Murray to reject National Centre for Spain

Andrew Murray today confirmed he will launch his professional career from Spain instead of relocating to Britain's new £39m National Tennis Centre in London.

The 17-year-old has been training for the past two years at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona and has ruled out switching to Britain once the centre is completed in 2006.

Murray, who takes on John McEnroe in the Superset Tennis tournament at Wembley on Sunday, said: "I won't be going to the NTC even though the facilities will be very good. I don't like training in England.

"It's just something I feel strongly about.

"I don't like training in my own country and prefer to be in Spain where you don't get caught up so much in the pressure and you can just get on with things.

"I just want to concentrate on my tennis."

Murray's tennis world has been turned upside down since that US Open title.

He was a member of the Great Britain Davis Cup team for the tie in Austria last weekend and now gets the chance to play against his boyhood idol with the winner of the single set one-day tournament at Wembley pocketing a staggering £250,000.

Murray, who is the world No410, said: "John McEnroe is somebody I have looked up to all my life. I liked his attitude and character on court.

"He is one of the top five players of all time and I am getting the chance to play him at the end of a remarkable three weeks for me.