“I have to improve my game to challenge Rafael Nadal,” says Andy Murray
The top-ranked British tennis player, Andy Murray is of the view that he needs to get physically stronger and work on his game, if he is to challenge the 24-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who is currently ranked number one in the world by the Association
of tennis Professionals.
The Scott who is just 23, made a disappointing third round departure at the United States Open tennis tournament this season in New York, which Rafa went on to triumph, and thus, completed his career Grand Slam.
"I have got a good four to five months prior to the next Grand Slam tournament. Therefore, all I need to do at the moment is to focus on my physical fitness and improve my game, so that I can give myself an opportunity to beat the world number one, Rafael
Nadal,” said Murray.
Andy had gone into the Flushing Meadows with many predicting he could grab his first major trophy after a tremendous appearance at the Toronto Masters in the warm-up, brushing aside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on his way before capturing the crown.
However, a shocking four set loss at the hands of his Swiss tennis foe, Stanislas Wawrinka followed in the third round in New York, with the Briton beset by fitness problems that he failed to explain instantly afterwards.
The Scott admits the issue of that day at the Flushing Meadows stays something of a mystery saying, "I cannot say much about what exactly happened on that very day in New York. I have been playing some good tennis over the past few months, and I have not
felt like this for a very long time, and I will definitely make sure that it will never happen ever again. I am feeling okay now, as I came back home the very next day and have been chilling since then.”
Murray, when asked about the performance of the British players said that it was really disappointing to see the Scots eliminating out of the championship in the initial stages. He, however, had a pretty good start to it but sadly didn’t finish likewise.
He was facing some problems with reference to his body and fitness, which was nothing less than a nightmare for the English fans.
"I have been playing some great tennis for the past few seasons, and it kind of lets me down a bit, therefore, I need to make sure that I move on, work even harder and get myself back in good shape, and hopefully I will give myself another opportunity,”
said the 23-year-old Scott.
Murray, the fourth-ranked tennis player in the world has been playing on the tour without any coach after parting ways with Miles Maclagan back in July this season, and had been hoping to select a replacement prior to his next championship in Beijing, which
will start from 4 October; however a decision is yet to be made.
At the moment, the situation is exactly the same as it was prior to the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open tennis tournament as Murray is still looking and attempting to appoint the best man who can help him upgrade his game and form to the
highest level.
The Brit is showing a lot of patience in terms of taking a final decision of the appointment of his new tennis coach. He has not spoken to anyone yet at the official level about the possible names in his mind, who Murray thinks can help him in reaching the
top level of the game of tennis.
Andy was the last player to defeat Rafa at a major tournament with a win in the quarterfinal clash of the Australian Open earlier this season in January; a clash which saw the top-ranked Rafa forced to retire as a result of his knee injury, when he was down
at two sets.
Rafael recovered from that disappointment in an outstanding fashion by going undefeated through the clay-court season and capturing the French Open, Wimbledon, thrashing out Andy in the semis and the United States Open crown in New York.
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