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Andy Murray can definitely win the US Open

By Geoff Nichols

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Andy Murray can definitely win the US Open

Andy Murray has just won the US Open series after a semi final run at the Cincinnati Masters preceded by a title in Montreal. So often a favourite part of the year for the world number three, he goes into the upcoming US Open as one of the leading contenders.

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With 56 match wins under his belt in 2015, Murray leads the standings amongst his competitors. Rebounding from disappointing, albeit still mightily impressive 2014, the Brit has once again showed the grit and determination needed to be at the very top, fighting for the biggest titles.

Fond Memories

Aug 16, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Andy Murray of Great Britain with the champions trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4,4-6 and 6-3 during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament final at Uniprix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Players often have their favourite courts and for Murray that seems to be the US Open. Sure Wimbledon has a big place in his heart, but their is no coincidence in that Flushing Meadows was the setting for Murray’s first Junior Grand Slam, his first senior Grand Slam final in 2008 and in the end his maiden major title in 2012.

He loves everything about the event and it shows in his tennis. With a career win percentage of just over 80% in New York, Murray brings his best more often than not. Admittedly he has suffered some baffling premature losses too at the US Open, but you feel his game is in too good a place to allow that to happen again.

I think events of last year will have hurt him. He was seeded 8th, a disaster by his immaculate standards, and suffered the ultimate price meeting Novak Djokovic in the quarter finals. Meanwhile Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori were tearing through the draw, which Murray must have imagined could have been him.

Seeding Somewhat Irrelevant

Murray fans were placing a large amount of importance on the Brit securing the number two seeding for the US Open draw at the end of this week. In the end he was pipped by Roger Federer, who needed to win Cincinnati to steal the place back and did just that.

I would be worries less about the seeding situation if I were Murray and more about the form Federer and also the handled the Swiss man seems to have got over their personal head to head. From having a fantastic chance against Federer, Murray seems incapable of making an impression.

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The draw will sort itself out, even if that means Murray will need to beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in consecutive matches. With a week break between going out in Cincinnati and the beginning of the US Open, he is back in the shape where that shouldn’t be an issue.

Game is Coming Together

Speculation about draws and happiness aside, Murray has to win on the court at the end of the day. The tone of this article may well have been drastically different had he lost to Djokovic in the final of the Montreal Masters and been winless in 9 matches against the Serb.

Instead his backhand was firing and he was timing the ball almost as well as he can. As he grew into the game, he produced a stunning blend of aggression and willing running, the latter which was arguably what let him down in the big moments of 2014.

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Often such a  staple of Murray’s game down the years, the defeat to Djokovic at the quarter final stage of the 2014 US Open told the story. Remarks after the game were focussed mainly on Murray crunching his forehand at any opportunity.

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It was a strategy that showed he was not confident of going toe to toe physically with Djokovic, whereas last week in Montreal the situation was different. That is also a big reason why I was not overly concerned by his straight sets loss to Federer in Cincinnati.

He was understandably weary by this point and most of his errors were being dumped in the net. It was a tired performance where he simply didn’t have the energy in his legs to compete. If the pair meet in New York at the semi final or final stage, you can be sure Murray will engage Federer in a physical battle.

There is plenty of cause for optimism in the Murray camp heading into the US Open. Look back a year for perspective and many were suggesting his time at the top was over. A year on and I would not be surprised to see Murray lifting the trophy again, even if he has to beat both Federer and Djokovic to do so.

Please do share your thoughts in the comments below and on Twitter.

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