Andy Murray is set for a high-profile first-round match against Nick Kyrgios at the U.S. Open.
The 20-year-old Australian has been in the spotlight since his derogatory remarks towards Stanislas Wawrinka earlier this month in Montreal, with the ATP ruling that he will be suspended for six months if he does not meet certain conditions over the next six months, related to on-court behavior and fines.
Murray insisted that he would approach it as just another match, despite the attention likely to be given to the encounter.
“For me it’s just a tennis match and I go about the match in the best way possible by getting all the things, getting all the tactics, and everything sorted and you know, tailor my practices the next few days around his game style and that’s what I’ll be doing," said Murray.
However, Murray is ready for a tough match, with Kyrgios one of the top unseeded players.
"To be honest, I think he likes playing on big stages. That’s where he’s played his best tennis throughout his career," said Murray. "I would expect him to be ready for the match. He gets himself fired up for the big events."
Murray, who is friendly with Kyrgios, has been more muted in his criticism of the up-and-comer than the sport’s other big names.
"And I think it’s wrong, a lot of the things that he’s done, but I also think that he’s still young," he said. "I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I don’t think he’s a bad person at all. He’s an unbelievably talented guy with a lot of potential."
The two have played three times, with Murray winning all three, including victories at the Australian Open and French Open.
The 28-year-old said he doesn’t know how the controversy has affected his opponent, but noted the different rules applying at Grand Slam events, which meant that Kyrgios would not be affected by the ATP ruling on his behavior.
"I don’t know what he’s thinking when he’s on the court or preparing for matches like this,” said Murray. “I have no clue. It’s up to him and his team to find the best way to deal with it.”