Andy Murray is already being talked about as the greatest British sportsperson ever after his second Wimbledon title but he wants even more Grand Slam success to cement his place in sporting history.
Winning Wimbledon once is tough enough, winning it twice with all the pressure that comes with being a British tennis player makes Andy Murray very special indeed.
He is arguably the greatest sportsmen ever to hail from Great Britain and unequivocally, the best of his generation. Murray has prospered during a period that carries a pantheon of tennis icons.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been this era’s dominant three – but this is precisely what has given Murray the self-belief to become as good as he can be.
Sunday marked a potential changing of the guard. Murray, physically and mentally, admits he has never been in greater shape. His second Wimbledon triumph was routine; one that was without his previously trademark displays of emotion or self-doubt. He easily overcame sixth seed Milos Raonic in straight sets.
Yes he had some luck with Nadal being injured and Djokovic and Federer surprisingly going out before they faced him but at 29, Murray is at the peak of his powers.
This year he has reached the final of every Grand Slam – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon – and will relish the opportunity to reach a fourth at Flushing Meadows on the US Open hard courts in September. The faster the speed, the more intense the baseline rallies are, the more Murray demands of himself.
It’s little surprise, that at the scene of his first Grand Slam title in 2012, Murray expects to be competitive.
“I still feel like my best tennis is ahead of me, that I have an opportunity to win more,” the Scot told reporters. “Everyone’s time comes at different stages. Some come in their early 20s, some mid 20s. Hopefully mine is still to come.”
Since Murray was reunited with coach Ivan Lendl last month, the Wimbledon champion has rediscovered a grittiness to push through when the chips are down. This is what Murray is now all about having previously shown his weaknesses – especially in Grand Slam finals where he has a 3-8 record.
There’s little visible emotion between Murray and Lendl – just the hallmark of a superb professional relationship.
“I do think he’s a leader. I trust in what he says, mainly because of the results we had the last time we worked together. I’ve played my best tennis under him,” Murray summarized.
Murray’s best tennis is aggressive tennis. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have been warned.
