So it will be the Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open this Sunday, after the world number 1 saw off a great Andy Murray performance this afternoon (night, if you happen to be reading this in Australia).
I have been vocal in the past in dismissing Andy Murray as a genuine Grand Slam winner. “He’ll never win a Grand Slam” I’d say to anyone who would listen (usually one or two people, MAX). However, his performance today made me question my view. He isn’t going to win the Australian Open (obviously), but if he can perform like he did for the best part of 3 sets today in future tournaments, i’ll probably be eating my words.
Novak Djokovic is super human at the minute. It wouldn’t surprise me if in future he is talked about with the same esteem as Batman, Superman, and Crocodile Dundee (amongst other superheroes). His defence today was unnatural; returning balls that he had absolutely no right to even get close to. The only thing that can stop him is probably a restraining order against the tennis ball, but it would be a strange move by the courts (no pun intended) to allow such a thing. Andy Murray’s defence wasn’t too shabby either though. These two slugged it out numerous times in almost 30 shot rallies. Winners were aplenty, as were poor challenges.
I said to my friend in the gym during the first set “Looks like Novak’s going to do this one easily” and he agreed. Then after getting fed up of inflicting unnecessary pain upon my biceps I walked home to find Murray in control of the 2nd set.
The third set lasted as long as a football match. They were breaking each other for fun (but more likely to try and win the match) and one thought kept going through my head. “Murray is like Youtube. He’ll get ahead, and then the little circular thing that moves along by the second will catch up with that grey bar that shows how much has loaded, and hey presto, he’s buffering”. Murray often broke or played an incredible shot, before Djokovic replied spectacularly to regain the edge. He could never seem to keep ahead for long. That’s the point i’m trying to express.
Anyway, Murray overcame the buffering problems (much like I did when trying to watch a film on Youtube yesterday) and took the third set.
The fourth set was a bit of a disaster for the Scottish Andy Murray, so i’ll take you straight to the fifth set. Djokovic was serving for the match at 5-2, I tweeted something about Murray bottling it, and then he broke back, to show that I know NOTHING about sport. Murray found some energy, and his quality returned. It was squeaky bum time from here on in (or squeaky bumhole as one of my non-sporty friends once mistakenly said).
Djokovic prevailed, but Murray can be proud of his performance. If he was playing Federer today, he would have won fairly easily in my opinion. He might have even scraped past Nadal too. But this Serbian chap; he’s special. If Djokovic plays to his very best in at least 3 sets, he will win the match. Murray made him play that well this afternoon. One day though, he might only play to 95%, and that’s when someone will have a slim chance.
Some (me) will say Murray is a bottler. In the past he has been, without doubt. His quest for a Grand Slam still eludes him. It wasn’t bottle that lost the match for Murray today though, it was simply that he came up against a better opponent. Murray and Djokovic have always been close in the rankings, and years ago it was a question of which one would take the bull by its horns and kick on (don’t try this at home/in a field). Novak (i’m not actually on first name terms with him) has done that spectacularly.
With this new coach of Murray’s though, Ivan Lendl, it looks as if he is now also gearing up to kick on. If he does, people can stop using the excuse of “He’s unfortunate to play in an era of 3 greats”, and start saying “This era of tennis is fantastic, with the 4 greats we have on show”.
Today was a great day for tennis. One of the all time great matches; an epic. Novak Djovokic proved why he is the best in the world, and Murray proved why, one day, he CAN win a Grand Slam. Somewhere in a hotel room in Melbourne, Rafael Nadal will be overjoyed that Djokovic was pushed to his mental and physical limits today. Either that, or he’ll just be asleep.
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