Murray focused on staying grounded

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:35

Murray takes on American Robert Kendrick in the first round on Tuesday as second favourite for the title behind five-time champion Roger Federer, and is seeded to meet the Swiss star in the final after Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal through injury.

The 22-year-old would be the first British winner of the men’s singles since 1936, but he is determined not to become a prima donna, saying; “It’s just one of those things, if you can keep the same friends, the same people you have around you and just try and be true to yourself and do things that are important to you…”

Murray, who hopes to follow the example of England star David Beckham – who shares the same management group – when it comes to dealing with the spotlight, added: “I think when you start changing as a person and getting an inflated opinion of yourself, and having a big ego, is when it becomes a problem.

“It happens a lot in sport nowadays and he’s (Beckham) done a great job of not letting all the fame and pressure get to him.

“I ask my parents for advice because they’re the ones who are going to tell you the truth, not just any random people because they don’t know you as a person.

“I’ll go and ask for advice and if they were to tell me ‘You’re acting up, or you’re being an idiot on the court, or in interviews’, or whatnot, I’d definitely listen to them.

“I’d be very disappointed in myself if I felt like they had to say that to me, but they haven’t as yet and I hope they won’t have to in the future.”

Murray reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year before losing in straight sets to eventual champion Nadal, and will be confident of victory over world number 76 Kendrick.

The world number three has won all three previous meetings with the American, including a 6-0 6-0 thrashing on grass in Rhode Island in 2006.

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