US Open: Andy Murray in focus

Andy Murray comes into the US Open as the defending champion (Getty Images)

It is time for Flushing Meadows again where 12 months back two champions – Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick, whose victories the venue had witnessed in the past – bid farewell after their bodies gave in to the physical demands of the sport. At the same time, a grumpy looking Scot, fighting his own dilemmas, created history by becoming the first British man to win a Grand slam in 76 years at the Flushing Meadows.

The victory was a big relief for Murray, who had stumbled at the final hurdle on four previous occasions in various Grand Slams. Although he had won the Olympic gold medal weeks before stepping onto the Arthur Ashe stadium, the Grand Slams had eluded him, and he was continually pestered about why he had not broken through yet at the majors. He was under immense pressure to win as he faced  Novak Djokovic in the final. Another Grand Slam final loss would have led to many people, including himself, doubting his abilities to perform under pressure.

But it all changed under the bright lights and dark skies of New York when he overcame the World number 1 Novak Djokovic in a nerve-tingling five-setter. Since his first Grand Slam win, Murray’s career has been on an upswing, as he made it to the final of the Australian Open and followed it up with a historic win on his home turf at Wimbeldon, thus etching his name into British sporting history. With the win, he also became only the second man in the Open era after Rafael Nadal to hold the Olympic singles gold medal and the Wimbledon title simultaneously.

Since that triumphant victory at the All-England Club, Murray has struggled to find his touch and has gone through a post- Wimbeldon hangover. He was ousted in the Round of 16 in his first tournament after Wimbeldon. He didn’t fair any better in the first hard-court tournament, as Murray absorbed a one-sided beating from Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. Although the results have not been encouraging, it’s worth noting that he didn’t fair any better during those same US Open tune-ups last year either, and still managed to come away with his first Grand Slam title.

Even with these lackadaisical performances at the warm-up events in Montreal and Cincinnati, Murray would go into the tournament as favourite. But he will be faced with a different kind of pressure this time, of being hunted by his opponents, rather than the usual hunter for the title.

He could face Djokovic in the semis – who has landed up on Murray’s side of the draw – and he will be keen to live up to his top ranking billing. Another big threat lies in the form of Spaniard Rafael Nadal who has made a stunning return to the top level, after a long layoff due to injury. And then there’s Roger Federer, whose history alone never rules him out of any tournament when he takes to the courts.

Due to his inconsistent performances of late, question marks do linger over Andy Murray, as he returns to the scene of the most relief-laden moment in his career. And amidst this, if Murray is able to defend his title, he will surely take his place amongst the event’s great champions.