Murray ignores the hype

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:34

The 22-year-old Scot defeated American James Blake 7-5 6-4 in the final of the AEGON Championships to emulate Bunny Austin’s 1938 victory.

“I’m not planning on getting caught up in the whole hype and pressure, because I don’t think that helps if you do,” said Murray.

He added: “You can let the pressure affect you if you want to. You can let the expectation get to you if you really want to, but I’m just going to play tennis and not worry about the rest of the stuff, because I don’t think it’s good for your game.”

Murray played sublime tennis all week and did not drop a set but, to beat the likes of defending champion Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, he will have to raise his game to another level.

“I don’t think it’s impossible and I go into every tournament with the mentality that I can win the event,” said Murray. “If I make the quarter-finals, semi-finals of a grand slam, I don’t view it as a terrible tournament.

“But I go with the mentality that I’m going to win it (Wimbledon) and it will have to be my best tennis ever to do it. It’s so difficult to do.

“That’s why no one in Britain’s done it for such a long time, because it is that difficult. A lot of people don’t understand how tough it is.

“And especially right now with the guys that are in front of me in the rankings (Federer and Nadal), and even the ones that are just behind me, there are some great players out there.

“They’ve competed in so many and won so many of the big tournaments the last few years and I’m going to have to beat them if I want to do it. That’s not an easy thing to do.”

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