WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS

August 16, 2005

Andy Murray

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andy Murray.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, not very long because I'd already beaten him once this year so I knew that going in I was going to have a chance, I would just have to put high percents of first serves in, which I didn't do so well in the first set but I did much better in the second. And also I knew I was going to have to return well, and that's one of my strengths. I think in the key moments I returned very well.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. Well, I like playing against serve-volleyers because returning is one of my best things that I do on the court. So playing against him, it kind of suits me a bit more than him playing against me. So, yeah, it was probably one of the better guys I could have played in the tournament.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, it was pretty tough because I played -- this is my seventh week in a row now. I haven't lost in the first round yet, so I've always played at least two matches in a week. So, obviously, a little bit tired. Again, I was quite lucky that I played against him because the matches aren't that tough physically because the points are pretty short, especially on his service games. So it was pretty tough today, but I was happy that I got it over in two sets.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, it's been pretty big for me. I won two tournaments, two challengers, and I'd never been past the quarterfinals of a challenger before I came here. It's given me a lot of confidence. This is the third ATP tournament that I've played since I've been here. To be around these guys - and obviously tomorrow I get to play against one of the best players in the world - it's a great experience for me.

ANDY MURRAY: No, no. It doesn't feel right. This is actually -- when I walked into the dressing room the first time I got here, it didn't feel -- just doesn't quite feel right. I'm still not in the Top 100. I think it's only my sixth ATP tournament. So I'm starting to get a little bit more used to it, but it still doesn't feel quite right.

ANDY MURRAY: No, well, the guy who was taking me there told me to go in that one, so I just went.

ANDY MURRAY: No, it was okay. It was fine. There was no one there.

ANDY MURRAY: Restroom. Toilet.

ANDY MURRAY: My style favors him?

ANDY MURRAY: Oh, okay.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think that's somebody who I have to look to play like. I've always liked the way that he plays. He's very quick around the court, which I think I am as well, not maybe as fast as him. I return very well. I've got a pretty fiery temper on court. So I think in some ways I am kind of similar to him, but obviously I'm nowhere near as good as him.

ANDY MURRAY: No. Tim and Greg are the only two that I really know. I know a couple of the guys to say "hi" to. Tim and Greg have always been very good. They've always been very supportive, and they're always there if I need their help.

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I think considering I played so little matches before Queen's and Wimbledon, I don't think it's such a bad thing. Everybody was complaining that I wasn't fit enough at Queen's and Wimbledon, and I think I proved the last six, seven weeks that I am. And obviously it's probably not the best thing to do, but I wanted to play a lot of matches. It's given me a lot of confidence. Physically, I feel in good shape. So I don't think it's such a bad thing.

ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's much easier for me to play when I'm far away, and also because there's not -- I mean, it's great playing the Centre Court Wimbledon, but I was a little bit over the top. I was quite like -- I was getting quite excited on the court. But here it's much more relaxed, and just on the important points I got myself up for it. I think it's a bit easier for me to play here.

ANDY MURRAY: The first time I played with them was when I went to the Davis Cup when I was about 17. It was after the US Open last year.

ANDY MURRAY: I see myself losing pretty comfortably. But I'm just gonna go out there and try and play a pretty solid match, not make too many mistakes, and hope that he has an off day so I can cause him a few problems. But it's going to be very difficult. He's one of the best players in the world. He obviously beat Federer and won the Australian Open this year. I've got a lot of respect for him. He's one of my favorite players as well. So I'm just going to go out there and try and play a solid match and not make too many mistakes.

ANDY MURRAY: No, not really. I was going to come to play qualifying here anyway. So, I mean, I was going to play -- I was always going to play in Binghamton or Montreal qualifying last week, so I was always going to play a lot of weeks in a row. I wasn't expecting to do as well as what I've done. So, I mean, I didn't expect to play so many matches. So coming here, I mean, I was always going to play, but whether it was qualifying or main draw, then it wasn't making a difference.