Murray downplays his chances at US Open
new york — Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has downplayed his chances of winning this year’s US Open, saying on Friday he does not expect to lift the trophy at Flushing Meadows as he continues to work his way back from hip surgery.
The 2012 champion, who is playing in his first Grand Slam since his run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, said his game is improving but is not yet at the level needed to win against the world’s best, making this year feel different.
“For the last 10 years or so I’ve been coming and trying to prepare to win the event whereas I don’t feel like that’s realistic for me this year,” the 31-year-old Scot told reporters.
“It’s a slightly different mentality for me coming in than what I have had the last 10, 11 years of my life.”
Murray’s remarks may be an effort to lower expectations and alleviate pressure, seventimes Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said on a conference call. “In some way it deflects and takes away some of the pressure that he feels because over in Britain there are high expectations every time he steps on the court no matter how much time he has missed.
“It’s understandable that he’d want to sort of minimise the pressure, and it’s somewhat realistic,” he said of Murray, who he called a “slam dunk, first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
“But I have to add that I’ve seen some players who have made similar types of comments and gone on to win Grand Slams.”
Murray’s comeback from the January surgery looked on track at the Citi Open where he dug deep to win three gruelling three-set matches but was forced to withdraw ahead of his quarterfinal due to fatigue.
After skipping the Rogers Cup, Murray was defeated by France’s Lucas Pouille in the first round of the Cincinnati Open earlier this month.—