Ghent, Belgium: Andy Murray is hoping to take a leaf out of Novak Djokovic’s book by using Davis Cup success to chalk up more Grand Slam wins.
Talking in Ghent the morning after he gave Britain its first Davis Cup win in 79 years by defeating David Goffin in straight sets, Murray said that he was aware of what Djokovic went on to achieve after helping Serbia win the Davis Cup for the first time in 2010.
The following year he produced one of the greatest years in tennis history, winning 10 tournaments including three of the four Grand Slam titles — in the US and Australian Opens and at Wimbledon — and five Masters Series titles.
“He supposedly made the dietary changes in the close season as well with the gluten-free diet,” Murray said of the world number one and fellow 28-year-old.
“Obviously, I will try as much as I can for next year. Enjoy it now but don’t let it go on for three weeks.
“It will definitely give me a boost going into the off season. It would have been a difficult one to lose so it’s a great way to end the year.”
Murray said he had no regrets over having made playing in the Davis Cup very much his priority in the latter half of the season, even though it meant he failed to add to his haul of Grand Slam titles, which remains stuck at two since his 2013 Wimbledon triumph.
He won all 11 Davis Cup rubbers he played in — all of them live ones — including eight singles and three doubles. Three of those points came in the win over Belgium at the weekend.
It had been, he said, one of the most emotionally rewarding moments of his life on Sunday when he hit the winning lob over Goffin at match point.
“It was a nicer feeling than after Wimbledon,” he said.
“I didn’t really enjoy that as I was just so relieved to have done that whereas here I enjoyed it so much more.
“There was more pride and being around all the guys in the team was just great. We all really put in so much effort and to see how much it means to everybody involved obviously feels better.
“We should enjoy it. It’s been 80 years or whatever since we last did it and we don’t know when the next time it will come
“This will be one of the highlights of all of our careers.”
Murray said that he would take some days off to recover from the effects of such a long season and then start some warm-weather training leading into the Australian Open which starts in mid-January.
“I have played more matches this year than in any other year and my body has responded really well, so I will take the appropriate rest now and then start training for Australia,” he said.
Murray has made the Australian Open final four times, but lost on each occasion.
