Christian Dailly looks at the predicament facing Scots star Andy Murray

Andy is a winner who is playing at the highest level that tennis has ever seen

Iam sure I am not the only one who has been asking myself this question: “What does Andy Murray have to do to beat Novak Djokovic?” It is patronising to the greatestever British tennis player and current world no 2 to say you felt sorry for him as he lost once again to the super Serb in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday.

It was painful and frustrating to watch though.

So ever since that match point was won by Djokovic I have been looking for a positive out of Murray’s predicament and I think I have come up with one.

It is that playing against Djokovic has actually made the Scot a better player.

You can come up with the glass half-empty argument, ie that Murray is cursed by playing in an era that not only boasts Djokovic but also Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

However, is it not possible that Murray’s game has been enhanced because he has faced such tough opponents over the years? A race to the top, as it were.

I just feel that all of the game’s greats that we are lucky enough to have witnessed in this golden era have combined to raise the standard of play to an incredible level.

The titles would almost certainly have been more plentiful for Murray had he been a big fish in a smaller pond but perhaps his two Grand Slams, numerous other titles and Olympic gold medal have been value added because the competition has been so fierce.

He has triumphed despite being only one of a quartet of superstars the likes of which we will, in all likelihood, never see again in tennis.

As for Djokovic, the problem for his opponents is that the world no 1 has an unbelievable level of consistency.

He has so many different ways of achieving the same goal on court, with a range of shots that can be winners.

The Serb also seems to be setting up his opponent up to be beaten the entire time and that looked to be the case at the weekend.

For the sake of Murray’s career and the Gram Slam tally, of course it would be better for him and the others if Djokovic took a year off.

That isn’t going to happen any time soon, though, and maybe we should all just appreciate sporting excellence even if it does make it frustrating for Murray.

And let’s remember that our guy may have lost another final but he is a winner who is playing at the highest level that tennis has ever seen.

Best deal for United

I know there will be many Dundee United fans unhappy to see a talented young player like John Souttar leave to join Hearts.

However, my view is that if he wasn’t going to be signing a new deal at Tannadice then it’s best for everyone that he goes elsewhere.

Also, St Johnstone supporters will be smarting at losing Michael O’Halloran to Rangers and that’s understandable.

No fan wants to lose talent like that from their team.

I think it is a very good signing for Rangers and O’Halloran is joining the Ibrox club at an exciting time for them, just as they seem poised to come back up to the top flight.

Andy Murray struggled against world no 1 Novak Djokovic.