Murray Feels Confident About This Year’s Australian Open

Written by: Staff on 11th January 2012

Tennis Australian Open 2012 - Andy Murray practice

Murray Feels Confident About This Year’s Australian Open

British tennis player Andy Murray (C) takes a break as he is surrounded by his entourage during practice ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, 10 January 2012. The Australian Open Tennis Tournament commences 16 January. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

With a title already to hand in 2012 and a final hit-out set for Kooyong club on Friday, Andy Murray admits to feeling confident about his chances of finally nailing down a major title. The Scot has come up agonizingly short at the last two finals at Melbourne Park, losing to Roger Federer in 2010 and Novak Djokovic a year ago.

But Murray believes that he’s plotted a new course by hiring former great Ivan Lendl as his new coach. And he credits his growing body of tennis experience with helping to improve his game as well. “I’m a year wiser, I have a year more experience and I think I’ve improved a few things in my game,” Murray said after a finals victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov in Brisbane. “I still played pretty good last year in Australia. I could play great tennis again and lose in the second round or the third round, that’s how tennis works sometimes.

“But equally I could win the tournament if I play my best. So I just need to show up, give 100 per cent every single point. If someone plays a great match to beat me, then that happens, but if I play well like I did this week I give myself a good chance.”

Murray will refine his pre-Australian Open form with the exhibition at Kooyong against Argentine David Nalbandian. The Scot has won four of six meetings between the pair.

Topics: Andy Murray, Australian Open