It’s never been tougher, says title-seeking Andy Murray

James Olley
23 Jun 2009

Andy Murray began his attempt to live up to the Wimbledon hype today by insisting that he is playing in one of the toughest eras in tennis history.

Although Rafael Nadal is unable to defend his title, Roger Federer's authoritative victory over Yen-Hsun Lu yesterday was an ominous statement of intent from the former world No1.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick are among the most prominent figures lurking in this year's draw, while Juan Martin Del Potro, Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga head a group of younger players eager to challenge the established order.

And Murray, who will start his assault on the SW19 crown against American Robert Kendrick this afternoon, believes that winning a Grand Slam may never have been more difficult.

“It is a good thing to have these players in the game,” said the No3 seed. “For me, if I am looking at it professionally, to be able to compete with those guys and to be ranked in and around them is great.

“Tennis is very, very tough now — it is one of the toughest eras to play in. I enjoy being around those guys and it makes whatever my accomplishments will be at the end of my career that much greater.”

While the strength in depth of the men's game has arguably never been better, Kendrick is unlikely to pose

the 22-year-old many problems on Centre Court.

The 29-year-old has won just three matches in Slams and lost in the first round in both grass-court events at Queen's Club and Eastbourne in the build-up to Wimbledon.

Ranked at No76, Kendrick is a somewhat antiquated serve-volleyer who will present Murray a challenge he should relish in the shape of a target to pass at the net.

There is a certain inevitability about Murray in matches at the moment — it appears a case of when and not if he makes the breakthrough in matches — and players who failed to stop his impressive run to the AEGON Championships title appeared on occasion resigned to their fate from an early stage of their matches.

“I don't know if there is an aura about me — you will need to ask the other players,” said the Scot.

“I have a lot more confidence now in myself. When the big points and important moments come in matches, I feel like I am going to win them.

“Whether or not my opponents feel that as well, I am not sure. I am just going into every match that I play feeling and thinking exactly the same, that's not worrying about my opponents too much.”

Perhaps Kendrick's most notable achievement at Wimbledon came in 2006 when he took a two-set advantage against Nadal, only for the Spaniard to claim victory in five.

Kendrick admits that the odds on him winning are seriously stacked against him — Ladbrokes make Murray 1/100 to reach the second round — but he finds motivation in trying to burst the home nation's bubble.

“Hopefully I can get two sets up against Andy and have another good serving day,” Kendrick said.
“I hope I can use that. I know there is a lot of pressure on him to succeed here and you have to see how he reacts to that in the early rounds.

“Him winning Queen's built more pressure in terms of thinking he can do it but he is playing great tennis. I would love to disappoint the nation, but then I'd probably have to fly home the next day.

“Andy gets his racquet on a lot of balls and is one of the hardest guys to ace. If I knock out the great British hope they probably won't be asking for my autograph either.

“Andy is a nice guy, I get on with him well. We were on the same court practising on Sunday so I told him to stay away from me for the next couple of days. He has good sense of humour.”

Elsewhere, Alex Bogdanovic has a tough assignment if he is to slip further into Wimbledon infamy.
The 25-year-old faces No20 seed Tomas Berdych, of the Czech Republic, this afternoon yet to win a match at the championships despite seven successive wildcards.

Only two players in the tournament's history have worse records — Ireland's Joe Hackett lost nine in the 1950s while before him Britain's Neville Deed lost eight — but Berdych reached the quarter-finals in 2007 and claimed a grass-court title in the same year. Although that victory came in Halle when Federer chose not to participate, the 23-year-old is one of only 15 players in the draw to have won a grass- court singles title,
Bogdanovic pushed Dmitry Tursunov all the way in the AEGON Championships at Eastbourne last week only to lose in three sets and the world No191 admits that he is unlikely to get any more favours in the future from the All England Club.

He said: “It's probably my last chance, I've had plenty and I don't expect any more. I was worried I wouldn't be given one so I really appreciate the opportunity to play here.”

The other Briton in the men's draw today, Dan Evans, faces a baptism of fire on his Grand Slam debut as he plays No12 seed Nikolay Davydenko.

Evans is considered a bright prospect by the Lawn Tennis Association but the 19-year-old is clearly inexperienced at this level, having lost his only other match on the ATP Tour to Belgium's Xavier Malisse at Queen's Club earlier this month. The world No305 is one of only two teenagers in this year's main draw but can find encouragement from Davydenko's dislike for grass and the fact the Russian has never been beyond the fourth round at the Championships — which a poor record here for someone of his ability.

He will hope to fare better than James Ward, who was soundly beaten by No7 seed, Spain's Fernando Verdasco, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 while Josh Goodall resumes at one set all against Michael Llodra, of France.