Former world number one Andy Murray said on Saturday that protocols and procedures must be enforced by tennis authorities when players such as his first-round rival at Wimbledon Nikoloz Basilashvili are subject to serious charges. The Georgian 24th seed continued to play on the tour, facing domestic violence allegations against his ex-wife, which he denies. Legal process is going on. The pressure on the 29-year-old, who won two titles since March and reached the semi-finals of the Halle grass court tournament last week, has not eased the pressure on the court.
Murray was one of the few players who spoke out last year after allegations of aggravated assault by Alexander Zverev’s ex-girlfriend, which the German insisted were untrue.
“When these kinds of allegations are made, there has to be a protocol and a process for me,” Murray told a press conference before Wimbledon.
“I don’t know what those procedures are. From what I’ve heard, they’re not great.
“This is something that the ATP, the governing body, the ITF (International Tennis Federation), Slam should implement in my opinion.”
The 34-year-old, a two-time Wimbledon champion, said he is as good as he can be for his first singles action at a grass court Grand Slam event since 2017.
He returned to singles play in Queen’s final week after suffering a groin injury in March – reaching the second round where he lost in straight sets to eventual champion Matteo Berrettini.
“I want to go to Wimbledon and feel as fresh and comfortable as possible when I get out there,” he said.
“Yeah, I would say the time I have spent on the court has been good.
“It was really nice for me to play with Roger (Federer on Friday).
“They’re the kind of things that maybe six, seven years ago I wouldn’t have given any thought to it.
“I would have noticed that just being a practice session with a top player, and focusing on myself.”
‘To better myself’
Murray has suffered fitness issues from his hip to waist over the years, but has struggled relentlessly to make a comeback on tour.
He said that it is the lure of big moments like playing on center court at Wimbledon that has inspired many of the lesser moments of recent times to overcome.
“I miss things like this at Center Court.
“I miss the pressure of that too.
“It’s something I look forward to feeling again.
“I think, again, like six, seven years ago, I wasn’t afraid of that pressure, but it was something that, like, I pushed hard.
“While really when I reflect on the last few years and stuff, it’s actually something I really missed, playing in front of a big crowd on center court.
“I also find, like, the day-to-day routine of things, like always trying to do a little bit better myself every day is something that I love too.”
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