Murray Sets Sights on Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
- Puts Australian Open disappointment behind him to focus on Dubai -
Dubai, UAE, January 19, 2008: Andy Murray's decision to part with super-coach Brad Gilbert and work with a team of advisors appears to have paid off after the 20-year old Scot began the season in dynamic style by lifting the trophy in Doha to earn his fourth career title.
And even his opening round defeat in the Australian Open by talented Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has not dented his confidence that he can one day live up to Rafael Nadal's prediction that he is a future Grand Slam champion.
“I think I've shown by winning four tournaments in the last few years that I've got the potential to challenge for Grand Slams in the future, but a little bit of inexperience showed against Tsonga,” said Murray, who will be making his debut at the 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
You need a strong character to reach the top in any business, and Murray has shown he has what it takes as he tries to live up to the expectations, not only of his fellow players but a nation hungry for success.
Murray stunned the tennis world towards the end of last year when he turned his back on Gilbert. The American had worked for years with Andre Agassi, and Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association made him the highest paid coach in the world when they contracted him to work with Murray and other British players.
But Murray later had other ideas, and he controversially elected to surround himself with a team of specialists instead of utilising an individual coach. Now he works with a coaching staff of fellow Scot Miles Maclagan, Louis Cayer and Leon Smith, with Matt Little, Jez Green and Andy Ireland taking care of the fitness side.
Some of the team have introduced Murray to Bikram yoga, which involves painful stretches and posing in temperatures of more than 40 degrees. It isn’t easy, but he enjoys the challenge.
"It's really tough,” said Murray. “I can't really do any of the good stuff yet but if I keep doing it then in about six months I think there'll be a huge improvement in flexibility and also strength as well.”
Even while he waits for the full effects of his new training regime to click in, Murray will be a leading contender for the 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships title when the star-studded event gets underway. Play begins at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on February 25th 2008 with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament, and is followed by the ATP event from March 3rd to 8th.
But he faces the toughest possible challenge, with defending champion and world number one Roger Federer, three-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, world number three Novak Djokovic, 2007 French and US Open semi-finalist Nikolay Davydenko and American Davis Cup winner Andy Roddick all equally eager to claim one of the most sought-after trophies in the game.
“Andy Murray has captured the imagination of the tennis world and we are thrilled to welcome him to Dubai for the first time,” said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free. “He has proved over and over again that he can challenge the very best players in the world, and we look forward to seeing him at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.”
The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
