Murray insists: I’m fired up for Aussie Open
BRITAIN’S Andy Murray insists he is heading into the Australian Open determined to seal a second consecutive grand slam title, despite admitting to being more relaxed since winning the US Open.
The Scot sealed a long-awaited first grand slam victory at the US Open against Novak Djokovic in September, and says he is ready for tomorrow’s first round match against Dutchman Robin Hasse in Melbourne.
“I’m revved up,” Murray said. “I didn’t work hard in Miami in the off season to come in and just not be focused.”
“I didn’t at any stage say I was ‘very relaxed’,” he added, insisting that his successful summer – during which he also won a gold medal at the Olympic Games – has not lessened his determination. “I feel more relaxed than I have done the week before a Slam in the past, that’s going to be natural.”
Murray can make history in Melbourne. No first-time winner in open-era tennis has gone on to win the following grand slam.
He needed five sets to beat Hasse, ranked 54th in the world, in their last encounter. “He tends to come out firing and going for big shots, so I’ll need to be prepared for that,” Murray said of Hasse.