Andy Murray in career-best form before Wimbledon says Mark Petchey
Tuesday 30 June 2015 16:24, UK
Mark Petchey believes Andy Murray will begin his bid for Wimbledon glory having played some of the “best tennis of his career” so far in 2015.
The Scot won at the All-England Club in 2013 and his former coach thinks already having the Grand Slam in the bag will help him as he begins this year’s tournament with a first round match against Mikhail Kukushkin on Centre Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Petchey told Sky Sports News HQ that the third seed will enter the competition in a better position than in 2013 with a calmer outlook, back injuries behind him and off the back of a fantastic clay court season and fourth win at Queen’s Club.
Asked how he would compare Murray of 2013 to today, he said: “Someone with the same intensity but a lot calmer coming into this tournament. Obviously he’d never won it prior to 2013 and that was a huge moment for him so he’s done it, that’s a big difference coming in this year.
“I think the back is back to where it needs to be and the confidence as well, as we’ve seen the whole of 2015. I think he’s probably in a better place than he was even in 2013 coming in.
“I do think he is playing better tennis, I think a couple of times this year, particularly in Madrid when he beat (Kei) Nishikori and (Rafael) Nadal on the clay and also at Queen’s, I think we’ve seen some of the best tennis of his career so I think that confidence will be huge for him starting off because there is always a few nerves, even for these top guys.”
Petchey thinks Kukushkin is capable of playing top quality tennis but doesn’t believe he will be able to sustain a challenge over five sets to the British No 1.
He said: “Kukushkin has got that kind of rare game where he could probably play lights out tennis for about a set but I can’t see him winning three against Andy to be honest.
“He does hit the ball quite flat, he’ll certainly come out there and hit a few flashy shots, so early on people might get a bit worried if he hits through Andy but I think Andy is playing too well.
“I think Kukushkin may be able to steal a set but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Andy through in straights as well.”
Murray endured a disappointing Wimbledon campaign last year, losing at the quarter-final stage to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov having been plagued by a back injury which eventually required surgery.
The current World No 3 also split from coach Ivan Lendl in 2014 after a successful spell together which saw Murray win the US Open, Olympic gold in London and Wimbledon.
However, Petchey praised the current coaching team of Amelie Mauresmo and Jonas Bjorkman and said they had done a fine job in re-invigorating Murray.
“Jonas has definitely brought a new attacking style, a little bit more on the second serve,” he said. “But I think huge credit goes to Amelie as well because obviously there was some criticism, there were a few doubts about the choice.
“And from Andy’s perspective at the end of last year, a bad loss to Roger (Federer) at the World Tour Finals and things could’ve really fallen apart but she stuck by him and he’s repaid her faith in the quality of his performances in 2015.”
