Written for Marathonbet's sport news and features blog - december 2012
What will the new year hold for Andy Murray? Can he withstand Great Britain’s historic pressure and expectations, and is it all down to the Czech?
Andy Murray has been passed back and forth between the English and Scots like a hot potato over the years. Neither nation was willing to accept his short-comings both on and off the court. With the frustrations of the Henman/Rusedski era in the not too distant past, Murray has carried the weight of becoming the much anticipated British tennis hero. 2012 has seen a shift in the Dunblane lad’s fortunes. Pundits and experts have spotted a definite change in Murray, and the public have rallied around his achievements and efforts; making him a favourite for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of The Year. Could 2013 be just as fruitful, or even be the year that sees that elusive Wimbledon win?
Next year could potentially carve up some title-winning opportunities for Andy Murray if he lives up to our expectations. Many experts say that it’s all down to the help of his no-nonsense Czech coach Ivan Lendl. ‘Andy walks around differently now and the other players regard him with greater respect – and Lendl is the one who has made the difference’, observes three-time Wimbledon winner Boris Becker. Lendl has adopted an aggressive approach to coaching, similar to the ‘business-like’ attitude he had as a player. Becker recalls; ‘the reason Ivan is coming to London is not to take Andy to the movies. He’s here to work.’ Lendl’s tough-love has had a positive influence on Murray’s performance.
The results can be seen clearly enough, with the 25 year old bringing home an Olympic Gold medal in the men’s singles (the first Brit since Josiah Ritchie 104 years ago) and winning the US Open against his fast-becoming nemesis Novak Djokovic. The US Open triumph made Murray the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since the famous clothing inspiration Fred Perry in 1936. 2012 saw Murray and Lendl literally change British history, which has served to raise expectations for the duo’s performance in up-coming tournaments. Much like this past season, 2013 will not be without competition. The Australian Open begins in January with Djokovic and Roger Federer – arguably Murray’s two fiercest rivals over recent years – boasting seven out of the past ten titles between them. Murray is currently ranked third behind the aforementioned tennis titans, and 2013 will also see the return of Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who missed the majority of 2012 through injury.
Murray will have to work hard to overcome the ‘king of clay’. Where Rafa’s confidence excels Murray’s skills fall, and the clay courts of Roland Garros for May’s French Open could prove problematic for the Scot. There’s also cause for another concern from the land of Gloria Estefan, matadores and bleach blonde Bond villains in the form of Nicolas Alamgro. The 11th ranked 27 year old was part of the Spanish team that lost to the Czech Republic in the 100th Davis Cup final last month. Earlier this month Almagro defeated Andy Roddick in a Miami Tennis Cup Exhibition. Recently retired Roddick had beaten Murray earlier in the same tournament. This Spanish combination could prove to be a bit of an armada for Murray, and the effect that Rafa’s return has on Federer and Djokovic’s fortunes remains to be seen.
The main chat around Murray’s resistors is his media-relished rivalry with Serbian world number one Djokovic. This year saw the rivals clash at the US and Australian Open finals, with them taking a title each in a pair of gruelling 5-set marathons. Murray also defeated Djokovic in straight sets on home ground in the Olympic semi-finals, yet they didn’t have a chance to meet during Wimbledon 2012, they were on opposite sides of the draw. Wimbledon veteran Federer dismissed Djokovic in the semis before reducing Murray to tears in the final. Djokovic already boasts a Wimbledon win from 2011, and in 2012 Murray became the first British male to reach a Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938.
Murray was unfortunately outclassed by the elegant Swiss legend Federer. However, looking into 2013, many would state that Federer has had his best years, whilst Nadal will have a lot of ground to make up following his injury. There seems to be enough evidence to suggest that there’s definitely a score to be settled between Murray and Djokovic. However there are many factors to consider in what makes a true rivalry-of-our-time; does Murray/Djokovic match up to past pairings such as Sampras/Agassi of the nineties or the Williams sisters’ sledgehammer matches of 2000?
If the lure of Lendl’s stoic coaching continues to focus Murray, then 2013 could produce some beautifully tense, equally matched tennis between two opposite personalities. This will make for some great TV, classic tennis and may well be the year of Murray’s career so far.
george scerri 