Andy Murray keeps his feet on the ground

An unmistakable sound drifted down the Yarra River from Federation Square where, on Friday evenings, the chattering classes gather. From Melbourne Park to the feverish city centre the sound of bagpipes could be heard, resounding as a clarion call for those here for the Australian Open during the next fortnight.
Is this really Andy Murray's time? Are the bookmakers, lured by an incredible level of investment in the 21-year-old British No1 to win a grand-slam championship, spot on with their odds? Is history to be made and are the giants of the game heading for the Rod Laver Arena, including the Rockhampton Rocket himself on the 40th anniversary of his only grand slam in the open era, about to witness something the old country has long dreamed of?
Murray himself remains outwardly untouched by a situation of his making only because he is beating everyone in sight at present. He refuses to act, talk, or demand attention as a favourite might. Roger Federer, a three-times champion here, may find all this blue-eyed boy stuff somewhat disconcerting, but the wonder of it is that Murray is treating the surge of celebrity with mature disdain. “I've heard stuff about me being favourite and in recent events, it's something I've become used to because I have been the favourite in lots of my matches,” the Scot said.
“All I know is that physically, the work I've done in November and December in Miami has made a huge difference, especially with my serve and the balance I have reaching for wide balls and being able to hang in better in the longer matches.
My first-serve percentage is getting better and better, there is more strength in the legs and the upper body and I'm happy with the prospect of keeping that improvement going.”
On the occasion of his extraordinary victory over Andrei Pavel, of Romania - his first-round opponent here - in the opening round of the 2005 US Open, Murray raised a finger to his lips in the style of a footballer who, having been plagued by insults from opposing supporters all afternoon, responds with a sublimely satisfying goal. He had done the same after his final-round qualifying victory over Giovanni Lapentti, of Ecuador.
Those of us sitting courtside bearing notebooks at both matches were in no doubt that his reaction was an unsubtle indication that we should not take what was perceived as a lack of physical strength for granted. Murray was still growing into his body, and at 18 there was much growing to do, but he did not take kindly to being told that he may be found out in the endurance stakes.
The second, and almost as important, recollection was the reaction from Pavel, who lost in five sets after Murray, playing in only his second grand-slam event, had twice thrown up on the court. “I had the feeling all the time I was winning the points, but somehow I was losing them; it was a strange situation,” he said.
Looking at Murray yesterday, the definition in his arms, the strength in his legs, the tightness of his face, it was clear that, whatever else may prevent him winning his first grand-slam tournament over the next two weeks, a lack of physical strength will not be the reason. And, if the event goes the way Britain hopes, there will be more players who will be left gawping in wonder at what Murray has done to their games.
“I have made those sacrifices at the end of last year in Miami because if I had stayed at home in Europe and just practised indoors for three or four weeks it would be too big a shock coming down to Australia,” Murray said.
Whether he can put it out of his head or not, the Scot is the main talking point as this championship approaches. One day it can be 19C here, the next 38C; it can blow a gale, it can be becalmed; the roof can be opened or closed; the formbook can tell the truth or it can lie. Has there been an Australian Open like it in British hearts since John Lloyd reached the final against Vitas Gerulaitis in 1977? A hush has descended. Except for those bagpipes.
Anne Keothavong, the British No1 female who has reached a career-high 53 in the world rankings, will have to cause an upset if she is to progress beyond the first round after being drawn against Anna Chakvetadze, the No17 seed from Russia. Melanie South, Keothavong's fellow Briton, has also been handed a tough opening encounter against Marion Bartoli, of France, the sixteenth seed.
source:the london times