Andy Murray returns to action ahead of US Open

Andy Murray leaves10 Downing Street after attending a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Andy Murray will return to action later this week in the second round of the Rogers Cup. The 26 year old will face either Marcell Granollers or Grigor Dimitrov in his first match since defeating Novak Djokovic to claim the Wimbledon title. The Scott will hope his good form continues ahead of the upcoming US Open.

For a long time, Murray has remained in the shadow of Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal. However, he defeated the Serb in straight sets to claim the Wimbledon title, becoming the first Briton to do so since Fred Perry in 1936. The win showed fans and critics alike that Murray has what it takes to compete with the big guns. In a way, it has also made up for the years of disappointment and frustration on Murray’s part.

Ahead of the last Grand Slam of the season, Murray will hope that his form can continue ahead of the US Open, as he competes in the Rogers Cup in Canada. The Scotsman automatically advances to the second round of the Masters 1000 event. Should he win the early encounters, he could face either Nadal or Djokovic in the later stages of the tournament.

Following the Rogers Cup, Murray will return to New York to defend his US Open crown against the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.  His main competition however, will come from the Serb, whom he defeated 7-6 (12-10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in last year’s final.

Of the 19 matches they have played so far, Djokovic leads the head-to-head with 11 wins. But Murray will be buoyed by his recent win as he aims to add another Grand Slam to his collection.

In a career marked by disappointment and failure, Murray seems to have finally caught a break. It seems the turning point came in the 2012 Olympics, where he won gold against Federer. Since then, he has gone on to win two Grand Slam titles in one year.

His performance in the last Grand Slam of the season will determine whether this is just a fluke or if he has truly realised his potential. He may even go as far as to cement his place among the tennis greats of the current era.