Tennis in 2010: Players Who Could Use a Second Shot Part I
At the end of 2010, it’s only fitting to cast a glance over the season which has passed, and to judge the players according to their performances. While this year was a year of new records, surprises and challenges, it was also a year of regrets and failures.
Let’s take a look at some tennis players who probably wish they could rewind the year.
Andy Murray:
One of the players who could use a do-over the most is British Number 1 Andy Murray. The 23-year-old began 2010 as the player who was expected to win his maiden Grand Slam. The tennis pro has the unfortunate blessing of belonging to Britain, a prestigious
country with few Grand Slams; the weight on Murray’s shoulders was immense, and while it is unfair to say he crumbled under it, at the very least he did not succeed.
At this year’s Australian Open, Andy Murray was expected to win the event, and honour his country with their first Slam title since Fred Perry took them to victory in 1936. He played brilliantly throughout the tournament, lining up a series of impressive
wins which culminated in the defeat of World Number 1 Rafael “Rafa” Nadal at the semi finals. When he entered the title match, he was 6-4 against Roger Federer; he could have won the event, but he froze up at crucial moments which cost him the entire match.
Instead of staying confident and focused – two qualities without which one cannot win a Grand Slam – he let go of his control and played subpar tennis at a time when he should have been at his best. His game play can be described as passive at best, and Federer
was able to cruise past him in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11).
Federer had already predicted a win for himself; he capitalized on the fact that Murray had not had enough experience at major finals, while Federer has been a constant presence at such challenges. Murray acknowledged Federer’s superiority after the match,
saying, “I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him.”
However, the repercussions of the loss did not end there. Andy Murray went on to make blunders for a great portion of the year, and even admitted that his mind was just not in the game. He had trouble focusing on his matches, and let his Australian Open
loss affect his entire season negatively. Before the year was out, Murray also changed coaches in an attempt to improve.
The effect of this change may not have been negative. Murray improved considerably in the latter half of the year, especially at the season-ending championships. He was one of the top four seeds at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, and also finished the
tournament as one of the Last Four. His performance at the end of year tournament redeemed him in the eyes of spectators, and gave them hope for a British Grand Slam champion. But now, the next challenge Murray must face is that of the 2011 event in Melbourne.
After his first Australian Open final, it’s quite possible that Murray might have gotten a handle on the situation. The experience he has gained will benefit him in the future, and 2011 just might be his answer to the dismal season he had in 2010.
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