Dubai: World number two Andy Murray has shifted his gaze towards the really ‘big ones’ from the start of the new season.
Murray, who played in the decisive 6-4 win for Singapore Slammers against former world No 1 Roger Federer (UAE Royals) in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) on Tuesday, has been in Dubai for the past few days using the transition period to train and get ready for 2016.
Next year will be a crucial one for the Scot as he sets out to defend his Olympic singles crown at the Rio de Janeiro Games. He also won the silver in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson in London. Later in 2012, Murray became the first British player since 1977, and the first British man since 1936, to win a Grand Slam singles title when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a five-set final in US Open.
Less than a year later, he won the Wimbledon Championships, becoming the first British player to win a senior singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977 and the first British man to win the men’s singles since Fred Perry 77 years earlier.
The 28-year-old has had a wonderful 2015 season in which he became the fifth man in tennis history to have won over $40 million (Dh146.92 million) in career prize money. After reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2014, he became the 10th man to reach two or more semi-finals at each of the four Majors.
The highlight of the season was Murray’s unbeaten streak of 11 matches, including three doubles, as Great Britain went on to bag their 10th Davis Cup crown in Ghent against Belgium last month. Much of the credit has been attributed to Murray’s coaching staff, including former world number one Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo.
“She [Mauresmo] came on board at a very difficult time of my career,” Murray acknowledged. “I was ranked No.11. It was quite some time that I had strayed out of the top 10. But she came along and we started believing in what we could do with her as the coach. There have been a lot of positives for me since she joined the staff,” Murray admitted.
“From here on, I need to work hard and get to winning the big ones and the Grand Slams. I have reached a level where I can win but I just need to find a way to win the big tournaments if I want to be the best in the world,” he added.
After the IPTL bandwagon departs for its final leg in Singapore on Thursday, Murray will continue with his training at the Dubai Tennis Stadium until he leaves for home on December 20. Murray chose Dubai to train this year rather than his usual base in Miami as his wife Kim Sears is due with their first baby sometime in the middle of February.
Murray was candid while admitting that he would even skip the Australian Open to be held from January 18-31 to be with Spears.
“After Dubai, I will spend a few days with the family and by December 27 or 28 I will leave for Australia,” Murray said.
