'Tennis better when Novak Djokovic plays' - Andy Murray wants to see world number one back at major events
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Updated 22/02/2022 at 18:07 GMT
"There are consequences to the decision Novak Djokovic has made and he obviously has to accept that, but I don't think it's great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events" - Andy Murray wants to see the world number one back at the major events in tennis as he believes the sport suffers most by his absence
Murray: 'Djokovic missing Grand Slams not great for the sport'
Andy Murray believes tennis suffers most when Novak Djokovic misses out on major events.
Djokovic is set to miss out on the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in March after admitting that, as things stand, he is unable to enter the country due to his vaccination status.
He was deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Open, and requirements will be unable to compete at the French or US Open too.
And while Murray says Djokovic must live with the consequences of his decision, he says tennis misses out without it's best player.
"I don't agree with his decision, i think it would be a lot easier for him if he was to get vaccinated," he said.
"But i didn't like seeing him in the situation he was in in Australia as someone I respect and have known since I was a child. I didn't like seeing that.
"It would be better for tennis if he was playing all the major events, but there are consequences to the decision he has made and he obviously has to accept that, but I don't think it's great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events.
Murray was speaking at a press conference after fighting back to beat Christopher O'Connell in the Dubai Duty Free Championship and reach the last-16.
The former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion has pulled of some good results since returning from injury, but admitted to struggling wtih consistency.
"There's a number of guys in the top 25 or 30 in the world, I've beaten 12 or 13 of them since I came back. The consistency has not been there, I'm aware of that, but there have been times I've played well.
"The last seven or eight months have been tough. I'm trying to not to get too disappointed by maybe not performing as well as I'd like. I'm just accepting or trying to accept the situation that I'm in just now.
"I want to be doing better, and I have an opportunity this week to achieve a goal of mine. I want to get to 700 match wins which when it happens will be a great achievement. I want to get that in the next round so i'm focused on that.
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