I won’t go to Australian Open if I can’t win it – Murray

Murray

Andy Murray is not interested in going to the Australian Open unless he is in a position to win it.

The 26-year-old captured his country’s heart in July by becoming the first British man to win a Wimbledon singles title for 77 years.

It was a feat Murray managed despite a back problem that first affected him during the 2012 clay-court season, flaring up on the same surface this year.

The injury forced the Scot to miss the French Open and, while able to return for and win Wimbledon, he went under the knife in September after a frustrating US Open defence and helping the British Davis Cup team return to the World Group.

Murray is making slow and steady progress in his rehabilitation and is not interested in rushing back, although indicated again he would like to appear at the Dream Cup in Barbados at the end of November.

“I would be disappointed to miss the Australian Open because it’s a grand slam,” he said.

“It is a tournament all the players want to play at.

“But when you start setting targets – especially when you are coming back from having surgery on your back, it’s a serious thing to have done – (it is important) that you don’t come back just to play a match or to the Australian Open.

“If I come back, I want to be in shape to win it. I can look at this in a lot of positive ways and if I do get myself ready for it I will have had a long lead-up and training block, really, to get myself in the best possible shape.

“Whether I make it or not depends on how things go once I get back on the tennis court. I haven’t been on the tennis court yet, so I’m not sure.”