The Scot’s tiresome march to the Australian Open was ended in scintillating fashion by who else, but world number one and now sixteen time major champion Roger Federer. A flawless performance, barely breaking into an ounce of Swiss sweat ended much deliberation questioning Federer’s motivation for the game as Murray was brushed aside in his quest to become Britain’s first Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry.
Federer’s seemingly unarguable charge towards the title of the game’s greatest ever has now reached fever pitch as it appears the 28 year old can achieve no more but to just enjoy the twilight of his career, if you can call it that, with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) victory being visual proof the tennis immortal has no intentions of letting up yet.
After all he had spoken of his desire to still be playing the tour circuit for ‘years to come’ giving his children a chance to see their Dad in action.
Murray, now 22, has more time on his side to overcome the biggest challenge in tennis, to win a Grand Slam. The improvement of the Dunblane educated player’s game in the past 18 months is unrivalled. Miles Maclagon, Murrays coach and his condition trainers have put in the wearisome hard yards to turn the Scot into a force that is to be reckoned with in the modern game. An unrelenting asset of physical drive and fitness has seen Murray’s movement and flow around a tennis court install in him a solid defensive prognosis with an instinctive counter attacking brain.
Although, Murray appears to be on the right path to becoming a distinguished name in the latter half of Grand Slam proceedings, his search for premium tangible rewards have been hindered by his failure to conjure up the know how to win the defining points in the biggest matches. With six of out of 10 meetings with Federer, going Murray’s way before their latest battle, it was the world number three who had become an unwelcome blotch under Federer’s skin. However, their most infamous match in the 2008 US Open Final went the Swiss’s way, even after he had endured a difficult year by his standards, but Murray froze under the New York spotlight and he didn’t appear to have the charisma to win the pivotal moments. The same happened on Sunday. Six-time Grand Slam champion and pundit Boris Becker said: “Of the few chances he has, he needs to be more aggressive but that's not his natural game. He likes to wait behind the baseline and wait for his opponent to make the initiative. He needs to work on that part of his game.” Britain’s last fledgling hope of success Tim Henman, said of his former Davis Cup team mate: “he knows he needs to keep his head down and keep improving. He's very single-minded, he has a very strong belief in the way he needs to play, the things he needs to do. I don't think we should be pressing the alarm bells just yet.”
Murray (above) has to use the pain of defeat as a spur to achieve his goals in tennis.
To develop a different strategy and game plan is easier said than done. Removing the credible structure of a talent, which often is more than enough to beat half of the ATP Tour comfortably, would see Murray move away from the natural game he has employed thus far in his career taking him to a high of world number two. A confident cutting edge against the world’s best is needed though, and against an opponent of the calibre of Federer, in major finals, it is an incessant attribute Murray needs to have in his armoury against someone whom uses their instinctive nous and technical expertises to manoeuvre you all around the court if you fail to seize the initiative.
It would be harsh to be an intolerant onlooker at this stage on Murray’s career, as with his experience in career defining situations ever improving it has got to be only a matter of time until he can have his name enshrined in tennis folklore. For instance, the diagnosis of his previously most challenging rivals should please the Murray camp. Tendonitis issues for Rafael Nadal and his right knee have plagued his last year and he doesn’t seem to possess the fear factor he once oozed in the men’s game. Current, one slam wonder, Novak Djokovic seems all to one dimensional, perhaps initiating a cry for a new contingent of forces in men’s tennis with the likes of Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Australian Open semi-finalist Marin Cilic and Scot Murray, being the future of a new decade of compelling competition in the men’s game.
The post match ceremony saw a tear or two stream down Murray’s face as he couldn’t hold in the disappointment of another opportunity passing him by, but 2010 has to be the year when he puts the personal pressure and that of the history books behind him, surely? The pain of defeat has to be his greatest spur to realize his dream.
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