‘I pick (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal and (Andrew) Murray to win Grand Slams next year,’ the great Bjorn Borg recently announced, svengali-like, to a salivating British press. A year ago, the inclusion of Murray’s name might have drawn accusations of pandering to the UK papers, but at the end of 2008 it runs the perilous risk of cliché. Certainly when the trio arrive in Abu Dhabi early next month to compete in the inaugural Capitala World Tennis Championship, alongside Andy Roddick, James Blake and Nikolay Davydenko, it signals the first clash in what promises to be a captivating season.
Andrew (‘Andy’) Murray’s surge up the rankings has been rapid since 2005 when a gangly 18-year-old surprised local crowds at Wimbledon by reaching the third round of his first major tournament. Since then his boyish body has given way to a thicker physique, his stamina improved, and the results have flowed smoothly for the young Scot, who only turned 21 in May. This year also saw him add some significant silverware, with two Masters trophies sitting alongside an already bulging collection of minor titles, as well as making an appearance in the US Open Grand Slam final.
By his own reckoning, Murray’s best moment came on court this September, beating Rafael Nadal in the semi final of the US Open. Whilst everyone was anticipating a sequel to the Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final of a few months earlier, Murray managed to ambush both his opponent and the form book. ‘It was awesome,’ Murray recalls. ‘He’s number one in the world and he’d only lost one match in the previous four months; he’d won gold at the Olympics and just won Wimbledon, and he was playing great.’
A smidgeon of boyish enthusiasm suddenly breaks through the measured Scottish brogue. It is an odd coincidence that in Murray’s first encounter with Nadal, aged just 15, it led him to swap his Scottish family home for a Barcelona tennis school after he learned that his Spanish peer was already practising with senior players. It is perhaps fitting that Nadal should mark another defining moment in the young Scot’s career, and interestingly, Abu Dhabi might be the first time the pair meet competitively on court since that semi-final.
Another rivalry reignited at Zayed Sports City is that of Murray and Federer. Despite losing the US Open final to him, Murray has an almost unrivalled record against the man some people call the greatest tennis player the game has ever seen. He has beaten him three times this year alone. So how do you beat the greatest, I wonder? ‘There’s not just one way,’ Murray reveals. ‘You need to play really consistently the whole match. Roger’s one of those guys that once he gets in front of you he can start to dominate, and you have to try and hang with him, especially early in the match, and when it gets close you know you can start to explode at him, but it’s easier said than done.’
With nothing on the line, and having already qualified, Murray seemingly beat the great man for kicks at the Shanghai Masters last month, before a tired Andy was knocked out by Nikolay Davydenko in the next round – another potential Abu Dhabi rematch set to peak Murray’s competitive spirit. Like any great sportsman it means something for him to play the best, and more importantly to beat them no matter what. This is why Murray is such an exciting and eagerly anticipated addition to the Championship line-up.
Like any media savvy sportsman he attributes his good year to his backroom staff, but watching Murray play is an exercise in speed, ability and fire. You surely can’t teach that McEnroe-esque ferocity. He looks like he plays angry, but according to Andy, it’s all focused. ‘You don’t really get angry towards your opponent,’ he reasons. ‘I get on well with most of the top players. You just get on with your own game. It’s not like a boxing match where you have to hit them. You just have to find the right tactics to beat them.’
Incidentally, Murray is a keen boxing fan, although not much of a fighter (‘I’ve never been in a fight in my life’) he confesses. At times you have to remind yourself just how short that life has been. Still a tender 21, he has had to learn so much so fast and has done much of his growing up in public, often thousands of miles from home: something which was ‘hard,’ he admits.
As part of what is rapidly becoming a golden generation of young tennis players, including Nadal, it is fitting that he, together with his fellow competing pros, will be visiting local schools and coaching some of Abu Dhabi’s youth as part of their commitment to the tournament. A Community Cup was also held where local players competed to meet their favourite players. I ask Andy what is the best advice he could give to a young tennis player? ‘I think obviously to work hard is a pretty common one, but just enjoy what you’re doing. If you’re not enjoying it, there’s not a whole lot of point in doing it.’
Sound advice indeed. Undoubtedly Andy Murray enjoys what he does. Because of that, he might just prove Borg right and walk off with a Grand Slam next year.
Murray is a committed professional and a confirmed teetotaler. Asked what he wants for himself in 2009, he responds in the way that a prospective Miss World might: charity and chin-ups are the grand scheme. Similarly, when questioned about dislodging Federer and Nadal, the usual sporting line of working hard and buckling down is thrown out. But the proof is in the pudding, and the first indication of how the battle amongst tennis’s hierarchy will pan out over the year is set be witnessed by the 5,000-capacity crowd at Zayed Sports City.
Capitala World Tennis Championship, Zayed Sports City, January 1-3. Tickets Dhs55-275
