• ATP Tour

Murray rethinks grand slam focus

ESPN staff
January 29, 2013
Andy Murray plans to set himself short-term goals in 2013 © Getty Images
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Andy Murray plans to rein in his focus on the grand slams in a bid to improve his results on the ATP Tour in the hope that success at the major tournaments will follow.

Murray has reached the final of the last three grand slams - beating Novak Djokovic, his conqueror in Melbourne on Sunday, to win the US Open after losing to Roger Federer at Wimbledon - and claimed Olympic gold at London 2012, but won just one ATP title last season.

And the world No. 3, back in the United States for a training camp at his Florida base before heading to California for the start of the spring hard court season, believes the key to his success lies in setting more immediate goals.

"My next goal is to try and play good tennis in Indian Wells and Miami," Murray told the Daily Mirror. "I've realised in the last year or so that when I set myself short-term goals, I tend to play better tennis.

"Previously after every slam, I would look way ahead to the next one and kind of take my eye off the ball with the other events.

"So that's the immediate goal and I will also think slightly less about the French Open.

"It's a tournament I'm capable of doing well in but for me it takes a lot of practice, a lot of hours on clay to get used to it. So that's a goal for me, but I've got to do well in the next few months."

The Scot was philosophical about the manner of his Australian Open final defeat by Djokovic, promising to learn from the experience.

"I will have a think about why I didn't create as many chances on his return as I've done in the past," added Murray. "But the way I was striking the ball was fine.

"My tactics were right, I just didn't give myself enough opportunities on his serve."

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