Andy Murray, seeded 4th in the Wimbledon Open, is aiming to be the first Briton since Fred Perry to win the Wimbledon Open title.
Wimbledon time again and Murray engages in a two-week tournament that could make him bigger than Wayne Rooney and the English National Team.
Without a doubt, Murray is on the hunt for Britain’s first Wimbledon title since the great Fred Perry dazzled at All-England Court in 1935.
However, the hype as Britain’s next Grand Slam champion has not been intense compared to last year, when he was several shorter of overcoming Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon Open Finals.
Rollercoaster for Two Years?
Last season, Murray was in his element and collected four titles from Doha, Rotterdam, Miami, and the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club before heading to the 2009 Wimbledon Open.
He became the second highest seeded player that year and the highest ever seeded Briton in a senior event at Wimbledon.
This year though, had been very different. His 2010 win-loss record stands at 11-6 and he never won a single tournament.
He came closest at the Australian Open where he reached the final, but fell in straight sets to Roger Federer.
“There were occasions when I lost my first match at Queen's but went deep into the second week of Wimbledon, and others when I did well at Queen's but struggled at Wimbledon.”
Murray knows he’s not playing his best. But a good player does not turn into a bad one overnight. This year’s Wimbledon is a huge challenge for Murray but he remains inspired.
The national pressure from the British people is overwhelming and it is getting to him. Many are watching his every move and tend to over-react.
Critics should remember that he’s not the first tennis player to experience this change in performance. Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt and many others have had difficulty changing from clay to grass or grass to clay.
These guys never panicked in the weeks leading to the Wimbledon, and neither will Andy Murray.
Though his performance leading up to the Wimbledon have been uninspiring, many are still confident that if he remains passionate and keeps his mind on the game, nothing can stop him from winning the title.
Does Andy Murray have the tools to win in the Wimbledon Open?
While Murray plays his best on fast surfaces, he has worked hard to improve his clay court and grass game since 2008.
He’s one of the most intelligent tacticians on the court and has made a lot of money out of it. He is more than capable of surprising his opponents than anyone.
He is an expert at changing speeds and placements, and succeeds in keeping his opponents off-balance most of the time.
This is the most important tournament of his season and his career. It is very critical for Murray to ignore his critics and detractors, stay focused on improving his game, and play his heart out on court.
Murray’s game is more mental than it is physical, but he should continue on developing both to maximize his potential.
Proper Wimbledon training and preparation could be the crucial thing to take him to the top.
If Murray wins the Grand Slam this year, he will not only help himself but the whole British tennis community as well.
More British kids will be inspired to try out the sport and eventually the schools may include it in their curriculum. Right now, he’s the only legitimate tennis player the British has. He’s the only chance they have. Winning this game would boost the country’s support for the sport.
It is hard to believe that the Wimbledon is only a few days away. The most prestigious and fantastic tennis event is so close you can almost touch it. Will Andy Murray be able win a title at ALL England Club? Only he would know the answer to that.
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