Andy Murray Tennis

Finally last season, at his fifth attempt in a Grand Slam final, Britain’s Andy Murray won his maiden title. In a spectacular show at Flushing Meadows in New York, the world number four beat Novak Djokovic in a truly epic encounter. That was the breakthrough moment, but now can the Scot follow it up this season with more Slam titles? One of the four elite players in the world game, has the win at the US Open finally propelled him ahead of the challenges of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer? Will winning his second, maybe third or fourth come easier for him than it was getting his hands on that first one?

It is more than likely that the Grand Slams in the men’s game in 2013 is only going to come down between Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They are the four which have dominated for so long and still no-one can really get close to breaking their stranglehold. They split last season’s Slams between them, each winning one. But still, the bookmakers are leaning towards the probability that Andy Murray may only add one more Grand Slam title to his career achievements in 2013. Andy Murray to win none of the four 2013 Grand Slams is trading at around the same general price of him winning one in the year.

The stats paint a very positive picture of Murray though at Grand Slams over the last two years. Only once has he failed in the last eight to make it to the semi final (a quarter final exit at Roland Garros in the French Open). He has three appearances in Grand Slam finals in the last eight and really should go very close again. Realistically, the biggest stumbling block for him could be Novak Djokovic over the course of the season and that means Murray could have to wait again until later in the season to gain success. So where would success for Murray likely come this term?

Australian Open
The hard courts at the Australian Open suit Murray’s defensive game and he has reached two of the last three finals at Melbourne Park, so great recent history. Has had a good start to 2013, defending his Brisbane title and he should have a good shot here, especially with the possibility of catching Roger Federer cold early in the season and Rafael Nadal not at full match sharpness.

French Open
The French Open is the tournament that Murray is least likely to win out of the four Grand Slams. He really doesn’t have a great clay court record behind him, and Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are likely to be far stronger contenders in Paris.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is the one that every British tennis fan would like to see Murray win. He will once again have a massive support behind him on the grass of London, and with him making it to the final last year, where he lost to Roger Federer, he is a pretty solid shout to go one better. This does perhaps represent his best chance of a Slam in 2013 because of the added factor of atmosphere. Also, with the pressure of winning his first Grand Slam off his shoulders, he could deliver.

US Open
While he ground out a win over Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows last season in his second USOpen final, Novak Djokovic will be the favorite again here. Title defences are tough and this will be new territory for Andy Murray which could take its toll.

So despite Murray joining the elite Grand Slam winners club, there is a lot of work still to do to live up to the established standards of the others in the big four. Multiple Grand Slams in 2013 could be a big ask with Djokovic around, but Andy should realistically get very close to one.