Wimbledon 2011: Grand Slam hunter Andy Murray up for Rafael Nadal
ANDY MURRAY has had the Wimbledon dream of holding high a Grand Slam trophy – but today knows he has to play the best match of his life to make it reality on Sunday.
Murray said: “You can’t really control what is in your dreams. Around Indian Wells time last year, I did dream of holding up a Grand Slam trophy but I don’t really know which tournament I had won.”
Murray faces world No1 Rafael Nadal on Centre Court this afternoon in a rerun of last year’s semi-final and with the hopes of a nation on his shoulders.
He is bidding to become the first British finalist for 73 years with the strong belief that he is getting better and better – and that his dream is within touching distance.
Murray said: “I’m fine and I’m looking forward to it. I am trying to get in the best preparation and play my best tennis.
“I am relaxed about everything. It’s always like this when I am practising with my friends. It’s part of my job to deal with it and every year I find that I’m able to handle the pressure better. I don’t know if there is anything else I can learn.
You can’t really control what is in your dream
“I have become more mature as a player and I know full well that I have to up my game if I am to win.
“Every time I play the crowd’s support is exceptional and it can make such a difference, especially if a match is very close.”
Having lost to Nadal at the French Open, there is no doubt that today’s showdown will be close and three-time winner John McEnroe has encouraged Murray to get under Nadal’s skin.
Nadal is under fire for alleged time-wasting and gamesmanship and McEnroe said: “What would I do against Nadal? I would make sure the umpire is aware of the time delays that can happen. Go with the rules because he really seems to take his time.
“There is also a case for attempting to get under his skin.
“Nadal has a routine so Andy has to try to interrupt that.”
Nadal will need a pain-killing injection in a troublesome foot to get through the match – which could be the chink in his armour that Murray needs to become the first British men’s finalist since Bunny Austin in 1938.