Planning the Key If Andy Murray Is to Win a Grand Slam

The hype surrounding Andy Murray may have amounted to nothing, but the British No. 1 has not been outplayed at Wimbledon, he has been out-thought.

When Murray reflects on the past two weeks he should start by studying the finalists and their route to Sunday’s match.

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick have formulated game plans and executed them to near perfection and it is this which has lifted them above the levels of their opponents.

Take Roddick for example. Despite not tending to serve volley, he implemented this style to devastating effect against Murray, often narrowing angles and limiting the Scot’s trademark passing winners.

Federer too has not just played his own game but has played his opponent when the circumstances have warranted it. Against Ivo Karlovic, Federer attacked the big Croat’s serve much earlier, making it more difficult for him to come into the net.

It is not just the men who have shown that the “thinking” players have enjoyed the most success at SW19.

The women’s final will once again be contested by the Williams sisters and their nous and experience has seen them prevail.

The sweltering conditions have left the grass courts resembling hard courts and Serena has used this to her advantage. She has the most potent second serve at this year’s Wimbledon and her ability to gain points off her first and second serves have been vital.

Venus, on the other hand, powered through because she has a superb all-round game. The shortcomings of a one-dimensional game have never been more evident than they were when Dinara Safina took to centre court in her semi-final match with Venus.

Wimbledon will ultimately always be the most difficult prize for Murray.

As a Brit, he represents the perennial underachievers. In Britain, Wimbledon truly engrosses people but for the rest of the calendar year, tennis fails to capture the imagination.  

Carrying the nation’s expectations is a burden Murray does not have to endure at other Grand Slam tournaments and it is there where he may just make his breakthrough.

There is no doubting his talent. Physically and mentally he has improved and he has every right to be positioned in the elite bracket.

Unfortunately, his career will coincide with the Federer and Nadal era and simply being in that bracket does not guarantee a Grand Slam title.

Federer is the best there is and the best there ever was because he adapts to every surface, to every game, and to every situation better than anybody else. It is this all-round package which Murray needs to try and emulate.

Murray has matured over the last few years and deserves to be touted as a future Grand Slam champion. His desire and commitment is there for all to witness.

He must now begin to plan for each game meticulously, assessing not just his own game but his opponent’s game too.