Murray: I’ve lost Federer fear factor
SCOT UNFAZED BY BURDEN OF BEING JOINT FAVOURITE TO WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
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Andy Murray accepted the challenge of being installed as joint favourite alongside Roger Federer to win the Australian Open with a message for the tennis legend: “I don’t get nervous when I play you any more.”
Murray could not have sounded cooler after practising in 98-degree heat in Melbourne.
While Federer has expressed surprise at the 21-year-old Scot being rated above world number one Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the eyes of the bookmakers, Murray was entirely comfortable with his odds.
He said: “It doesn’t make any difference whether people expect you to win or not. It doesn’t change my mentality. You get used to being expected to win matches when you play at Wimbledon. The pressure that comes with that gets you used to these situations.
“The older you get, the more matches you play, you realise what the bookies are saying doesn’t make any difference once you get on court, whether they are saying good things or bad things. You just get on with your job.”
Murray has done his job spectacularly this year, having won all of his eight matches, including beating Nadal once and Federer twice.
He has beaten Federer five times in their seven career meetings, his only defeats coming in their first meeting at Bangkok in 2005 and in the US Open final last year.
Murray said: “The more you play against him the less fearful you are, you’re not scared to win the match. If you’re young and you play against the best guys, once you get close to winning you get nervous.
“Now when I play him I don’t get nervous and if I play my best tennis I can beat him.”
Both players have their dates with history in Melbourne when the tournament starts on Monday. A win for Federer would take him level with Pete Sampras on 14 grand slam victories.
For Murray, however, there is the little matter of trying to become the first British man to win a grand slam singles title since Fred Perry back in 1936.
Not that he is letting such a burden weigh him down. He reports no problems with the back which stiffened up in Doha last week after eight matches in 11 days, although physiotherapist Andy Ireland has arrived in Melbourne as insurance. He is trying to put a philosophical spin on the expectation which is bound to build as the Fred Perry 73-year statistic is wheeled out on a daily basis.
He said: “It has been so long since a British tennis player has won a slam. I’d love to win a grand slam, but it might not happen. You have to try to forget about all the history. It is not of benefit if you are going on the court worrying about those sort of things. You have to put them to the back of your mind.
“I do understand what a big deal it would be if someone from Britain did win a slam, but I’m still very young so I’m not putting any added pressure on myself to win this Australian Open.
“I’m going to enjoy being one of the favourites and give it my best. I’ve got a lot more grand slams to play. I’m really chilled out.”
Which is just as well considering the Melbourne heat makes the first grand slam of the year a test of stamina as much as talent.
Murray, whose work ethic with fitness trainers Jez Green and Matt Little is well documented, should have no problems on that score.
Murray, who from March will be managed by Simon Fuller, the man behind David Beckham and the Spice Girls, has another ambition. To allow people to get to know the real Andy Murray.
He said: “Because of the way I am on court some people might not necessarily think that I would be the nicest person to talk to. But I’m pretty laid back off the court compared to what I am on it.”
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