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Is Andy Murray the best of British?

Olie D'Albertanson | 10:30 UK time, Monday, 20 October 2008

Andy Murray

That's the debate I was having with several colleagues in the sportsroom this morning after Murray beat Gilles Simon to win the Madrid Masters on Sunday afternoon.

Murray becomes the first British player to win two titles at the elite Masters level - his first title was at Cincinatti in August. And so that you have it to hand for pub quizzes "The Masters" are below only Grand Slams in terms of importance, and an extra bit of info for you, both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski only won one of them.

Murray is also the first Briton to win four tournaments in a season, having taken titles in Doha and Marseille earlier in the year.

In terms of rankings it's a pretty level debate too - Andy Murray recently found himself lofted to 4th best player in the world at the age of 21. That matches Tim Henman's best as he reached number 4 back in 2002 (when he was 28), and would you believe it Greg Rusedski also had a career high ranking of number 4, aged 24. So Murray seems to have reached the level Henman and Rusedski got to but much earlier in his career. However this could be down to the strength in depth of opposition....

Neither Henman nor Rusedski won a Grand Slam during their careers - Henman's best was getting to the Semi final and neither won a Grand Slam (although Greg Rusedski did make it to the final of the US Open, much like Murray did earlier this year). Tim Henman's best was several semi final appearances, including 4 at Wimbledon. And before I start getting abuse I am well aware that SO FAR Andy has also not yet won a Grand Slam.....but I think it's only a matter of time don't you?

So, Murray has been the 2008 Cincinnati & Madrid Masters Champion, a Wimbledon Quarter Finalist and US Open Finalist....and I don't think this is due to him changing his coaching setup, instead it's down to the efforts of one amazing lady.

Shirley Erskine is Andy's Grandmother, and as you'll hear she told us this morning that she's responsible for keeping his feet on the ground (and keeping his hair under control).







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