Wimbledon task no easier without Nadal, claims Murray
Murray expects Federer to be the man to beat at this year's Wimbledon
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Sunday, 21, Jun 2009 11:28
Andy Murray insists the task ahead of him on the eve of Wimbledon remains just as hard even following the withdrawal of defending champion Rafael Nadal.
Nadal and Murray had been drawn in the same half and would have met in the semi-finals.
However, Murray says he is adopting a 'one game at a time' approach and had not considered a semi-final with the world number one anyway.
Murray says becoming the first Briton to win at SW19 since Fed Perry remains the same difficult task it always has been, but is positive about his chances this year.
He said: "It's very easy to say, 'Oh, Rafa's not playing, Andy's got a much easier route to the final.' I don't view it like that at all.
"If I got to that stage [the semi-finals], I would have had to have won five matches before I would have had to play him, so I wasn't thinking about playing Nadal at all."
The Scot feels that five-time champion Roger Federer remains the man to beat if you want to lift the Wimbledon trophy.
"Federer's made the last six finals of Wimbledon, he's obviously the big favourite going into the tournament," Murray added.
Despite the weight of history being on his shoulders Murray says he feels he is better placed than ever before to capture his first grand slam trophy.
"I feel like I've got a chance, but I'll have to play great to do it," he said.
"I'd obviously love to win here. I enjoy playing on grass, I love playing at Wimbledon. I feel like I'm ready to win a grand slam now, whereas last year I might not have been."
Murray will face American Robert Kendrick in the first round on Tuesday.