"I'd like to get the opportunity to play it one more time before I stop" - Andy Murray opens up on plans to play in French Open 2023
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray recently expressed his desire to play at the French Open at least once before hanging up his racquet.
Murray is participating in the Qatar Open this week. The Brit came back from a set down to overcome Italy's Lorenzo Sonego 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) in two hours and 30 minutes in the Round of 32 on Monday.
At the post-match press conference, the three-time Grand Slam champion opened up on his possible schedule for the claycourt season. Murray stated that he intends to play in Rome and Madrid, adding that he hopes for a French Open appearance if his body permits.
"My plan just now is to play in Rome and Madrid and hopefully the French Open, providing my body is good," he said.
The two-time Wimbledon winner continued by shedding light on his plans to keep his body in shape.
"You know, I'll do a training block after Miami on the clay. I'm going to do that in Europe somewhere for a few weeks, three or four weeks. I'll train, try and get my body used to the clay courts and to monitor how my body is feeling," Murray said.
The two-time Olympic gold medal winner then elaborated on his desire to play at the 2023 French Open. He also stated that it's been a long time since he last played at Roland Garros.
"If it feels good, I'll play Rome, Madrid, and like I say, hopefully the French Open, because, yeah, the last -- I don't know how many times I have played it in the last five or six years, but when I have, like, I physically was not good the year I played against Wawrinka, and I can't remember too many other times I have played it in the last five or six years," the Brit said.
Murray further stressed his plans to play in the French capital before he retires from the sport.
"So I'd like to get the opportunity to play it one more time before I stop playing. Whilst I feel physically really good, I would like to play there again," Andy Murray added.
"I don't believe I'm in the best shape of my career" - Andy Murray
Andy Murray also spoke about how his performance at the Australian Open 2023 has boosted his confidence.
"Yeah, so I don't believe I'm in the best shape of my career. I just gained a lot of confidence from what happened in Australia, more than at any other moment in my career, like just from a physical perspective because of what I was able to do there," the 35-year-old said.
Murray will lock horns with Alexander Zverev in the Round of 16 of the Qatar Open on Wednesday.