Murray won’t be swayed on style
Originally published on: 12/05/10 10:02
Seeded third in Madrid this week despite recording just five wins since making the final of the Australian Open, Andy Murray refuted suggestions that he should alter his style of play ahead of his return to the Spanish capital’s Magic Box venue.
The Scot, who lost to Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals of last year’s tournament, beat Argentine qualifier Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3 6-3 to pick up his second win of the season on dirt.
But while the 22-year-old makes no secret of the fact that clay is his least favourite surface, looking at the bigger picture, Murray resolutely believes his game is capable of earning him the sport’s major honours.
“Since I was young, I have known how to win matches and I knew the right way for me to play,” said Murray, who holds the upper hand in his head to head encounters with seven of the world’s top 10. Only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have beaten him more than he them on tour, while honours are even in the Scot’s four meetings with Sweden’s Robin Soderling.
“I’ll continue playing my game style, I know it works. It’s worked against all of the top players,” he said.
And Murray, who has been criticised in the past for his counter-punching style, has no intention of revamping his game: “That’s the way I enjoy playing tennis. And if I enjoy playing that way that’s the most important thing.
“When I was 13, 14, because people were saying then that I needed to be more aggressive, a lady coach said: ‘Keep doing what you’re doing, but just get stronger and you’re going to hit the ball harder by doing that’,” Murray reflected.
“[She said] I needed to improve the speed of my serves, but by getting bigger and stronger my ground strokes were going to be heavier with the same amount of effort, and to continue using my slice and drop shots.”
The Scot could face a fourth round tie with David Ferrer, who defeated Murray in straight sets on his last outing in Rome.
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