The courts of SW19 have been good to Andy Murray within the last two years, from the 2012 gold medal win at the London Olympics to last year’s win at Wimbledon over Novak Djokovic, becoming t
The courts of SW19 have been good to Andy Murray within the last two years, from the 2012 gold medal win at the London Olympics to last year’s win at Wimbledon over Novak Djokovic, becoming the first British man since Fred Parry in 1936 to hoist the trophy.
As he prepares to take on the South African tennis player Kevin Anderson in the fourth round at the All England Club on Monday, Murray may appear to be in similar stead compared to last year’s performance—as he was on the comeback since the 2012 Olympic win against Roger Federer, who beat Murray at Wimbledon weeks earlier, sparked by questions of injury to his back.
A constant formation
The relationship between Murray and Centre Court at the Club has improved, with the environment positive as he took on Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain Friday night. As Tanya Aldred wrote in The Daily Telegraph, there was an elated sense of joy as Murray produced serve after serve.
“Outside Centre Court, people paused enviously to listen to the noises bubbling over the top,” Aldred said. “They looked to the stewards: sorry, sir, no room here. They stopped to watch the scoreboard tick over or meandered over to Murray Mound to sit with the thousands of other ticketless souls who wanted to watch the defending champion charge into the last 16. It was all over in 95 minutes, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2: the crocodile on Agut’s white Lacoste shirt no match for the teeth of Centre Court and a man with everything on his side.”
It was also proof at how Murray was at the top of his game, his form aiding why he should be crowned Men’s Singles champion again come next Sunday.
“It was outstanding,” said John Lloyd, the former British number one, according to a BBC report. “He is playing brilliantly. He doesn’t need to change the way he’s playing. Let’s hope he can bottle this form all the way through.”
After Monday
For Anderson, this would be his third meeting with Murray, after meetings in Canada and Australia. Anderson is the fourth South African to reach the fourth round at All England since 2000, and according to the Telegraph, Murray said there were some challenges.
“If I do play him, there will be a few challenges,” Murray said. “I think the biggest will be staying calm, regardless of what court we may be on or all those outside factors. Really it’s about me focusing on my game. If I do that and do it very well, then I might have a few chances here and there.”
Indeed, even beyond Monday’s match, the advancement of Federer and Djokovic into the fourth round may likely set the tone for the form that Murray may need to maintain as we close into the final week of matches.
This is a particularly interesting week for Murray, and one that may end with a further note into the tournament history book—a second win for Murray, with back-to-back wins for a player from the United Kingdom, a win, if achieved, will not only be set to inspire, but also expand the legacy of British tennis and for sport.
This week, the ball is very much in Murray’s court, awaiting the first serve.
What do you think? What does the future hold for Andy Murray? Have your say in the comments section below.
