Murray out, but not down

WHAT HAPPENEDFor two sets, Andy Murray went toe-to-toe with world number one Novak Djokovic and battled him to a standstill at the US Open.In the end, the Scotsman’s body betrayed him and he was eliminated 7-6 (1) 6-7 (1) 6-2 6-4 in a three hour 32 minute quarter-final that gave him some optimism going forward.After […]

WHAT HAPPENED
For two sets, Andy Murray went toe-to-toe with world number one Novak Djokovic and battled him to a standstill at the US Open.
In the end, the Scotsman’s body betrayed him and he was eliminated 7-6 (1) 6-7 (1) 6-2 6-4 in a three hour 32 minute quarter-final that gave him some optimism going forward.
After giving as good as he got over the first two sets, Murray began to wear down late in the third. He walked gingerly, leaned on his racket like a cane, and picked his spots to cut loose on his groundstrokes.
Before the stiffness set in, Murray was ripping forehands with sizzling gusto and seizing the moment to unleash winners.
Murray has yet to win a title since last year’s Wimbledon and his subsequent back surgery – but on Arthur Ashe Stadium there were glimpses of his true power in a performance that will give him huge confidence for 2015.
WHAT MURRAY SAID
“I played well,” he told reporters. “Especially the first couple of sets was some good tennis.
“I was down in the first set and I fought back. I was down in the second set and a break and I fought back. So I fought hard.
“I played some good tennis. But it wasn’t enough. Right now I’m obviously disappointed. It’s extremely late. I’m tired. I don’t feel particularly proud right now. I feel disappointed.
“But I think there was some good tennis. Hopefully I can build on that. I got stiff in my hips and my back towards the end of the third set. I didn’t hurt anything. It was just I think fatigue and I stiffened up.”
Murray said playing against his old friend and rival Djokovic was a good measuring stick.
“Maybe, I haven’t played enough matches at that level this year,” the eighth seed added.
“I mean, it’s obviously different playing against the number one in the world, and the way that we play against each other, it’s just an extremely physical match.
“Whereas, maybe when I play against Roger (Federer), for example, it’s quicker points. So physically, that’s not as demanding. But when me and Novak play against each other – you obviously see very tight, long rallies.
“Both of us do a lot of running. Maybe I’ll gain a lot from playing a match like today. Because it doesn’t matter how much training you do, when you get on the match court it’s different. I can’t practice with the best player in the world, so it’s tough to practice at that intensity.”