Reuters
London, Dec 1: Fresh from leading Britain to a long-awaited Davis Cup title Andy Murray is already looking ahead to adding more Grand Slam silverware to his collection next year. Murray has one Wimbledon and one US Open trophy in his cupboard.
While the Scot intends to enjoy a 10-day break after a punishing season, in which he played 104 matches, it will then be straight back to work as he begins looking ahead to the Australian Open in January – a tournament in which he has been runner-up four times.
“The most important thing is, yes, enjoy it now, but don’t let it go on for like three weeks and stop practising hard and going to the gym and doing everything properly,” the 28-year-old told reporters after his arrival here from Ghent.
“I need to train really hard in the off-season, if I want to have a chance of making this count for next year. I hope (winning the Davis Cup) will be an inspiration. It’s definitely given me a boost going into the off-season.
“I’ve been close (in Australia) a number of years. I haven’t won there but may be the Davis Cup victory will give me the push,” he added. “That’s obviously my next big goal.”
Thanks largely to Murray’s incredible record in the Davis Cup since 2013, Britain now head the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rankings. Murray said the ranking was well-deserved. “For five years I think we have lost two matches, and even against Italy last year it went to a fifth rubber,” he said.
However, he was quick to lash out against the British Lawn Tennis Association for doing nothing to develop youngsters. “I have stopped suggesting… It all boils down to nothing,” said Murray. “They (association officials) are a bunch of dead bricks with no idea how to have a second string ready. They are just useless.”
