By Tony Fairbairn
- Grigor Dimitrov [19] def Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 6-1
- Andy Murray is still positive about his future but criticised the manner of his defeat to Grigor Dimitrov.
NEW YORK, USA – Andy Murray has remained positive about his future despite a ‘disappointing defeat’ to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the US Open.
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It was another tough loss for Andy Murray as the Brit went out of a Grand Slam at the second round stage for the second consecutive time. This time Murray lost to Grigor Dimitrov in what was a very one-sided affair with Murray appearing flat as he only won eight games throughout the contest.
Unlike his five set loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, which was a five set thriller, Murray was barely in the match as he was outmuscled by a simply sensational Dimitrov. After the match Murray admitted it wasn’t the result that concerned him, it was the manner of his performance that was the damning thing about his latest Grand Slam loss.
“It’s obviously disappointing to not play how you would like,” Murray told the reporters after the match.
“But maybe I need to accept that, these events, I had the deep runs and everything that I felt like I’m capable of, they might not be there, as well. I’m aware what I’m doing, it’s unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now. And some days it’s harder than others. But yeah, today is obviously a really disappointing defeat and probably [because of] the manner of it as well.
“I fought hard enough, but just didn’t play well enough. Ultimately these are the events that you want to play your best tennis in, and create more great moments and didn’t do that this year.”
Murray has enjoyed a season where he has been moving up the rankings but has ultimately been disappointed at bigger events with the Brit failing to reach the second week of any Grand Slam this season.
The Brit spoke about being unable to take advantage of good draws at Grand Slams this season especially at a tournament like Wimbledon.
“I think when you don’t play well, obviously it’s frustrating. But it can happen,” Murray continued.
“At the highest level if you don’t play to a high enough level, it’s very hard to win. Whereas at Wimbledon, obviously when you’re playing at a good level and potentially had a good draw there and everything, that’s tougher to take.”
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Murray still finding enjoyment despite defeats
A common theme of Murray’s season is questions being raised as to when the Brit is going to end his career especially after defeats like the one against Dimitrov. However despite another disappointing defeat, Murray claims he still finds enjoyment in competing and remains positive about the future.
“I’ve obviously been progressing this year from a ranking perspective,” Murray explained as he currently sits at 37 in the world.
“I had some great matches in Australia. Well, quite a few amazing matches at the beginning of the year really, in Doha as well. I think I was close to — you never know what’s going to happen — but I think I was close to having a good run at Wimbledon.
“I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level. I enjoy the work, the training and trying to improve and trying to get better. I do still enjoy that, and that’s what keeps me going.”
Despite the enjoyment of the sport, Murray will know that he will need to start producing good results at Grand Slams to have a chance of progressing up the rankings even further.
In order to do that, Murray will need to be seeded for Grand Slams which is now the former world number one’s next goal although the Brit admits that regardless of seeding he will need to produce a better level of tennis.
“If I want to have deep runs in these tournaments, I’m going to have to come up against players like Grigor or Tsitsipas or whoever in Australia, played Berrettini in the first round and Bautista in the third round. These are obviously top players. Obviously being seeded avoids them early,” Murray contined.
“But yeah, for me it’s more about sort of the level you put out there and the performance and whether I was seeded or not here in the Top 32, then I don’t think that that guarantees that I’m going to have a deep run either.”
Murray’s next big decision will be whether to play the Davis Cup or not with the Group Stage starting on the 12 September in Manchester.
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