Tennis: Goran says Give Andy time and he will deliver

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 09:00

FORMER Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has urged Andy Murray to remember patience is a virtue in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title next year.

The 22-year-old enjoyed unprecedented success in 2009, with six ATP tournament wins including two victories in Masters 1000 events, propelling him briefly to a career high world No.2 ranking.

Despite the success, Murray failed to break his duck at any of the four majors, with defeat to Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon semi-finals the closest he came. And after failing to reach the knockout stages of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena, Murray's ability to fulfil his burgeoning potential has been called into doubt.

Yet Ivanisevic, who claimed his maiden Grand Slam title in a Wimbledon epic at 29 beating Britain's Tim Henman in a rain interrupted semi-final before another epic contest with Australia's Pat Rafter. And he insists there's no need for Britain's current No.1 to hit the panic button.

Murray, pictured, has an exciting year ahead and it kicks off with the Australian Open in January.

"There is a lot of talk about the grand slams but give the kid a break," said Ivanisevic. "He's still very young and he's got time on his side, there is no need to rush.

"I had it all the way through my career. I was the only one in the top ten without a slam and Andy is having that at the moment but I don't understand the rush. People always said to me you're the best player not to win a Grand Slam but it wasn't because I wasn't trying to win one.

"He's the player everyone wants to win when it comes to Wimbledon but I proved that it can be done if you are patient.

"I was 29 when I won Wimbledon and it was a big relief but, if I'd listened to everyone, I would have been under so much pressure that I couldn't play."

Ivanisevic was in London to promote Barclays Ball Kids, – a nationwide search, now recruiting, to find ball boys and girls for the next year's World Final in London. He revealed that he once was towel fetcher and drinks carrier for his hero, Pat Cash, and hopes the chance to watch players up close might inspire another British star of the future and take some of the pressure off Murray.

"The pressure on Andy from all areas particularly through the media is massive and everyone is trying to get there in a rush," he added.

"There is no reason why he can't win the Australian, the US Open or Wimbledon in 2010. I don't think he's got much chance of winning the French but the other three are possibilities.

"It's tough for Andy because there is no-one else. Tim Henman had it for a long time and now Andy has got it. They are just expected to do well each time they play and it doesn't always work like that.

"There needs to be more players out there who can move up because the LTA makes a lot of money and they need to start making new players.

"They can't rely on Andy Murray for the next ten years because that's not good for him or anyone else. I think I learned more as a ballboy that week than I did in training for months. Being so close to players like Pat taught me so much. Maybe there is a chance that one of next year's ball kids could make it to the top and that's what Great Britain really needs at the moment."

&#149 Former Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic is supporting the Barclays Ball Kids initiative, a scheme designed to find the Ball kids for next year's Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tournament. To register visit www.barclaysballkids.com