Britain's Andy Murray said his sublime form could make him world No 1 in six months as he targets a maiden Grand Slam title.
Britain's Andy Murray said his sublime form could make him world No 1 in six months as he targets a maiden Grand Slam title.
Murray, 21, reached the Australian Open second round after just 12 games when veteran Romanian Andrei Pavel pulled out injured with the scores at 6-2, 3-1, and later quit tennis.
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The Scot is currently the hottest player in world tennis, defeating all his fellow top-four players over the past year and reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open.
"I'd obviously love to be number one. I'm sure all players would at some point in their career. But I'd want to try and win a Slam first. I think that's the next step for me," he said today.
"But if I play well the first six months of this year, I don't have a whole lot of points to defend. So there is a chance that I'd do it. I'm going to have to play like I did for the second part of the year last year. I'm going to have to do the same in the first part of this year, try and be very consistent."
Despite searing heat on Rod Laver Arena, Murray was coasting through the match after breaking twice to take the opening set in 31 minutes. Pavel, playing in his 10th Australian Open and the second oldest man here at 34, called for treatment on his long-standing back injury between sets and lasted just four more games before pulling out, grimacing with pain.
Murray said it was a "shame" the Romanian's career was over. But he was glad to limit his playing time on Rod Laver Arena as temperatures soared to 40 C (104 F) in bright sun.
"Even when you sit down at the change of ends, you're expecting to go and chill out a little bit in the shade and it's roasting even when you're just sitting there," he said. "That was tough. And if you have a long point, you can feel your feet burning a little bit."
The Florida-based Murray admitted he wasn't sure how he would cope with the conditions in a longer match but hoped his playing style, which relies heavily on drop shots and changes of pace, would help. "I've trained as hard as I could and prepared very well. But when it's as hot as this, I don't know," he said.
"I think you just got to trust the work that you put in, you know, is good enough. When it's this temperature everyone's going to feel it. You just have to try and make your opponent do more running than you."
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