Murray Has Questions To Answer

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – And now Andy Murray will have a few months to ask himself, what went wrong.

His straight set defeat to Marin Cilic, 5-7, 2-6, 2-6 was such a dismantling, you have to wonder what was wrong.

Was it his wrist? Well no.

“I had a problem with it for a week or so,” he said. :But regardless, I mean, you know, I just struggled today. I played poorly. You know, I’m obviously very disappointed. I mean, after, you know, the way that the last three Slams went I felt like I had actually played well and lost.

“And today, you know, it didn’t feel like I played well. I had my chance in the first set, and then, you know, struggled after that. I guess the momentum went with him, and I didn’t manage to get it back. So, you know, I wasn’t able to return well.”

The first set where Murray lost, but competed with Croatian opponent was the beginning of the end. After that set, Cilic was able to make his shots and put the Scotsman on his heels. There was no turning back for the No. 2 seed as he went quietly into the New York night.

“I didn’t find a way to get myself into the match,” he said. “There was very few long rallies after the first set, and normally, you know, I’m able to get myself into rallies.

“But, you know, I guess on the return, you know, every time I had a chance, you know, he would hit a big serve or I would hit a poor return, especially on the second serve. You know, just a lot allowed him to dictate the play.

“Normally the return is the one part of my game where, you know, even if the rest of my game is struggling, I find ways to break serve and get into points, and I didn’t do that.”

This was supposed to be Murray’s year. After going to the Finals in 2008, he was supposed to take that next step and compete with Roger Federer in these Grand Slams.

But he found nothing but disappointment. He went out in the fourth round in Australia, then the Quarters at Roland Garros. Sure he made the semi’s in Wimbledon, but couldn’t get past Andy Roddick.

Then here in Flushing, another disappointment.

Yet, to be a champion, you need to learn from the bumps in the road. And Murray made a vow to make sure this embarrassment never happens again.

“It’s been a good season,” he said. Could have been better in the Slams, but the rest of the season has gone well. I have to make sure, you know, I work on my game a lot to make sure that when I go into the Slams next year and the beginning of the year I’m ready to win one.”

Australia though is four months away and there’s plenty of time to think. He will still compete in the other tournaments around the world, but until he wins a Slam, there will always be questions about this young player.

Yet, that may be a good thing. Murray is a very smart man and seems to learn fro his mistakes. If he does then 2010 will be a good year for the Scot. If not, then expect the same disappointment from this rising tennis star.

About the Author

Joe McDonald

Editor-in-Chief
Joe McDonald is the founder and former publisher of NY Sports Day. After selling to i15Media in 2020, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief and responsible for the editorial side of the publication. In the past, Joe was the managing editor of NY Sportscene magazine and assistant editor of Mets Inside Pitch. He has covered the Mets since 2004.

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