Andy Murray’s Grand Slam title wait continues
Andy Murray arrived at the US Open in the kind of form and with the past record at the tournament (where he was runner-up in 2008) that suggested he was at least set to come close to winning a maiden Grand Slam title.
Just three rounds into the tournament, however, Murray’s major title hopes were extinguished as he suffered a four-set loss to 25th seed Stanislas Wawrinka, who came from a set down to defeat the fourth seed 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3 in the upset of the tournament so far.
While it’s not the heartbreakingly close but so far away scenario that confronted Murray as he stood on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open after the final and watched the victorious Roger Federer raise the silverware while he could do nothing but watch, Murray’s shock defeat against Wawrinka is nonetheless another blow to the British No. 1’s Grand Slam title ambitions.
That loss to Federer at Melbourne Park - which saw an emotional Murray tell the centre court crowd during the presentation ceremony say: “I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him,” – and his semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon this summer are at least reconcilable by the fact that his hopes were dashed by the world’s two best players.
They were defeats that at least gave the impression (illusion?) that while Murray wasn’t in the same class as that pair, away from the clay courts of Roland Garros he was still a cut above most others at the majors, especially the two played on hard courts.
The far more aggressive style of play that paid dividends for the Swiss No. 2 against the counterpunching Murray at Flushing Meadows now raises doubts about not just whether Murray has the weapons to defeat Federer and Nadal across the best of five sets, but where he fits within the chase pack.
“I have no idea of whether I'll win a Grand Slam or not,” Murray told reporters at the post-match press conference. “I want to. But, you know, I mean, if I never win one, then what? If I give a hundred percent, try my best, physically work as hard as I can, practice as much as I can, then that's all I can do.
“It's something I would love to do. It's a very difficult thing...I don't know if I'll win a Grand Slam or not. But I'll give it my best shot.”
Murray now leaves Flushing Meadows having recorded his worst result at a major this year (the world No. 4 lost in the fourth round of the French Open) and with more time on his hands than he no doubt anticipated to sit down and consider just who he’s going to appoint to take over the coaching reins from Miles Maclagan, who departed team Murray this summer after more than two years as the 23-year-old’s coach.
“I'm not going to panic and hire someone to try and make things better,” Murray said as he digested his departure from the US Open. “So, no. I'm going to take my time. I'm going to go home, have a rest - 'cause I need it - and see what I decide to do after that.”
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