Andy Murray ravenous for a Grand Slam title this season – Tennis Special
British number one, Andy Murray, has always been under the cosh of critics for not winning a Grand Slam title despite being in the Top-5 rankings for a number of years. The 24-year-old turned pro in 2005 and has bagged a number
of coveted titles and awards, except the all-prestigious Grand Slam until date. The Briton is really confident that 2012 will be the year when he gets his hands on a Major championship trophy for the first time.
Rated at number four in the South African Airways ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Rankings at the present, Murray is one of the finest tennis players in the world. He broke into the Top-5 for the first time in 2008
and has always been there for the past three years. The Scott reached his career-best ranking of world number two in August 2009 but his aim to top the men’s rankings is still just a dream.
Murray has 22 ATP championship titles under his belt and no one doubts the potential and skills of the 24-year-old Briton. His presence on the tennis court is always very intimidating for most of the opponents but his dismal performances
against the other Top-10 competitors have always kept him away from the Grand Slam winning glory.
Critics always slate Murray of chocking out in big matches and up to some extent, it appears to be true. Being a top-class athlete and playing tennis on the grandest platforms for so many years, Murray should have developed the
ability to absorb pressure in big matches but is seems to be other way round.
He shows belligerent form in the initial rounds of Grand Slam events and reaches the quarter-final rounds by outplaying high-profile contestants without much difficulty. When it comes to compete against the top ranked Serb, Novak
Djokovic, the Spaniard, Rafael Nadal or the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer in the final round so the tournament, Murray looks an all different kind of player. All his class and skills appear to fade away when one of those three tennis icons step against him in
a Grand Slam event. The Briton had made it to the final of three Major tournaments in his career and had suffered crushing straight sets defeats to remain glory less in the end.
Murray lost his first Grand Slam final at the 2008 US Open against the then world number two, Federer. He had two more opportunities in the Australian Open finals in 2010 and 2011 but again straight sets defeats at the hands of
Federer and Djokovic were all what he gained in the end.
Fans and critics even say that Murray can only win a Grand Slam title if he does not face Djokovic, Nadal or Federer throughout the tournament. He was very excited to take off the 2012 ATP season and vowed to end his Major title
drought this season. He reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month but once again he had to bow out to Djokovic, this time in an enthralling five-setter.
Despite of losing the semi-final at the Australian Open, Murray is still very confident of winning a Grand Slam tournament this year. He cited that he had a lot of positive things to learn from his most recent defeat and it will
come handy in bagging a huge victory in the remaining three Major events.
"I feel way, way better coming away from the Australian Open this year than I did last year and much, much more positive about my game and the future. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year now."
It is still difficult to predict whether Murray gets his hands on a Major title this season or not but certainly it will take a huge effort from the Briton to live up to his dream.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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