Andre Agassi believes Andy Murray's best years are yet to come. The eight-times Grand Slam champion, who knows from experience what it is like to suffer back problems at the height of your career, has been impressed by Murray's form following his return from surgery.
“I leave a lot of room for his best years still to be ahead of him,” Agassi said. “It may not be as many years as he could have had, but I think we will see his best still. It appears to me that what he's gone through is not much different to what I went through: he was let on to this dirty little secret, that winning a Slam doesn't change anything.
“If anything, it makes you realise that this better be about something else. You have to figure out a way to engage with the game differently. You have to figure out a way to make yourself better, despite being the best.”
Agassi, who won his last Grand Slam title at the age of 32, was encouraged by the form 27-year-old Murray showed at the start of this year, when he reached the final of the Australian Open before losing to Novak Djokovic. It was Murray's first appearance in a major final since he won his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon two summers ago.
“He looks as fit and as prepared and as strong as I have ever seen him,” Agassi said. “He played well throughout Australia - the best I've ever seen him play, quite frankly, maybe until the final, where a little edge came off, though a lot had to do with Djokovic.
“He was utilising his strengths. He wasn't passive. He served well. He was hitting his forehand, catching every forehand he could before the peak. That ball never came off the edge. He was on top of it.
“He dictated most points the whole tournament, which is great to see. That's the kind of game that is going to make him beat these guys. In his heart, he has a long year to negotiate. It's harder for some. I don't think Andy is inspired by just winning. Winning is fuel for people. Andy is a bit of a tortured perfectionist.”
Agassi expects Murray to win his singles rubbers when Britain meet the United States in the Davis Cup in Glasgow this weekend and thinks the result will be decided by the two other singles matches, in which Britain's James Ward will take on John Isner and Donald Young. “Isner is going to have to step up,” Agassi said. “He's going to have to get at least one win. It's 50-50.” – The Independent