• Australian Open

Murray plays down Australian Open expectations

ESPN staff
January 11, 2014
Andy Murray has reached the final in three of the last four years © Getty Images
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Andy Murray has played down his chances of winning the Australian Open, despite returning from back surgery and looking in decent shape.

Wilko: Murray's right - he won't win

Murray has played just four competitive matches since his surgery © Getty Images
  • Andy Murray is recovering from back surgery and if he is to win the Australian Open he will likely need to get past Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic following an unfavourable draw for the Scot.
  • The man himself says he probably won't win in Melbourne - and ESPN's resident tennis expert and former British No. 1 Chris Wilkinson agrees.
  • Click here to read the full article

The British No. 1 underwent back surgery in September and was sidelined for three months. He made his comeback in Abu Dhabi, before he headed to Doha, and recently played in an exhibition against Lleyton Hewitt as he prepares for the opening grand slam of the season.

However, with no problems appearing to be in place with his back, the reigning Wimbledon champion does not have high expectations for the Australian Open, a major where he has played well at in recent times.

"You never know. I've done a lot of training the last few months; it's just I haven't played many matches," Murray said, who has reached the final in three of the last four years.

"So, you know, if somehow I can work my way into the tournament, feel a little bit better every day, then I might start to raise those expectations.

"You can often wake up, no matter how much training you've done, often after the first match of the year, you might have been training for four weeks in December, you can wake up after playing the first match and feel terrible just because you're going that few per cent harder," he added.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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