I can’t imagine how Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray must have felt after their epic semi-final encounter at the Australian Open, which the world number one eventually secured victory in five brutally competitive sets.
Be in no doubt, this wasn’t Andy Murray of old whom 12 months ago meekly surrendered in three one-sided sets to the Serb in the final of the same tournament.
The Scot pushed Djokovic to the limit. Murray kept his composure throughout and did not chastise himself into defeat as we have seen him do on so many other occasions in the past. He gallantly fought back from what seem to be hopeless positions. Murray’s shot making in the match was bold, brave and brilliant – he never took a step back even under the most intense pressure from the four-time Grand Slam winner.
Arguably, we learnt more about Murray in this match that lasted nearly five hours than all the other of his matches including his three Grand Slam final appearances. Undoubtedly, he gave his best ever performance in this narrow and heroic defeat.
Much praise must go to Ivan Lendl, Murray’s new coach. The argument has always been that Murray has the array of shots to win a major tournament but it was whether he possesses the mental toughness to go along with it.
With the help of Lendl, and as clearly evidenced in Melbourne last Friday night, Murray is moving in the right path of adding mental stability and calmness to his formidable armoury.
Although only together for a matter of weeks the Czech’s influence can already be seen in Murray’s demeanour on and off the court. He’s no longer the whining, moping Scot with a litany of excuses for his defeats. The 24 year-old has grown from a boy into a man overnight.
Whether Murray can break into the ruling triumvirate of Rafal Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is a moot point. You would forgive Murray if he sometimes curses the Gods to be born in the same era as three of the greatest players to ever swing a racket.
However, with the wily 51 year-old Czech in his corner, himself a Grand Slam winner eight times, Murray is only a racket’s width away from breaking into the seemingly impregnable trio.
If Murray continues his development under Lendl, that similar to London buses there maybe not one but three or four grand slam titles coming his direction before the Scot hangs up his tennis shoes.
