Wednesday 15 October 2014 20:00, UK
Andy Murray launches his first-ever Erste Bank Open campaign against Vasek Pospisil in Vienna on Thursday as he continues to make a late push for vital ranking points and a spot in the World Tour Finals.
The British No 1 has taken a wild card entry into the tournament, where he is seeded No 2, as he aims to pick up more points towards the season-ending showpiece in London from November 9.
First up for the Scottish ace is a clash with Canada’s Pospisil, who overcame Germany’s Daniel Brands 6-3 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (7/2) in the first round earlier this week.
"I'm looking forward to playing my first match here,” Murray told the tournament’s official website.
"I will try to play my best tennis. If I succeed, I’m sure to have a good chance to win the tournament.
“But the field is strong and the surface fairly quick. In such circumstances they often decide a few points about the outcome of a match.”
Murray is joined in the field at the Stadthalle by David Ferrer, who beat him in the third round of last week's Shanghai Masters.
The top-seeded Ferrer has taken another wild card in Vienna and the pair are scheduled to meet in the final. Along with number three Shanghai Masters semi-finalist Feliciano Lopez and fourth-seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, the quartet all had first-round byes.
Regarding the challenge of Pospisil, Murray added: “I've never played against him, but in China I trained with him three weeks ago. He served 27 aces here in his first match, so I'll have to return well."
Such is his desire not to miss out on the World Tour Finals, Murray will have played for six consecutive weeks if he completes his newly-revised schedule through the Paris Masters next month.
"I've played some pretty good tennis," said the 27-year-old after leaving Asia where he ended a 15-month title drought with victory in Shenzhen.
"I didn't necessarily play my best in Shenzhen (China, a fortnight ago), but I managed to win the tournament. And there's still obviously a few more weeks left in the season.
“Sure I would love to make it to London."
