Perth: Scotland's Andy Murray believes he enters 2010 primed to make the quantum leap from contender to champion and finally end Britain's 74-year drought in Grand Slam singles tennis.
The world No.4 has fine-tuned his schedule and preparation to give himself every chance of success in the Grand Slams, starting with the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old has controversially opted out of Davis Cup duties for Great Britain, worked on his net game and put in the hard yards on the training track in Miami during the brief off-season so that he can fill the one gap in a resume that includes 14 ATP singles titles.
"I've been working really hard for the last two or three years physically to make sure that I am strong enough," he said.
"Last year I thought did well, but a few things I could have done a bit better.
"If I feel good going into the tournaments, especially on the hard courts and the grass, I have got a pretty good chance of beating any of the guys and winning the tournament, so I believe I can do well this year."
"I practice playing at the net a lot and have done for the last few years, it is more understanding when to come to the net and making sure you pick the right moments to come forward," he said.
"That is a tactical thing I have had to work on with my coach and hopefully it will pay off."
This year, he has opted for the Hopman Cup in Australia rather than trying for a third successive title at the season-opening ATP event in Doha.
He said he wanted to arrive in Australia earlier than in previous years to give himself more time to acclimatise to the local conditions.
"I wanted to get out here a little bit earlier to get used to the heat, to get over the jet lag and get used to the courts, because the surface is a lot different than the one in Doha."
Murray believes the Plexicushion courts in Melbourne suit his game and said he was also considering playing at Melbourne's Kooyong Classic next week.
He defended his decision to sit out Great Britain's Davis Cup Europe-Africa Zone Group II tie against Lithuania in March, saying it was time for younger British players to be given the chance to pick up the baton.
"I've played a lot of Davis Cup matches the last few years and enjoyed playing in them, but when I play and we lose I don't feel like it benefits the other (British) players that much," he said.
"I think it is a bit unfair to single me out for that (missing the tie), (Roger) Federer has missed Davis Cup matches, Raf (Nadal) has missed Davis Cup matches, (Novak) Djokovic has missed Davis Cup matches, (Pete) Sampras, (Andre) Agassi.
"A lot better players than me have missed Davis Cup matches.
"I am not abandoning Great Britain, I am here representing them here as well."
The world No.4 has fine-tuned his schedule and preparation to give himself every chance of success in the Grand Slams, starting with the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old has controversially opted out of Davis Cup duties for Great Britain, worked on his net game and put in the hard yards on the training track in Miami during the brief off-season so that he can fill the one gap in a resume that includes 14 ATP singles titles.
"I've been working really hard for the last two or three years physically to make sure that I am strong enough," he said.
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"Last year I thought did well, but a few things I could have done a bit better.
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"If I feel good going into the tournaments, especially on the hard courts and the grass, I have got a pretty good chance of beating any of the guys and winning the tournament, so I believe I can do well this year."
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"I practice playing at the net a lot and have done for the last few years, it is more understanding when to come to the net and making sure you pick the right moments to come forward," he said.
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"That is a tactical thing I have had to work on with my coach and hopefully it will pay off."
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This year, he has opted for the Hopman Cup in Australia rather than trying for a third successive title at the season-opening ATP event in Doha.
He said he wanted to arrive in Australia earlier than in previous years to give himself more time to acclimatise to the local conditions.
"I wanted to get out here a little bit earlier to get used to the heat, to get over the jet lag and get used to the courts, because the surface is a lot different than the one in Doha."
Murray believes the Plexicushion courts in Melbourne suit his game and said he was also considering playing at Melbourne's Kooyong Classic next week.
He defended his decision to sit out Great Britain's Davis Cup Europe-Africa Zone Group II tie against Lithuania in March, saying it was time for younger British players to be given the chance to pick up the baton.
"I've played a lot of Davis Cup matches the last few years and enjoyed playing in them, but when I play and we lose I don't feel like it benefits the other (British) players that much," he said.
"I think it is a bit unfair to single me out for that (missing the tie), (Roger) Federer has missed Davis Cup matches, Raf (Nadal) has missed Davis Cup matches, (Novak) Djokovic has missed Davis Cup matches, (Pete) Sampras, (Andre) Agassi.
"A lot better players than me have missed Davis Cup matches.
"I am not abandoning Great Britain, I am here representing them here as well."
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