Andy Murray’s recent impressive defence of his Toronto Master’s title following back to back victories over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, has meant that once again he is one of the firm favourites for the US Open which starts tomorrow.
The final marked a welcome return to the more aggressive style of play witnessed before the devastating psychological impact of losing to Roger Federer in the Australian Open at the start of the year. The Canadian fans were treated to a more focused and mature performance from the young Scot, unnerved by the rain delays and the prospect of facing his arch nemesis once again, prevailing 7-5, 7-5 to record his first title victory of the season.
The win brought Murray’s head to head record to seven wins out of twelve against the majestic Swiss master, but the world waits with baited breath to see whether he can maintain his form throughout the grueling two weeks of a Grand Slam or simply continue his reign as the best player never to have won a major.
Roger Federer
Murray remains confident of his chances and revealed, “I feel very fresh after taking a couple of days off after reaching the quarter finals in Cincinnati and right now I’m fine physically. The Toronto win was very good for the confidence and now I’ve been in New York, a city I love, for a week. I feel good which is important because I know I have got to produce my best tennis.”
Indeed, on recent form and the shape of the US Open draw, Murray is likely to face Federer once again in the final, with Rafael Nadal certainly less impressive during the American hard court season. While each feels equally confident of victory, their summer preparations couldn’t have been further apart.
Murray has spent the summer enjoying his rekindled romance with Kim Sears, whilst Federer has had to come to terms with balancing being a father to twins with the pressures of the tour; a fact he has taken into consideration when taking on the advice of new coach, Paul Annacone, who also had children early in his playing career. Meanwhile, in July Murray chose to sever ties with his coach of two and a half years, Miles Maclagan.
Will Murray carry on his good form and survive the two weeks unscathed as a lone ranger or will Federer succeed with the inspiration and insight of his new right hand man and former coach of Pete Sampras? Or will a certain Spaniard spoil the party? Be sure to tune and join the rollercoaster ride at Flushing Meadows, but remember to hold on to your hats and glasses folks, as we’re certainly in for some unpredictable twists and turns!
Melina Harris is a freelance sports writer, book editor, English tutor and PTR qualified tennis coach. For more information and contact details please visit and subscribe to her website and blog at http://www.thetenniswriter.wordpress.com and follow her twitter updates @thetenniswriter. She is available for freelance writing, editing and one to one private teaching and coaching.
Roger Federer is playing the best tennis in the world right now. Based on his overall performance in both Cincinnati and Toronto. Federer is the firm favourite for the US Open right now. Federer has a different mindset at the majors (he's the toughest player to beat in the majors in any 7 year period of all tennis history, twice as hard as Sampras).
Miles McLagan, Andy Murray’s former coach, said a few days ago that: "I think Roger (Federer) has to be the favourite. He's playing with belief that he can do it.” Source: London Telegraph. That Federer will probably win it all was determined the moment he lost Wimbledon — it surely motivated the self-motivated Federer to want to win the US Open, even without Paul Annacone’s input. Federer simply put in harder work in his training sessions. Though there are some slight changes, most of the tennis he played in Toronto and Cincinnati resembles what he did in his most aggressive matches in 2009: Australian Open QF against Del Potro, French Open fin al against Soderling, Cincinnati SF and final against Murray and Djokovic, US Open QF against Soderling, etc.
McLagan said Murray is the third favourite at the US Open, but Murray should be considered second favourite. McLagan also explained why Murray has yet to win a Grand Slam championship: “I think that people sometimes forget that, in the two grand slam finals he's been in, he has played against the greatest player of all time (Federer). So that's kind of rough. You look at the opponents that some players have beaten in finals to win grand slams, and if Andy had played those guys in his finals, he might have won two grand slam titles by now. So maybe he was unlucky…"
Murray's win over Federer in Toronto probably would not indicative of the US Open. Murray entered Toronto with the benefit of more hardcourt match practice having played Los Angeles final two weeks earlier so he had the jump on Federer (Toronto was Federer's first event back from vacation). Even though Federer played the Toronto to final lethargically because he was tired from two long previous matches and recovery from two night matches into a day match… he still had chances to potentially take the match from Murray. Murray may have peaked too soon, as he his play was unconvincing in Cincinnati.