Murray unfazed by back-to-back exits

 

Originally published on: 17/08/12 00:00

Andy Murray’s preparations for the US Open may not quite have gone to plan, with early departures from the back-to-back Masters 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, but the 25-year-old Scot will go into the year’s final Grand Slam event full of confidence following his performances at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games.

“I was happy with the way that I played over that grass-court period and at Wimbledon,” Murray said in Cincinnati, where he was beaten in the third round by Jeremy Chardy. “I was going for my shots. I was aggressive. Maybe I made some bad choices in terms of going for too much, but in the past I maybe held back too much. Even though I made some extra mistakes, I came off the court in the matches happy with the way that I played, and I hadn't let my opponent dictate me the whole time.

“I was a bit worried the week before the Olympics, because in the practice I hadn't normally played that well in the week before a big event, and I started playing really, really well in the five days really before the tournament. I was happy that I managed to carry it through. I do feel like I'm playing better tennis, more understanding of how to play the big points and having more confidence in my game. I think Wimbledon helped with that. Even though I didn't win the final, that match gave me a bit of belief, whereas when I'd lost in Slam finals beforehand that hadn't really been the case – they made me feel like I was further away. That time, it didn't.”

Murray also said the support he received both from those close to him and from the general public after his loss in the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer had been an important factor in his performances at the Olympics.

“It helped lift me when I was in quite a tough spot for a few days,” Murray said. “It made me want to get back on the court and start training much earlier than I ever have after losing in a Slam final. My head was right much, much quicker. I think if people are being negative or criticising you, it's hard as a sportsman to block it out all of the time. Sometimes it can take a little while before you start to feel better. But after Wimbledon, I felt much better much quicker. A combination of having that support and also having a tournament like the Olympics coming up so soon after obviously helped give me a boost.”

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here