Are the stars finally aligned for Andy Murray?

WIMBLEDON is set to sizzle this week - so it's a good job that Andy Murray likes it hot.

HOME HOPE: Andy Murray arrives at the All England Club with an expectant nation holding its breath

All England Club organisers will smile at the irony after investing £80 million on a new centre court roof but forecasters don't think it will be needed just yet.

But Murray though won't be too worried as he prepares for a first round match with American Robert Kendrick, the 29-year-old world number 76.

"The work I've done on my fitness means I don't worry about the hot weather anymore," he said.

"After last year's Wimbledon I knew I needed to kick my game on and that something was missing.

"I went to train in Miami for three or four weeks and it's pretty fierce weather there at that time of year and fitness is vital.

"It made a massive difference to my game and it gave me the confidence and strength you need to play in the slams."

It's strange to think that it's just four years since Murray's breakthrough, when he was just five points from beating former Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian.

Since then he has transformed himself from gawky teenage hopeful with questionable conditioning to one of the most powerful and fittest players on the Tour.

In the last 12 months he's not only broken into the world's top ten but also established himself as the most likely challenger to the dominance of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

But after becoming the first British player to win at Queen's in 71 years, Murray was dampening down the hype.

"I've still got two of the greatest players ahead of me - in Roger and Rafa," said the world number three.

However, Nadal's withdrawal improves the Scot's chances and a kindly draw means he's avoided a potential clash with Federer until the final.

Privately, Murray might be looking ahead to the business end of the tournament but he'd do well not to dismiss the challenge of Kendrick, who he has beaten in their three previous encounters.

All he has to do is think back to last year's Olympics, when Yen Hsun Lu bullied him off court in straight sets.

"I go into every match I play believing that I can win, although obviously some players are harder to beat than others I respect them all," he added.

"In the past I've not really done that and I've lost to opponents that I shouldn't have.

"It's okay to think you can beat everyone but you need to know that you'll have to play great to do it.

"There are 128 players in the draw and you only have to beat seven of them. That's my goal and I'm going to give it my best shot.

"I think I've got a decent chance but it's easier said than done."

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