Rosol: ‘I’ve nothing to lose against Murray . . .’
Munich, Rosol bumped shoulders with Murray after winning the first set and an angry Murray later mouthed at him: “Everyone hates you”.
Recalling the match here at the weekend, Murray said he had spoken to Rosol after that match and cleared everything up and yesterday, the Czech refused to bite when asked about it.
“You have some other question? I don’t want to answer this,” he said. “We are good friends. It was something about nothing.”
But Rosol likes nothing more than trying to get under the skin of his opponent and given Murray’s outstanding recent form, he’s unlikely to get too far if he shows too much respect to the world No.2.
“I played him once in Indian Wells and it was three sets in the first round and then we played on clay courts which is a little bit different,” Rosol said.
“But from the hard court I have good memories against him. It’s going to be all about me, if I’m going to play good, hard, risky, you know I can do well. So I give him my game. He is hitting well, serving well, playing all round – well, he is a better player than me so if I don’t take risks . . .”
In his practice and media commitments here over the past few days, Murray has looked relaxed and happy, as he ought to be after winning four of his past six tournaments, including Wimbledon and the Olympics.
Tiredness at the end of a long season is a slight concern, but he is confident and knows that if he can get through the always tricky first match, he will fancy his chances of victory.
Murray has been working hard, as always, with his coach, Ivan Lendl and the Czech’s presence in the stands will not go unnoticed by Rosol.
The former world No.1 remains an important figure in the history of Czech tennis and Rosol said he’d seen Lendl in the locker room. “For all the Czech players, he was a legend,” he said. “We already make some fun in the locker room. We just had a nice conversation, everybody just trying to have some fun from each other.
“He wasn’t my hero but I totally respect him. He was somebody who won a lot so for everybody he should be a legend. I cannot say he was my hero but I see him as a really great player.”
Rosol has never played on Arthur Ashe Stadium and will try to find some practice time if possible.
But whatever happens, the 31-year-old plans to leave everything on the line in a bid to add another big-name to his list of scalps. “In the first round you have to get used to the surface, the balls and everything,” he said.
“First rounds are always very tough for everyone but I have nothing to lose against Andy.
“We have played two matches already, three sets, so I’m looking forward to having a good match. Of course he is the favourite, but I just try my best.”