SUPER Scot Andy Murray has refused to get carried away with his wonderful form ahead of his second-round match against Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open tennis tournament.
Murray lost just one game when easing into the second round at Melbourne Park for the first time by beating Alberto Martin - as reported in later editions of yesterday's SportTimes - but played down talk of being a title contender.
"I've never been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam before," said the 19-year-old.
"It's a huge jump between fourth round and winning it. I hope in two, three years' time is when I'll consistently be a contender for Grand Slams."
Murray faces Spaniard Verdasco for the first time tomorrow, and at 16 in the world he is ranked 19 places higher than his opponent.
Verdasco was certainly the most fortunate player yesterday, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu retiring when leading 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-6 (3-1).
But Murray knows the 23-year-old is talented with a huge forehand that has helped him to wins over the likes of Andy Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic.
World No.1 and top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland beat Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 today, while Andy Roddick, seeded six, beat Marc Gicquel (France) 6-3, 7-6, 6-4.
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