Australian Open - Murray marches on

Eurosport - Fri, 23 Jan 00:06:00 2009

Andy Murray took a swipe at his main rivals after underlining his Australian Open credentials with a crushing 6-4 6-2 6-2 win over Spain's Marcel Granollers in the second round.

Andy Murray money, TENNIS - 0

The 21-year-old Briton maintained his unbeaten run this year, which includes winning two warm-up events in the Middle East, with a dominant performance to wrap up victory in one hour 50 minutes.

The world number four completely outclassed his former training partner but saved his best shots for three-times former winner Roger Federer and defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Both expressed their doubts about Murray's chances of winning the tournament, questioning why bookmakers would consider him the favourite for the title.

"They say there's a lot of pressure on them but then people aren't saying they're the favourites but they want to be the favourites," Murray said.

"Therefore, by saying they're the favourites, they're putting more pressure back on themselves. I don't really understand the whole thing."

Although he has not won a Grand Slam title, Murray has beaten Federer, Djokovic and world number one Rafael Nadal in the last year and made the US Open final.

"I think I've played well enough in the last six or seven months to be in that sort of group. Whether I'm the favourite or not, I don't know," Murray said.

"I said at the start of the tournament, Federer and Nadal have got the most experience and probably merit being favourites.

"But there's a reason why people think I have a chance to win here, because I played very well the last few months and won against them."

Murray was not at his absolute best but was still far too slick for Granollers, who he trained with in Spain when they were juniors.

With the centre court crowd still buzzing after watching Venus Williams upset by Carla Suarez Navarro, Murray provided a worthy encore, hitting 37 winners.

His will next take on Austrian Juergen Melzer.

"I was two points away from losing against him (Melzer) in the third round of the US Open (in 2008) and ended up winning in five sets," Murray said.

"He's a tough guy, a lefty, big server and never gives you too much rhythm, so if I want to win I'll have to play well."

Reuters

Comment 60 - 79 of 79

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  1. comment 72 Murray is ranked 4rth

    From allanmacdonald72, on Fri 23 Jan 9:34PM

  2. POST 66
    Blimey Mohsen !
    I hope they are not all on state benefit......
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 8:00PM

  3. murray to win

    wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From robbierocco, on Fri 23 Jan 7:59PM

  4. Post 71
    I am afraid you are wrong......
    I just asked a friend and was assured Andy Murray was born in Dublin !
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 7:30PM

  5. Oh and Alison dear you cannot say "He dont know a thing" you must write He dosen't know a thing........
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 7:25PM

  6. Post 74 Alison
    Why do you assume Alison that you are the only person in the world with the name Alison?
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 7:23PM

  7. Post 71
    Are you sure?
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 7:22PM

  8. RC ALCOCK IS USING MY NAME FOR HIS MESSAGES PLEASE TENNIS FANS DON'T TAKE ANY NOTICE OF THEM HE DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT TENNIS AND IS TRYING TO UPSET US ALL.
    MURRAY STILL DOING WELL THINK HE WILL BE IN THE LAST FOUR

    From AJ, on Fri 23 Jan 7:08PM

  9. @lindy_211 "BTW are you just as mouthy when you're not hiding behind a computer." you wanna find out ?

    From Jd, on Fri 23 Jan 6:25PM

  10. To me, the top seeding for the Australian Open should have been Nadal-1, Federer-2, Djokovic-3, Murray-4 -- the same as their present ranking. If we go back the "last six or seven months" as Murray says, Nadal won Wimbledon, Federer won US Open. Over the last year, Nadal has 2 majors, while Federer and Djokovic have one each. By ranking Murray No. 1 over the other three, the Australian Open is basically shortchanging its own currency. Majors are all that matter. Backyard tournaments and even Masters events rank well below. I agree that Murray is a serious contender and deserves to up there with Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. And I think he has a great chance to win a major this year.

    From BobW, on Fri 23 Jan 5:19PM

  11. TO: rc_alcock. Wait a minute, get your facts right. Do you know anything about Andy Murray or Tennis for that matter? Andy Murray is NOT irish, he's SCOTTISH!!!!!!!!! How thick are you? He represents Britain but that doesn't mean he's British. He is from Scotland so he's Scottish!

    From healy_316, on Fri 23 Jan 4:53PM

  12. I think Murray is superb to watch of course it's a crying shame he is Irish, but I don't care he is still British..........
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 4:43PM

  13. lindy 211 he can be what he wants but as 4 scots they wear t- shirts
    saying we support scotland and whoever beats england (yes i know it is mostly footie fans)but how many scots followed and supported henman and any other english players
    me i am english and follow the english
    the sooner murray gets beat the better
    bring on the big guns

    From willowwillow59, on Fri 23 Jan 1:52PM

  14. I can't believe all this anti English anti Scottish cr*p. Why don't all you idiots that have nothing better to do than try and bring other people down, get a life. Just be thankful that Andy Murray is British and it doesn't matter what part he is from, he IS British. If you stop bad-mouthing the player that's bringing something exciting to our shores and get behind him, think how great he could be.
    Do you think that all this bull@#$% is making him a better player or prouder of what he is and can achieve? If you want to slag people off, do it somewhere else besides what is supposed to be a site concerning tennis. You have opinions, but keep it to tennis, instead of coming across with this phoney, macho, I'm tougher than your grandmother baloney.
    Final note for those who have slagged him off. Remember his age and what he has already achieved and can achieve. Then look at you own sad life and what you haven't achieved. Do you see a difference? Of course but you won't admit it. Andy Murray is one of the best in the world and he is British,learn to live with it.

    From edgar, on Fri 23 Jan 11:26AM

  15. Murray be careful of english press as they have never been transparent in their reporting of events. if you believe you can be talking with them instead of concentrating on the most important tennis, you'll be warned you are going to loose outright. Just go out and do the talking with your racket. Remmenber, Sampras and the best players around were not influnced by british press.
    During Sampras and Agassi era, it was Agassi talking to the press and loosing concentration while Sampras was doing the talking with his rackets and the GS he has displayed. please, take advice as their press did not do well for henmanand the rest of english players that have been on the court. They like underdogs as well as their failures. If you want loose tournaments be on their bandwagon and be loosing your concntration. Jeremy Bates will give you advice. Goodluck

    From Augustine A, on Fri 23 Jan 9:14AM

  16. 14th grand slam baby!!!

    From mohsenY, on Fri 23 Jan 8:16AM

  17. I should say Andy Murray is placing the best tennis on hard courts at the moment and deserve to be a favourite. But he should be made aware that favourites don't necessarily win GS. So he should rather concentrate on the matches and forget about who is favourite and who is complaining about the choice of favourites. May the best player win. Good luck to all the top guys.

    From Nyanyui, on Fri 23 Jan 8:06AM

  18. What no post from Alison?
    Alison.

    From Nicholas, on Fri 23 Jan 1:15AM

  19. jd12cat - why would there be an England flag? He isn't English. The Saltire or the Union Jack - what difference does it make? He's still a British player. BTW are you just as mouthy when you're not hiding behind a computer. You hate the 'scotch' do you? That's a drink you clown. People from Scotland are 'Scots'. BTW you're an embarrassment to the people of England with your racist comments.

    From lindy_211, on Fri 23 Jan 1:13AM

  20. Luvs2watchher - I have never gotten this anti-English nonsense. Henman said during the US Open that the suggestion that Murray was anti-English was nonsense. Murray only made a joke because Henman and a journalist were ribbing him about Scotland not qualifying for the WC. Why was Murray supposed to take a joke but you can't take one back. Murray NEVER wore the shirt you've mentioned. Again, Henman was asked about this 'shirt' - he laughed and said 'absolute rubbish'. It's been nearly 3 years - stop being so petty and narrow-minded. With an English girlfriend and English relatives I'm not sure how you can suggest he is anti-English. That must be one hostile relationship he has with the girlfriend.

    From lindy_211, on Fri 23 Jan 1:03AM
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