LONDON: There has been an unhealthy amount of gloom hovering around Andy Murray in recent weeks but thankfully for the British number one Wimbledon provides the perfect stage for him to switch on his A game.

The Scottish world number four suffered a crushing defeat to Tomas Berdych at the French Open last month on a dank and dark Parisian evening then last week he lost to American Mardy Fish at Queen`s Club in a match interrupted by fading light.

Visibility will not be a factor at Wimbledon, however, where Murray christened the new Centre Court roof and lights in spectacular fashion last year when the he beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the tournament`s first late-night thriller.

Murray looked poised to reach the 2009 final before being ambushed by an inspired Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, meaning Britain`s wait for a first men`s winner at Wimbledon since 1936 was extended by at least another 12 months.

The 23-year-old will again arrive carrying his nation`s hopes on his shoulders as one of only two British men in the draw, but worryingly he is still struggling to rediscover the form that took him to this year`s Australian Open final.

Murray hopes things are about to click into place.

"I haven`t been playing my best lately but the game is there," Murray, who warmed up with an exhibition match against Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Thursday, said.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

"My expectations are as high as normal. Whether everybody thinks I`m going to win or thinks I`m going to lose, I`m going to try my best to win the tournament.

"I have a chance of doing it if I play very well. It`s going to be difficult, so I`ll put pressure on myself to perform. But normally when I put pressure on myself, I play my best tennis.

"I`d like to feel better. Hopefully come Wimbledon I`ll be playing better and I`ll get to spend a lot of time at home in front of home support."

Murray has been talked up as a potential grand slam champion by some of the game`s great names, three-times Wimbledon champion John McEnroe chief amongst them.

However, the longer he has to wait, chances are a new crop of emerging talent will shake up the established order. This leaves Murray, who was a runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2008, knowing that he needs to convert one of his chances soon.

That creates it`s own pressure, according to McEnroe.

"I can totally relate to what he`s going through. And he`s got more pressure in a way, because he hasn`t broken through yet," McEnroe, who will be spending the next two weeks working as a BBC pundit, said.

"There is more anxiety in his case because of what goes on in Britain. Everyone wants it so bad. He has been going through this for years already. You have a legitimate contender. Each year it grows and it gets that much worse."

One good omen for Murray is that in each of his four appearances at Wimbledon he has improved.

In 2005 as a gangly teenager he made the third round, in 2006 it was the last 16 and in 2008 he was stopped in the quarter-finals by Rafael Nadal before last year Roddick tripped him up in the semis.

With a decent draw and a bit of luck, Murray has every chance of going at least one step further.

BDST: 1133hrs, June 18, 2010
CG