Can Murray Win His 1st Grand Slam at US Open 2012?

Ever since he won the junior title in 2004, Andy Murray has been on the critics’s watch-list. Even more so when he reached his first Grand slam final at the US Open back in 2008 at the nimble age of 21 even though he lost to Roger Federer in straight sets. Subsequently, he lost in the 2010 and 2011 Australian Open finals to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic respectively without winning a single set. These straight sets losses in the finals earned him the title of a late bloomer. But a month ago at the finals of Wimbledon against Roger Federer, Murray won the first set and had four break opportunities in the second set, which if he had converted would have given him a two set lead against the Swiss maestro. But alas, Federer called upon his brilliance from the past to life the cup in four sets bringing his grand slam tally to a record 17 titles. Although Murray’s performance against Federer was truly exceptional, it just was not enough to over power the legend. Much can be derived from the result of the Olympic final between the pair at the same venue. Murray was absolutely brutal when he sent Federer packing 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. An argument can be made stating that a win at one of the four coveted grand slams if a far greater accomplishment that the gold medal at the Olympics. Nevertheless, a win against Roger Federer cannot be overlooked.

It is such bursts of brilliance that makes one stand up and take notice of the emerging tyrant, that is  Andy Murray. If he is able to nurture his raw ability, wonders are in store. He can certainly find solace in the company of his coach, Ivan Lendl. Lendl himself had lost at four major grand slam finals before finally winning his first in 1984 at the French Open. Ivan Lendl is probably the most knowledgeable person on knowing what it takes to win at Flushing Meadows. He reached eight consecutive US Open finals from 1982 to 1989 and won the title thrice in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

With defending champion Novak Djokovic struggling to retain his form and Rafael Nadal still recovering from a knee injury, Murray’s biggest threats at this year’s US Open appear to be Roger Federer and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, who pushed Roger Federer to the longest three set match ever played in the open ear at the Olympics.

Such odds and expectations make any upcoming event interesting and US Open 2012 is no exception.

42 year old Andre Agassi will be the inductee into the US Open Court of Champions at the Arthur Ashe stadium before the men’s final which is scheduled to be held on the 9th of September. When Agassi won the US Open in 1994, he became the first unseeded player in the open era to win the US Open. He won his second US Open title in 1999. He won eight career grand slam titles. He was one part of the American dominance in the 90s along with Pete Sampras.

 

Tags: Andre Agassi, Australia, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nadal, Result

Category: Tennis, US Open