US Open 2015: Andy Murray faces tough decisions over future

By Russell FullerBBC tennis correspondent

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments148

Andy Murray at the 205 US Open
It is the first time since the 2010 US Open that Andy Murray has lost before the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam

This has, in many ways, been a very reassuring year for Andy Murray.

He won his first Masters Series title for over two years in Madrid in May, and added another in Montreal last month. And by reaching the Australian Open final, as well as the last four at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Murray has re-established himself as one of the best three players in the world. He even beat Novak Djokovic - to end a run of eight consecutive defeats by the world number one.

But there will inevitably be frustration that after such a successful year, he has failed to add to his tally of two Grand Slam titles.

Murray's 2015 Grand Slam record
TournamentResult
Australian OpenRunner-up
French OpenSemi-finals
WimbledonSemi-finals
US OpenFourth Round

The benefits of a first meaningful training block with Amelie Mauresmo in Miami last December were evident in Melbourne in January, and Murray's clay-court form was a revelation. The plan this year, where possible, has been to play a smaller tournament in the lead-up to the Masters events in the hope the extra preparation would pay dividends.

It has. Not only has Murray's ranking improved from six to three since the start of the season, but he has also been a much more potent threat in the Grand Slams. Or at least in three of the four, as here in New York he appeared to run out of steam.

Matches played in 2015
PlayerWonLostTotal
Roger Federer49756
Rafael Nadal441559
Novak Djokovic60565
Andy Murray591069

Murray had already played a five-set match against Adrian Mannarino before his four-hour-17-minute defeat by Kevin Anderson, but a lack of spark and the reduced power on his forehand in that fourth-round match seems closely related to the amount of tennis he played earlier in the summer.

Andy Murray at the 2015 US open
Murray lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-0) to Kevin Anderson in the US Open fourth round

Murray's commitment to Great Britain's Davis Cup team is not without its drawbacks. This year's quarter-final against France at Queen's Club took place the week after Wimbledon, leaving him just one week of rest before flying out to Washington to compete in an ATP 500 event which would have been worth his while financially. A first-round defeat there encouraged him to play in both Montreal and Cincinnati in the two weeks that followed, before heading to New York to complete his preparations for the US Open.

Going into the year's final Grand Slam, Murray had played 65 matches over the course of 14 tournaments and two Davis Cup ties. World number one Djokovic, by contrast, had played 61 matches in 11 tournaments and one Davis Cup tie, and Roger Federer - who is yet to play in the team competition this year - 52 matches in 12 events. The Swiss world number two, 34, signed up for (and won) only one event between Wimbledon and the US Open.

Missed opportunities to blame for exit - Murray

Murray says life will be far less frenetic after next week's Davis Cup semi-final against Australia in Glasgow. He expects to play in just Shanghai and Paris before the World Tour Finals begin in London in the middle of November.

Britain's first Davis Cup final since 1978 may follow, after which Murray will have to make some tough decisions about his future. He plans to train at home this December, as his wife Kim will by then be heavily pregnant, and expects to be away from the tour in February: the month in which the baby is due.

But what will his schedule look like for the rest of 2016? Will he be able to commit to the Davis Cup for another full year? Any quarter-final would again be played the week after Wimbledon and he is also due to defend his Olympic title in Rio in the run-up to the US Open.

As Murray told me, with a smile on his face, after his defeat by Anderson: "If I don't play Davis Cup, I get abused by you guys."

He may find himself in an unenviable position. And at 28 - the age a modern day player tends to reach his prime - these decisions carry a lot of weight.

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148 comments

  • damned if he wins, damned if he loses.........i would be proud to be third in the world at anything.

  • The guy has worked his socks over the past 10 years - I don't think anyone can fault his work ethic. And it has paid off - even if he never wins another slam he will go down in history as the greatest British tennis player of the modern era. At his age, with his winnings and with parenthood looming, many people would be inclined to ease off a bit. If he does, who could blame him.

  • Not a tennis fan but its very noticeable how some of our most successful sports people get envy, bile, personal abuse and snide sneering directed at them. Seen it with Hamilton, Rooney and Murray now in this past week. This desire to drag people down or find something to 'hate' is an unpleasant aspect of our national character. Murray as inoffensive as they come, Hamilton is flamboyant - so what

  • I wonder hopw many of our other sports stars are among the top 4 in the world, certainly none of our footballers? We seem to be quite hard on our tennis stars. Andy Murray and his brother are the real deal, top plays with grand slam titles under their belts and in Andy's case olympic gold and silver as well.

    Good on him well done and long my his success continue!

  • @22

    My god, I can't believe some people go on about that. There was no anti-English rant. It was friendly banter between Murray, Henman and a journalist who started it off by having a pop at Murray for Scotland not qualifying again for a major finals. Both the journo and Henman have stated repeatedly that it was all done in jest.

    Some people only hear what they want to hear.

    Grow up!

  • To have reached the last eight or better in each of the previous 18 major events he has played is phenomenal but if he does not beat Djokovic or Federer, this somehow is regarded as a failure.

    Had Andy not been playing in an era graced by Federer, Djokovic & Nadal he would have won many more Grand Slams.

    The Davis Cup without Andy we'd have been out ages ago.
    With him anything is possible.

  • @38 "ashamed of failing to win". "Unhappy unless number 1".

    3, sometimes 2, in the world a phenomenal achievement. I would hate to be an offspring of yours. "Best in class, son? What about school? County? Country? World? You're a failure"

    Doubtless you consider any achievement of your own worthless assuming not globally peeerless

    I have no doubt Murray is actually far harder on himself

  • Nothing wrong with constructive criticism but too many people are negative about Murray without acknowledging the positives he has brought to the game and for GB. He practically carries the Davis Cup team and has given his all, to the detriment of other tournaments at times. I hope his dedication is rewarded this year. He's had a brilliant year and it will be even better to end it on a high note!

  • Let's be honest life could be worse for him.

    But his schedule is much more punishing than an overpaid and pampered footballer

    Success and Income is measured by winning, no losing and blaming someone else. Plus he's on his own out there.

    Ploughing a fairly lonely furrow for British tennis means every decision is over analysed.

    Give the guy a break.

  • Credit where credits due Andy is the best British player ever. 35 tournament wins and 8 GS finals is a great achievement.

    Here's hoping for many more starting with Davis Cup but if not he is still GB's greatest of all time.

  • @ 20 What a sad view of the best British tennis player ever, as a "patriotic Brit" I would like to see AM be as successful as possible starting with the upcoming Davis Cup match

  • Without Andy in the GB team would we still be in the Davis cup?

  • It should be obvious that reaching no.3 in the world at tennis requires a level of skill, hard work and dedication that none of us in the UK, barring Murray, currently possess. To then say things like "beautiful wife, millions in the bank" etc etc as if he was just handed these things is ignorant beyond belief.

  • As someone who grew up watching a constant line of the "next British hope" failing on the world tennis stage I am very pleased that we have Andy Murray.
    His demeanour doesn't always come over as great but he is a winner and his never give up attitude is to be commended. A shame some of our other over paid footballers don't have the same traits.

  • He was just off-form and Anderson was in the form of his life.With a more fortunate draw,him beating Novak in Canada,the decline of Nadal and Federer being a year older,hopefully he'll win another slam next year. He would have won more slams, but he ended up playing in an extraordinary era.We're so lucky to have his genius and when he retires in a few years time, the void will be gigantic.

  • 8. Posted by Sa
    "Andy Murray - the most uncharismatic man in sport. He quite simply isn't good enough. Federer is past it and he is still better than Murray!!"

    The only thing that's quite simple is your intellect if you think a two-time major winner and Olympic champion "isn't good enough." And Federer's not past it either, he beat Djokovic in straight sets two weeks ago. Idiot.

  • Understandable that he ran out of steam, it's been a busy year so far and he had a horrendous draw in NY. Top guys usually get players 70-90 in the world in the first round and breeze through. Andy didn't meet anyone ranked outside the top 40. Hopefully he gets a decent rest this week and is fresh for Glasgow next weekend!

  • I don't know what's unenviable about Murray's life. Worth millions, a national sporting hero with an attractive pregnant wife, two Masters 1000 titles this season and semi-finals or better in three majors. Kevin Anderson just had his number this time around, he's a good player who doesn't just rely on his serve and a win of this nature had been coming as demonstrated against Djokovic at Wimbledon.

  • He has done absolute wonders over the past ten years and if he inspires a new generation then he has helped to create thr future of British tennis moving forward.
    He has done amazing and to compete and sometimes be better than the best generation of talent tennis has ever seen is admirable.
    Love him or hate hm you can't fault his love for the game.

  • 71.

    Three of which have fewer Grand Slam titles to their name than Murray.
    Although Del Potro desperately unlucky with injuries & still only 26 so fair enough.
    Even the most ardent Murray fans will be well aware of his struggles with himself on court.
    There's no great psychological insight required there.
    Him being flawed is no reason to diminish what he has managed to achieve.

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