Murray ready for Saturday showdown

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:37

Murray faces Viktor Troicki from Serbia in his third-round match, an opponent he grew up with as a junior and who remembers Murray as ‘the tops’.

It could hardly be a more daunting prospect for Troicki, who is expecting the encounter to have the fervour of a Davis Cup tie.

Troicki admitted: “Even in juniors he was always the top and he has improved so much in the last year. He’s playing great. He’s one of the favourites to win it.

“I need to play aggressive, play smart, give my best and hope that I can play my best tennis. I need to believe I can win these matches against the top players.”

The statistics are not on Troicki’s side. In two matches against Murray on the ATP tour, Troicki has failed to win a set, winning just one game in their last encounter.

It gets even better for Murray when you consider Troicki has never played on Centre Court and Murray looks increasingly at home in the game’s most prestigious arena.

There is every chance Troicki could freeze on his big day, just like Murray’s previous opponent, Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, appeared to do in the second round.

“I will try to block it out,” said Troicki, anticipating a passionate atmosphere on Centre Court.

“I will need some time to get used to the court and the atmosphere around Centre Court and then I will see how the crowd is reacting. I just hope that I’m going to play well.”

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