Now Murray joins fan club

ANDY MURRAY was won over by the manner of Rory McIlroy’s major breakthrough as he searches for the mental fortitude that will help him win a first tennis Grand Slam.

The world number four began his sixth Wimbledon campaign on Monday with a tougher-than-expected 4-6 6-3 6-0 6-0 victory over Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver under the Centre Court roof.

Murray has vowed to work hard to improve his attitude on court, not allowing frustration to overwhelm him as he seeks the extra edge that will turn grand slam final appearances into titles.

McIlroy could certainly have sympathised after blowing a big lead at golf’s Masters earlier this year but the County Down man used the experience as a learning curve and blitzed the field to win his first major at the US Open on Sunday.

Murray was hugely impressed by McIlroy’s achievement but does not see their situations as entirely comparable.

He said: “The way he dealt with everything was fantastic. He’s going to probably go on to be one of the best golfers that we’ve seen, I think.

“They’re very different sports in many ways, tennis and golf, because you’re always sort of in control I think in golf.

“In tennis, like (against Gimeno-Traver), the first set and a half I wasn’t in control of what was going on out there. So they’re very different. But the way that he came back from what happened, of having a chance of winning his first major, was great.”

Murray’s hopes of making the breakthrough at Wimbledon are helped by the fact the Scot can stay at his own home — but even that can have its drawbacks.

Murray was awoken at 7am by the drug testers last Thursday, the fourth time in as many weeks the Scot has been tested.

He said: “It’s just very intrusive when you get someone in your house in the morning. When you’re going to the toilet and they’re staring at you, in your own home, it’s just quite a strange feeling.”