AT around 5.51pm on Tuesday night, Andy Murray took the acclaim of the crowd and walked off Centre Court.

He had just been involved in a gruelling, two-hour struggle with Mikhail Kukushkin in temperatures which struck 41 degrees Celsius. He then hauled his weary body onto a static bike and cycled for around 40 minutes, drinking a litre of water and sports drink in the process.

He then had a shower, drank a protein shake and ate some pasta and chicken. The next 45 minutes were spent on the massage table in the company of physio Shane Annun, prior to an extensive period of stretching. Then it was time for the ice bath. Eight minutes at eight degrees Celsius, in case you were wondering.

To say that the Scot is meticulous in his preparation these days is a bit like saying Bilel Mohsni has a bit of a discipline problem. Being sure to get in an ice bath after every match that he plays, however long or short it may be, is one thing. Andy Murray goes further than that: he is the kind of guy who uses his influence to ensure new ones get installed at the All England Club to avoid him having to drive home each night to use his one in his Surrey mansion. His commitment to tennis is total.

The Scot has always been scrupulous in this area. But part of the reason for his increased focus on such matters will be standing on the other side of the net on Court No.1 this lunchtime. As far as Andy Murray is concerned, Robin Haase is a warning from history.

Those who saw a meeting between these two players, contemporaries in the junior ranks, in the first round at the US Open in August are unlikely to forget it. Those who played in it certainly won't. Out on Flushing Meadow's secondary arena, Louis Armstrong - a sun trap of a stadium which has never been Murray's favourite place - it became patently clear early on that something had gone awry.

After an hour and 15 minutes of play, the kind of period which would seriously affect most normal human beings, his hamstrings and forearm began cramping up badly. The second set was given up 6-1, his lethargic body at one stage left hanging limply on the net, before he somehow managed to get over the line and off the court in four sets. The masochist in him also issued himself with a swift metaphorical rap on the knuckles. This was a painful reminder that no matter how meticulously you have prepared, the merest missed detail can have dire consequences.

"I was cramping after an hour and 15 minutes or something so I don't know how I managed to come through that match to be honest," recalled Murray. "Whoever I had played that day it would have been pretty ugly for me. I came through in four sets but I could have gone out of the tournament, not necessarily through me being the worst player but because I missed something in my preparation and became very dehydrated. I had always eaten well and tried to drink the right things but this was about being more meticulous; actually getting the correct information and taking that side of things more seriously now for sure. I don't know how many chances I'm going to have to win more grand slams and to blow one because I hadn't prepared properly would be a huge regret."

Showers are forecast for south west London today, as opposed to the heatwave of the last few days. While they could disrupt play, enough breaks in the clouds are forecast to get the match finished. All the top four players will feature on Court No.1 at some point in the fortnight, and the best you can ask is to get through your match with no knock-on effect to your schedule before the All England Club manage to get a roof on that one too.

Despite such meticulous, all-consuming, never-ending commitment to the sport, there is still some downtime. It may surprise some to learn that one of the things helping Murray put himself in the frame for another Wimbledon victory is a secret love for snooker. He recalls playing the game with his first coach, and now Davis Cup captain, Leon Smith at the Bridge of Allan Sports Club during his down time or whilst injured, and now likes to unwind by sneaking into the All England Club, where he is a member, to play doubles with his pals Ross Hutchins, and Jamie and Johnny Delgado. He is rueful, though, about his maximum break, which is somewhere in the 20s.

"None of us are any good but it is a fun way to spend time with friends," said Murray. "When I used to practise at Bridge of Allan sports club we had a couple of snooker tables there and I actually used to play there quite a lot. When I injured my knee, me and Leon [Smith] would go there almost every single day and play snooker with each other, because I couldn't do anything else. I enjoy doing it, although I don't think it really helps with my tennis."

Sometimes, his thoroughness of preparation is used in the service of others. Not only did Murray practise yesterday with his Davis Cup pal James Ward, but his fellow Briton Aljaz Bedene revealed he had been the recipient of some tactical help about Radek Stepanek prior to his first-round win.

"I know he [Stepanek] is a good doubles player, but Andy told us he does not finish off his volleys, he only puts them in play," said Bedene. "And he said he hits a lot of balls down the line from the return forehand - so I picked up a few points here and there. Thanks Andy!"

Expect the Scot's forensic approach to bear fruit against a player he has beaten - however dramatically - in all three previous grand slam meetings. "Hopefully there won't be too many surprises," Murray said.