Wimbledon - Murray: I'm ready to win

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 19:36:00 2009

Andy Murray believes he is ready to make Wimbledon history by becoming the first British man to win the grass-court Grand Slam for 73 years.

2009 Wimbledon Andy Murray - 0

Murray starts his bid to emulate Fred Perry's 1936 triumph when he faces America's Robert Kendrick on Tuesday and the Scot is beginning to feel like this could be his year.

In the space of 12 months, Murray has gone from a pretender to a serious contender for all the major titles.

His last Wimbledon appearance was a brutal lesson in the harsh realities of life at the top as Rafael Nadal bludgeoned him into submission over three brutal sets in the quarter-finals.

That defeat, coming so soon after a dramatic fourth round victory over Richard Gasquet, was a hammer blow to Murray's pride. But the 22-year-old simply ramped up his fitness regime to help match Nadal's physical power and Roger Federer's sublime all-court game.

The results have been eye-catching. Murray has risen to third in the world rankings on the back of five ATP Tour titles this year, including his first grass-court victory at Queen's two weeks ago.

His deadly accurate serve and astute ground-strokes have already claimed Nadal and Federer's scalps this year so, understandably, Murray is quietly confident of enjoying a fortnight to remember in south-west London.

"I feel like I'm better equipped to win a Grand Slam this year than I was last year," he said. "I have a chance of winning, but I understand how difficult that is to do.

"I'd obviously love to win here. I enjoy playing on grass and I love playing at Wimbledon.

"Like I said, I feel like I'm ready to win a Grand Slam now, whereas last year I might not have been. But I understand how difficult it is. It's not an easy thing to do.

"Federer's made the last six finals of Wimbledon and he's the big favorite going into the tournament.

"I've never won a Grand Slam before but I think I've got a chance of doing it here.

"I need to play my best tennis ever to do it. It's not like it's gonna come easily. Slams don't come easily, and I'm sure the guys that have won them will tell you that. I understand how big a challenge it is."

Murray's cause would be helped if he can harness the support of the Wimbledon crowd, who have never embraced the Scot with anything like the passion they showed for Tim Henman.

With 'Hen-mania' firmly consigned to the history books, Murray is the only hope of a British success story, yet his sometimes surly demeanour earned him few fans at his first few Wimbledons.

He is a far more engaging character now however. Last year's victory over Gasquet was the first occasion when the crowd really got behind him and he is hoping for more of the same this year.

"I did watch quite a few of Tim's matches the last few years of his career and the support was great," Murray said. "Anytime you can play in front of a home crowd in any sport it is a huge advantage.

"In football and basketball, home court or playing a home match is huge. I view tennis as being the same thing. You've got 15,000 people behind you here.

"Tim, I'm sure, played some of the best tennis of his career here. I think the crowd had something to do with that."

Murray's path to the final looks far less daunting now defending champion Nadal has pulled out with knee tendinitis as the pair were due to meet in the semi-finals.

Even a potential final with five-time champion Federer would hold few fears for Murray, who leads their career meetings 6-2. But the Scot has no intention of getting ahead of himself.

For now Kendrick is the only player he is worried about.

"He has a big game. He plays very aggressive and takes a lot of chances so there's no chance of me underestimating him," Murray said.

AFP

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  1. You said that you was ready to win and I hope that you­ really win :-)

    From zchovanova, on Wed 24 Jun 9:29AM

  2. ralph r: Good on you...finally got a rise out of you.­ Glad tidings, friend, I'm no genetic or cultural­ English. I'm Tsalagi American Indian. And when I­ say "anglo-saxon" attitude, I attribute that­ NOT to academic scholarship but to the lingering scars­ of slings and arrows of America's Imperialism as­ much as that of the Brits. (Yeah, I agree that USA­ foreign policy is "we run the world, and we'll­ bomb you to hell and back to prove it," a mantra­ definitely inherited from their Brit forefathers, who­ taught them how!) So, drop your own­ "anglo-saxon" attitude of judging before you­ have the facts. Call me pompus all you want. My­ tomahawk is sharper than my aging, but, no worries, I­ don't often use it now that capital punishment is­ back in the USA.
    Gotta go take my stay-alive daily­ meds, but, I tell you, young one, you keep this banter­ going and I may get so hyped I'll be off of­ medications and take up tennis again. Ya Ta Hai....

    From Hatsutking, on Wed 24 Jun 12:07AM

  3. To be honest i don'y think he stands a chance­ against Federer... He's probably going to lose­ against Del Potro first though

    From christoffercirillo, on Tue 23 Jun 11:07PM

  4. hatsuking u do talk a lot of pompous rubbish just look­ at american foreign policy and then tell me abt­ imperialism and feeling superior to others. ohh i­ forgot u must have inherited those traits from the­ english, silly me. stick to tennis mate seeing as u are­ such a tennis fanatic and leave your professor cap off­ especially when it impairs your senses.

    From ralph, on Tue 23 Jun 6:01PM

  5. I discorvered a hot­ place­
    """""""Tallme­ et C om""""""" where­ many­ sexy singles- who like dating and-- chatting­ there.­ I'm an open- minded girl with strong­ s---exual­ a--ttraction I-- am Waiting 4 u

    From Sohyor T, on Tue 23 Jun 5:57PM

  6. to be honest i can't enjoy without Nadal!!

    From , on Tue 23 Jun 5:12PM

  7. Why are we going mad about Murray? when he comes hear­ we keep saying he is British, when you go Scotland he­ is a Scots man, well he is just another player to come­ to our country to play tennis. Not bad but don't go­ over board he won't win it, then he will be just­ another Scots man. Still never mind ther must be other­ sport on TV we can watch when he is playing then back­ to the tennis.

    From WILLIAM Brobnn, on Tue 23 Jun 4:29PM

  8. Just like you murry when England played Paraguay in the­ World Cup ive got my USA shirt on

    From Robin, on Tue 23 Jun 4:13PM

  9. gag: Thumbs up. A fine explanation of anti-English­ feeling among other Brits. But some of that feeling­ extends to its former colonies, too. I am an American­ (USA) and often find myself gritting my teeth and­ muttering, "That anglo-saxon attitude again!"­ over the English arrogance. The last "modern­ civilized culture" to come out of the cave and­ lose the animal-skin clothes, yet the English exude­ their "superiority," perfuming us lesser ones­ (in their English eyes) with the stench of­ Imperialism...until late June of every year when­ Wimbledon lights up the world and all is forgiven.

    From Hatsutking, on Tue 23 Jun 3:51PM

  10. I think you will find that it's Federer who makes­ the sneaky remarks first, Murray is just sticking up­ for himself.

    Anyway, The mad man Murray should­ breeze home tonight, I think if he wins his first with­ confidence and the support of the crowd, this will be­ his first Slam, and at last a British person to bring­ WImbledon back home !!!

    Bring it on !!!

    From Lex, on Tue 23 Jun 3:38PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Murray...I am no fan of yours! I don't care if u­ are ugly or if u need a haircut or if u are badly­ brought up or that your mouth looks like a hungry­ crocodile; I just hope u can win this Wimby!!

    From vamos.rafa, on Tue 23 Jun 3:13PM

  12. I would say him or Del Potro :) after Rafa is out -­ would be nice one of them win :)

    From Mia, on Tue 23 Jun 3:00PM

  13. i hope Murray will win! but Federer i too strong for­ him!! don't joke!!

    From , on Tue 23 Jun 2:59PM

  14. Andy, you've got a mouth as big as the Mersey­ Tunnel, your negative comments about
    King Roger smacks­ of the green eyed monster, you may have won these­ little tournaments
    big when it comes to slams, Roger­ beat you in straight sets, at last years US Open,
    Slams­ sort out the men from the boys, leave the mind games to­ Alex Ferguson!!!!!!!
    From Barbara.

    From barbaratray123, on Tue 23 Jun 2:26PM

  15. Andy, you've got a mouth as big as the Mersey­ Tunnel, your negative comments about
    King Roger smacks­ of the green eyed monster, you may have won these­ little tournaments
    big when it comes to slams, Roger­ beat you in straight sets, at last years US Open,
    Slams­ sort out the men from the boys, leave the mind games to­ Alex Ferguson!!!!!!!

    From barbaratray123, on Tue 23 Jun 2:23PM

  16. One thing i will say is Murray is better than that­ southern poof Henman, But i still want the jock to lose­
    Thats my opinion and if you dont like it tough...Cmon­ The USA Kick his @#$%

    From Paul J, on Tue 23 Jun 2:04PM

  17. All major titles?? Surely not at RG?

    From darth_zere, on Tue 23 Jun 2:01PM

  18. If he loses the first round all my beer will go to­ waste !!!

    COME ON ANDY, COME ON 16:30, Finish work­ and open a beer (hey im allowed to enjoy myself) and­ watch the mad murray do his thing !!

    From Lex, on Tue 23 Jun 1:43PM

  19. thumbs up for gag too and for those who disagree well u­ r simply wrong lol

    From ralph, on Tue 23 Jun 1:37PM

  20. thumbs up for teapsky as well.

    From ralph, on Tue 23 Jun 1:35PM
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