I'm dull as ditchwater to avoid media scandals, says Andy Murray

World No 2 Andy Murray admits his media appearances are rarely thrilling affairs, but he says his dour demeanour is a deliberate tactic to avoid creating unwanted headlines.

The Scot is renowned for his gruff responses to journalists' questions, but he says he learnt his lesson after making unguarded comments to the press earlier in his career.

In an interview published in British magazine GQ, he said: "As an athlete, all I do is try my best to be as good as I can be as a tennis player. Whether people like you or not should be irrelevant. But, to be honest, over the years I have found it difficult to open up and be a bundle of laughs in press conferences or interviews.

"I always try to give honest answers, but they are fairly boring so I don't have to deal with the aftermath of any scandals."

Murray's admission chimes with an accusation from Latvia's Ernests Gulbis that the big four of men's tennis - Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - are "boring".

In French sports daily L'Equipe prior to the Latvian's second-round loss to Gael Monfils at the French Open on Wednesday, the 24-year-old Gulbis complained: "Modern tennis is sorely lacking in character.

"I respect Roger, Rafa, Novak and Murray, but, for me, all four players are boring. Their interviews are boring. Honestly, they are boring."