A host of familiar faces feature in Andy Murray’s documentary ‘Resurfacing’ with great rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic all paying tribute to his mentality.
The documentary tracks Murray’s rehab on the hip injury that derailed his career but also looks back at some of the trials and tribulations that accompanied his journey to becoming one of Britain’s greatest athletes.
Murray saw his physicality and mentality questioned, particularly when he lost his first four Grand Slam finals, but it’s something that spurred him on during his illustrious career.
During the documentary, released on Friday 29 November on Amazon Prime, Murray says: ‘Whether it’s criticism or not, I’m using it as criticism to drive everything I’m doing on a day-to-day basis.
‘Maybe it’s a bit of a warped mentality but when someone puts you down or whatever, you don’t always have to respond with words. My way of doing it is with actions.’
Murray, 32, invested his own money in the documentary, which is directed by Olivia Cappuccini – the fiance of Scott Sears, brother of Murray’s wife Kim – and helped to set up interviews with some of his great rivals, who paid testament to his ‘tough’ persona.
Djokovic, the Serbian world No. 2 who has beated Murray in five of their seven Grand Slam meetings, grew up with Murray – the pair are born just a week apart – and believes his ethos of using perceived criticism to drive him on has helped him become the champion he is today.
‘I feel like for both of us and knowing how we’ve grown up, the expectations and pressures, you know, everything that was ahead of us you needed that philosophy about life. You needed that kind of mindset,’ Djokovic says.
‘I feel like that has made him tough and made his skin so thick that he can sustain anything.’
Nadal, 33, beat Murray in their first five career meetings and believes Murray’s mental grit was hardened during his formative years as a progessional.
‘He always has been one of the most talented players that I ever saw,’ Nadal says. ‘When he had a couple more years on the tour I think he became more solid mentally, no?
‘When someone of his level is able to work at that intensity it’s because he really wants to do something, something more.’
Federer, who famously drew tears from Murray during the 2012 Wimbledon final – a moment that saw the nation warm to the often dour Scot, praises the two-time Olympic gold medallist’s work ethic.
‘Andy is the type of guy, how I sense him, that he goes into hard work will pay off and he played the most amazing tennis. This is the reaction of a champion,’ says Federer.
‘If you’re tough, work hard, surround yourself with the right people, believe you can turn around matches and play through pain, play through injuries and all of that Andy has shown he can do that.’
Those who have coached Murray also gave intriguing insights into how he operates.
Amelie Mauresmo, who worked with Murray between 2014 and 2016, says: ‘He’s a perfectionist.
‘Looking for every detail that could make a difference. Thinking about how to recover better, how to be stronger, how to be smarter on the court.’
Ivan Lendl, a seven-time Grand Slam champion who was part of Murray’s team during each of his three Grand Slam wins, adds: ‘I couldn’t believe the amount of time he spent off the court preparing before and after practices.
‘Or the amount of serving he did. I’ve never seen a player serve this much.’
Brad Gilbert, the eccentric American who teamed up with Murray between 2006 and 2007, didn’t hold back on the expletives: ‘F*cking animal… But he wasn’t afraid of hard work and he believed in that.’
Jamie Delgado, Murray’s current coach, features prominently in the film alongside fitness trainer Matt Little and physio Shane Annun and recalls an anecdote of his early days working with the former world No. 1: ‘The first week I worked with him, we did interval training.
‘Coming towards the end of the session, Andy was on his knees, he was completely dead. We said, “Ok, we’ll stop there, that’s enough”. He spoke to me and said, “Look, I don’t know what it is within me but I can keep going”. I can just keep going through the pain. When you think it’s over for me. keep pushing me because I can keep going.’
And the person who arguably knows him best, his mother Judy, perfectly summed up his career: ‘Every time he has faced adversity, he has always come back stronger. He doesn’t give up on anything.’
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