Russian Terminator gives it both barrels

Chief Sports Writer

Tuesday 26 June 2012

NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO has the propensity to be relentless on court.

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Hugh MacDonald

Off it, his specialty is eccentricity in word and deed.

The 31-year-old Russian relies on constant movement when playing to neutralise the strength of bigger opponents. It is hard to discern the precise purpose of his verbal oddities.

Asked about Andy Murray's demeanour on court, he said yesterday: "Sometimes he walks on court, he looks tired, like he doesn't want to run any more and then he runs like an animal. He has done that all his career. He just walks, and he's like: 'Ah, I don't want to play any more'."Then he starts returning and running and you see his condition is very good. Maybe it is a special Scottish thing. I know it doesn't matter what he says, he will fight for everything, he will try to win."Of Murray's back injury, he said: "He may have a pain but if you ask any player they will all say they have pains here and there."He then cast himself in the role of nemesis."Sometimes [I am] Iron Man, Ice Man, maybe Terminator. If I play like the Terminator I will be okay."He also believes Murray does not look "good enough" to win a major, adding: "When you look at [Rafa] Nadal, [Roger] Federer, [Novak] Djokovic, they look like different players."He admitted his idol was Ivan Lendl, Murray's coach. He said: "I've spoken to him at tournaments. He was a great player but we don't talk about tennis. or coaching. Just about interesting things, life."He added of the somewhat bulky Czech: "I see he was more skinny when he was playing on tour."His final sally was aimed at the English journalists."I don't understand you guys because he's from Scotland and you're British. He is Scottish, haven't you had a war for 100 years with Scotland? Now you guys think you're Scottish, you're smart," he said, reflecting on the notion they were only supporting Murray under a flag of convenience.The interview was then concluded. The match this afternoon will have to be extraordinary to match it for entertainment.

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Russian Terminator gives it both barrels

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