More pressure on me now: Murray
Andy Murray insists he can cope with the pressure of being a favourite for the Wimbledon title after the world no. 2 swept into the fourth round in emphatic fashion.
While Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and a host of other leading seeds have crashed out in a chaotic opening week at the All England Club, world no. 2 Murray has enjoyed the perfect start to his challenge.
The US Open champion brushed aside Spanish 32nd seed Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round on Friday to move into the second week without dropping a set in his first three matches.
With Nadal, Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic all eliminated from Murray’s half of the draw, the 26-year-old’s path to the final is looking less treacherous by the day.
Mikhail Youzhny is the highest ranked player left in his half and the Russian 20th seed is Murray’s scheduled last 16 opponent if he can defeat Serbia’s Victor Troicki in a rain-delayed tie. In the circumstances, many pundits are tipping Murray to finally end Britain’s 77-year wait for a first male singles winner at Wimbledon since Fred Perry.
American great John McEnroe claimed this week that it would be a disaster for Murray if he didn’t reach the final and the Scot is well aware expectations are mounting.
“I think there’s a lot more pressure on me now with them being out,” Murray said.
“I don’t read the papers. But there are papers in the locker room, so you see some of the headlines. It’s not that helpful.”
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