US Open: I’m not this year’s best player, says Murray
Champion modest despite historic win over Djokovic in the final.
NEW YORK:
Andy Murray may have captured the US Open and Olympic titles, but he insisted that Roger Federer and vanquished New York rival Novak Djokovic remain the standout players of 2012.
The 25-year-old Murray defeated world number two and defending champion Djokovic 7-6 (12/10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in an epic US Open final to become his nation’s first men’s major winner since Fred Perry in 1936. Twenty-nine of the previous 30 majors had been won by Federer, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal – the three men who also divided up the year’s other three Grand Slam titles between them.
“I don’t think I have had the best year on the tour,” said Murray. “I think the last few months have been great for me, but there is more to the tennis tour than just the Grand Slams. Novak has played great tennis in most of the Masters Series, as well. Roger has got himself back to number one. I think it is important to remember the tennis season starts in January, finishes in November.
“There are four Slams but there are also many other tournaments to get to number one in the world. I think if you’re number one, you deserve to be the player of the year. I would say Novak or Roger would be the best players this year.”
Federer won a 17th Grand Slam title this summer with a seventh Wimbledon to match the mark of Pete Sampras. Djokovic won the Australian Open and claimed the US Open Series title awarded to the player with the best hardcourt record in the run-up to the season’s final Grand Slam event in New York. Murray said that he was happy to keep measuring himself against his three greatest rivals, despite many in the sport sympathising with his struggles to win a major in such a golden era.
“Playing against these guys makes you much better. When you see physically how strong someone like Rafa is, then that drives you. That makes you realise what you have to do nowadays to get to the top of the game and to compete with those guys.”
Murray truly in the ‘Big Four’: Djokovic
Meanwhile, Djokovic said that the win has secured the Scotsman’s spot among the ‘Big Four’ in this men’s tennis era.
“He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody because over the years, he has been a top player,” said Djokovic. “Now he has won it so I would like to congratulate him. Us four have taken this game to another level. It’s really nice to be part of such a strong men’s tennis era. There’s no doubt he deserves to win a Grand Slam, playing so consistently well and winning against the top players He has proven today that he’s a champ and he deserves to be where he is, no question about it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.
Andy Murray may have captured the US Open and Olympic titles, but he insisted that Roger Federer and vanquished New York rival Novak Djokovic remain the standout players of 2012.
The 25-year-old Murray defeated world number two and defending champion Djokovic 7-6 (12/10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in an epic US Open final to become his nation’s first men’s major winner since Fred Perry in 1936. Twenty-nine of the previous 30 majors had been won by Federer, Djokovic or Rafael Nadal – the three men who also divided up the year’s other three Grand Slam titles between them.
“I don’t think I have had the best year on the tour,” said Murray. “I think the last few months have been great for me, but there is more to the tennis tour than just the Grand Slams. Novak has played great tennis in most of the Masters Series, as well. Roger has got himself back to number one. I think it is important to remember the tennis season starts in January, finishes in November.
“There are four Slams but there are also many other tournaments to get to number one in the world. I think if you’re number one, you deserve to be the player of the year. I would say Novak or Roger would be the best players this year.”
Federer won a 17th Grand Slam title this summer with a seventh Wimbledon to match the mark of Pete Sampras. Djokovic won the Australian Open and claimed the US Open Series title awarded to the player with the best hardcourt record in the run-up to the season’s final Grand Slam event in New York. Murray said that he was happy to keep measuring himself against his three greatest rivals, despite many in the sport sympathising with his struggles to win a major in such a golden era.
“Playing against these guys makes you much better. When you see physically how strong someone like Rafa is, then that drives you. That makes you realise what you have to do nowadays to get to the top of the game and to compete with those guys.”
Murray truly in the ‘Big Four’: Djokovic
Meanwhile, Djokovic said that the win has secured the Scotsman’s spot among the ‘Big Four’ in this men’s tennis era.
“He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody because over the years, he has been a top player,” said Djokovic. “Now he has won it so I would like to congratulate him. Us four have taken this game to another level. It’s really nice to be part of such a strong men’s tennis era. There’s no doubt he deserves to win a Grand Slam, playing so consistently well and winning against the top players He has proven today that he’s a champ and he deserves to be where he is, no question about it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.