Groundhog Day for Murray as Britain holds its breath

No sooner had Andy Murray slugged his way to a second successive Australian Open final on Friday than he was fending off inevitable questions about the holy grail of British tennis.

The fifth seed's pulsating 4-6 7-6 6-1 7-6 win over Spain's David Ferrer in Melbourne once again raised the possibility of a first British men's grand slam singles champion in 75 years.

"It was until you brought it up," Murray sighed when asked if Sunday's final against Serbia's Novak Djokovic could be one he could treat like 'just another match.'

"It's more like a personal dream or personal goal of mine. That's really what you need to keep in check and not get ahead of yourself," added the Scot, beaten by Roger Federer in last year's Australian Open final and the 2008 U.S. Open final.

"You know the historical thing, it's not something that I've thought about that much, but it's something that obviously for me personally I want to try and win.

"I don't want to sort of get myself so amped up that I play a stinker of a match."

Murray, talking to the world's press at well after midnight local time, insisted he would be better prepared after suffering his second grand slam final defeat by Federer last year when he broke down in tears after the match.

"I'm going to make the most of the opportunity, for sure," said the 23-year-old after climbing out of an ice bath.

"I'll give 110 percent but I also need to make sure I'm relaxed and calm on the court. I don't want to get myself sort of too worked up.

"I'm sure I'll deal with everything better than I have done in the past on Sunday."

Murray, bidding to become his country's first male grand slam winner since Fred Perry in 1936, winced when recalling how his first appearance in a major final flashed by at Flushing Meadows in 2008.

"The first match against Federer I didn't know what was going on, it just happened so quick," he said with a sheepish grin. "Last year was better and I hope this year is going to be better than last year."

World number three Djokovic captured his only major title to date in Melbourne three years ago but Murray insisted there was little difference between the two men in terms of experience.

"We're good friends and we practice a lot together so there won't be any secrets," shrugged Murray. "It's going to be a brutal match I think."

With Reuters