WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Andy Murray was pleased to be back playing singles at Wimbledon after a four-year absence, pleased to make it through three matches this week without any new injuries and pleased to be playing in front of raucous crowds.
And still, after a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 loss at Centre Court to No. 10 seed Denis Shapovalov on Friday night, Murray was left asking himself a rather glum question.
"There is a part of me that feels a bit like I have put in so much work the last three months and, ultimately, didn't play how I would want and expect. And it's like: Is it worth it?" Murray said. "Is all of that training and everything that you're doing in the gym — unless you're able to, like, practice and improve your game and get matches and continue (to) get a run of tournaments — is it worth all of the work that you're doing?"
And then he offered an answer. Sort of.
"There is part of me that feels like, yes, it is, because I had great memories and stuff from this event and (played) in some brilliant atmosphere," Murray said. "But then, also, I finished the match tonight and I'm saying to my team ... ‘I'm just not happy with how I played.'"