Australian Open 2013: Does Jeremy Chardy Have a Shot Against Andy Murray?

While defeating the third-seeded Scot may take some serious luck, as you can infer from the numbers, Chardy certainly hasn’t been short on luck this tournament.

Despite a seemingly massive disparity in skill between Murray and Chardy, the Frenchman's win against Murray in Cincinnati last year should answer this question.  

Will it happen? There's no sure answer, but as Serena Williams so eloquently stated to the Mirror, "Why not?"

Getting to Know Jeremy Chardy

Ranked 36th in the world, Chardy’s rise to relevance is not as shocking as it may seem, but a second straight victory in as many years over Andy Murray would definitely raise some eyebrows. 

Despite success on the Junior Circuit, including a Wimbledon Boys' Title, Chardy has struggled to make a name for himself on tour, compiling a 107-111 singles record in six years. 

Since reaching the fourth round of the 2008 French Open as a wild-card entry, defeating then-sixth-ranked David Nalbandian, the Frenchman has failed to advance past the third round of a Grand Slam, with his only ATP tournament title coming at Stuttgart in 2009, where he defeated Victor Hänescu 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Taking Tips from Serena?

At age 25, the Frenchman has looked better than at any time previously in his career, thanks in part to practicing with women’s singles quarterfinalist Serena Williams in The Republic of Mauritius last month.

Serena joked about Jeremy's success to reporters, saying, "We practiced together and now we are both in the quarters. I always say it’s because he hit with me. I think obviously I’m the reason why he’s doing really well!" (h/t mirror.co.uk)

Maybe she's right.

Fatigue a Factor?

Fatigue always seems to be a factor in hard-court matches, as the surface is considerably tougher on your joints, and in this case, considerably hotter while roasting in the Australian sun.

Despite a bode of confidence from Williams, Chardy will have to prove his seemingly-injured left knee can withstand further punishment after grueling back-to-back matches lasting over two-and-a-half hours each. Not to mention, Jeremy also competed in doubles before losing to the Bryan brothers in the third round.  

It will definitely be interesting to gauge his energy level against Murray.

Keys to Victory: Aces and Avoiding Unforced Errors

In order to oust Andy, Chardy will need to rely on big first serves and forehands to put away points early, limiting Murray’s chances to test the balky knee that gave him trouble against Seppi.  

Chardy must also cut down on the self-inflicted wounds that have plagued him thus far, as he has committed 156 unforced errors through four rounds, including an astounding 31 double faults.  The 156 errors are 40 more than any player left in the tournament, including 61 more than Murray and 63 more than Federer, while the 31 double faults are 22 more than any player left. 

Regardless of his seemingly sloppy service game, Chardy has recorded the fourth-most aces in the tournament while boasting the second-fastest serve speed of the players remaining, lending that an uptick in first-serve percentage could be vital to victory against Andy Murray. 

Can Chardy Beat Murray?

While defeating the third-seeded Scot may take some serious luck, as you can infer from a numbers standpoint, Chardy certainly hasn’t been short on luck this tournament.

Despite a seemingly massive disparity in skill between Murray and Chardy, the Frenchman's win against Murray in Cincinnati last year should answer this question.  

Will it happen? There's no sure answer, but as Serena Williams so eloquently stated to the Mirror, "Why not?"