – which not only occurs in his legs, but in other parts of his body too – before the final Grand Slam of the year in New York.

“It’s a big concern for me that and something that I need to address and find a solution for,” he said. “No one knows exactly why cramps happen. There are many reasons, whether its hydration, whether it’s the food that you have taken in, whether it’s fatigue and lack of conditioning, stress.

“I need to try and understand what’s going on there.”

Former British No 1 Tim Henman recently told Tennis365 that he has no doubt that Murray can return to the top.

“Being a professional tennis player is the best job in the world and while you are still enjoying it and the challenges that go with it, you should play for as long as you want,” Henman said.

“He has been able to play a consistent schedule without having too many physical setbacks. He is back inside the top 50 and he only scratching the surface.

“He will get back into the top 32, he will be seeded in the Slams, will get protection through the draws.

“With the players he has beaten of late, there is no doubt in my mind that he can have another good run in a Slam.”

But on the back of his Cincinnati defeat, Murray’s will have to wait until at least next year’s Australian Open to be seeded, but then he needs to pick up some decent wins during the final few months of the 2022 season.