Andy Murray confident of winning third Wimbledon title with Miami Open draw made

Andy Murray defeats Alexander Zverev at Cincinnati Masters

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Andy Murray still has the full belief that he can enter a Grand Slam with confidence of winning his first major title since 2016. The three-time Grand Slam champion made history five years ago when he became the first British male tennis star to clinch the world No 1 ranking since records began.

That same season, he also managed a feat not even Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic had achieved up to that point in winning a Grand Slam, the ATP World Tour Finals, the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and a Masters 1000 title in the same calendar year.

But the following year, Murray’s injury troubles began as he struggled to replicate the form which put him at the top of men’s tennis.

He’s only competed in four of the last 13 Grand Slams in the men’s singles draw and hasn’t got past the second round since Wimbledon in 2017.

There were some promising signs in 2020 though, particularly at the Western & Southern Open when he defeated Alexander Zverev – who was ranked No 7 in the world at the time.

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Murray was set to compete at the Australian Open earlier this year, but was forced to withdraw due to quarantine issues after testing positive for coronavirus.

But the 33-year-old is slowly building up his confidence and fitness this year and is back on the court this week at the Miami Open – an event he has won on two occasions.

And Murray feels as though he’s getting to a position where he can begin competing for Grand Slam titles in the near future with an eye on this summer’s Wimbledon.

“I know that I’m still capable of playing at the highest level,” Murray said in an interview with Prime Video.

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“Before Australia, like in December, I was chatting to my team about the Aussie Open. I was like, ‘I really feel like I can still go step in that tournament’.

“I was starting to believe it, visualise it and stuff – which hadn’t been the case last year or anything.

“So, my expectation is to go and do well in these events. Winning it [Miami Open] right now is probably a bit ambitious, but I do feel like I can compete with the top, top players in the world.

“Hopefully in a few months time if I’m able to remain on the court and healthy, with more matches and stuff, it’ll start to happen more regularly.

“I want to be on the courts at Wimbledon and feeling like I have a chance of winning the event. I’m aware that would be extremely tough, but I do genuinely believe it’s possible.

“I need weeks and months of training and practising and matches and good health, but I do feel like it’s possible.

“I’m sure some people will think I’m delusional and that my best days are behind me and everything – which may be the case. But I still feel I can compete with the best players in the biggest tournaments.”

For now, Murray’s focus will be on the Miami Open where has been drawn to face Lloyd Harris in the first round.

“I expect a lot better than what I produced in the three tournaments that I played so far. Certainly more consistency,” Murray added.

“There were some good signs at the end of the match with Haase and in the first set against Rublev, but I need to do that for an hour-and-a-half or two hours – rather than just 20, 30 minutes here and there.

“Hopefully that will come with matches and also being around the top players more. That was the really good thing in Rotterdam – before the tournament there, I got to practise with [Stefanos] Tsitsipas and Borna Coric.

“It is different. It’s a different level, different speed of ball and stuff. I did well in the practices and competed well, but it took me a little bit of time to feel comfortable at that level.

“So, I want to make sure I get on court with as many top players as possible in Miami, and I expect to perform much better on the court. I like the conditions there.

“I haven’t played much outdoors in recent months, so that’s why I’m trying to get out there early – to try and adjust to the conditions a bit.”

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