Murray hurried out by Wawrinka

Stanislas Wawrinka’s 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Andy Murray was arguably the biggest shock in the men’s draw so far at this US Open.

Without wishing to be disrespectful to the World No.27, Murray was in such fine form leading into this tournament that the only Swiss tennis player he looked likely to lose to in New York was Roger Federer, and probably then only in a final.

If Murray is to reach another US Open final – matching the one he made in 2008 – then it will not be this year. Wawrinka and his coach Peter Lundgren (who has also worked with Federer, Marat Safin and Marcelo Rios amongst others) created what seemed to be the perfect game plan to defeat the Scot and from the first ball to the last, Murray was under the cosh. Wawrinka has always been a skilful player but he has not always been able to summon the requisite self-belief to beat big players on big occasions. Whether his change in mindset is down to Lundgren or not, against Murray he played like a man who understood what was needed.

Murray twice received treatment at the beginning of the third set and spoke afterwards of tightness in his upper leg and pins and needles around his right elbow, but he was reluctant to talk in detail about injuries. The charitable interpretation of Murray’s reticence to blame injury is that he did not want to take the shine off Wawrinka’s win. He was certainly very clear in his assessment of their respective performances. “He played better than me.  There’s not a whole lot more to it,” said Murray.  “He had a chance to win the first set; didn’t take it.  I had a chance to win the second set; didn’t take it.  I just struggled from then on. I lost the match to a better player today.  That’s it.”

This is Murray’s worst performance at a grand slam since January 2008, when he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening round of the Australian Open and must count as an even bigger disappointment than last year’s fourth round defeat to Marin Cilic here. Tsonga, Cilic and Wawrinka are all quality opponents but Murray, as fourth seed and twice a grand slam finalist, must have expected better of himself.

It’s been a strange year for the World No.4, full of peculiar fluctuations in form, from the high of reaching the Australian Open final (lost to Federer) to this new, latest low. His search for a new coach will surely intensify after this loss but he is resolved to be patient and not rush into any new arrangement for fear of making the wrong decision. “I played great tennis in Australia.  I played very well in Wimbledon.  You know, like I said, the Masters Series this summer went very well.  I was poor from the Australian Open till about the French/Wimbledon time. But I’ve had two very good majors and two where I haven’t been so good.  But I’ve lost to Roger, who’s probably the best ever.  I lost to Rafa (Nadal) who I think will be the second best, if not the best, ever.  You know, Thomas Berdych (Murray’s conqueror at the French Open) who played great tennis this year.  And, you know, today was a match I probably should have won.  The one in the majors that I lost that I probably should have won.  So I’m disappointed. “

Wawrinka will now move onto a last 16 meeting with big-serving Californian Sam Querrey, who will probably be grateful not to be facing Murray despite the threat pose by an increasingly aggressive and assured Wawrinka. The good news for both men is that this section of the draw opened up a little wider when David Nalbandian was knocked out by the arguably less dangerous Fernando Verdasco. The bad news is that Nadal was hardly troubled by Gilles Simon in beating the new father 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 and even though the Frenchman admitted afterwards he was “already on the plane” in his rush to see his new baby, that still spells trouble. In the end, Nadal may be the one who benefits most from Murray’s defeat.

Topics: Andy Murray, Australian Open, Coach Peter, Game Plan, Grand Slam, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Marat Safin, Marin Cilic, Mindset, Perfect Game, Peter Lundgren, Pins And Needles, Reticence, Roger Federer, Self Belief, Stanislas Wawrinka, Swiss Tennis, Tennis Player, Upper Leg, Wilfried

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