Tennis: Sports review British No 1 Andy Murray's season on and off the court
Andy Murray summed up his season when he signed a camera lens with a message that says 'Bad year!' after reaching the Paris Masters quarters which assured his place at the end of season ATP World Tour Finals.
No British 1 has still managed to reach three grand slam quarter-finals, a French Open semi-final as secure three titles ATP in what was seen by many as his worst campaign over the years.
The kind of success would be that might be described as a very good year for any highly-paid professional tennis player, but of course Murray is a two-time major and is used to play on major events and in the grand finale.
He finished the year with a win-loss record 59-20 record helped by a series of wins 12-match late on the season and compared to his previous years, 2013 (43-8) and 2012 (56-16) statistically he actually won more matches.
But of course in the past two years he also won headlines with an Olympic gold medal followed by his success at the US Open, then Wimbledon the following summer.
Roger Federer (73-12) and Novak Djokovic (61-8) were more successful in terms of victories of football match in 2014, but you must take into account the problems of back of Murray, the resignation of its coach Ivan Lendl and a new approach to his game with the appointment of Amelie Mauresmo.
Things may have if is proven very differently for the Scot he did had not one such season hectic off the court...
Back surgery
It started at the end of last season, when the world no. 3 at the time underwent surgery to try to resolve a disk problem in his lower back.
After a successful operation Murray hope go back even stronger and after three months off the court, that he returned to action in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi tournament the next day after spending the last month step up his rehabilitation work in a training camp in Miami.
Murray spent practicing on Christmas day with his long-term friend and rival, Djokovic.
"Everyone looks for matches at the beginning of the year," said Murray. "Before the grand slam if you can do so as close as possible to what top players like to play, you will get intense fields. It is just a good preparation.
"I want to try and win as much as I can," he said. "I've lost enough times in the big matches do not want to do." I will not again lose four finals slam in a row. It was horrible.
"But I also know how it is difficult to win tournaments. It can never happen again, I could not win another, but I want to just give me the best chance to do so. »
He made his first competitive appearance at the Qatar Open where he crushed the world non-2129, Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-0, 6 - 0 before letting a lead slip to lose in three sets to German Florian Mayer in the second round.
Thanks for all the well wishes, means a lot to me... pic.twitter.com/KokbiW8Y4M
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) September 23, 2013
Australia open
Then place was the first great big of the year, the Australia Open and Murray opened in trust securing easy wins over Go Soeda, Vincent Millot, Feliciano Lopez and through the four then against Stéphane Robert to reach the quarterfinals.
There, he came against Federer and was master Switzerland which restored years at the age of 32 to beat a gutsy Murray 6-3 6 - 4 6-7, 6-3.
The British stayed away from major form winning and alluded to his difficult return from surgery after the defeat.
"I've come a long way in four months. I thought I did a good job in me to compete at this level and I was not far away. I was able to push hard for three-and-a-half hours in a match of high quality, high intensity.
"I do not know how many players is returned from surgery and won their first grand slam in their second tournament, it is highly unlikely." I need to look at it as a springboard to get better and I hope that I will come back to play my best tennis soon."
Triumph of San Diego
A fortnight later Murray defeated Sam Querrey in the United States to send Britain through to the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup for the first time in 28 years.
The Wimbledon champion used his success on the dirt track at San Diego in preparation for the European season. He said: "it's good for me to play on the clay. Often enter into the season of clay that I have not played all matches on this subject for 11 months. »
History was against side of Leon Smith, go into the tie, with the last victory of Britain on the United States at the time of Fred Perry in 1935, while their only victory on American soil came 111 years ago, but singles 17th successive Davis Cup of Murray victory got an eighth win from nine matches for the skipper.
Upper Murray was quickly brought quickly back down to Earth by Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open and he then underwent a heart-throb agonising semi-final defeat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in an epic of nail-biting in the wee hours of the morning Mexican Acapulco.
Lendl split
Then it was immediately after events Masters in Indian Wells and Miami, where Murray had done so well in the past, but all the talk was on his sudden and unexpected Ivan Lendl coach split after one of the most successful coaching partnership in tennis.
"Have helped [Murray] to achieve his goal of winning major titles, I think it is time for me to concentrate on some of my own projects," Lendl said in a statement agreed, "including playing more events in the world that I'm really enjoy. ''
The Czech has helped Murray to his slam debut win at the US Open in 2012 and also inspired her Wimbledon triumph the following year.
Assisted by coach Dani Vallverdu, his old friend from their days among teenage girls in the Academy of Sánchez-Casal, Murray departed the tournament of California's mega-rich in Indian Wells to hard-hitting Milos Raonic before suffering a loss of quarter-finals Novak Djokovic Florida the following week.
Times of crisis in Naples
Tournament seemed to help confidence of Murray on the Court and he who held crunch Davis Cup tie Great Britain with the Italy in Naples.
Although he drove over Andreas Seppi in his opening rubber he went down to an inspired Fabio Fognini on the final crucial day as winners out hosts.
GB hoped to reach his first semi-final since 1981, but Murray suffered his first defeat in singles in the competition since but lost to Stan Wawrinka in 2005.
Following his loss, Murray could not refuse to blame his hectic schedule, saying: "I was tired when I got up, but I felt fine once I got out there. I did OK physically in the game. I really felt worse in matches on clay."
Defeated Santiago Giraldo at the Madrid Masters has been followed by a Scots best-ever performances on the Red Earth - a short period at least - that it has tested the biggest dirt-track player in history in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters.
For 37 minutes, Murray completely dominated Rafael Nadal to win the 6-1 opening set but that was as good as that for him, after which, he was captivated by Spanish beefcake biceps to lose three.
Andy Murray playing the best clay court tennis I've ever seen him play, the problem being he can't let up for ONE second if he's to win...
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) May 16, 2014
Open French
Murray seemed to recover her form of Wimbledon and he approached the French Open with a real expectation of a strong campaign despite still does not after defeating a top 10 players since the final of the All England Club.
At Roland Garros, Murray overcame Philipp Kohlschreiber in a marathon match that lasted two days, and although he reached his second semi-final in Paris, the 'King of clay' Nadal was waiting to distribute punishment victory of 6-3 6 - 2 6-1, inflicting the heaviest Murray defeat of his grand slam career.
"This is the most difficult match that I played against him," a subdued Murray said later. "He was hitting extremely difficult, extremely heavy, returning well and he hit well on the track. ''
The dynamo of Dunblane had to put the disappointment behind him as quickly as possible with the Aegon Championships from the Queen Club and Wimbledon after a fortnight later
"I think that go on the grass will help me somehow," he said. I have a lot of fond memories of the season on grass over the past years."
Mauresmo and Wimbledon
Then, in a spectacular and unexpected move surprised Murray the world of tennis by appointing Wimbledon former champion Amélie Mauresmo as her new coach, hired to bring his creative style to the fore.
"I have a very strong coaching team already in place, but I think that Amelie brings his experience and tactical know-how and will push us all to improve," said Murray. "Everyone I know speaks very highly of Amélie, as a person, coach and I am convinced that joining the team will help to push us - I want to win more Grand Slams. ''
The new partnership did not descend from the highest construction layouts but also first Murray suffered output surprise cunning veteran Radek Stepanek at the Club of the Queen and her Wimbledon title defense ended in a whimper of Dimitrov with alarming ease in the last eight after a rather soft performance.
The 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, defeat meant that the Scots slipped to 10th in the world rankings for the first time in six years.
His new coach Mauresmo looked as bemused as everyone on the Centre Court as Murray walked off the coast of the shadow of the player who beat Djokovic in the final a year ago.
Murray quickly resumed training where Mauresmo spent weeks at his camp of Wimbledon after the latter in Miami, and he returned to action at the Canadian open in Toronto until losing to Jo - Wilfried Tsonga in three.
Next stop was in Cincinnati, but the Scot was unable to advance beyond the quarter-finals once more, with Roger Federer six of the last seven games to seal an impressive 6-3 7 - 5 victory and even to the top of their folder one-on-one to 11 wins each.
US Open
Murray arrived in New York, expressing in the best shape since Wimbledon year last following a solid training block.
But when the Grand Finals of the year non British 1 looked like heading for its first defeat of the circular opening in a tournament of the grand slam more than six years then he struggled with bouts of cramps and looked barely able to move sometimes against Dutchman Robin Haase in the opening round.
However, he showed plenty of spirit and the determination to dig deep and come across a battle Titanic in four sets on the Louis Armstrong Court.
The two-time grand slam champion appeared much happier on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and earned through his next two matches, including his first victory over a player in the top 10 for 14 months after his title of Wimbledon, with the victory of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Which sent him through to a confrontation in the quarterfinals with the former enemy Djokovic in a repeat of their epic final 2012 the quarterfinals stage. He had now reach the quarterfinals or better of the last 15 Grand slam tournaments.
In a match lasting three hours and 31 minutes, Murray was hitting his Forehand harder that he had never done before in his career and led the Serbs to the front edge his fitness has faded at the end of the match, finally losing 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (1-7) 6-2, 6-4.
The 27 - year - old said later: "he was definitely physically more costs, the pace of my service slowed down towards the end." My back towards the end that stiffens upwards, it is physically very demanding to play him. I tried to hang at the end, but was a little disappointed, how my body responds, I have trained hard."
Although physical fatigue is is caught up with Murray tonight there, what mattered most won enough points in the race to London, with the end of season ATP World Tour final just around the corner.
Murray began his three weeks in Asia, he appeared to show his support for the independence of Scotland with a tweet to his disciples who received mixed reactions.
He later said he has no regrets on declaring his support for a vote Yes on the eve of the referendum but had reservations about the way it did.
Independence was finally rejected by a margin of 55 to 45 percent.
Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) September 18, 2014
Title of Shenzhen
With 250 points offers in Shenzhen, Murray knew he had to start winning tournaments and he took the offer of a Wild Card in the tournament in China where he won his first title for 14 months after a gruelling final against Tommy Robredo.
Olympic gold medallist has saved five match points in the securing of his 29th career title which put him in good heart for the rest of the season, 5-7 7 - 6 (11-9), 6-1. "Obviously, it was a moment very, very long time since I won a tournament and the manner in which the final was won, also, does not happen very often," he said.
"I am content that I managed to beat my way through it and win the Championship and hope that I can try to win another before the end of the year."
Victory in Shenzhen has Murray one place at 10 not in the race for London with eight tasks completing the field for the flagship of the O2.
The Murray Open of China rallied to the semi-final where it came against Djokovic, looking every inch a champion on the swing of Asia, and it is the Serbian who won in the final, but the British had picked up more vital points by making the last four.
Victory of Vienna
The Shanghai Masters Murray suffered a blow against one of his rivals close to reach London. David Ferrer has beaten in the last 16, but they met again, this time to the Vienna final a week later and he fought back from a set down to beat Spanish to move up to eighth in the world.
It was also another 250 points crucial, with only two ranking events before the final of next month.
When Rafael Nadal announced that he needed surgery because of long-standing appendicitis, which somewhat eased the strain on Murray, although he was not sure with the likes of Ferrer, Dimitrov and Milos Raonic still breathing down his neck.
Valencia Open
Then Murray was the Valencia Open and another meeting with the popular Robredo in the final and once more, it is made to dig deep, once again saving five match balls and counterattacked to win 3-6 7 - 6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8), we can say that the match of the year after three hours and 20 minutes in the longest final of the year on the ATP World Tour.
"I know that it was an incredible game," said Murray, who played his 20th game in five weeks. "Tennis at the end and in the second set was high-level. I played well at the right times. I do not know how I managed to come through it - I have been very tired, that Tommy was very tired as well. »
"It was an incredible game, and you should take advantage," Robredo said. "Unfortunately, someone has to win and it was decided by a few balls," added the 32-year-old. "I guess when I finish the season next week and I watch the match today against one of the best players we have at the moment, I'll be very happy."
Murray 11-match victory run ended with the defeat of Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters, but to this point he had done enough to qualify for the final of the Tour.
He played 23 matches over the last six weeks, winning three titles, but eventually, fatigue took its toll and needed a week off the coast to prepare for the tournament's end of season on the banks of the River Thames.
London and preparations
Expectations were high position in the clash of his opening round robin against US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, but the Japanese pioneer muted atmosphere to win comfortably.
Murray responded with a victory of Raonic in the next match and with the two required sets victory a Roger Federer, his troubled season came crashing down after a resounding 56 minutes 6-0 6 - 1 in the hands of a majestic Federer.
It's heaviest defeat of the British in seven years, but at least he managed to win his final service game to avoid the dreaded 'double bagel '.
Sorry about tonight, roger was incredible and I had no answers, support this week has been so good and wish I could have done better
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) November 14, 2014
Murray preparations for 2015 have already begun with the remaining part of his team that made him a winner of grand slam, coach fitness Jez Green and close friend and assistant coach Dani Vallverdu being shown the door and validate more faith in the coach of Mauresmo.
Murray said: "we sat down at the end of the season and decided that a change would be better for us all."
"My off-season preparations open training and Australian have already begun and I am very excited for the new year. ''
He completed a busy day got engaged to girlfriend Kim Sears after nine years together. Once, she was described by the mother of Judy Murray as "the best thing" to happen to Andy
Murray flew to Manila to play in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League and he will spend a few days at home at Christmas before starting his season by 2015 at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, January 1.
Hoping to see @MannyPacquiao on the court sometime soon.. #Legend #IPTLManila pic.twitter.com/w3VKzP6Pvl
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) November 27, 2014
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