PETE ZIEBRON
World #4 Andy Murray Pete Ziebron Images
Andy Murray's 2011 season to date has resulted in a few triumphs but mostly puzzling and disappointing losses. Last Sunday, Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati, becoming only the second player to top Djokovic this year. However, Murray has endured his share of difficulties en route to the win in Cincinnati.
In January, Murray lost the Australian Open Final to Djokovic in straight sets. It was the 3rd major Final for Murray and he is now a combined 0-9 in sets played in Finals. The loss in Melbourne would mark the beginning of a 4 match losing streak for Murray as he would drop his initial matches to Marcos Baghdatis in Rotterdam, to world #143 Donald Young in Indian Wells and to #118 Alex Bogomolov Jr. in Miami.
Murray would eventually steady his game during the spring clay court season, appearing in the semifinals in Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros. Finally, Murray would win his first title of the year, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Queen''s Club in London. A few weeks later, Murray would duplicate his previous year's performance at Wimbledon, losing to Rafael Nadal in the semis.
The week before the Western & Southern Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, Andy Murray would once again lose in his first match of a 1000 level tournament, to Kevin Anderson in Montreal. This early exit provided Murray with the opportunity to arrive in Cincinnati earlier than most of the field, allowing him to get used to the faster court and heavier conditions.
In his initial test in Cincinnati, Andy Murray defeated David Nalbandian in straight sets on Court 2. Next, Murray would have the chance to avenge his Miami defeat to Alex Bogomolov Jr. in the 3rd round. Due to a packed schedule, Murray would play on Court 3 and Hawk-Eye technology would not be available despite the fact that it was a television court. It seemed a bit curious that the world #4 would have to play on a smaller court, however Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova faced #9 seed Andrea Petkovic on the 4th largest court in Cincinnati and this arena did not feature Hawk-eye nor was the match televised.
Following Nalbandian, Murray would go on to beat Bogomolov Jr, in straight sets and then proceed to defeat Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals. Next up was red-hot American Mardy Fish, who came into the match having held serve 29 consecutive times. Murray would break Fish immediately to open the match and also break Fish 3 more times on the day and I asked him to comment on this accomplishment: "I broke him, yet he hadn't lost serve all week. I broke him four or five times, so I returned well."
Murray would continue to play inspired tennis in the Final and raced to a 6-4, 3-0 lead against world #1 Novak Djokovic before Djokovic would retire citing a fatigued shoulder. Andy Murray won the Cincinnati Masters 1000 without dropping a set. The victory was Murray's 18th in his career, the 2nd crown in Cincinnati and his 7th Masters 1000 title.
"The plan is to be feeling perfect going into the Grand Slams. That's really been my goal this year, and done a good job at it so far" Murray shared after his win in Cincinnati. His Final appearance in Australia as well as Semifinal results at Roland Garros and Wimbledon prove that his game plan for the majors is indeed working. Will the Cincinnati win be enough to propel Andy Murray to break through and win his first major in New York two weeks from today?
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