Tennis: Kuznetsov says Murray will rise above his recent poor form

Andrey Kuznetsov, a lean, quietly spoken Russian who is tougher than he looks, says that for all that Andy Murray might be more vulnerable this year, he expects the world No1 to put aside recent poor form when they meet in their first-round match here on Tuesday.

“Maybe if you see his results on clay, they are not his best, not as good as last year,” the 26-year-old world No73 said. “[Borna] Coric, for example, beat him in Madrid so it shows that it’s possible to beat him. But the big guys prepare for the big tournaments. Maybe it was part of the plan. But in the first round of big tournaments, they also need some time to find their rhythm.

“I understand he is favourite for this match, but I think I will have good chances. I did 10 days of preparation for this tournament. In New York [three years ago], I won a set against him, but it was on hardcourt. I will watch a few matches of his on clay to prepare.

“It’s always a good experience to play the world No1 [he lost the only previous time, against Novak Djokovic]. If I win, I will be a hero. If I lose, nobody will be surprised. So there’s nothing to lose for me.”

Kuznetsov was not persuaded by the suggestion that the top ranking was affecting Murray’s confidence, although he will be hoping otherwise on court. “I think Andy can hold the pressure pretty good. If we talk about nerves, maybe for me, it’s a little bit easier,” he said. “I will come on court not thinking: ‘He’s world No1 and for sure is going to win.’ I will try to win, not to show good tennis or a good fight. I know I can win if I play good.”

When told that Murray had been ill the past week, Kuznetsov looked unimpressed. “I did not hear that. In professional sport, we always have some injuries or feeling bad here, feeling bad there. But I’m sure he will compete like 100%. But, if in the middle of the match he retires, I would be happy.”

Kuznetsov did not buy into the view, either, that Murray’s dip in form this year was a surprise. “You cannot be on top your whole career. Sooner or later, it goes up and down, up and down. He had a very good end of last year, this year maybe not as good as he wanted, but he’s still No1. Even if he would be No3, he’s still a very good player.”

He did agree that the younger players are starting to make a more regular impression in big matches now, particularly the exciting young German, Alexander Zverev, whom he knows well.

“Sascha is a big fighter. I played with him maybe two or three years ago in a Challenger, when he was 200 in the world. I beat him 7-5 in the third set but you could see even then he was very good. There are a few more players, too.”

Away from the game, Murray shreds the perception that he is in some sort of spiritual trough. That is an image that predates the settled period of marriage and fatherhood – which he revealed has changed his life.

Mischa Zverev, who embarrassed the world No1 on court in Melbourne, did it with a microphone on behalf of the ATP website ahead of this tournament, and they exchanged views on siblings and fatherhood.

“I shouldn’t let you do this after you beat me in Australia,” Murray joked. The German apologised, weakly, and asked the Scot about his one-year-old daughter, Sophia. “It’s been great, a huge change in your life. It’s the best. For me, anyway, it changes how I see my tennis and my life in general, because tennis is all I did. When I lost a tennis match I was totally down and upset; when I won it was amazing. Whereas now it’s not the most important thing anymore. I would certainly recommend it”

Zverev reminded Murray they both have tennis-playing brothers, although Mischa’s age-gap is bigger with 20-year-old Alexander than is Murray’s with Jamie, who is a year older. “Until 12, Jamie used to beat me all the time. I genuinely cannot remember [if their mother Judy favoured one over the other]. But they’ve got the younger brother syndrome; they always think everyone’s against them.”

It might have seemed the world was against him in recent weeks but Murray has always been able to draw on considerable stores of stubbornness to prove his critics wrong. If he beats Kuznetsov, he will at least be back in a winning frame of mind.”