Matured Murray learns from his mistakes

 

Originally published on: 11/03/11 10:25

Andy Murray is confident he will avoid a repeat of the slump he suffered after losing the Australian Open final last year despite an identical start to the 2011 season.

The 23-year-old Scot believes he has learned from that experience and has no plans to dwell on the past.

“As I get older I learn how to deal with things better. We all make mistakes when we are younger,” he said on Thursday. “I am learning how to deal with my mistakes and move on from them.”

Murray reached his third Grand Slam final in Melbourne in January, but was outplayed by Novak Djokovic in straight sets, despite having beaten the Serb in their previous three meetings.

“I have been thinking a lot about the future and not the past,” said the world No.5. “It has been a huge benefit for me. I am focussing more on the future now.”

Murray is set to open his campaign for his first Indian Wells title – having reached the final in 2009 – against American Donald Young, who defeated Potito Starace to reach the second round on Thursday.

The Californian tournament will be just his third of the season, having lost in the first round of Rotterdam last month before pulling out of Dubai with a wrist injury.

He has spent a good deal of time away from tennis over the past month and a half, spending time with his family in the UK before heading to Miami, where he has a home.

But Murray believes he’s back in top shape and ready to return to the court and challenge for the sport’s major honours.

“I feel good. I played a lot of practice so I am not that rusty,” he said. “It was good for me to get away from tennis for a while. Now the focus is on winning Grand Slams.

“I have been practising many different things. I want to keep it between myself and the people I work with.”

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