Judy Murray: Tour has taken its toll on Andy

Two years of relentless tennis have finally taken their toll on world No.1 Andy Murray, according to his mum Judy. Speaking at the Edinburgh Book Festival, Judy Murray said the ATP Tour is “relentless”, and that the strain has “caught up on him”.

“The last two years have taken a lot out of him,” Judy Murray opined.

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“The tennis calendar is relentless, it’s 11 months of the year, there’s hardly any gaps to have a rest and I kind of feel that it’s all caught up on him.”

After a career-best season in 2016, Andy Murray has struggled this time around. The world No.1, who will be replaced at the top of the ATP rankings by Rafael Nadal next Monday, has struggled for form all year winning just one title (Dubai). He has also been forced to sit out of the US Open Series.

It is a huge contrast from where he was at this stage last season.

Murray was in the midst of a spectacular run of form – starting on the grass at Queen’s – that would see him win eight of the last ten tournaments he played, including a Wimbledon title and second Olympic gold medal.

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The former US Open champion remains a question mark ahead of this year’s tournament, which starts in under two weeks. But while Judy “hopes” he will be playing, she also acknowledges that he needs to take some time away from the game.

“I advise him to rest, for sure,” she said. “But since when do you listen to your mum?”