Written by Abeer Sharma | 30 January 2012
Posted in Comment - Sport

Photography: mirsasha

After his US Open semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal last year I concluded that “the stark reality might well be that the overhaul required for Murray to lift a Grand Slam is beyond him and others”. But following a magnificent effort over 5 sets in defeat against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final, Murray has injected his grand slam ambitions with fresh energy and hope.

In a near five hour epic of endless ebbs and flows, Murray gave a performance worthy of nothing less than huge admiration. This was not the timid Murray of old; he took the match to Djokovic with incredible intensity from the start. He was assertive and aggressive from the baseline and pulled off a litany of stunning backhand and forehand winners from all over the court.

The most noticeable and welcome aspect of Murray’s performance was in his mentality. The lamentable ranting and raving of the past was replaced by consummate behaviour. This new-found maturity allowed him to recover from a set and 2-0 down to win the third and fourth sets - here a contrast should be made with his capitulation to Djokovic in the final of this tournament a year previously in an identical situation. Similarly the manner in which he miraculously prolonged the final set after going 5-2 down was stirring stuff.  The credit for this has universally gone to his coach Ivan Lendl, who exuded calmness and authority in Murray’s box. That such an impact has been made in the few weeks that the pair has worked together is exciting.  Who knows what can be achieved by the time of the US Open - Murray’s favourite tournament and one which Lendl won thrice in a row from 1985-1987.

There are familiar failings Murray and Lendl must address. Murray’s second serve let him down yet again at just 30% of points won compared to Djokovic (45%).  86 errors were too many, although this is slightly mitigated by the player he was up against. More pertinently, however, the tame manner in which he dumped the fourth set in less than half an hour after winning a gruelling third was disappointing. The three men above him have shown many times during their glittering careers how to seize the momentum at critical points on the grandest stages. Murray must develop this ability and avoid falling prey to lapses of concentration as often as he does.

The Australian Open final was a scary indicator as to the level Murray needs to reach. Djokovic’s incredible win against Nadal in one of the greatest matches ever played has set the gold standard.  Over six punishing hours of incredible tennis where both were fighting purely on primal instincts by the end, Djokovic again managed to raise his game a little more and clinch it. At times it was hard to believe the Serb is human and his latest exploits are a tribute to his immense ability and mental fortitude. Despite this heart-breaking loss, Nadal looks reinvigorated and will give everything he can (if he has anything left!) to finally get the better of his nemesis who has beaten him seven times in a row. Don’t forget Federer either, who breezed through to the semi-finals and is still potent enough of a force to not be ruled out just yet. Overhauling these three is the same thankless task for Murray since emerging as a genuine contender in late 2008.

Yet Murray will undoubtedly be encouraged and confident after an impressive month down under. In what promises to be another astonishing year of men’s tennis - if the Australian Open is anything to go by - Andy Murray is inching closer to the ‘big three’ and a first major. The obituaries for his grand slam dreams ought to be put on hold.

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