Andy Murray's Surviving the Miami Heat

Andy Murray continues to confound critics and crooners alike. Sitting at No. 4 in the APT tennis standings inches behind No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic, prognosticators predict that Murray will assuredly overtake the Serbian on his way up the ladder.   

Eventually, they intone confidently, he will supersede the Swiss maestro Roger Federer at No. 2.

The nice thing about sitting back and saying these things is that you don’t have produce anything to make the statement. You just have to posture and wait for it to happen.  

If you are Andy Murray, however, you have to endure the pressure of expectations heaped upon you as the “great hope of the Isles” and the No. 1 player of the English contingent.

There is perhaps no one more tormented by the prospect of promise than Murray as he struggles toward his perfected game. As his homeland awaits his arrival at the top of the men’s game, Murray survives the roller coaster rhythm of the tennis caravan.

In April of 2007 Andrew Murray advanced into the official ATP Top 10 for the first time. After the 2008 U.S. Open where he reached the final and lost to the eventual champion Federer, Murray reached a career-high of No. 4 in the world. 

Since that time he has been instrumental in reconfiguring the pack—now often referred to as the fabulous four—Rafael Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray...as fans and the media scramble to predict what spot each player will hold at the end of the year.

Murray’s best surfaces are hard courts and grass, although he has been working hard recently to shore up his clay court game. 

In order to improve his play and increase his endurance, Murray works with a team of fitness experts. Miles Maclagan currently serves as his main coach. 

His relationship with American Coach Brad Gilbert is well-documented. Gilbert’s tutelage improved Murray’s game immensely but their stormy relationship did not sit well with the moody Scott. 

After splitting with Gilbert and enduring harsh critics again, Murray began his 2008 campaign stating he was in the best shape of his young life.

This could well have been true, but unfortunately for Murray he ran into a very, very hot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the 2008 Australian Open and was summarily dismissed in the first round.

Humbled and abashed, Murray gathered his fragmented ego and moved on.

At his next tournament in Marseille, Murray won his fifth career title when he overcame Mario Ancic in the final. During Murray's opening match in Dubai, he defeated world No. 1 Federer but was dismissed subsequently in the quarterfinals.

Murray lost early at the 2008 Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami. His 2008 clay court season was mediocre, as was his grass campaign, although he did win a thriller from Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon coming back from two sets down to win in the fifth. Nadal sent Murray home by defeating him in the quarterfinals.

Murray’s real triumphs began on the hardcourts during the summer of 2008.  He reached the semis at Toronto and he defeated Djokovic to take the title in Cincinnati. This win propelled him to No. 6 in the world.

At the U.S. Open, Murray defeated Nadal during the semifinals, allowing him to progress to the finals facing Federer—where he lost in straight sets.

By reaching the finals, Murray became the No. 4 ranked player in the world, a ranking he has maintained since last September. 

He went on to win the Madrid Masters and followed that by winning in St. Petersburg. 

At the year end Masters, Murray defeated Federer and eliminated him from the round robin competition in a hard fought contest. Murry then lost his next match to Nikolay Davydenko.

Starting his 2009 campaign strong, Murray won the Capitala World Championship in Abu Dhabi and followed that by a win in Doha at the Qatar Open.

Again a fan and book-maker favorite to win the 2009 Australian Open, Murray ran into another hot player, this time Fernando Verdasco and he lost in the fourth round.  The Australian Open has proven to be a heart-breaker for Murray fans.

Murray won the ABN AMRO in Rotterdam, defeating Nadal in the final.  After some injuries and illness, Murray jetted to Indian Wells where he defeated Federer in the semis. Murray made it to the finals, but lost to to Nadal, the eventual champion.

Murray has great aspirations for the current Masters event in Miami.

He possesses one of the most complete games on tour with few weaknesses. As he tightens his grasp, Murray’s backhand looms as a weapon of purest distinction. He is consistently capable of pinpointing winners cross-court or down the line with his backhand. 

The most improved element of his game is his serve, although his formidable forehand often wreaks havoc with his opponent’s game plan.

Perhaps his best weapon remains his ability to anticipate and plan—his mental acumen is exceptional and his abilities as a tactician remain almost unequalled. 

All players who reach the top of the men’s game have this ability—you have to be smart to win consistently.  Even Federer admits he has yet to figure out Murray’s game.

Murray will become the No. 3 player in the world if he reaches the finals in Miami this week.  In order to do that, he will probably have to defeat Nadal who stands directly in his path.

Murray seems to be moving forward faster than his competitors as his game falls steadily into place. While Djokovic teeters and Federer flails, Murray moves ahead always advancing on his talented rivals. The timing is right for the stolid Scotsman. 

After all no one expects Federer to falter for long, nor for Djokovic to fade away.  If Murray is going to advance he must take advantage on this surface, his best, and Nadal’s worst. 

Andrew Murray could leave Miami with the number three ranking in his pocket and with a less obstructed view to the top...stay tuned...