Murray faces tricky encounter (From Chorley Citizen)

Murray faces tricky encounter

7:43am Friday 3rd September 2010 in National Sport © Press Association 2011

Andy Murray is preparing for a journey into the unknown, in more ways than one, in the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Murray was scheduled to take on Jamaica's Dustin Brown in the second round at Flushing Meadows on Friday, an opponent he has never played before and knows little about. But there was no guarantee that the match would go ahead as planned with Hurricane Earl forecast to bring heavy rain to New York to disrupt play after four days of sweltering temperatures.

Asked if he had seen much of Brown, who has dreadlocks, a German mother and British grandmother and has expressed an interest in switching allegiance to Britain, Murray said: "Not really, but I've heard about him. He's got a big game, serves and volleys a lot and is very different to a lot of players on the tour. He's a good athlete. I haven't seen him play, so it's another unknown opponent really."

He added: "You try to find out as much as possible, you've got to try and get your tactics somewhat right.

"You do need to concentrate on your own game as well but it is important to know about your opponent and try to find out, even if it's just little bits and pieces about them that might help you in the match."

What little Murray knows about Brown, the world number 123, at least appears accurate, with the 25-year-old promising to bring his attacking game to the contest.

"I'm gonna definitely play my type of tennis, play aggressive, try to keep the points short," Brown said.

"I've seen that he's a very good returner, so I'll have to see how it works out, how I'm serving, if it's possible to play serve and volley or have to play from the baseline."