By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, May 7, 2017
"In many ways, it's the most important part of the year. There's a lot of big tournaments that come very quickly, one after the other," said Andy Murray.
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open
Madrid’s Magic Box could be a pressure cooker for Andy Murray.
The world No. 1 sees the Spanish capital city as a launching pad.
Watch: Zverev Wins Munich, Reaches Career-High Rank
“Expectations are high,” Murray told the media in Madrid. “I want to do well the next few weeks. In many ways, it's the most important part of the year. There's a lot of big tournaments that come very quickly, one after the other.
“Obviously, you know, the grass court season is always an important period of the year for me. But, yeah, I'm motivated. My expectations are high for the next few months. I'm looking forward to it.”
Stakes are significant, too.
Murray is defending 2,800 ranking points during this critical clay-court stretch, including defending his Rome title and finals in Madrid and Roland Garros.
The 2015 Madrid champion opens against a wild card—either Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or 109th-ranked Romanian Marius Copil.
Should seeds hold true to form, Murray would meet 13th-seeded Lucas Pouille, whom he’s swept all eight sets against, including a 6-2, 6-1, thrashing in the 2016 Rome semifinals.
A potential semifinal would pit Murray against eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem, who surprised the Scot, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, in the Barcelona semifinals last month. Murray’s serve lacked its typical sting during some stages of that defeat, but he insists the right elbow injury that forced him out of Miami, is not a concern.
The top seed said he’s healthy and eager.
“I feel good. Barcelona was important for me to get three matches in three days,” Murray said. “A couple of long ones, as well. Yeah, I mean, I was a little bit stiff and sore at the end of it. I'm happy with where I'm at physically just now, and my body feels good. Yeah, you know, I need to try and keep it that way. Obviously, like I say, with such an important period of the year, so many big events coming right after one another, it's important to be in good nick. I feel like I am just now.”
Conceding he was surprised by reigning Madrid champion Novak Djokovic’s decision to drop his coaching team, Murray said it’s highly unusual for elite players to retain their teams intact for nearly a decade as Djokovic had done with coach Marian Vajda, fitness coach Gebhard Phil Gritsch and trainer Miljan Amanovic.
“What I will say, though, it is difficult traveling,” Murray said. “It's great in some ways, but it's also difficult traveling with the same person or same people for 10, 11, 12 years. It's very rare nowadays to see teams or coaching relationships last that long, just because of how intense it is. A lot of traveling, a lot of time away from families. You're spending a lot of hours in the day together.
“Yeah, maybe Novak just felt like it was time for a change or he felt like he needed a change. I don't know. I haven't spoken to him about that. But, you know, rather than seeing it as a negative thing, it's been obviously a very successful relationship he's had with all of those guys. I'm sure they parted on very good terms. See what Novak's next moves are.”
Altitude and quicker conditions have made Madrid comfortable for Murray, who has won nine of his last 10 matches in the Magic Box.
"I like it here," Murray said. "I played well, especially the last few years. I think the altitude helps my game a little bit on the clay, makes the conditions a little bit quicker, which I like."