Andy Murray had no excuses after crashing out of the 2009 Australian Open in the 4th round to 15th in the world rankings Fernando Verdasco.
Murray saw his hopes of winning his first Grand Slam end in five sets after twice being a set up 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-3 6-4.
Murray’s preparation for the match had been hampered through illness after his victory over Jurgen Melzer in the third round. Though Murray refused to make any excuses, after his defeat he said,
I gave myself the best chance to win, I don’t think it came down to a physical thing why I lost. If I say that I’m sick and it affected me, I know it’s going to be like, ‘well he’s making excuses for losing’.
If you’re sick, there’s some things you can’t do as well as you might like but you just have to deal with it, I don’t feel that was the reason why I lost.
I definitely did have my chances but he played too well. He served huge. He started serving like, 215 kph-plus (134 mph) on a lot of his first serves. I didn’t play my best but sometimes you’ve just got to say too good, and he played better than me.
The first 4 sets could not have been more contrasting with both players wining each of their successful sets comfortably. The second set was probably the “worst set of tennis” Murray has ever played.
The match was ultimately decided in the fifth set and crucially the sixth game of the set. Murray earned the first break point at 15-40 of the obviously tense final set but Verdasco responded brilliantly with successive aces, which was the final blow for Murray as Verdasco punished the Scot by getting the crucial break in the very next game and he held his nerve impressively to serve out for victory in 3 hours and 12 minutes.
The crazy world of British expectation and joy of building up our sport stars only to knock the them down was rampant. The past week I’ve heard more about tennis on regular media (outside Wimbledon fortnight) than ever before and after his defeat even more coverage as “experts” can’t wait to get their face or voice on tv or radio and criticise Murray.
Murray;s first Grand Slam will have to wait for now. Could he surprise everyone at the French Open, though quarter finals at Rolland Garros would be a major result for Murray. Will Murray’s first grand slam be the dream scenario, a victory on the hallowed lawns of the All England Club? Murray will win a slam this year, i’m 98% sure of that, but I think it will most likely happen at Flushing Meadow, the site of his greatest accomplishments in tennis so far.
Sorry to disappoint you guys, but Murray WILL NOT WIN any grand slams this year. This is a prediction. Murray will be taken out in the 2nd round at Madrid and wont even make any finals for the rest of the year.
There will be injuries which will leave him defeated in Wimbledon too. Versdasco will take away any chances of victory and Tsonga will deliver the final blow.
Watch out for this. See how right I am.