Andy Murray: Epic rivalries with Federer, Djokovic, Nadal & extra | ATP Tour

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Andy Murray: Epic rivalries with Federer, Djokovic, Nadal & extra

Trying again at Murray’s memorable Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence

July 28, 2024

Throughout his iconic profession, Andy Murray grew from a boisterous, rising Scottish star to an ever-present, grizzled veteran and legend of the ATP Tour. In that point, the 37-year-old developed all method of Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalries — some with older opponents, some with youthful foes, and plenty of along with his contemporaries.

Murray’s greatest rivals had been little doubt his fellow members of the Massive 4: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Murray has met every of these superstars not less than 24 instances, together with 36 conferences with Djokovic.

ATPTour.com seems to be again on the historical past of these matchups and one other pivotal sequence, in opposition to Stan Wawrinka, that formed the story of Murray’s aggressive profession.

Murray vs. Djokovic (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-25)
Murray and Djokovic are contemporaries in essentially the most literal sense, with Murray only one week older than the Serbian. Their long-running rivalry was sparked on the ATP Masters 1000 stage, the place 9 of their first 10 Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences occurred (together with the primary seven from 2006-09).

Murray misplaced their first 4 matchups however then received the primary two of what would finally turn into 19 remaining conferences between the pair, triumphing in Cincinnati and Miami earlier than Djokovic received their maiden Grand Slam showdown within the 2011 Australian Open remaining.

Whereas Djokovic loved the lion’s share of success on this rivalry, Murray claimed three straight matches from 2008-09 (together with these Cincinnati and Miami finals) and two straight matches in 2012: their Olympic semi-final en path to the gold medal in London, adopted by a five-set US Open remaining that earned him his first main crown. These are the one two stretches throughout which the Briton received consecutive matches in opposition to Djokovic.

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic“>
Murray defeated Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in 2013. Photograph by Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures.

Two of essentially the most vital match wins of Murray’s profession got here in opposition to Djokovic, whom he beat to assert his maiden Wimbledon crown in 2013 and within the championship match on the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals (then often known as the ATP World Tour Finals). The latter, performed in London, was a straight shootout for year-end No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It’s a really special occasion,” Murray mentioned after a 6-3, 6-4 win on the 2016 season finale noticed him finish the yr on a 24-match profitable streak. “It’s been a tricky rivalry [with Djokovic]. I’ve misplaced a lot of them however clearly I’m blissful I’ve received the win in the present day. To complete the yr No. 1 could be very particular. It’s one thing I by no means anticipated.”

The pair met 5 instances in 2016, all in finals, with Murray additionally profitable in Rome however Djokovic taking the titles on the Australian Open, Roland Garros and in Madrid.

Murray and Djokovic are one in every of solely two pairs of ATP Tour gamers to have contested the ultimate at every of the 4 majors (additionally Djokovic and Nadal). The Serbian owns an 8-2 document in opposition to Murray on the Slams, together with a 5-2 mark in main finals.

Djokovic additionally owns an 11-8 edge in tour-level finals and a 14-6 benefit on the ATP Masters 1000s. However he by no means beat Murray on grass, the place the Briton is an ideal 2-0.

Their rivalry was at all times one constructed on mutual respect, as evidenced by their teaming up in males’s doubles for the 2006 Australian Open when each had been 19.

Murray vs. Federer (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-14)
Murray led Federer for a lot of their rivalry, till the Swiss received their remaining 5 conferences to complete with the higher hand. Murray owns a 6-3 edge on the ATP Masters 1000s, together with consecutive 2010 remaining victories in Toronto and Shanghai, whereas Federer dominated with a 5-1 document on the majors.

Roger Federer, Andy Murray“>
Murray beat Federer within the 2010 Rolex Shanghai Masters remaining. Photograph by Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures.

Murray’s Grand Slam frustration in opposition to the Swiss got here to a head within the 2012 Wimbledon remaining, when he misplaced in 4 units regardless of a superb begin on dwelling soil. “I’m getting nearer,” he mentioned by tears throughout the trophy ceremony, a comment which might have utilized to his bid to beat Federer at a significant as a lot because the Briton’s private quest to win his dwelling Grand Slam. To that time, Murray was 0-3 in opposition to the Swiss on the Slams, with every assembly coming within the title spherical.

However one month later, again on Centre Courtroom, Murray dominated Federer in a straight-sets win to assert the gold medal on the 2012 London Olympics.

“It is primary for me, the largest win of my life,” Murray mentioned. “I’ve had a number of powerful losses in my profession and that is one of the simplest ways to return again from the Wimbledon remaining.”

The arrogance from that victory helped the Briton recover from the road on the All England Membership the subsequent yr, when he beat Djokovic to turn into the primary British man to win the Wimbledon singles title since Fred Perry in 1936.

Murray and Federer additionally performed 5 instances on the Nitto ATP Finals, with Murray incomes a comeback three-set win in 2008 earlier than Federer swept their conferences in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. All however a type of year-end conferences got here within the round-robin stage, with their 2012 semi-final in London the lone exception.

Starting with the 2009 season finale, seven of their final 16 matches had been performed in London.

Murray vs. Nadal (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 7-17)
Murray misplaced his first 5 conferences with Nadal however broke his duck within the 2008 US Open semi-finals to succeed in his first Grand Slam remaining. Regardless of trailing within the Lexus ATP Head2Head, Murray owned a 3-1 edge in tour-level finals in opposition to Nadal, claiming wins in Rotterdam (2009), Tokyo (2011) and Madrid (2015).

Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal“>
Murray and Nadal after their 2009 Rotterdam title match. Photograph by Hamish Blair/Getty Pictures.

The rivalry peaked in 2011 with 5 conferences on a few of the ATP Tour’s greatest phases. Nadal received the primary 4 — semi-finals at Monte-Carlo, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — earlier than Murray flipped the script within the Tokyo remaining.

Nadal owned an 8-3 edge on the ATP Masters 1000s and a  7-2 benefit on the majors. The pair performed only one five-set match: their very first assembly on the 2007 Australian Open, the place Nadal grinded out a win from two-sets-to-one down. The Spaniard was additionally 2-0 in opposition to Murray on the Nitto ATP Finals, with a semi-final win in 2010 and a round-robin victory in 2015.

Their 2010 assembly on the year-end occasion was one of the crucial dramatic of their 24 encounters, a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6) win for Nadal. After three hours, 11 minutes of unimaginable high quality in London, Nadal clawed again a 1/4 deficit within the decisive tie-break to advance to the title match.

“It was an excellent match,” Murray mentioned, his head held excessive in defeat. “Immediately is why I play tennis. I in all probability performed one unhealthy sport the entire match, or perhaps simply a few unhealthy factors. Whether or not it is one of the best match I performed and misplaced, I do not know.”

Murray vs. Wawrinka (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 13-10)
Each three-time Grand Slam champions, Murray and Wawrinka are separated by simply two years in age, with the Swiss 26 months older. The pair’s rivalry spanned 20 years on the ATP Tour, from 2005-24.

Their clashes typically showcased contrasting types, pitting Wawrinka’s aggressive shotmaking and sheer energy in opposition to Murray’s tactical precision and defensive prowess. These completely different approaches added an intriguing dynamic to their encounters, a compelling narrative throughout the sport’s greatest phases.

Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray“>
Murray and Wawrinka met for the ultimate time at Roland Garros in 2024. Photograph by Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures.

Murray received the one two finals he contested in opposition to Wawrinka, one at the beginning of their rivalry (Doha 2008) and one nearer the top (Antwerp 2019). The Antwerp title was the Briton’s final on the ATP Tour, coming after his hip resurfacing surgical procedure.

“It means loads,” an emotional Murray mentioned. “The previous couple of years have been extraordinarily troublesome. Me and Stan have had a number of damage issues within the final couple of years. Wonderful to be again enjoying in opposition to him in a remaining like that.”

The contemporaries met at each Grand Slam however the Australian Open, with Wawrinka proudly owning a 5-3 edge on the Slams. They cut up two of their highest-stakes matches in consecutive Roland Garros semi-finals in 2016 and 2017. It was an excellent 3-3 cut up on the ATP Masters 1000s, with 4 of these matchups going three units.

In 2023, their rivalry even prolonged to the ATP Challenger Tour, with Wawrinka beating Murray within the first assembly between former Grand Slam champions in additional than 40 years.