Thursday, September 2, 2010

He may have been humbled by Marin Cilic but Andy Murray claims he’ll be back and better than ever after being bundled out of the US Open in the fourth round.

The Scot was thrashed 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 by the big-hitting Croatian in a performance that made a mockery of his new world No.2 ranking.

He came into the contest on the back of three good showings and was being backed to go all the way by more than just a few stupid sycophants.

However, once again he was out-muscled in a Grand Slam by an in-form power player and the defeat means Murray will finish the year without having really threatened in one of the four big tournaments.

But the sometime stroppy Scot says he’ll use the pain of his Flushing Meadows misery to go out and win a Grand Slam next year.

“The way the match went makes it disappointing but I believe I will come back better from it,” Murray said. “I will learn from this week like I have most weeks when I’ve lost and I will come back better and stronger. “I think I will be a better player next year than this year.”

Wise words, but he has said much the same after every defeat in the Slams this year. And considering he’s the only player in the world’s top five without a Grand Slam win, questions may well start being asked of his ability to capture one of the top four titles.

After several years in the top flight, and at 22 years of age, Murray should be consistently contending in the big tournaments. And while he’s won five Masters titles, they will count for little after a defeat like the one he suffered to Cilic.

The Croatian is a good but not exceptional player and the kind you have to beat every Grand Slam come the fourth round.

Something not lost on Murray who admitted he had let himself down in New York by simply playing rubbish.

“I just struggled,” Murray said.  “I played poorly. I’m very disappointed. I didn’t feel like I played well. I had my chance in the first set and struggled after that. “I returned poorly. He served well. That felt like it was the difference.

“The momentum was with him and I didn’t manage to get it back. “I’m disappointed. I don’t know how long or how quickly it will take me to
get over it.”

Murray now has a four-month wait until he can really get the loss out of his system when the Australian Open comes around.

For world No.17 Cilic, a quarter-final clash against sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro is now the focus.

Cilic has long been spoken of as Goran Ivanisevic’s natural heir and he was relieved to have finally made an impact at a Grand Slam.

“That feels really amazing,” Cilic said. “I played very well and he was missing a lot. “I don’t think he was playing his best.”

Del Potro reached the quarter finals thanks to firing down 22 aces and 44 winners during his dominant defeat of Spanish 24th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.
The Argentine is in good form, as the 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory shows and he will be a danger man for the rest of the week.