"I lost to Federer in the final, I remember that": Andy Murray showcases his amazing tennis memory, goes back all the way to recall first-ever ATP QF
Scottish tennis legend Andy Murray answered 'Andy Murray trivia' at the ongoing Qatar Open in Doha after his quarterfinal win against Alexandre Muller on Thursday, February 23.
Since the Australian Open in January this year, Murray has played a string of hard-won matches. He played two five-hour, five-set matches at the Australian Open against Italy's Matteo Berrettini and Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis.
At the Qatar Open, the 35-year-old's road to the semifinals has been three three-set matches; he defeated Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in the first round, Germany's Alexander Zverev in the second round and France's Alexandre Muller in the third round. Murray now faces Jiri Lehecka in the semifinals on Friday, February 24.
During the on-court interview, the Scot had to answer 'Andy Murray Trivia' and was asked if he remembered his first quarterfinal win on tour and who he beat. Murray reminisced about his road to the finals at the 2005 Bangkok Open, where he fell to Swiss legend Roger Federer.
"Let me think, I'm gonna say my first ever tour level quarterinal was in Bangkok is that right? Let me see was it Paradorn Srichaphan? (Robby) Ginepri? I lost to Federer in the final I remember that one," the Brit said.
Murray reached the 2003 Bangkok Open final to play against the Swiss legend after beating Georg Bastl, Robin Soderling, Robby Ginepri and Paradorn Srichaphan.
A look at Andy Murray's marathon matches of 2023
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is proving to be a real threat on tour again, playing some memorable matches in the first half of the year.
Murray's comeback began at the 2023 Australian Open. In the first round, Murray defeated 13th-seeded former semifinalist Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6(7)-7, 7-6(6) in a match that lasted four hours and forty-nine minutes.
His next match came against Thanasi Kokkinakis, who was playing on home soil. Murray outclassed Kokkinakis in five hours and forty-five minutes, the longest match of Murray's career. Kokkinakis went down 4-6, 6(4)-7, 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5.
At the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Murray's three matches prior to his upcoming semifinal clash were three-set matches. His first win against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego required two hours and 30 minutes to finish, with Murray saving three match points before winning 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4).
Murray also caused an upset by defeating Germany's Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 in a match that lasted more than three hours. In the quarterfinal clash against Alexandre Muller, Murray spent more than two hours sending the Frenchman packing with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.