Andy Murray Swears he is Trying to Cut the Bad Language
The world number three had taken to Twitter after his French Open third round canter past Nick Kyrgios on Saturday after he was criticised for his colourful outbursts.
Andy Murray insisted he's trying to tone down the bad language on court, but admitted: "I'm not perfect". (Sharapova suffers shock fourth-round exit)
The world number three had taken to Twitter after his French Open third round canter past Nick Kyrgios on Saturday after he was criticised for his colourful outbursts. (Federer, Murray reach French Open quarters)
"I try 2 be a good role model but this is one of my many failings. I'm far from perfect but I do try hard to improve my behaviour," tweeted the Scot.
"I do understand that kids watch and it's not good for them to hear that sometimes I find it hard to control my emotions."
On Monday, the 28-year-old reached the quarter-finals with a four-set win over Jeremy Chardy, with his language generally restricted to dark mutterings rather than crude expletives.
"I like to think I am much better now than I was before," explained Murray.
"It's just unfortunate in tennis, it gets picked up a lot. You go for your towel, the microphone is right there and you forget where you are sometimes.
"In other sports, like football, for example, the language they use isn't that pleasant but the camera is not there on them all the time.
"I'd rather not do it but it's one of the mistakes I make as a human being."
Murray, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2011 and 2014, next faces seventh-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, the 2013 runner-up.
Although Murray has a 9-6 career lead over the 33-year-old he has lost all four matches they have played on clay, including in the quarter-finals in Paris in 2012.
That was the pair's last meeting on the surface and Murray believes he has improved as a claycourter in that period.
His recent record bears him out.
Having never won a clay court title up to this year, he now has two courtesy of a breakthrough triumph in Munich and then in Madrid, beating Rafael Nadal in the final.
His record this year on clay stands at 14-0.
"I feel like I have a better understanding of how I need to play on this surface than I did back three years ago," added Murray, who has now reached 17 successive Grand Slam quarter-finals.
"But David is a fantastic player on all surfaces. It will be a big test for me."
Ferrer, the 2013 runner-up to Nadal, reached the last eight for the sixth time on Monday with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over US Open champion Marin Cilic.
"Andy is much more aggressive. When he uses the different shots he has to play, he's one of the best players in the top three," said Ferrer.
"I think that he's more aware of what's happening. Not just on quick surfaces, but also on clay."