Who will win US Open 2011? – Part Five: Andy Murray
Continuing with our analysis of the potential US Open champions for the year 2011, the list begins to sizzle as we take a look at Britain’s last hope of a Grand Slam win, the top ranked 23-year-old, hailing from Dunblane, Scotland, Andrew “Andy” Murray.
A world number four at year’s start, Murray kept himself away from any of the season opening triad, rather, competing at the Hopman Cup he lost only to reigning world number one, Novak “Djoker” Djokovic, before making an appearance at the Australian Open. A minor dip to world number five in January, Murray returned to the top four after an unsuccessful final showing at the season opening, Grand Slam, the Australian Open. Moving past the Ukrainian dark horse Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarterfinal and then besting David Ferrer in the semi-final, Murray finally fell prey to the Djoker in the final, losing his shot at a maiden Grand Slam title.
A temperamental and rather emotional player, known for his outbursts on the court, Murray took his final loss to heart as he crashed out of the next three hard court events at Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami in his very first match. Recording an 8-4 win loss mark for hard courts this season, Murray doesn’t show much promise coming into the US Open. Can he surprise spectators and ride another fluke into the final like he did at the Australian Open.
Although Murray doesn’t have much to show for his early hard court season this year, there isn’t any argument that the Brit is perhaps in his best form yet. Semi-final showings at Monte Carlo and Rome and then the same at Roland Garros and Wimbledon along with a title win at Queen’s Club, Murray has an acceptable 29-10 for the season.
Following his loss at Wimbledon, Murray once more came crashing down as he exited in the opening matches at Montreal. However, bouncing back in Cincinnati and winning his first hard court match in seven months, Murray made it all the way to the final where he clinched the title following Djokovic's retirement victory.
A tad hopeful of the US Olympus Series, Murray cannot be written off completely. No more a novice on the circuit, Murray will be playing in his seventh US Open this year. Debuting in 2005, unseeded at the event, Murray made it as far as the second round before losing to Arnaud Clement after a tough five set battle. In attendance every year since then, the Brit records a 17-6 lifetime win loss record here. He reached his career best here in 2008, when he made it all the way to the finals though was stopped short of the title win falling to Roger Federer. His last year showing at the event was halted only in the third round by yet another Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka.
Though Federer denied Murray the title win here two years ago, the Brit continues to hold an advantage over the once former world number. True to his billing, the Brit has what it takes to go toe to toe with the top three players. Boasting an 8-6 lead in his head-to-head record against Federer, Murray holds fast the belief that not only has he defeated the Swiss but that he has done it more than once. Although the pair has met only twice in Grand Slams with both wins going to the Swiss, the Brit can take consolation in the fact that he bested Federer not once but twice in the finals of Toronto and Shanghai Masters last year.
Although Murray doesn’t hold an edge over the top two, he again has the satisfaction that on his best day he has what it takes to not only push the two but also best them to emerge victorious. Though he trails 4-5 in the H2H score against Rafa, the Brit has enjoyed victories over the Spaniard in not only Masters Series but also in a Grand Slam semi-final when the former did away with the latter in the semi-final match of the 2008 US Open.
In his top form, Murray may just ride it all the way to the final to clinch a maiden Grand Slam win upsetting the big names along the way.
The series continues as we take a look at the Swiss maestro, Federer in http://www.senore.com/Who-will-win-US-Open-2011-Part-Six-Roger-Federer-a94933.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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