Tennis Australian Open: While the AAMI Classic at Kooyong is a notch or two up from the meaningless exhibitions that litter tennis and line the top players' pockets at the back end of every year, this invitational pre-Australian Open showcase is really nothing more than a series of glorified public practice sessions, so it did not cut Andy Murray to the quick that he lost 6-4, 6-4 against Andy Roddick in what was notionally the semi-final yesterday morning.
"You go out and play properly but you try things that you might not necessarily do in a match.
You're not playing for ranking points; you're playing to get ready for next week. So I thought today was okay. I didn't return as well as I can."
In some respects, he admitted, the defeat did Murray a favour because, had he won, the teenager would have played Roger Federer today and that might have adversely affected his confidence before the year's first major, which starts on Monday.
Murray performed well enough to have Roddick, whom he beat twice last year, in trouble early on but then played far too many wayward points of the sort he will need to eradicate next week if he is not to get dragged into long matches that sap strength and wither mental fortitude in the Australian heat.
This first grand slam event of the year often favours those who have worked the most diligently in December; Andre Agassi, who won the title four times, invariably arrived here as fit as a butcher's dog. In 2003 Germany's Rainer Schuttler, a player of limited talent but great lung capacity, reached the final.
If Murray supporters are to believe the stories of his physical efforts in California and Florida under Brad Gilbert's stern eye, then the 19-year-old Scot may be in a position to inflict real damage.
Murray remains confident. "I obviously worked pretty hard in the off-season. I feel quick on the court and I'm not getting tired during points. I feel fast. So yeah, everything feels pretty good. But I'm probably not as match tight as I was going into the US Open."
It will be fascinating to see how he develops. So much of his initial success has stemmed from his remarkable ability to extend rallies and force his opponents into mistakes.
He mixes up pace and angles beautifully and seemingly has time in abundance. Yet there have been those keen to see him finish rallies off more quickly, principally because of the question marks over his fitness. Now that his stamina appears to be improving there is no reason why Murray should radically change his style. His serve will improve and so will the velocity of his shots but it his variety and subtlety that mark him out as somebody special.
He has reminded many of the sublimely skilful Czech player, Miloslav Mecir, who delighted fans in the 1980s with an intricate touch that brought him 13 titles, though never a major.
His career was cut short by a back injury, a salutary reminder to all those who believe that Murray may become Britain's most successful player since Fred Perry, that supreme talent needs good health, something of which Federer, in search of his 10th major title here, is only too aware.
Maria Sharapova insists she is undaunted by the prospect of being made a Grand Slam top seed for only the second time in her career as she prepares for a first-round clash with Camille Pin.
Sharapova will start as favourite following the withdrawal of world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne through personal reasons, while Venus Williams is also out with a wrist injury. Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, is also hit by fitness concerns and surprisingly lost to Jelena Jankovic in last week's Medibank International.
Guardian Service
