Andy Murray Says His Superior Record Over Roger Federer Gives Him Confidence Ahead of Wimbledon

As Andy Murray fine-tunes his preparations for Wimbledon, it would be understandable if, in one of his more reflective moments, he ever feels a little sorry for himself. The pressure of shouldering the hopes of a champion-starved nation is testing enough for a 22-year-old, but Murray also has to deal with the fact that blocking his path to the title are two of the greatest players of any generation, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Those two have contested the past three finals at Wimbledon, and Murray will almost certainly have to beat one or both to win the title. While Nadal has a question mark hanging over him because of tendinitis in both knees, Federer will go into the Championships on a high having completed a career grand slam by winning the French Open earlier this month, equaling Pete Sampras's record tally of 14 grand slams.

There is something about playing Murray that gets under Federer's skin, however, and the British No1 has beaten him six times in their eight meetings. Although the Swiss has won five Wimbledon titles, Murray feels he may have the edge should they meet in SW19.

"I think it would be very different if I'd felt that when I played Roger in the past he wasn't giving it 100% or not trying against me," Murray said yesterday as he launched his new line of Fred Perry clothing that he will wear at Wimbledon, where Perry was the last British champion in 1936. "I think a lot of times he's been very frustrated when he's played against me, which has shown that the game style that I play against him works and can frustrate him. I'll definitely take confidence if I play against him at Wimbledon from the matches that I've played against him in the past."

Federer beat Murray in the final of the US Open last September but the Scot is confident that he could reverse that result. "I feel like if I play against him I'll have a chance to win if I play my best. That's what I'll try and do if I play him at Wimbledon," he said.

Murray has enormous respect for Federer but still regards the seven-time Wimbledon champion Sampras as the best ever grass-court player. Early last year, after being beaten by Murray in Dubai, Federer criticized his opponent's "defensive" playing-style. But if the words had any effect on Murray, it was a positive one.

"A lot of the times I've beaten him he has said negative things about my game so it doesn't really bother me that much," Murray said. "Every time I've played against him I've felt like I've had good chances to win and I think my tactics against him have worked well in most of the matches that I've played. But it didn't make me feel I needed to change my game in any way. Maybe he meant them. Some things you don't mean [in those situations]. That happens sometimes, but it doesn't bother me."

Murray is in great form having won his first grass-court title at Queen's at the weekend. Last year, he hoped he could win Wimbledon; this year, he believes it. "I feel much more capable of winning a grand slam now than I did at Wimbledon last year. I just feel I can do it mentally. I feel like I'm ready. Whether it happens at Wimbledon or not I don't know, but now and in the future slams that I play, I feel like I've got a great chance."