Andy Murray's rise world No 1 built on 'religious' physical training, says Judy
Wednesday 23 November 2016 14:46, UK
Andy Murray's mother Judy says her son's "religious" physical training, even turning down ice cream, has helped him to world No 1.
Judy Murray watched on as Andy confirmed his position as the world's best tennis player by beating former No 1 Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals, in London on Sunday.
Andy Murray needed to secure victory over Djokovic just 24 hours after beating Milos Raonic in a tournament-record three hour, 38 minute encounter to end the tennis season as the best ranked player in the game, and Judy Murray has revealed how Andy's unfaltering commitment to his physical training has got him to where he is.
"I'm not sure how he did it because the match against Raonic almost killed me off, never mind what it did to him," she said.
"It was so long and so tough, and then you've not got that long to recover to play again the following evening, but he's put in a lot of work over the last six or seven years on his physical condition and he has a strong team around him on the fitness side and the physio side.
"He's absolutely religious with everything he does to help his body to rest and recover in between matches, or even in between training sessions.
"He goes in that ice bath pretty much every day after he's trained or competed. He does everything he can. What he eats - I tried to get him to have an ice cream, they do these amazing ice creams in the players' lounge, and he went 'no, not yet, wait until I'm finished'.
"It's that kind of attention to detail and sacrifice he makes to help him be in the best possible shape that he is."
Andy Murray plans to take two weeks off to recuperate before beginning the defence of his ranking next season.
He admitted after his win at the O2 Arena that he was "really, really tired" heading into the final following his match against Raonic, but mother Judy believes her son has the strength to find extra energy when needed.
"To go into the final and play Novak, who gives you absolutely nothing, you have to be on the top of your game," she added. "I thought it would be a really tough task, not just physically, but emotionally as well.
"But the one thing I do know about him is that when his back is against the wall, and when he wants something, he's always going to fight and find something extra that gets him over the edge.
"He was focused from the start and took the game by the scruff of the neck and he managed to find a way."
