PETE ZIEBRON
Andy Murray's last title came in November 2009 - Pete Ziebron Images
ATP world #2 Novak Djokovic #3 Roger Federer and #4 Andy Murray have combined for only 2 titles in 2010. Within the last year (and within the last week for Federer and Murray) all have made changes to their respective coaching teams.
Today, Andy Murray had an opportunity to end his 8+ month title drought at an ATP 250 tournament in Los Angeles and even held a match point against Sam Querrey but was not able to secure the victory. Earlier this week, Murray parted ways with coach Miles Maclagan and plans to name a new coach after the US Open. Murray's last win came at the Valencia ATP 500 against Mikhail Youzhny in November 2009.
Earlier this year in January, Murray reached the Final of the Australian Open where he lost to Roger Federer. The Australian Open crown happens to be the last that hardware that Federer himself has been able to win. Federer did reach 2 other finals in 2010, losing to Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Masters 1000 in May and to Lleyton Hewitt at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany prior to Wimbledon. This week, Federer announced that he would begin working with Paul Annacone, the former coach of Pete Sampras and Tim Henman, on a trial basis going forward and plans to have Swiss Davis Cup Captain Severin Lüthi continue to work with him.
Novak Djokovic is the most recent title holder of the triumvirate of the ATP #2, # 3 and #4, winning this February in Dubai against Mikhail Youzhny, ironically the last man that Murray was also able to defeat in a final. Prior to the US Open last year, Djokovic brought in American Todd Martin, a two-time Grand Slam Finalist last August to assist Marian Vajda with coaching duties. Although it appeared that Martin's efforts were helping Djokovic with his play at net, Martin's input seemed to contrast Vajda's philosophies and he was dismissed in April.
Even though world #1 Rafael Nadal has 5 titles under his belt this year, he struggled mightily for part of 2010 as well. Nadal went through an 11 month title drought, dating from the Masters 1000 in Rome in early May 2009 all the way to the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo this April. Toni Nadal continues to coach his nephew although Francisco Roig assists with Nadal's coaching duties when Uncle Toni is not present.
Although injuries are mostly to blame for the inability for other members of the ATP Top Ten to win tournaments, it should be noted that world #6 Nikolay Davydenko has not won since Doha, Qatar in January and world #7 Juan Martin del Potro has not won since dethroning Roger Federer at last year's US Open in September.
The current ranking positions occupied by Djokovic, Federer and Murray may change drastically at the conclusion of the US Open as all have plenty of points to defend. Andy Murray is the defending champion at the Rogers Cup Masters 1000, played next week in Canada and also reached the semifinals at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters 1000 the following week in Cincinnati. Federer won the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and was runner up at the US Open. Djokovic was a finalist in Cincinnati and semifinalist at the US Open, losing both times to Federer.
Despite the fact that only 2 trophies appear on the collective shelves of Djokovic, Federer and Murray through the first 7 months of 2010, all have had a history of playing well and winning on the hard courts, especially at the Masters 1000 tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati. Djokovic has won in Canada, Murray owns titles in Canada and Cincinnati and Federer has been victorious in Canada twice, in Cincinnati 3 times and has hoisted the US Open trophy 5 times.
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