Andy Murray didn't have the 'weapons to hurt' Grigor Dimitrov during US Open defeat - Mats Wilander
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Updated 01/09/2023 at 12:07 GMT+1
The final Grand Slam of the season came to a disappointing conclusion for Andy Murray when he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Grigor Dimitrov on Thursday. The 36-year-old was discouraged by the loss and suggested afterwards that a deep run at a major might now be beyond his capabilities. Eurosport's Mats Wilander said he didn't think Murray had the "weapons to hurt" the Bulgarian in New York.
Highlights: Tsitsipas stunned by Stricker as Djokovic and Swiatek cruise on US Open Day 3
Video credit: SNTV
Andy Murray “didn’t look like he had the weapons to hurt Grigor Dimitrov” in his US Open exit on Thursday, according to Mats Wilander.
The 36-year-old fell to a straight-sets defeat in the second round to cap a disappointing year in Grand Slams; the Briton has failed to make it further than round three in appearances at the Australian Open, Wimbledon or New York, while he opted to skip the French Open.
Murray was downhearted after his loss at Flushing Meadows, admitting he might no longer be capable of deep runs at majors, and Wilander thought Murray's start was where the problems began.
“It looked like Andy Murray was going to be in for a long match, trying to move Grigor around a lot and take his legs, but he didn’t,” said Wilander on Eurosport.
“It was just a great match; Grigor was moving brilliantly. I look at it as Grigor Dimitrov might be playing the best tennis of his career. An excellent job today in three sets.
“The older guys and women, the first set is crucial as you can relax a little bit but it didn’t look like he had the weapons to hurt Dimitrov.
“Grigor was hitting sliced backhand after sliced backhand and he didn’t miss and he felt like he could go forever. He has been playing great tennis the last couple of years but he is far from a veteran on Tour.
“You need a break or you need to win that first set, then it feels natural to fire yourself up or you’re looking at the scoreboard.
“I think Andy Murray keeps playing and pushing and hopefully he won’t run into players who play like Grigor today. I’m wondering if when Grigor plays the young guys, it might be a bit more difficult as an athlete but today the game plan was spot on I think.”
Fellow Eurosport expert Barbara Schett agreed on the importance of the opening set for Murray.
“It was a very loose game from Andy with so many unforced errors which makes a big difference at this stage of his career, he had to try and win that first set,” she said.
“Grigor covers the court extremely well indeed but I feel like Andy was slightly cracked out there today.
“Whenever I watch Grigor play, I’m usually so impressed, but he doesn’t have the consistency in Grand Slams.”
Murray is a three-time Grand Slam champion and former winner at the US Open, but he has failed to reach the last 16 of a major since 2019.
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