Wimbledon - Murray keen on state of courts

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Jun 13:08:00 2008

British number one Andy Murray feels the grass at Wimbledon is playing faster than before which should help his chances in the tournament.

TENNIS; Andrew Murray, May 2008 - 0

Murray, seeded 12 and with the expectations of the home crowd on his shoulders following the retirement of Tim Henman, enjoys quicker surfaces and said the outside courts he had practised on were green and slick.

"The last couple of days I played on the match courts and they were quicker, so I'm liking that. It's much better," the 21-year-old Scot said after a training session.

He said they were also faster than at Queen's warm-up tournament last week.

Murray has had disappointing results on slow clay and lost in the third round to Spain's Nicolas Almagro at the French Open three weeks ago.

He missed last year's grass season with a wrist injury and pulled out of his quarter-final at Queen's with a sore thumb but said coming into Wimbledon he felt better than ever before.

"I do think I'm in the best shape that I've been going into a slam," he said, adding he had been travelling with a fitness trainer and physiotherapist to keep him on form.

Murray said he did not worry about the pressure of playing at his home grand slam, where no British man has won for more than 70 years, but he made sure he did not read what newspapers were saying about him.

"The buildup to it is difficult," he said. "But once you get on court, it's the last thing that you're thinking about and you get awesome support when you're out there."

Murray, who reached the fourth round here in 2006, kicks off his campaign against 35-year-old Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, who played his first Wimbledon 18 years ago and whom he beat indoors in Paris last year.

"He's a tricky guy to play against," Murray said. "You need to stay focused the whole time because he tries everything."

Reuters

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  1. Murray says Santoro is a "tricky guy to play with," as if he could present a bit of a problem for England's young Alexander The Great... NOT! Gosh! Where has this kid been for his 21 years on Earth? Santoro is tennis' 'Wonder Pet,' and probably irreplaceably creative in point design. He has been known to shake up all of the maestros as he entertains the audience by humiliating (in fun) the best of the best, a crowd that Murray does not run with yet. Murray, the Prince, surrounded by an ever increasing-in-numbers entourage, had best start playing tennis before the media turns on him.

    From Peggy K, on Sun 22 Jun 2:08PM

  2. Isn't sad that once again the media hypes up Andy Murray. The boy has not got what it takes and never will. He only thinks of himself and has no repect for British tennis. His record speaks for it's self.When the going gets tough Andy gets going. I don't deny he has talent but i think those years spent in Spain doing his own thing did him no good at all.

    From a.willis780, on Sun 22 Jun 9:03AM

  3. Andy Murray is quite a good tennis player. good luck to him. I'm pleased the grass at Wimbledon is a bit faster. What about the balls? Is it just me or was tennis more exciting to watch thirty years ago?

    From justinwilson7, on Sun 22 Jun 8:49AM

  4. ummmmmmmmmmm andy murray i am sure will disapoint us yet again in this wimbby just like he always does either with a bad wrist or a bad finger or a bad willy either way i am sure he will disapoint us yet again ,but not to worry were all use to it by now .hehhehehheheheh

    From thunder b, on Sun 22 Jun 8:16AM

  5. Andy Murray is the only hope for the UK

    He can change everything if he wins

    And foul comments too

    A Scotsman winning an English slam eh ?

    Just imagine that

    hehe

    From bah, on Sat 21 Jun 6:11PM

  6. Wimbledon of England, but the title Grand Slam isn't for them! English hope Murray can do something maybe the first title, but let we see what he can do. Nothing at this time, maybe he make impressions with injury, injury again. I think England should find another person who have real talent.

    From ^_^Genius^_^, on Sat 21 Jun 6:11PM

  7. Really I am so sick of reading on andy not performing for UK. Cynical, rude, not even interesting any more. Let the guy be.

    From mpopovicc, on Sat 21 Jun 6:00PM

  8. I think eurosport needs to spot with its bias reporting of British tennis, and its "sucessfull" starts as Mr. Murry claims to be. The demise of British tennis has been evident for years and Murry cannot revive it, even with all the hype created by the British media.

    From ivandimko, on Sat 21 Jun 5:10PM

  9. I think that the comments that I read are so rude and foul mouthed that i am not sure that I want to read them any more. Have we gone past the day where people cannot be civil anymore?

    From viviennesadler, on Sat 21 Jun 4:43PM

  10. WHO THE @#$% CARES WHAT DOES ANDY MURRAY LIKE OR DISLIKE?! DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO REPORT EVERY SINGLE WORD THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH?! AND, NO, NOBODY DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT DID ANDY MURRAY EAT TODAY OR WHEN HE WENT TO TO THE BATHROOM OR WHEN AND HOW LONG DID HE SLLEP LAST NIGHT! YOU'RE BEING JUST TOO RIDICULOUS WITH THE ANDY-MURRAY-THING! REALIZE ALREADY - NOBODY GIVES A DAMN!

    From xence, on Sat 21 Jun 4:18PM
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