Tennis-Murray confident of playing at Wimbledon

LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) British number one Andy Murray said he would make a final decision on his fitness for Wimbledon on Monday but was confident of playing.

The 20-year-old Scot, seeded eighth for the grasscourt grand slam, missed the French Open and Wimbledon warm-up events because of a wrist tendon injury sustained in Hamburg in May.

He said he had made good progress in the last few days and expected to be ready for his first round match against Ecuador's Nicola Lapentti.

''I've been playing some sets in the last few days and haven't had any bad reactions on my wrist. It's been getting better every day,'' Murray told reporters after practising at the All England Club today.

''Unless I have any bad reactions on Sunday or Monday after my practices, I'm planning on playing.'' Wimbledon without Murray would be a huge blow for home crowds as he represents Britain's only realistic chance of a challenger for the title. But he said that was not a factor.

''I'm not going to stress about it. If the wrist's not right it's not right. But I've spoken to the doctors and they are fairly confident I won't reinjure it, which is great,'' he said.

Murray said he was still suffering a little pain when hitting the ball at full power.

''Hopefully, the next couple of days it should get better,'' he said. ''Wimbledon was my goal and I think I've given myself the best chance. It feels like it's going to be okay.

''But, as I said, if it's not ready I won't play.'' Murray upset Andy Roddick in the third round last year before losing to Marcos Baghdatis.

REUTERS DH VC2110