Murray Will Come Back Strong Next Year, says Borg

Five-time Wimbledon Champion Bjorn Borg has spoken out in praise of Andy Murray this week, predicting that the British Number One will be one of the main contenders for the title at the All England Club in 2010, and will ultimately top the World Rankings.

“I believe he is going to come back to Wimbledon next year and be even more ready,” said Borg, who is set to play at the ATP Champions Tour event in Chengdu this November alongside his longstanding rival and fellow Wimbledon Champion, John McEnroe. Borg admitted that Murray had been his pick to win the title before the 2009 Championships began, and that despite his surprise loss to Andy Roddick at the semi final stage, he still believes the Scot had a successful tournament considering the strain he was under throughout the fortnight.

“Before Wimbledon this year I had picked Murray to win,” he said. “That match against Roddick could have gone either way so he was a little bit unlucky there and I actually thought he played a great Wimbledon with all the pressure he had.”

With Murray currently at Number Three in the World, Borg even believes that the 22-year-old may already be the holder of a Grand Slam title by June 2010.

“He’s a definite player that can win Grand Slam tournaments and if he’s not going to do it this year I think he has a very good chance next year to win Grand Slam titles. He’s going to be up there fighting with (Rafael) Nadal and (Roger) Federer from now on and one day I think he might be the number one player in the World.”

The Chengdu Open takes place November 5-8, and Borg will be playing alongside fellow ATP Champions Tour players McEnroe, Goran Ivanisevic and Michael Chang.