JOHN McEnroe believes Andy Murray's new positive attitude can help the British No1 emulate him as a grand slam winner.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a sensational 2008, which has taken in a run to the US Open final and two Master Series title triumphs.
Much has been made of Murray's improved physique and fitness, while he has also won praise for cutting out the petu
lant outbursts that sometimes marred his performances.
Seven-time grand slam winner McEnroe believes everything is now in place for the Scot to take the final step towards one of the sport's four major titles. "When Andy Murray first came on the scene three or four years ago you heard people say that he could win majors, and he's putting all that together now," said McEnroe.
"Conditioning has been a big thing for Andy. He's in better shape and that allows him to believe in himself for longer. He's now using his energy more positively and he doesn't allow the negative energy to get in the way as much.
"He keeps his focus more now and it's pretty obvious that if he can utilise those two things you get to see what he's capable of."
Murray will head into next week's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai as one of the favourites and McEnroe believes he has the game to trouble any of the planet's best players.
He added: "What I love the most is how incredibly well he's moving. It's unbelievable. Most people can't move on the court like that and find the position and the angles that Andy's able to come up with."
Murray yesterday revealed the extent of his determination before the start of the 2008 season by saying "there was no torture I wouldn't consider".
The world No 4, who employed a new team to improve his physical fitness, said: "Having finished that season (2007] so strongly, I wanted to come back in even better form. There was no torture I wouldn't consider, including track work for the first time.
"I never worked so hard in my life as I did during those weeks in Miami last Christmas. We went to the gym, the track, the court, the yoga studio and despite that I still put on weight because I started to eat much more than I'd ever done. I could eat 42 pieces of sushi in one sitting."
The full article contains 404 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
