Andy Murray wants more after winning Queen's title

Andy Murray admitted his 7-5, 6-4 victory over James Blake in the final of Queen's yesterday proved he has finally come of age.

Andy Murray admitted his 7-5, 6-4 victory over James Blake in the final of Queen's yesterday proved he has finally come of age.

When Murray first emerged as a gangly teenager four years ago, the Scot was a fragile figure, who was likely to follow a moment of brilliance by collapsing with cramp. But no longer does Murray find himself vomiting on court as he struggles to deal with a five-set match. Now the World No 3 thumps down lethal serves and booming groundstrokes in equal measure and plays with the maturity of a far older player.

master murray! Britain's Andy Murray lifts the Queen's trophy after beating American James Blake (left) in the final at the Queen's Club in London yesterday. Murray won 7-5, 6-4. pic/AFP

The transformation from callow youth to the relentless dynamo who enjoyed a regal procession to his first Queen's title is remarkable even to the 22-year-old.

Murray, the first Briton to win the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event since Bunny Austin in 1938, said: "I'm stronger and I serve more like a man now. I was used to playing in junior competitions when I played here the first time and suddenly I was playing against grown men.u00a0 The intensity is different. The pressure, the nerves when you go on court is different. I had to start working harder and learnt a lot from the grass court period in 2005. I made some changes and obviously I'm a way, way better player now."

Set for Wimbledon
With Wimbledon starting on June 22, Murray looks in good enough form to also eclipse Henman's performances at the All-England Club, where the former British No 1 was a four-time beaten semi-finalist. "It's pretty special to win here. There are lot of great, great players on that trophy; (John) McEnroe, (Jimmy) Connors, (Andy) Roddick, (Rafael) Nadal. So to be on it as well is great and because it's not happened that a British player has won for so long, that makes it nicer. "I don't think it's impossible to win Wimbledon and I go into every tournament with that sort of mentality. But I'll have to play my best tennis ever to do it. That's why no one in Britain's done it for such a long time, because it is that difficult."