Australian Open 2013: Andy Murray on Right Track Despite Loss
After Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2 in the finals of the 2013 Australian Open, the talk of Murray being a one-hit Grand Slam wonder has already started.
Murray may have lost in the finals Sunday morning, but the last year of his career has been the best stretch of his entire life.
A hard-fought loss to the world’s No. 1 male tennis player in the finals of one of the four biggest tournaments isn’t a discouraging outcome at all.
It proves the British champion is going to be a perennial threat to contend for Grand Slam titles for years to come.
Murray told the Washington Post about how he has played lately and how he is still feels he is doing well despite a tough loss to Djokovic:
"The last few months have been the best tennis of my life. I mean, I made Wimbledon final, won the Olympics, won the U.S. Open. You know, I was close here as well. No one’s ever won a slam (immediately) after winning their first one. It’s not the easiest thing to do. And I got extremely close.
So, you know, I have to try and look at the positives of the last few months, and I think I’m going the right direction.
"
Murray clearly wore down over the course of the match with Djokovic, but it was the star from Great Britain in the driver’s seat for much of the match. As long as the 2012 Olympic gold medalist learns from the outcome of his loss in Australia, he can train harder to remedy those issues.
Whether it was conditioning or something else, Murray has the talent to beat anyone in the world when he is playing well and using the court efficiently.
It’s when Murray gets tired that his form slips and his game suffers.
If Murray and his team can go back to the drawing board to find a way to outlast the machine-like conditioning of Djokovic, there is no doubt that the English star will return to Grand Slam glory.
Add in a returning Rafael Nadal and a living legend in Roger Federer to the men's bracket, and Murray better get back to 100 percent and fast.
