"Andy Murray can be a force to be reckoned with" - Olympic gold medalist names the Brit as contender for Wimbledon 2023

With his spectacular stint at the 2023 Australian Open, Andy Murray impressed the entire tennis world, including Monica Puig. The former Puerto Rican ace believes that the Brit could make waves at this year's Wimbledon Championships.

Murray has struggled with multiple injuries over the last few years and played the 2022 US Open with a metal hip. The Brit, however, stunned the roster with his performances in the first two matches in Melbourne last month.

He played and won consecutive five-set thrillers against last year's semifinalist Matteo Berrettini and home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis. He eventually lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.

Speaking to Sky Sports, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Puig showered praise on the two-time Olympic gold medalist. She stated that he always has something to prove and it works for him.

"Andy has something to prove every time he goes on the court because the amount of times people have counted him out, said he was never going to play again, said that physically he's not going to endure the rigors of professional tennis again. Having something to prove works for some people and for others, it doesn't, but it definitely works for him," Puig said.

Puig added that the two-time Wimbledon champion was one of the frontrunners at SW19 this year. This is because the points on grass were usually shorter than those on other surfaces.

"Murray's won Wimbledon before. He has that on his side. The Brits tend to do very well on their own turf. It's also an advantage that points are not as long as on a hardcourt or a claycourt, so he can make those shorter points count. He looks comfortable coming into the net and he knows what to do. Yes, he can be a force to be reckoned with," she added.

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"It’s amazing what Andy Murray has done for British tennis" - Jay Clarke

Andy Murray during the 2023 Australian Open

World No. 313 Jay Clarke of Great Britain is currently playing at the ATP Challenger Chennai, and has reached the second round. In a recent interview, Clarke spoke highly of compatriot Andy Murray. He stated that the three-time Grand Slam champion was a source of inspiration for other players in Britain.

"It’s amazing what Andy has done for British tennis. He has given us all the belief that it is possible, and he’s such a nice guy," Clarke said. "He helped me when I was a lot younger and took me to Paris with him for one year to prepare."

"I had just started playing Futures and was able to practice on Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen, these really big courts with him. I think he went on to make the final that year. Just being around guys like that is amazing," Clarke added.

Andy Murray has received a wildcard entry into the ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, to be played from February 27 to March 4.