Never has a guy reacted as badly to making a Grand Slam final as Andy Murray did in 2011, losing his game so completely that he went two full months and three tournaments (including two Masters Series events) without winning a match. But just when it looked as if Murray might become a poster boy for burnout, he turned it around and went on to have his best year yet. Given the kind of year Novak Djokovic enjoyed after mercilessly pounding Murray in that three-set Australian Open final of 2011, Murray has the right to forgive himself. And he now has Ivan Lendl, eight-time Grand Slam champ (including two consecutive at Melbourne), in his corner as his coach. At 24, Murray is 0-3 in Grand Slam finals and just bursting to finally win one.
Why He’ll Win: Murray’s time has come. Lendl, who was in five Grand Slam finals before he won one, is going to put the last few missing pieces of the puzzle into place and help Murray over the finish line.
Why He Won’t: Expectations can be an enemy as well as a friend, and while the prognosis for Murray’s future is great, it will take him some time to settle into his new relationship with Lendl, and to place those missing pieces.
Bottom Line: Murray has a real shot to win, provided he gets the extra help he needs from some dangerous contender who puts out Rafael Nadal, who has quietly become Murray’s nemesis (he beat Murray in the semis of the other three majors last year).
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