“The passion is still there!” Chris Evert LAUDS Andy Murray on his return to top-90

Chris Evert and Andy Murray

After enduring a torrid time for the last couple of years due to injuries, Andy Murray is slowly finding some form and is climbing up the rankings. The former World No.1 recently entered the top-100 of the ATP rankings for the first time since 2018. He is currently ranked No.95 and is now assured of entering the top-90 next week after another good showing at the ongoing ATP Rotterdam Open.

The two-time Olympic champion suffered a hip injury in 2017, because of which he stayed on the sidelines for 11 months. A complete contrast to his previous year, where he won his second Olympic Gold medal and finished the season at the summit of the rankings. After his hiatus, the Brit tumbled down the rankings and fell as low as 839th in the world. After a brief return to the tour in 2019, Murray was forced to undergo another hip surgery and hinted that he might not play tennis again. But following the successful surgery, the three-time Grand Slam champion made a comeback and mid-2019 and had slowly begun his ascent up the rankings.

Murray ranked between top-100 and top-200 since his return to the tour but now is assured of finishing at least at No.87 after he made a stellar start to his 2022 season. He began the season with a runner-up finish at the ATP Sydney Tennis Classic, his first ATP final appearance in nearly three years. He then followed this up with an epic five-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvilli at the Australian Open but suffered a surprise defeat to qualifier Taro Daniel in the next round.

Andy with the WIN ?

2009 champ @andy_murray defeats Bublik 7-6 6-4 and moves into the 2nd round in Rotterdam!#abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/hOTttt05QN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 9, 2022

But the 34-year-old bounced back with a stunning win over World No.31 Alexander Bublik in the opening round of the Rotterdam Open but was knocked out in the next round by Felix Auger-Aliassime. Nevertheless, it was a successful outing for Murray, who was struggling to compete at tournaments let alone win them, just a couple of months back. Now he is guaranteed to return to the top-90 for the first time since his hip injury.

Chris Evert heaps praise on Andy Murray on his return to the top-90

18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert congratulated Murray on his imminent return to the top-90 and exclaimed “The passion is still there.”

????the passion is still there!??? https://t.co/zr76ijFFdf
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) February 10, 2022

The former World No.1 might be a shadow of his former self and might never reach the highs of his past ever again, but his mental fortitude and perseverance are truly one to admire as kept playing even after facing many setbacks over the years.