• ATP Tour

Murray hopes grass season can salvage 'patchy' year

Andy Murray struggled at the French Open © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray prepares for Queen's defence
  
• News: Federer crashes out to Soderling
  
• News: Murray calls for players to decide when to stop
  
• News: Lacklustre Murray defeated in rain-interrupted match
  
• News: Murray stutters past Baghdatis
  
• Profile: Andy Murray

Andy Murray is hoping that he can overcome the stresses of the grass-court season as he seeks to salvage a season that he concedes has been "very patchy" so far.

The world No. 4 got 2010 off to a fine start by reaching the final of the Australian Open in January, but he has not got beyond the last eight of any competition he has competed in since then.

He made hard weather of his French Open campaign, only sporadically showing glimpses of his talent as he crashed out at the fourth-round stage to Tomas Berdych.

Nonetheless he insists he is in optimistic mood ahead of the grass-court season, which he will begin by attempting to defend his crown at Queen's. "I don't feel too terrible just now," he said. "I've just got to get over [defeat to Berdych] quickly because obviously it's an important few weeks for me.

"It's a pretty stressful period in terms of the stuff you've got to go through, so I had better get over it quickly or I am not going to go well. I've got my appetite back, and after Wimbledon I'll have a break but these few weeks are very important for my year. My season so far has been very patchy and the next few weeks will determine how my year is going to go."

Greg Rusedski believes that Murray will only succeed at Wimbledon if he plays in a more aggressive manner than he did at Roland Garros. Rusedski believes that Murray took a "step back" during the French Open, particularly in his epic first-round match against Richard Gasquet.

"On the clay at Roland Garros, [Murray] seemed to take a step back in his tactics," Rusedski told the Mirror. "In the build-up to Wimbledon he will need to be more aggressive. The most attacking player usually wins the French Open.

"Murray showed he is very strong mentally and he fought all the way. But starting with his first match against Richard Gasquet [Murray won in five], he did not go on the offensive until he was two sets down."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.