• Wimbledon

Murray: I enjoy the pressure

ESPN staff
June 29, 2014
Andy Murray: "You can lose a slam in the first week by playing two or three five-set matches" © Getty Images
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Andy Murray says he is thriving on the pressure of defending his Wimbledon crown as he prepares for Monday's meeting with Kevin Anderson.

Third seed Murray has strolled through the first week at SW19 without dropping a set but will face a step up in class when he takes on 6ft 8in South African Anderson on Centre Court.

As he bids to extend his All England Club winning streak to 17 matches, a run stretching back to London 2012, Murray says he is used to the expectations placed on him after ending Britain's 77-year wait for a male singles champion at Wimbledon.

"I enjoy pressure," he said. "I like feeling nervous. I'm not scared of that feeling. I felt like I played my best tennis when I've been under pressure."

Murray has eased through his first three matches, spending just five hours on court compared to Anderson's seven, and he feels that could play into his favour.

"I think that's a positive," said Murray. "You can lose a slam in the first week by playing three five-set matches or two five-set matches.

"They do take their toll a little bit."

In their two previous meetings, Murray beat Anderson at the 2010 Australian Open before losing to him in Montreal the next year.

Anderson has sent down 63 aces in his first three matches but Murray admits he won't be making major alterations to his tactics.

"I don't change loads," Murray said "The only thing that's different is my return, because he's obviously serving different angles at different heights, so the ball's bouncing up much higher."

World No.18 Anderson required treatment on a back problem during his five-sets wins over Fabio Fognini on Friday but is hoping he will be 100 percent after two days off.

"It was weird," said Anderson. "I think I was a little nervous going out, my first time being in this position at Wimbledon, and I just got a little stiff and it affected the serve warming up.

"The more nervous I got, the worse the back felt. Fortunately it settled down. It wasn't a factor."

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