Andy Murray counts on "one big win" for Dominic Thiem to get back to his best, says it won't be easy

Andy Murray has expressed words of encouragement for colleague Dominic Thiem after the latter crashed out in the first round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Although the former World No. 1 said that it won't be easy for the 29-year-old to return to his best, he added that one big win could make a difference.

Thiem, who won his only Masters tournament in 2019 at Indian Wells by defeating Roger Federer in the final, received a wildcard entry this year. Despite winning the first set, the World No. 102 lost 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the opening round. The Austrian's win-loss record for the season now stands at 1-7.

Murray, on the other hand, lost the first set against Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry but fought back to win the match 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4.

In a post-match press conference, the Brit was asked whether he had any advice for Thiem. The 55th-ranked player stated that returning after injury is difficult for any player.

"For Thiem, it's really hard when you've been out for such a long time. Wrist injuries are obviously always tricky. I don't know the ins and outs of the injury," he said. "Some of it, you know, can be psychological and maybe it will take just one big win or one big week to turn that around."

Murray praised Thiem's on-court movement and added that he hoped that the 2020 US Open winner would return to his best since he was always a top contender at Grand Slam events.

"But I hope that he can because he was challenging for Majors very regularly before the injury and there's one specific shot that he's struggling on now. For the rest of his game, there's not a huge change physically. He still moves extremely well and everything. So I hope that he can get back to the level that he was at, but it's not easy," he said.

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"Another brutal match" - Andy Murray on his win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry

Andy Murray during the 2023 BNP Paribas Open

Andy Murray has enjoyed a great season so far, producing some of the most thrilling contests and winning on all seven occasions where the matches have gone the distance.

Reflecting on his first-round match at Indian Wells, the three-time Grand Slam champion expressed his satisfaction at turning it around after losing the first set.

"In some of the matches I managed to win this year, I felt like I was fortunate in some of them, whereas today I really had lots of chances in that third set," Andy Murray said. "I wasn't getting them and was getting really frustrated. He was coming up with some big serves at times but I also felt like I made some poor decisions as well.

"The more chances that went by, the more you think about it. I did really well to keep going in the end. Another brutal match and glad I managed to get through it," he added.

Murray will face 15th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round in what will be their first-ever tour meeting.