Tennis: Loneliness of the tennis player no joke for Andy Murray

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 11:11

ANDY MURRAY gives the impression his Wimbledon fortnight is one big long lads' holiday – minus the sangria.

Fun, japes and forfeits in Team Murray are reported on the Scot's increasingly popular Twitter page, a fascinating insight into the life of a man not quite so dour as his stereotype suggests.

Last night he gleefully posted pictures of his backroom staff taking an ice bath while coach Miles Maclagan was forced to carry all the bags – Murray doesn't travel light – to training and buy lunch.

The third seed wasn't immune either, he had to clear up the trays.

Personal trainer Jez Green might be the regular butt of Murray's dry humour but the former kick boxer has played a major role in the transformation of the British No.1 and his ascent up the world rankings.

Nicknamed Jezebel, he has helped Murray gain nine pounds in muscle since last year's Wimbledon.

Under Green's sadistic eye, Murray's workout now includes a yoga session in a room heated to 42C followed by an unremitting two-hour gym workout of weights and sprints.

He has also devised a high-protein 6000 calorie-a-day diet to ensure Murray has the energy to keep up the pace.

Despite all that, Murray thrives in the company of his backroom staff but still admits life on tour can be tough.

"You do so much travelling that it is hard to keep in touch," he said.

"When Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski were playing I would often go to dinner with them and we'd practice together but I'm usually the only British player now.

"That is why I like having the guys to travel with each week but tennis can get pretty lonely."

Murray was set to return to centre court today for a third-round match with Serbia's Viktor Troicki.

The unfancied world No.31 is playing down his own expectations and even claimed Murray was his favourite to win the title next weekend.

Troicki has played Murray twice before – and has never won a set. Indeed, in both those encounters he has won only seven games, losing 6-1, 6-0 at the Miami Masters in their last encounter.

It was a humbling experience that Murray will be keen to draw on.

"I don't think that last match means anything – it was just a day when I didn't serve good, I didn't do anything good," said Troicki.

"I don't know what to expect on centre court. I'm just going to be aggressive, play smart and give my best.

"If I play at my top level then I believe I can win but who knows. It's going to be a great experience but he's playing very well.

"He's one of the best players in the world at the moment. He and Federer are probably the favourites to win."

Murray won't admit it but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking further down the draw towards opponents at the business end of these championships.

If he progresses beyond Troicki – and it would be the shock of the championship if he didn't – then either Stanislas Wawrinka or Jesse Levine await.

After that he's looking at Gilles Simon, Fernando Gonzalez, Victor Hanescu or Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals.

Second seed Roger Federer won again yesterday but his victory was not as ruthlessly complete as his previous triumph over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, or as convincing as third seed Murray's demolition of Ernests Gulbis.

You can tell how well Federer has played by the amount of post-match questions he gets asked about tennis. After all, how many times can you ask the five-time champion about his forehand or his first serve percentage?

He held court on a wide range of subjects yesterday from Michael Jackson to Nelson Mandela, as if his 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 win over Phillip Kohlschreiber was a mere formality.

It was the five-times champion's 47th Wimbledon win, eclipsing a record previously held by Andre Agassi. But he said: "To be honest I never knew that record existed. It's nice to get but I bet Andre didn't even know he had it."

Federer will now face Sweden's Robin Soderling, who he beat so convincingly in the final of the recent French Open.

But the Swiss is well aware Murray is his main rival.

Federer said: "I didn't watch his second-round match but he's playing well.

"He came through convincingly and he's certainly the favourite in the other section of the draw.

"However, my focus is on my side of the draw and I'm not thinking too far ahead."