• ATP World Tour Finals

No cause for panic, my time is coming - Murray

ESPN staff
November 21, 2011

Andy Murray is speaking with arguably more confidence than at any other point in his career ahead of his ATP World Tour Finals opener, insisting he is close to entering his prime.

Murray gets his campaign underway at the season's unofficial fifth grand slam when he faces David Ferrer on Monday. The British No. 1 is bidding to emerge from a group also including Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych.

Victory is very much anticipated against Ferrer, a player who is naturally a clay-court exponent and has regularly struggled against Murray this year. However, Murray has attempted to douse expectations, pointing to proof that failure in London does not translate to a poor follow-up season.

"[In 2009] Rafa Nadal lost all three matches here and then had probably his best year the following year and Novak didn't play particularly well last year and then had one of the best years ever," Murray said.

"I feel like I can win against all of these guys regardless of whether I do well here or not."

A grand slam title remains the major exclusion from Murray's trophy cabinet, but in an era when he is playing with the widely regarded best of all time (Roger Federer), in addition to two players who have since taken on the baton from the Swiss (Nadal and Djokovic), the Brit warned his peak years are yet to come.

"It has been my best year," Murray said, having recently won a hat-trick of titles in Asia. "Even if you just move one step up in the rankings [from world No. 4 to No. 3], that shows you're making progress. When you are going backwards, that's when you worry.

"I've still got a lot of improving to do, many players have their best seasons at 26 or 27.

"I think it's the most competitive era in tennis and, no, I don't wish I was playing in another time. I've had the chance to compete against the two best rivals without question.

"And before this year no one would have put Novak in that bracket but he has played an incredible season. He has tested me - to get fitter and stronger and be more resilient. I've had a lot of tough losses and that's made me a better player."

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