Andy Murray hailed by Boris Becker for being 'an absolute role model' to younger generation

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Updated 12/05/2023 at 10:27 GMT

Andy Murray has been praised as "an absolute role model" by six-time Grand Slam winner Boris Becker. The former world No. 1 responded to a poor start to the clay-court season by dropping down to Challenger level - and beating top 20 player Tommy Paul in the final of the Aix-en-Provence event. Becker says youngsters have a lot to learn from Murray and fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka.

Andy Murray has been hailed as a “role model for the younger generation” by tennis legend Boris Becker after the former world No. 1 claimed his first title since 2019 in Aix-en-Provence.

The 35-year-old dropped down a level to play the Challenger tournament in France in the wake of a poor start to the clay-court season where he suffered back-to-back first-round exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Murray stormed through the tournament in France to beat world No. 17 Tommy Paul in the final for his first trophy in four years, but followed that up with a disappointing opening-round exit in Rome against Fabio Fognini.

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Despite the disappointment in Italy, six-time Grand Slam winner Becker believes Murray has shown young players an example to follow by demonstrating an honest appraisal of his own game.

Speaking on the Eurosport tennis podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball, Becker said: “The question is: Why does he play a Challenger tournament? Because he simply knows that even an Andy Murray needs match experience and the victories on the court.

“Now he comes to the unloved red clay - I know what he's talking about - and doesn't mind going to the Challenger. And what does he do? He wins it against Tommy Paul, who is also ranked in the top 20 in the world.

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“He actually does everything you would advise a junior player to do - as a former world No. 1, two-time Wimbledon winner and decorated Scot - because he knows he has to stay in match mode.

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“That's an absolute role model for the younger generation."

Murray said in the wake of his Rome Masters exit to Fognini that he still hopes to play at Roland-Garros for just the second time in six years later this month, but will make a final decision this week.

Another veteran and multiple Grand Slam winner, 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka, is likely to join Murray in the draw in Paris after enjoying an impressive surge back into the top 100 in the twilight of his career.

"The fact that these great stars still play is not the money, it's there,” Becker said. “It's just the love of the game. They know they need match experience to develop and get better.

“I don't always see that with the younger players. I see many matches where I ask myself why they play at all.

“I don't see the passion there, nor the ability to suffer - something you can't say about Wawrinka or Murray. They always leave their soul on the court and play tennis for the right reasons."

The French Open begins with qualifying on May 22 and runs until June 11.

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