Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi has handed Andy Murray a ringing endorsement, saying he can beat 'anybody, anytime'.
Legend says the next 12 months are crucial for top Brit
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi has handed Andy Murray a ringing endorsement, saying he can beat 'anybody, anytime'.
The American has been a fan of the British number one for some time, tipping him to come good at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.
However, the world number three remains without a Grand Slam title in his possession despite a successful season that has seen him lift Masters trophies in Miami and Montreal.
It means the Scot is the only member of the world's top six not to have a major title to his name and Agassi says he needs to get the monkey off his back sooner, rather than later.
"This is going to be a crucial time in his career and I predict the next year will determine his career one way or another," he said.
Next hump
"He has one big opportunity in front of him. He has a lot of reasons, motivations and skills that can help get him to accomplish a great deal, but he has to be willing to push to get over the next hump.
"Do I think he can do it? Absolutely. Do I expect him to do it? I really do. When I look at his game compared to the other players, he has what it takes to win and to win against anybody on any surface.
"Nadal has the advantage on the clay if he is healthy. But Murray, I don't favour anybody over him on any surface at any time if he brings to the table all he can."
Agassi believes Murray has matured over the last 12 months and is finally channelling his energy in the right direction.
Advantage
"I think that in the beginning he had an attitude that worked against him. It was a fire, it was a spirit, you could tell that was a crucial wiring to the way he played," he added.
"Whether it was good or bad, it was significant in his game and in his matches and most of the time it hurt him.
"But very recently you have seen him use this to his advantage. You have seen him become a phenomenal competitor and you have watched him use that anger and negativity to push himself.
"He has used it in a positive way over a long period of time. He just has another hill to climb here.
"Whenever he expects a lot from himself it really wrestles with your weakness the most and now he is starting to expect himself to win and it has put himself in a simple position - either I am going to step up to the plate and I am going to accept this responsibility and continually push myself, or it's going to work against him and get the better of him.
"It is a very fine line, it is like a razor's edge you live on as a professional athlete, especially a professional athlete who has no-one else to pass the ball to - you are out there by yourself."
