Murray focused on performance as much as results as he prepares for another shot at Wimbledon

The two-time champion believes he’s in the kind of form to do some damage at Wimbledon this year

Action Plus / Panoramic

July 1, 2023

Ten years after his first Wimbledon win, seven years after his second and six since he returned from an operation that left him with a metal hip, Andy Murray is back at Wimbledon with hope and belief that he can enjoy another big run at the tournament where he first made his name in 2005.

The Scot has battled back up inside the world’s top 40 and with two Challenger Tour titles in the run-up to Wimbledon, his confidence is higher than perhaps at any time since before his hip gave out on him in 2017.

As someone who managed to win three Grand Slam titles despite playing in the same era as three of the all-time greats, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray continues to believe that anything is possible.

But though tennis is a results business, Murray is also focused on playing tennis at the level he feels he’s still capable of, which, in all likelihood, will bring results.

“A lot of it comes down to your performance,” he said, when asked what he’d be happy with over the next two weeks. “Depending on draws and situations and everything, it’s possible to play poorly and make the quarterf-inals.

“If I was to play Novak in the second round, I lost in five sets or whatever, I can’t say I would walk away from the tournament and be really disappointed if I performed how I still think that I can. That’s what I want to do at this tournament. I want to go out there and perform at a level that I’m happy with.

“I do feel like I’m in a really, really good position to do that. I have the experience at this tournament. Playing on the big courts here more than — there’s only one player in the draw that has more experience of playing here than me, which is Novak. I’m pretty certain that I am one of the only players that’s won against him here, as well. I need to use that to my advantage and use my experience to my advantage and take confidence from that.

“I do believe I’m one of the best grass court players in the world, and I’m physically feeling really good. I prepared well, so there’s no reason why I can’t have a good tournament.”

Murray practised with Djokovic on Court 14 on Saturday and was a little coy when asked how it had gone. “I did well,” he said, a slight grin emerging on his face.