Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
As Andy Murray prepares to play his final competitive match on Thursday ahead of the Australian Open, he has received welcome support from an unexpected source as he bids to win his first grand slam title.
Novak Djokovic, arguably the most in-form player of the lot, believes Murray deserves his turn in the winners' circle.
The Serb, champion here in 2008, will begin the first grand slam event of the year on Monday as a Davis Cup winner, full of the confidence that goes with that accolade. He will be a massive danger to Murray's hopes of going one better than when he made the final 12 months ago but if Djokovic does not win, he has no doubt who he would like to see lift the trophy.
"I wish him to win definitely and the next chance he has I am sure he's going to take because he's been working hard," said Djokovic, who has known Murray since they were 13.
"Hard work will pay off, I know that from my personal experience. I think he deserves it and he has all he needs to have in order to be a grand slam champion. He's already played two grand slam finals and he's been winning against everyone at the top of men's tennis."
Weather permitting – rain is forecast on and off until the weekend – Murray will take on Marin Cilic of Croatia in an exhibition event at Kooyong, the club that hosted the Australian Open until it moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
Twelve months ago, Murray beat Cilic in the semi-finals and only Roger Federer stopped him in the final – as he did at the US Open in 2008 – and the Swiss and the world No1 Rafael Nadal will be the favourites again. Murray has beaten both several times before but doing so in a grand slam final is another matter altogether, something Djokovic knows only too well.
"It's hard mentally to make that extra step," Djokovic said. "He lost both his finals to Federer and we all know that both Federer and Nadal are incredibly strong mentally. Even in the later stages of a grand slam when most players are starting to get tired, it seems they take it to another level. They feel you are tired and getting satisfied with being in the finals or semi-finals."
Courtesy: Guardian
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