Main Runs Could Be Executed
By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, August 31, 2023
NEW YORK—Passion propels Andy Murray to play on.
The former world No. 1 loves his work, however confronted main actuality verify at this time.
Applying all-court acumen, Grigor Dimitrov defeated Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, rolling into the US Open third spherical for the fourth time.
In a conflict between former US Open boys’ champions, Dimitrov doubled Murray’s winner output—32 to 16—broke to begin every set and masterfully combined his slice backhand together with his heavy topspin forehand to beat the two-time Olympic gold-medal champion for the primary time for the reason that 2016 Miami Open.
It’s the fourth time in his final 5 Flushing Meadows appearances Murray did not survive the second spherical. Reviewing his Grand Slam struggles not too long ago—Murray fell in 5 units to fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas within the Wimbledon second spherical after bowing to No. 25 Roberto Bautista Agut within the Australian Open third spherical—the three-time Grand Slam champion mentioned he should face actuality that his days of summoning main magic could also be finished.
“It’s obviously disappointing to not play how you would like. But maybe I need to accept that these events, I had the deep runs and everything that I felt like I’m capable of, they might not be there, as well,” Murray informed the media afterward. “So, you know, I’m aware what I’m doing, it’s unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And yeah, some days it’s harder than others.
“But at this time is clearly a very disappointing defeat and doubtless the way of it as nicely. I imply, I fought laborious sufficient, however yeah, simply did not, like I say, did not play nicely sufficient. You know, finally these are the occasions that you simply wish to play your finest tennis in, and, you already know, create extra nice moments and did not do this this 12 months.”
The man playing with the metal hip implant has shown steely spine in his comeback from hip surgery.
The 37th-ranked Murray narrowly missed being seeded in New York, which theoretically would have given him a gentler draw. The 36-year-old Murray said seeded status at Slams would help, but at this point it’s about playing quality tennis each time out and that eluded him today.
“It’s extra about how nicely you play,” Murray said. “Like, you already know, if I wish to have deep runs in these tournaments, I’m going to have to come back up in opposition to gamers like Grigor or Tsitsipas or, you already know, whoever in Australia, performed Berrettini within the first spherical and Bautista within the third spherical. These are clearly high gamers.
“Obviously being seeded avoids them early. But for me, it’s more about sort of the level you put out there and the performance and whether I was seeded or not here in the top 32, then I don’t think that that guarantees that I’m going to have a deep run either.”
That doesn’t suggest Murray is contemplating hanging up his Head racquet simply but. Murray, who mentioned he’d wish to characterize Great Britain in Davis Cup, “but if I’m being honest, the other guys deserve to play ahead of me,” mentioned so long as he nonetheless has the love, and his rating is not going south, he hopes to play on.
“I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level. I enjoy the work,” Murray mentioned. “The training and trying to improve and trying to get better, I do still enjoy that.
“Yeah, and that is what retains me going. If issues change and I cease having fun with that or my outcomes, my rating and every part, like, if I begin to go backwards in that respect, you already know, in a couple of months’ time I used to be ranked 60 on the earth or no matter as an alternative of shifting up the way in which, issues may change.”
Photo credit score: Simon Bruty/USTA/US Open
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