Bogdanovic is "too nice" (From The Argus)

Bogdanovic is "too nice"

10:30am Thursday 18th June 2009 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Alex Bogdanovic could be a top player – if he stops being Mr Nice Guy.

Dmitry Tursunov reckons British No. 2 Bogdanovic has a better serve than Andy Murray but needs to be more cocky.

The Russian second seed edged a gruelling clash in three sets to reach the quarter-finals of the AEGON International at Eastbourne yesterday, then revealed what is holding Bogdanovic back from improving his 189 ranking.

Tursunov, formerly in the world’s top 20, said: “It has always puzzled me why his ranking is not much higher. I definitely think he should be much higher than he is.

“I would say his serve is much better than Andy Murray’s and he could easily have walked out the winner.

“He’s got a good game, all the tools. He doesn’t need to improve anything else. It’s just putting everything together and sometimes being a bit of an ***hole on court helps.

“I am not going to name names but certain players act as if they are the best out there and that helps them.

“Sometimes you need to be a little bit cocky on court. Thinking you are better than anyone else can get you out of a lot of difficult moments. That is the only problem he has. he’s too nice a guy.”

Bogdanovic took the first set on a tie-break but lost the decider in the same way after leading it 5-3. Tursunov said: “In a tie-break it is more mental than physical, how you are going to deal with the pressure.

“If you think you are ten times better than somebody else, even though it may not be true, it will still help you because you are a lot more relaxed, you’re not worried. Maybe that’s the key, because he is a very good player.”