• ATP Tour

Andy Murray back playing best tennis, says mum Judy

ESPN staff
March 26, 2015
Andy Murray is currently No.2 in the ATP Race to London standings after a strong start to the 2015 season © AP
Enlarge

Andy Murray is closing in on his finest form and will be among the title hopefuls at both the French Open and Wimbledon this summer, according to mother Judy Murray.

The world No.4 reached his first grand slam final since undergoing back surgery in 2013 at this year's Australian Open, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic - his fourth final defeat in Melbourne.

A second comprehensive defeat at the hands of the world No.1 followed at Indian Wells - Murray's ninth loss in his last 10 matches with the Serb - but Judy Murray insists the former Wimbledon and US Open champion is back in the reckoning for grand slam glory.

"I think you have to remember that Novak is the best player in the world presently and no match against him is ever going to be easy," said Murray, speaking at the SSE Arena at Wembley where she is a mentor for SSE's Next Generation programme, which provides vital financial and development support to 100 young athletes from across the UK and Ireland.

"Andy made the semi-finals of the French Open last year and has a good game for clay because he is a great athlete and has a great engine on him.

"Growing up, we trained a lot on clay in Barcelona. He played a lot on hard courts in Scotland, albeit indoors, so that will always be in my opinion his best surface.

"The grass season is very short and less of the top players play well on grass because they don't have grass courts in their country, so they are not used to it.

"So I think grass always presents itself a big opportunity for any British player.

"But I think Andy's goal is the same as it was when he was a little boy, he wants to win Grand Slams and he wants to be the best.

"He has a very good record in Grand Slams over the last four or five years so he will be out there and doing his best."

Murray, who weds girlfriend Kim Sears on April 11 ahead of the clay court season, became Britain's leading ATP match winner during his run to the semi-finals in Indian Wells, and is on the verge of adding Swedish former world No.4 Jonas Bjorkman to his coaching staff to work alongside Amelie Mauresmo.

And with the recovery from back surgery no longer hampering him as it did during a tumultuous 2014 season, Judy Murray believes her son is back to his best on court.

"He had a really good off season with his coach Amelie Mauresmo and played incredible tennis all the way through Australia and the preparation events," Murray said.

"That was a really good sign and it was good to see him back moving well and happy and healthy and playing his best tennis.

"And I think we saw some of his best tennis again at Indian Wells, which was great to see, so I think he's back on track and he's happy and he's healthy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close