ANDY MURRAY is eyeing a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles, saying: I’m still one of the best players on grass.
The Scot, 36, is the ONLY man in the 128-player field this week who has beaten defending champion Novak Djokovic at SW19.
Andy Murray practised with Novak Djokovic yesterday
That success came TEN YEARS AGO when he overcame the Serb to lift the trophy for the first time.
Muzza, the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon champ, said: “I have the experience at this tournament. Playing on the big courts.
“There’s only one player in the draw that has more experience of playing here than me: Novak. I need to use that to my advantage and take confidence from that.
“I do believe I’m one of the best grass-court players in the world and I’m physically feeling really good.
“I prepared well, so there’s no reason why I can’t have a good tournament.
“As you get towards the latter stage of your career, you want to make the most of these opportunities because you don’t know how many more times they’ll be here.”
Murray begins his 15th Wimbledon campaign with a first-round tie against Essex boy Ryan Peniston, who is a wildcard entrant, on Tuesday.
The only other time he played a fellow Brit was in 2016 when he overcame Liam Broady — and that was the year he claimed a second success in south-west London.
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Murray, 36, was in good form in his pre-Wimbledon press conference
The former world No 1 joked: “Brilliant. Great. Can we start celebrating now?
“I don’t believe in omens. I know Ryan pretty well. We practised together quite a lot.
“He obviously likes playing on the grass courts. I need to be ready for that one.”
Murray revealed on the eve of last year’s Wimbledon he had turned down Saudi Arabian millions to play tennis in the controversial nation.
Yet the oil-rich Middle East country have lofty sporting ambitions and have held talks with the ATP and WTA about possible financial involvement and staging possible events.
Father-of-four Muzza said: “In the past when asked to go there, we were asked to play exhibition tournaments.
“If they become major tournaments on the Tour, it becomes a slightly different question. It’s a difficult one.
“Based on how the Tour and the rankings and everything work, how important they are to get into other events and stuff . . . when you start missing them, you obviously get penalised for that.
“It’s definitely something I’d have to think about.
“Unfortunately, it’s the way a lot of sports seem to be going now.”
Murray won his second Wimbledon title in 2016
