Andy Murray to copy Novak Djokovic at Aus Open as Brit enjoys tennis again | Tennis | Sport
Andy Murray will take a new positive attitude into the Australian Open but he insisted: “I won’t be out there giggling on the court.” The Scot, who turns 37 in May, said he was “not really enjoying” his tennis after ending last season by smashing his racket in frustration during a defeat in Paris. He then split with coach Ivan Lendl for a third time and he arrived Down Under admitting this could be his final season if he continues to be dogged by injuries.
But before his 16th appearance at Melbourne Park, the five-time finalist here said: “I definitely feel like I’m enjoying it better. I think part of that is obviously, it’s the mental side of it. Tennis is a difficult game in that respect. When you’re struggling, you’re obviously out there on your own, it can be difficult at times. Part of it is that.
“Also the way you’re playing. When you know you’re capable of doing more than what you are, if you’re not happy with the way you’re hitting forehands and backhands and serving and those sorts of things, there’s the technical aspect as well.
“Fixing some of those problems has helped me feel better on the court. Definitely some focus on the mental side, as well. Reframing the way you look at things definitely, definitely helps. But no, I won’t be out there giggling on the court. That won’t be happening.
“It’s more about how you’re dealing with frustration and disappointment and everything when you’re playing. I don’t see Novak [Djokovic] out there when he’s playing his matches laughing and joking around. I never saw that with Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal]. It’s not about that.
“It’s probably how you’re treating yourself in those moments and being a bit kinder to yourself, the people around you, lowering some of your own expectations, controlling what you can control. All of the players will sit in here and say exactly the same thing.
“It’s just not that easy to do it when you’re out there competing. That’s the hard part, yeah, just to focus on the next shot, the next point. It’s a very easy thing to say. We all know it. But doing it is difficult. When I was younger, I obviously always got frustrated on the court, but I always felt like in the really important moments, I was always competing very well.
“Last year I was getting frustrated, I was not competing well in the important moments. That’s something that I hope to change this year.” Murray will face No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round on Monday. The two won a three-set match each in their two meetings last year.
“I made most of my matches quite physical last year,” the Scot smiled. “I don’t know if that was necessarily him. But yeah, he has a game that can make the matches that way, as well. We played in Basel, I don’t know if it was over three hours, but it felt like it was. In Indian Wells, yeah, another long one.
“Again, I know that last year when I wasn’t serving well, you end up getting into lots more long rallies and everything. Because of the way I return, I put quite a lot of returns back in play, you can end up getting into lots of long points when that’s the case. Matches will go on. Yeah, hopefully that’s not the case in a couple of days.”
Murray gave a guarded response to the Australian Open starting on Sunday this year and is looking to limit the daytime schedule to allow the evening session to start on time. The 36-year-old finished his second round win over Thanasi Kokkinakis here at 4.05am after starting his match at 10pm..
“I don’t think the Sunday start will change the late finishes,” he said. “I think on Centre Court they’re having two matches in the day, two matches in the evening.
“I think that will reduce the possibility for late finishes on Rod Laver because it’s unlikely you’re going to have issues with the day session running into the night, then having that gap where they have to clear out the stadium and get the night session fans in.”
New rules for the ATP and WTA Tours will be trialled this season to prevent matches running after 11pm. “I think we probably just need to see how it works out,” he added. “I think it’s really positive that they’re trying to make a change. Yeah, let’s see.
“I think that’s the main thing, is that there’s sort of an acceptance now that, yes, this is probably we need to do something to address it, and they made changes to try to do that. Yeah, this is a good step. I think the players will be happy with it. Hopefully it works well.”