Swiss absence should not deter Murray’s ATP chances

Andy Murray’s decision to pull out of the Swiss Indoors this week should not affect his chances of lifting the ATP Tour Finals crown in November, despite a back injury clearly being a problem for the Scot.

Murray, who was expected to use the tournament as indoor preparation for the London showdown next month, suffered a back strain ahead of the Basel meet and has rightly decided to rest up and wait for the hurt to ease.

Indeed, coming off the back of his arduous Shanghai...

Philip Oliver

Murray hails Lendl influence

World number three Andy Murray says eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl has played a huge role in some of the impressive live scores he’s posted on his rise to glory.

Murray will reflect on 2012 as his breakthrough year. The Scot claimed gold in the men's singles event at the Olympics on home soil before breaking his Grand Slam duck at the US Open. He also reached his maiden Wimbledon final.

The 25-year-old's watershed year comes in Lendl's first term as coach....

Philip Oliver

Djokovic pleased with year's work

World number two Novak Djokovic insists he has enjoyed "an incredible year" despite ending 2012 with only one Grand Slam title.

The Serbian was the stand-out player in 2011 – winning 10 tournaments, including Grand Slam tournament victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Djokovic also captured a record-breaking five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles.

The 25-year-old picked up where he left off at the start of this year, reclaiming his...

Philip Oliver

Japan Star hits Pain Barrier in Basel

Japan Star hits Pain Barrier in Basel

So often is the case in tennis that winners of big ATP tournaments or Grand Slams feel the pain of their victories only days later, when another competition comes along. Kei Nishikori, who lifted the Japan Open title a fortnight ago, as expected in the early tennis previews, this week suffered from the same fate.

Nishikori has been forced to pull out of the Swiss Indoors because of injury to his right ankle. The Japanese number...

Philip Oliver

Big Four Rivalries Shaping up Nicely for 2013

Andy Murray’s triumph at the US Open is good news for sports fans, according to the Betfair tennis tips website. The Scot had been more than holding his own on tour against the top three players in the world for some time, but wins against them in Grand Slam tournaments had been hard to come by.

With Rafael Nadal debilitated by injury and Roger Federer slightly past his best, spectators might have feared the glorious recent rivalries between the big names were beginning to fizzle...

Philip Oliver