I’m not complete player – Murray

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 13:01

The 22-year-old has been feted for his counter-punching style of play from the back of the court, which helped him rise to a career-best ranking of number two in the world late last year – but as he attempts to make his major breakthrough success Murray believes he must add new aspects to his game.

“I like being a counter-puncher. I’ve always played that way since I was growing up,” he said. “It’s a little different to the way the other guys at the top play. It’s given me a lot of success, but there’s still things I need to work on and practice to add to my game, like at the net.”

He added: “I did that in December and the first tournament I played at the Hopman Cup.

“It’s not so much my net game and the volleys when I’m there. It’s more about deciding the times to come to the net and making sure you pick the right shots and coming in off the correct balls.

“Guys are so quick now, and pass so well and return so well that you can’t just expect to charge forward and get away with it.”

Murray opens his Australian Open campaign against giant South African Kevin Anderson, who is ranked 147 in the world, on Monday.

The Scot will be aiming to break a 74-year drought for British men at major events but, after being asked the obligatory question on the subject, the fifth seed said it did not even enter his thoughts before a grand slam.

“I get asked about it a lot in the build-up to all of the slams, but it is so irrelevant to the way I play or approach my matches,” he said. “When I’m on the court it’s the last thing I’m thinking about.”

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