Experience the key - Murray

Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 21 February 2007 / Leave a Comment

Andy Murray believes the experience he has gained over the last year or so will help him become more consistent this season.

Fresh from retaining his SAP Open title in San Jose, the British number one is preparing to face Canada's Frank Dancevic in the first round of the Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.

The 19-year-old Scot reached the third round of the event last season before losing in straight sets to Robin Soderling, and that defeat was seemingly the catalyst for a slump in form that lasted well into the clay-court season and cost him valuable ranking points.

However, Murray believes he has learned valuable lessons since then and said: "I think I have more experience this year.

"Last year I lost in three sets in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. This year I have won all the three-set matches I have played.

"So that is the key, sticking in there in tough matches. I am looking forward to the clay-court season this year."

The world number 13 Murray has never played Dancevic before, but is fully expected to book his passage through to the next round against the 22-year-old - 82 places below him in the rankings - reflected by his short price of 1.13 in Betfair's match odds.

Murray is scheduled to again meet Andy Roddick, who beat Dancevic in straight sets in San Jose, in another semi-final, if both make it that far, and the two are the market leaders in the outright winner market.

Despite his recent loss to the Dunblane-born youngster in the semi-finals at San Jose, world number four Roddick is the favourite at 3.05 to win in Memphis, with Murray available at 4.2.