HEIR TO THE THRONE
ANDY MURRAY IS A FUTURE KING BUT HIS TIME IS NOT YET NIGH.
Andy Murray barely broke sweat when beating the ball back again and again from beyond the baseline against the world’s best player. Nadal, a beacon of athleticism, the ultimate in strength, speed and skill, was the one dripping with sweat as he scampered from one side of the court to the other, reaching, panting - screaming even - as the Scot stood bolt upright, firing groundstrokes to all corners of the court with power, direction and purpose.
On Saturday, too, Murray had him by the balls. But let’s not get carried away just yet. Aside from a below-par second set, Roger Federer, four-time US Open champion, had Novak Djokovic by the balls too. In the first set he was back to Vintage Fed form, hardly putting a foot wrong, moving with ease, firing down first serves and swatting what - this year - has been a temperamental forehand into the open court, beyond the reach of the Serb.
Regardless of who wins tonight, Murray is guaranteed to move up to no. 4 in the world rankings, meaning the weekend’s semi-finals were effectively a demonstration of the best tennis planet earth can offer. And it didn’t disappoint. Men’s tennis on the whole seems to have been given a welcome boost this year with first Djokovic (at the Australian Open) and then Nadal (rising to the top of the rankings) ending the era of Federer invincibility. This in itself has made the action all the more enticing, with the world both enthralled by a gradual changing of the guard - Murray included - yet simultaneously curious as to whether Federer can bounce back like only the greatest champions can.
And that’s why I’ll be rooting for the Swiss tonight I think. There’s something about being in the presence of greatness that makes us hope it can continue. I don’t want it to stop. The longer Federer is around, the better for everyone, surely. On the evidence of the last few weeks, Murray’s time will come.
Awesome performance for Federer. Never really gave Murray a look-in, though the Swiss did struggle a little on serve during the second set. What was with the presentation of the Lexus by the corporate marketing manager during the awards ceremony? Terrible.
bollocks to it all. you know my thoughts on the matter.