• ATP Tour

Murray arrives in Australia ahead of 2012 charge

ESPN staff
December 30, 2011
Andy Murray appears to have overcome his groin injury © PA Photos
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World No. 4 Andy Murray is desperate to get competitive matches under his belt after arriving in Australia to prepare for the first grand slam of 2012.

Murray flew in to Brisbane from Miami showing no signs of the groin injury which forced him to withdraw from the ATP Championships in London last month. The Scot, in search of his first slam title, immediately hit the training court amid the humidity of the Queensland Tennis Centre in the lead up to January's Australian Open.

"I feel pretty fit and have been doing a lot of work," Murray told the Courier Mail newspaper. "Everyone wants to get some matches in because its been a long break."

In his last vist to Australia, Murray reached his third grand slam final, ultimately going down to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne last year. For the time being, though, Murray's focus is on claiming the Brisbane International tournament, which gets underway next week.

"He looks great, in good shape," tournament director Cameron Pearson said. "He just punched out a couple of hours of training.

"I think there's no doubt a maiden grand slam is very close. He's too good a player not to get one. I believe, personally, he's probably the best player in the past 10 years who hasn't won a grand slam. He's got great variety, great angles off his ground strokes. He's a smart tennis player."

Murray's first match in Brisbane is set to take place next Tuesday evening, while the Australian Open begins on January 16.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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