Andy Murray Breaks Commemorative Plate at Shenzhen Open
By Bryan Grogan
One of Andy Murray’s first acts at this week’s Shenzhen Open may be one that he will be keen to forget.
Presented with a commemorative plate by organizers of the ATP tournament, Murray, who is known for his cat-like reflexes on the court, fumbled the plate and watched, in hilarious dismay, as it hurtled towards the ground.
Murray remained rooted to the ground as the plate fell, but organizers quickly scooped down to pick up the gold-plated dish for the befuddled tennis star.
Murray was quick to find humor in the incident, as he can be seen holding back a giggle in the video, which he uploaded to his Weibo page after the event. He also posted the video to his Instagram page, alongside the caption 'Woops.'
Netizens reacted well to the video, informing Murray that the mishap can mean good luck in China. Suisui ping'an, a term which literally means 'break, break, safe and sound' can be invoked to mean auspiciousness after smashing something in the house.
Screengrab via Sky News/Twitter
Screengrab via Sky News/Twitter
Screengrab via Sky News/Twitter
The plate was presented to the Scottish tennis player and former World No.1 to commemorate his contributions to the sport in China. He memorably won the very first edition of The Shenzhen Open back in 2014, beating out Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
Murray has become known for some great appearances in Asia Tour events, with an overall record of 92-18 playing on the continent. He has won six out of the seven finals that he has played in China and Japan, including picking up the Rolex Shanghai Masters crown on three occasions and the China Open in Beijing one time, to go along with his Shenzhen performance.
In other news, Murray stated that his appearances in Shenzhen and Beijing will be the final opportunity that fans of the UK player will get to see him play this year, as reported by BBC Sport. After undergoing hip surgery in January, Murray has only been seen on the court nine times this year since returning in June.
Murray's tournament will get underway this evening, as he goes up against Chinese player Zhang Zhizhen, ranked No.340 in the world. The Shenzhen Open began yesterday afternoon and will run until Sunday, September 30.
[Cover image via Sky News/Twitter]
For tickets to watch Murray redeem himself on the court, click 'Read more' (阅读原文) below.