By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Saturday, August 5, 2023
So what’s subsequent for Andy Murray after what’s been a season filled with ups and downs?
Nicely, for starters, he is on his option to Toronto for subsequent week’s ATP 1000 Masters occasion the place he is a previous winner.
But the previous World No. 1 and three-time main champion nonetheless finds himself in new waters in his profession as he approaches yet one more US Open.
To begin with, let’s begin with the excellent news. Murray performed an exhilarating and fascinating match in opposition to prime seed Taylor Fritz of their early spherical encounter on the ATP 500 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C.
Fritz gained the over three-hour match 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4. But it was a titanic battle between each males.
That being stated, the match delighted followers watching in particular person as every participant needed to combine up energy and contact to remain forward of the opposite.
Win or lose, all the time an inspiration.
Maintain your head excessive, @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/Kk6rNC4nLO
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 4, 2023
Nonetheless, for Murray, a participant who prides himself on discovering a manner via razor-close matches, this loss proved difficult to take. Particularly contemplating he is made a dwelling from getting via very tight contests up to now.
After the loss, Murray might take some positives away, particularly since he misplaced badly the earlier time he performed Fritz – final yr in Montreal 6-1, 6-3. However solely simply.
“Nicely, I imply, compared to the place my sport was final yr once I performed Taylor, like, I used to be in a fairly dangerous place once I performed him in Canada. I actually wasn’t feeling good with my sport. So my sport is in a greater place. I’ve made some enhancements,” Murray stated.
“However clearly you need to be getting via these matches. They had been matches I’ve been used to profitable. So, yeah, it is irritating proper now.”
And there lies the rub for Murray now age 36.
“How effectively does he learn the sport?” 😱@andy_murray #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/jHND18H5Ck
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 4, 2023
On the one hand, Murray is proving that he can problem many prime 10 gamers on any given week. His anticipation and shot prediction in opposition to the highest gamers is unparalleled.
In his match with Fritz, he learn each level and shot delivered to him. That included utilizing the rallies to arrange potent forehand winners. Sure, forehand winners on a wing that was usually his weaker aspect.
On the similar time, Murray was by no means afraid to throw in intelligent forehand slices and even drop pictures, once more on what has usually been thought-about his weaker shot.
However, in some ways, extra is required, particularly in opposition to the easiest, a minimum of in line with the rankings and his outcomes.
Murray, earlier than the Fritz match, was 10-10 on the yr. As within the Fritz match, lots of his ten losses this yr had been very shut ones that might have gone his manner. That features his very aggressive but in the end disappointing five-set defeat at Wimbledon to Stefanos Tsitsipas only a few weeks in the past.
Whereas Murray, is at present ranked No. 44, his rating over the past 12 months has but to climb into the highest 30. To do this, Murray should discover a option to flip any upcoming shut matches in his favor for a win.
Murray will now enter the summer time exhausting court docket swing hoping for a good run in Toronto or Cincinnati to place him again right into a seeded place in New York. And he may have that seed if he has any hope of creating a deep run at a significant he is gained earlier than.
Regardless of the struggles, there’s nonetheless a summer time of chance for Andy Murray.
Let’s have a look at what occurs.
Picture credit score: Matthew Calvis
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