Murray believes he can reach the top

TENNIS: ANDY MURRAY, buoyed by his success in becoming the first Briton to win the Sony Ericsson Open, believes he can reach the top of the world rankings and win a grand slam title as he goes into the clay court season at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters next week with the best win-loss record on this year's ATP tour.

Talking yesterday after his triumph in Sunday’s final over world number three Novak Djokovic, he acknowledged that all the great prizes were within reach, but he was determined not to succumb to the pressure of urgency. “World rankings, winning a slam, and playing well on clay – I think I can do those things, but it may take time,” said Murray, who though still world number four is a mere 170 points behind Djokovic.

“Some guys mature young and others it takes a bit longer. I have to be more patient and more consistent, and if I can keep that mentality and not get ahead of myself and fight through the matches when I’m not playing well, then I can do it.”

Murray suggested that the US Open still holds the best chance of a slam because he likes the extra speed of the balls, and that the new Wimbledon roof might alter conditions slightly in his favour as well.

But the imminent clay court season offers the best chance of moving up quickly because Murray has vastly fewer points to defend than Djokovic, Federer, or Nadal. “There’s no reason why I can’t do well,” said Murray, who will also play in Rome and Madrid before the French Open in Paris.

“I think I can play well on clay – I used to when I was younger,” he added, referring to teenage years based in Barcelona. “It’s just that I have not hit a ball on clay since the French last year and it takes time to get used to the surface.”

Hence the tour’s decision no longer to make Monte Carlo mandatory works well for him. “There’s not as much pressure because it doesn’t have to go towards the ranking, so I can work on my game just like I have done on other courts.”

And if Murray can make clay comparable to other surfaces for him, he would maintain the best win-loss record on the 2009 tour right through to the end – and make tennis history.

Guardian Service