How severe was the Wimbledon loss to Murray?
Posted by tennisplanet on July 12, 2009
Roddick surely made it a lot easy to stomach that semifinal loss. For otherwise, Murray would have entered the final with thoughts similar to what Federer had having Roddick across the net.
Murray has a 6-2 H2H and has won the last five matches (including Abu Dhabi) against Federer. Then he had the massive home court advantage. All that should have been enough to compensate for the pressure that came with the set up, if not tilt scale.
Or was this a missed opportunity for Federer to right the ship against the new threat? Considering how barely he moved past Roddick despite having that lopsided H2H and the consequent mental edge, maybe it was not to be anyway.
But these are the very matches, champions find a way to win. Murray should take the blame for not capitalizing on the plethora of positives flowing all over the place.
With a pattern now starting to develop at Slams, Murray needs to break through at the US Open to ensure this doesn’t become a mental block. Having already reached the finals last year, nothing short of a title will suffice now.
But what seemed more disconcerting was to get extended by Wawrinka (five setter), a far weaker force on any surface against Murray leave alone grass and under current conditions.
Nevertheless, reaching the first Wimbledon semifinal and losing to the near eventual winner may be enough to cushion the fall of not winning it all – for now.
Bettyjane said
Based upon fuzzy logic, if Murray wins the U.S. Open this summer, beating Roger en route, I guess he’s next in line to be the GOAT.
Jenny said
What I did find surprising was how Wawrinka was able to push Murray at Wimby, given clay is Stan’s best surface. Roddick does have a proven grass pedigree, and with his improved game, his victory against him at Wimbledon didn’t surprise me. I’m pretty sure had he met Federer in the final, he would not have won. I think Murray has a good chance at the US Open, it’s a slam I believe he wants to win. We just have to see how he fares in Montreal and Cincy, and his draw at the Open. He’ll need to improve his second serve and be more aggressive, not just rely on clever shots and droppers which opponents are now latching on to.
joao said
I agree, Jenny, that the Wawrinka game was the pivotal moment for Murray in this years Wimbledon.
However, i think of it for different reasons. I remember thinking that Murray was in trouble when he got down to his knees at the end of that game. looked like he was celebrating the title or something. From then on i wondered just how much that had taken out of him, mentally and physically for the rest of the tournament.
Murray and Wimbledon will be a very difficult relationship. The British press will see to that. Henman suffered and almost every other british player suffers in the opening round from the pressure.
Gracie said
A setback that might leave him knowing he has to work on handling the pressures of the home court, perhaps? I’m with Jenny on this – I’m not convinced he’d have had a chance of beating Federer on this particular occasion. He might have a slightly better chance at the USO, but then Roddick’s going to be gunning for a spot in that final, and Roger’s going to be motivated by that ’six in a row’ carrot… Also, we shouldn’t forget the possibility of a well-rested Nadal,trying to do what he hasn’t been able to manage so far at the USO. Murray still needs to work on a few parts of his game, but ultimately I think he’s got what it takes to hoist the big trophy one day.
Of course, I’ve felt this way about a few others before…and their shelves are still empty.
Ch said
I agree. I am also leaning towards the idea that Murray might not have beaten Federer.
but then, the matches are already over – Murray has chances in the future if he wants to claim his first slam. it’s rather funny how the British press forget that has yet to win one..
Jenny said
Ch, One has to take the British media hype with a liberal pinch of salt, especially about Murray’s prowess on clay, they almost had him in the French Open final, and that was before he was blasted off court by Gonz in the quarters, that’s how crazy it was. For sure, he will have his chances to win a slam in the future.
Ch said
yes, thanks Jenny, I won’t forget that.
Jenny said
‘Of course, I’ve felt this way about a few others before…and their shelves are still empty’
Don’t we just know it, Gracie! As I’ve often said before, talent alone doesn’t guarantee success, there’s some big talents out there with relatively empty shelves.