Is Andy Murray Headed Toward an Early Exit at the 2016 French Open?
Survive and advance is becoming Andy Murray's motto at the 2016 French Open.
Walking a tightrope, Murray had to go the distance in each of his first two matches. What should have been relatively straightforward contests turned into angst-ridden epics. He was a popular pick to make the final, so his play so far is bewildering.
The second-seeded Murray compiled a 12-2 record this year and notched a dominant win over Novak Djokovic in the Rome final during the prelude to Roland Garros.
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What has happened to that guy? We've yet to see him in the opening rounds.
Kicking things off against 37-year-old journeyman Radek Stepanek, Murray found himself with a cushy start to the tournament. Or so he thought. Stepanek threw the kitchen sink at him, dictating points from the baseline and darting to the net to cause further chaos.
The cagey veteran came to play. When the first two sets went Stepanek's way, Murray found himself on the brink of his earliest Grand Slam defeat since the 2008 Australian Open.
Forced to dig deep, Murray's inner fire pulled him out of his malaise. He'd bagel Stepanek in the third set, eventually earning a break in the fourth before fading light suspended the match.
Murray finally completed the 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 comeback the next day. Not that it was easy. Stepanek led 5-4 in the decisive set, coming within two points of victory. But in the pressure moments, Murray raised his level and showed grit.
Fortunate not to be packing his bags, Murray had to feel confident going into his second-round match with French wild card Mathias Bourgue. Making his first appearance at a major, the 22-year-old looked like a novice early on as Murray jumped out to a 6-0, 2-0 lead.
In a shocking twist, Murray's game then went off the rails. Dropping eight games on the trot and 16 consecutive points during one particularly awful stretch, he suddenly fell behind two sets to one.
An all-time upset was brewing.
But Murray wasn't about to say goodbye. Like Houdini, he maneuvered his way out of another harrowing jam. There'd be no Cinderella story for Bourgue, as Murray put his foot back on the pedal and raced to the finish line for a 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
All the effort it required to reach the third round probably has drained Murray emotionally and physically. Even he couldn't anticipate having to work that hard just to outlast two players outside the Top 100.
How concerned should Murray be after that ominous start?
“You can’t continue playing matches like that and expect to win the tournament,” Murray told the New York Times’ Christopher Clarey. "If I can get through the next one, it would be nice to win it a bit quicker. … I don’t want to play five sets every round and don’t want to have big drop-offs in matches."
Fatigue is a danger with a pair of prolonged matches under his belt. Murray needs to conserve some energy to have a shot in the later rounds—if he makes it that far.
While turbulent weather and the absence of a full-time coach after his parting with Amelie Mauresmo may be contributing to his struggles, Murray's own inconsistent play is mostly to blame for his shaky efforts against Stepanek and Bourgue.
The remedy for what ails him is a (still) favorable draw. Big-serving Ivo Karlovic awaits in the third round, although Murray's superior expertise on the surface gives him a huge advantage. He isn't afraid of the firepower.
Standing between him and a quarterfinal berth will likely be a similar opponent in John Isner, the type of player the defensively skilled Murray relishes facing.
A couple of matches that are quicker and less taxing on his body would help Murray stay fresh for the later rounds when the challenges really begin. Even with Kei Nishikori and defending champion Stan Wawrinka left in his path, a first French Open final appearance is a realistic expectation.
To get where he wants to go, Murray must heed the wake-up call he's already received.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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