Scotland's Andy Murray could be the man to end Britain's long wait for a Grand Slam champion, former world number one Mats Wilander says.
Not since Fred Perry won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1936 has a British man triumphed at one of the big four tournaments but seven-times Slam champion Wilander rates Murray's ability.
"I think that tennis-wise he's probably as good as I was when I was 17," said the Swede who won the French Open at that age.
"I was very impressed with him at Wimbledon. I had seen him play before without being too impressed, but the way he handled the situation of being the focal point of the tournament after (Tim) Henman had lost was very impressive."
Wilander, playing this week in Portugal to try and qualify for November's Delta Tour of Champions Masters at London's Royal Albert Hall, said the Scottish teenager had the right attitude.
"(At Wimbledon) he even seemed nonchalant, as if he was not satisfied with his own performance, and you have to be like that," he said.
"He wasn't playing to win Wimbledon, he was playing to improve, and that's what I always tried to do. In that way he also reminded me a little of (French Open champion) Rafael Nadal."
RANKING POINTS
Since losing in the third round of Wimbledon against Argentine David Nalbandian, Murray has been racking up ranking points on the Challenger circuit in America -- one level below the main tour.
He won a Challenger title in California, and reached a quarter-final in Canada, to climb to No.153 in the men's rankings.
While Wilander is impressed by Murray's make-up, he warns the youngster still has much to prove.
Murray is yet to go beyond the second round of an ATP level event outside of Britain, and it is those kinds of tournaments that Wilander believes will ultimately determine his future.
"Andy Murray may have proved to the British public that he can play, but he's proven nothing to the guys on the tour yet," the Swede said.
"They know that he won a couple of rounds at Wimbledon, but let's see what happens when he is in the first round of an American hardcourt tournament playing in 110 degree heat.
"He's with the big boys now and he is still a junior in their eyes. He has a lot to prove."
