Murray loving life in the limelight

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 13:03

The 22-year-old dominated the world number two and defending champion in arguably the best performance of his career before Nadal was forced to retire with a knee injury trailing 6-3 7-6 (7/2) 3-0.

“To get the chance to play against him on centre court at the Australian Open is something I would have loved to have done when I was a kid growing up,” said Murray. “You need to try and have that same sort of mentality when you start playing on the tour, in the big matches – you have to remember how you felt when you were young.”

He added: “These matches don’t come around that often. When they do, you have to make sure you enjoy them.”

Murray said it was not until his run to the final of the US Open that he believed he belonged in the company of the world’s best players.

“I think like after the US Open in 2008, when I reached the final there, on the way I won against Rafa and (Juan Martin) Del Potro – that was really when I started to feel like I could compete at the very highest level of the game,” he said.

“I think definitely now I’m ready to win a grand slam and hopefully I can do it here.”

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