Aching Andy
For fans of Andy Murray, his press conference had news that went from bad to worse. If you care to project, it could be downright awful. The following is from the official transcription from the Italian Open on Wednesday, April 15, starting at 5:23 local time. The editorial notes are attributed accordingly.
Murray fans, read it, and if necessary, weep.
Q: Did you pull out in preparation for Paris
A: I pulled out because there is a good chance I wouldn't be playing tomorrow even if I wasn't able to... and we'll have to wait for Paris. I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris. (Murray was typically soft spoken when he let that last bombshell drop. The translator began speaking in Italian, and the British press corp, which represented well over half of the assembled press room, broke etiquette and sought to clarify exactly what the World's #2 ranked player had just said. Murray complied, repeating himself into the mic.)
"I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris." (Emphasis from Murray. The news got continually worse.)
Q: What exactly is it?
A: Back, more lower left back.
Q: Is it something new?
A: It's the same thing as last year.
Q: What will you do?
A: I need to make plans and see what to do tonight. I'll speak with the physio and come up with a plan for the next few days and then make a decision on Paris after the next 5 days. I'll need to take some days off and see how it settles down, but a few days can make a difference.
Q: You said it was a problem in Madrid but it had been OK until then.
A: Yes, it had been OK, but it hadn't been perfect for a long period and obviously I wasn't feeling good again, (underlining from editor) but you always go into international with niggles, but...
Q: Is there a particular situation with playing on clay?
A: Yes, clay can aggravate the problem with the ball coming through slower, you take a slower pace and the ball bounces higher and there is less stability. (Editor Note: the transcriber neglected to note two references by Murray from this passage: 1) The slow clay requires the hitter to generate more pace than normal, and 2) that pace comes from trunk rotation, aggravating the very source of Murray's discomfort. Folks, this man is injured, he knows it, and in a moment of candor, shared those fears with the press.)
Q: What about the last time you took pain killer injections?
A: Well, the injections can help with the pain, but they can take some of the inflammation away but that didn't make me feel 100% and I want to feel 100%.
Murray Presser Kill Shot
Q: What do you mean about lower back pain, is it some kind of disk problem?
A: YES, PRETTY MUCH.
(Editor's note: Murray fans, this is the worst news you could possibly receive, something extraordinarily rare for an athlete to concede, a lower back disk injury.)
Q: L3?
A: Lower back...don't want to get in too much detail as things change from week to week and I'll try and get it sorted but its an issue for some while and so I want to make sure that its something that I can sort out, and its not enjoyable to play now. (Emphasis added by editor)
Q: What will you do now?
A: I'll try and get home tonight or tomorrow but I also want to see if I can get treatment because sitting here on the plane is not perfect and so I'll get some treatment after here.
Q: You say it's been with you for some time - was it like this before Miami?
A: Since the end of 2011 but it got bad during the clay court season but with the injections it got a little bit better but its got(ten) bad now.
Q: Is it something that might require surgery?
A: I don't know.
End.
(Editor's note: Oh s***. )
