Asked about his demeanour, the scowls and general non-tousling of the hair of his fans, Andy Murray said: “I am working on it.” He smiled and, because he possesses a lovely smile, he offered a glimpse of a possible New Andy. Maybe, just maybe, I would be the world's first beneficiary of New Andy. Yes, his first action after agreeing that his behaviour could sometimes be “not really acceptable” was to face me on court at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, southwest London.

And there was a breakthrough. Of sorts. As he sought to smash a forehand beyond my reach I shouted: “That hit the doubles court; it's out.” There was a general hush at that moment, but New Andy simply smiled - and without menace, too. True, he did not pander to my ego and pretend that I was any good, nor did he crack any jokes. But he grunted good-naturedly as I made him scamper around the court and hid his boredom well, which is all you can ask of a top sportsman facing a woman with a 16mph serve.

Murray's problem is that he is guaranteed adoration and attention without making the effort to be charming. Such is the dearth of British tennis talent, we have no choice but to coo adoringly. No sooner had the Scot burst on to the scene than he shocked tennis clubs across the Home Counties by declaring his preference for the US Open to Wimbledon - but still we chanted his name. Yesterday he made amends.

“I didn't realise how much I loved Wimbledon until I missed it last year,” he said, recalling how he was forced to pull out of the tournament through injury. This time Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman will be in the commentary box, which could add pressure. “I won't be listening too much to Tim and Greg,” Murray said. With a smile.

Murray is not only the New Andy, but the new Andre Agassi. Agassi used to be the face of Head's Radical Racket and now it is Murray's turn.

“Hopefully I'll be able to repay them with a grand-slam,” he said. It will not be the French Open, though, which starts on Sunday. “It's not the one I'm going to win first,” Murray said. “I've only played there once before and lost in the first round.” To reach the fourth round at Roland Garros would, Murray said, be “a mini-success”.

“On court I could get a little bit more bubbly, if that's what everybody thinks,” he said. “I've watched myself and sometimes I'm immature. It needs to get better.”

Yesterday he took his first step towards becoming a genial genius.