A recap of Andy Murray’s past twelve months.
This is a guest blog by Jerome Manson, a sports enthusiast who enjoys both watching games and writing about them. When he is not cheering on his team from the stands, Jerome is blogging about the US Open Championship for selectaticket.com.
Last weekend World No.2 Andy Murray won The Aegon Championships, his third grass court title at The Queen’s Club in London, which sets him up nicely in readiness for Wimbledon 2013.
Practicing at Queens in 2012
Murray missed the French Open due to a back injury so his most recent grand slam appearance was as runner up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
A recap of Andy Murray’s form during the past twelve months
Prior to Andy Murray’s breakthrough at the 2012 Olympic Olympics and then at the U.S. Open Championships, the top 3 of the ATP seemed as if it had been relatively unchanged for decades. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer each held a spot in the top three. Murray was certainly no stranger to success prior to his breakthrough 2012 campaign, but he was never able to quite make it to the top.
Andy Murray after winning the 2012 US Open
Murray finished as runner-up in four different Grand Slam finals prior to his win, losing to Roger Federer at the U.S. Open in 2008, Australian Open in 2010, Wimbledon in 2012, and finishing 2nd to Djokovic at the Australian Open in 2011.
The Scottish-born Murray is currently ranked second in the world only behind Djokovic. But it still doesn’t appear that he believes it. Murray’s talent is unquestioned and he continues to get better, but he seems to blame many of his problems on things outside of his control – ball boys, line judges, and even himself. He’s also had his fair share of negative publicity over the years. The entire debate of whether Murray was English, Scottish, or British was always kind of awkward, but many English fans scorn Murray for the entire comment. While he tried to cover it up by stating, “I’m a proud Scot but not anti-English,” it hasn’t pardoned him in many Brits’ eyes.
First grand slam victory at the US Open 2012
The number 1-ranked Brit was able to achieve his very first Grand Slam tournament victory at the 2012 US Open. He not only broke through in his own career but he was also the first Brit to win a grand slam men’s singles tournament in 76 years. He publicly admitted to the media that he needed to do a little pep-talking in order to motivate him and mentally carry him to victory during the final of the 2012 US Open against the #1-ranked Novak Djokovic.
Finalist and Semi-Finalist at the Australian Open
Murray made the final of the 2013 Australian Open, where he was defeated by Djokovic in four sets. Along the way he beat Federer in a five set semifinal.
Murray also reached the semifinals of the 2012 Australian Open but was not able to make it past Novak Djokovic, who would go on to defeat Rafael Nadal to take the first Grand Slam of 2012.
As of 17 June 2013, Murray is around 800 points above Roger Federer to hold the #2 ranking in the world. We should be in for many years of extremely competitive play between Djokovic and Murray. And eight time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal and seven time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer can’t be ruled out.
Will Murray be the first male singles winner of Wimbledon since Fred Perry?
For that we need to wait and see.
And after we see how the luck of the draw falls on Friday 21 June, we’ll also know whose part of the draw fifth seed Rafael Nadal falls into.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Murray finishes 2013. Will this be the year that he dominates at The Wimbledon Championships?