Former champion Pat Cash believes Andy Murray has all the skills needed to win Wimbledon this year if he can just get the rub of the green at the All England Club.
The British No 1 is set for his final warm-up match in the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic at The Hurlingham Club, where he is, weather permitting, scheduled to meet Japan’s world number 11 Kei Nishikori.
Murray, who missed the French Open with a back injury, secured a third AEGON Championships title at Queen’s last weekend, and will be determined to go one better than he did at Wimbledon in 2012 when losing to Roger Federer in the final, before gaining victory over the Swiss to win gold at the Olympics a few weeks later.
Cash who recorded a victory on Centre Court in 1987 against Ivan Lendl, Murray’s coach feels if the Scot can earn himself some good fortune this time around, there is every reason to be confident of ending what has been more than a 70-year wait for a British men’s singles Wimbledon champion.
“Andy Murray has just about got everything in his game so far, he might just get that extra bit of luck perhaps, just being able to grab the big points,” Cash said.
“That final with Federer last year was very close, and Andy is getting closer (to winning Wimbledon) all the time. Andy is a terrific player, but I do think you need that bit of luck.
“He has had some injury problems, but so far (at Wimbledon) he has just been unlucky, however what is to say that can’t change?
Andy is very comfortable on Centre Court, when he goes out there he plays better and better.”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has been seeded fifth by the All England Club, despite the Spaniard impressing on his return from a knee injury by winning the French Open.
As such, Nadal could be a potential quarter-final opponent for Murray should they both advance through to the second week, while Federer and world No 1 Novak Djokovic, the top seed, could also well stand in the way of Murray’s quest for glory at SW19.
Cash believes this year’s championships will be an intriguing contest.
“Now Nadal is back, it makes the tournament a lot tougher to win. To have to beat Nadal and then one of the other top players as well is going to be a very tough effort,” the Australian said.
“There are also a lot of guys floating around who will be very tough opponents (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga, (Tomas) Berdych, (Juan Martin) Del Potro to name just a few.”