I can cope with Wimbledon pressure: Murray
Andy Murray insists he is relishing life in the Wimbledon spotlight as he prepares to launch his latest bid to end Britain's long wait for a male champion at the grass-court grand slam.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 23, 2012 10:38 PM IST
Andy Murray insists he is relishing life in the Wimbledon spotlight as he prepares to launch his latest bid to end Britain's long wait for a male champion at the grass-court grand slam.
Once again Murray carries the weight of the British sporting public's expectations as the only realistic contender to become the first homegrown men's singles champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
But the world number four's sometimes volatile on-court behaviour has led some to suggestions he doesn't have the right temperament to deal with the extra pressure that comes with being a British challenger at Wimbledon.
Many British players have wilted under the spotlight, but Murray is made of sterner stuff and the three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist believes the support of the home crowd makes these next two weeks under the microscope a blessing rather than a curse.
"It doesn't add any extra pressure. I think in all sports playing at home is viewed as being a huge advantage, whereas for some reason when it comes to Wimbledon everyone thinks it's a bad thing," Murray said.
"I haven't really found it that way. When I've played here, I've enjoyed the challenge, I've enjoyed playing in front of a passionate crowd, and it's helped me."
While Murray is confident he can fulfill the hopes of a nation, he is also aware that he needs to keep his emotions in check at times.
The 25-year-old too often seems distracted during matches as he berates himself or his support team when things go against him.
But Murray, who is now coached by Czech legend Ivan Lendl, is keen to get the issue under control.
"You need to make sure it's not affecting the following point if you win a point or losing a point," he said.
"If you get too excited after winning a point, you make a silly mistake on the next point, or you get too down after losing a point and you therefore aren't putting all of your attention onto that following point.
"I think guys in the past, like, say, John McEnroe, have broken racquets, he's hit water bottles into the crowd, screamed at umpires, had horrific behavior on the court.
"I don't know whether that affected him the next point, but if you're going to let your emotions out, don't let it drag on. Get it out in one big scream or shout, whatever it is, and then get on with it."
Although Murray has reached three grand slam finals, he has lost on each occasion -- twice in the Australian Open and once in the US Open -- and it might be forgivable if he felt he will never make the breakthrough in an era when Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have all rewritten history.
But Murray is far too determined a competitor to think so negatively.
"It's not something I think about, to be honest. I think I just try and work hard and try and make sure I'm in a position to compete for the big events," he said.
"I've done a good job of putting myself in that position the last couple of years. I've always been there or thereabouts in the slams. I just need to make that final jump."