Murray calls for changes to avoid dropouts

New York, September 3

Andy Murray believes Grand Slam tournaments need to make changes to avoid the rash of mid-match retirements that are occurring in the early rounds. The first round here at the US Open featured a Grand Slam record of 12 retirements.

Murray thinks that part of the problem is the big prize-money on offer to first-round losers, who will earn $39,500 (about £25,800) here. For some players that is more than they will earn anywhere else in the course of the year.

Murray reckons some of this week’s retirements will have been the result of pre-existing injuries, but the Scot believes players who are in the main draw by dint of their efforts through the year should be allowed to withdraw if injured but still be given their first-round prize-money, which would free up places.

“That’s such an easy thing to fix,” he said. “I don’t understand why they don’t do it.”

Murray was particularly struck by Vitalia Diatchenko’s first-round performance against Serena Williams, in which the Russian retired after only 27 minutes with an ankle problem after winning just five of the 37 points that were played.

“If I had paid money to watch that I wouldn’t be happy, but I also understand it from (Diatchenko’s) point of view,” Murray said.

“It’s a lot of money and she’s earned the right to go on the court, but she’s clearly injured.”

— The Independent