MURRY REMOVES THE CHAMPION WHOSE FUTURE IS QUESTIONABLE
It was a night of fireworks in Melbourne – in the sky and on the tennis court below as Rafa Nadal lost his crown. The reign from Spain startlingly fell on the plain called Rod Laver Arena as Nadal dethroned Roger Federer a year ago in 5 thrilling sets.
But there was no 1-2 rematch. Nadal was ushered out in the quarter-finals by a brilliant Scottish upstart, Andy Murray. As I have said before, Nadal, though only 23, just ain’t the same guy who owned Paris, won Wimbledon and leaped past Federer to No. 1.
He was still formidable, of course, at No. 2, but his Tuesday defeat was tinged with sadness because his suspect knees forced him to quit with Murray playing the big points flawlessly, and ahead, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 3-0.
As part of the annual Australia Day festivities, a fireworks display (launched from the banks of the nearby Yarra River) shut down the match for 12 minutes at 2-2 in the second set. Nadal immediately broke serve when they resumed. Rafaelites joyfully felt that their man was in business again. But, no. His right knee was becoming painful, and Murray broke right back. Andy was controlling the spectacular rallies, changing speeds spins and directions of his slick shotmaking, running down Nadal’s best stuff, and serving his way out of tight spots with aces (13 for the evening) as the 15,000 witnesses gasped and shrieked. He played serve-and-volley successfully when least expected.
American fans have not been too impressed by Murray. He resisted little against Federer in the 2008 U.S. Open final, and was listless, losing badly to Marin Cilic in the 4th round of the last U.S. Nevertheless, Andy cites 2008 at Flushing Meadow as the “place I knew I could compete with the best, beating Del Potro and Rafa.”
The 22-year-old Scotsman seems relaxed, confident reacting well under the incessant pressure of being Britain’s great bright hope. A platoon of British journalists follows his every move, salivating for the big story – Andy as the first of the United Kingdom to grab a major since Fred Perry won the U.S. in – for heaven’s sake! – 1936. Perry was English, but English newsfolk will forgive Murray’s rise from Scotland if he equals Fred.
Following that shocking loss to Robin Soderling, ending his 4-title unbeaten run in the French Open, Nadal realized his knees needed rest. Thus unable to defend his Wimbledon crown, Rafa I reappeared in late summer, made the semis of the U.S. Open, losing to the champ-to-be Juan Martin Del Potro, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, his worst loss in a major.
Nadal doesn’t know where he is. Too soon to tell. The pain in a knee has returned. Will he need surgery? Will he again be the dauntless runner, the guy who ferociously exerted himself on every point for hours? When will we see him again?
After the heavenly fireworks of snap-crackle-pop faded away, another version sprang from Murray’s racket in a different form. “He played at unbelievable level,” said Nadal.
True enough. Murray said realistically, “I thought I was very good. When the big moments came I thought I dictated what happened on the court. I’m disappointd the match couldn’t have finished as I would have liked. But with the position I was in I feel I could have gone on to finish the match. [as a winner]. You know, a win’s a win.” Particularly such a win.
Smiles were also the order of the evening as the Woodies, the peerless Aussie doubles team of Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge, were elevated to the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. They won Wimbledon 7 times. This was a prelude to further elevation in July to the International Hall of Fame at Newport, Rhode Island.
January 26 2010 03:24 am | Australian Open
Charlie on 27 Jan 2010 at 11:01 am #
Perhaps after rest or surgery Rafa will approach level of the first chapter. We have to remind ourselves, as you note Bud, that Rafa is merely 23…and Murray 22. In particular, people are too to quick to write off the brilliant Scotsman. Maybe I’m just more focused on tennis these days, but it does seem like Rafa will have to grapple with unprecedented depth in the game. Delpo has proven he can overpower anyone. Clic, Daydenko, Soderling, and even Tsonga are knocking on the door. Andy is improving but barely treading water against this talented pool. Bigger, stonger, faster. Did I forget anyone? How about the ageless wonder that just won his 23rd straight semi. Bud, you of all people can put that absurd feat into historical perspective. I’m on the back 9 at 48….I don’t think I will see another player match half that streak in my lifetime. Still, I think this is Murray’s break out year. Unbelievably, it appears he will have to beat Roger in his prime
bk on 29 Jan 2010 at 9:37 pm #
Hi Mr. Collins.
let’s face it: the swiss who can’t miss belongs in the pantheon with the two aussie giants (laver, rosewall – or rosewall, laver), pancho, and tilden when we discuss the all-time, ALL-TIME greats. As for rafa: I fear that his career is rapidly using up its allotment; I think he’s just about done as a dominating player because his knees are a mess and he can’t change his style and still be “rafa”. It’s sad, too: I firmly believe that nadal is the greatest clay-courter of all-time (at his best on the red stuff, i think he’s better than anyone else, ever, because he is almost unbeatable in a war of attrition) but we will never know what he might have accomplished or how many paris title he might have won because his knees will get in the way.