Andy Murray admitted, after his first-round victory at the US Open, that his success in the tournament a decade ago feels like an event that occurred in another lifetime. The memories of what proved to be a breakthrough triumph have not started to fade, but a lot has happened since then.
For many, as they approach the latter stages of their playing days, opportunities to cast a wistful eye over events of the past can conjure up all kinds of emotions, with years of hard work often appearing to have passed in the blink of an eye.
Hurdles
Murray has been through so much, with giant hurdles needing to be cleared on and off the court, and he probably feels as though multiple careers have been lived through. He is not done yet, with US Open tennis odds 2022 proving that he can still mix it with the best in the business.
He may not figure as prominently in the free tennis betting tips as he did when operating at the peak of his powers, with an impressive standing as the world No.1 in 2016, but he has never been the type to walk away from a challenge. Given the obstacles he has faced, he could have been forgiven for choosing to walk away when reaching one of several career crossroads.
There has, however, always been a desire to avoid seeing his hand forced. Having reached the very top of a sporting mountain, the Scot has no intention of fading away into obscurity. His record, which includes three Grand Slam titles, means that a place in the history books will always be his for the taking.
Settling has never been part of his makeup, with his unwavering desire to compete continues to push him towards what could be. If targets are there to be hit and his body allows them to be pursued, then expect Murray to keep on chasing down what others may consider being a lost cause.
There is no escaping the fact that he is no longer the player he was. Back in 2012, when claiming a stunning five-set victory over Novak Djokovic in New York, he boasted every string on a professional bow – or racket in his case.
While boasting the ability to compete with a collection of all-time greats, Murray’s undoubted ability was blended with guts and determination that allowed opponents to be outfought on days they could not be outplayed.
Legend
He would run further and work harder than anybody else, with his return game becoming the stuff of legend, and screams of delight became as prevalent as regular displays of frustration aimed in the direction of those occupying a coaching box.
Murray cannot rely as heavily on that fighting spirit as he once did, but he is finding other ways to win. Experience counts for plenty in professional sport and his tactical approach is probably more refined than ever. He has always been a master of finding chinks in rival armor and that skill set should serve him well as he seeks to ensure that he will bow out on his own terms once the time comes to call it a day.
