Rafael Nadal says that Andy Murray blew a sizeable chance in his 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4) 6-1, 7-5 loss to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals.
"He always played fantastic. He's unlucky not to win a Grand Slam yet," Nadal told reporters. "Yesterday he lost another very good opportunity. Because winning two sets to one, winning the third set, probably losing a lot chances, and then winning with 7-6 to win a tournament like this and to play against player like Djokovic, you cannot start the fourth set like this. It's the moment to play with more intensity than ever, not start with 3-0 down and two breaks in five minutes. That way you lose the match. You want to win the tournament, the other can beat you, but you cannot lose in the beginning… He was unlucky at the end, but the only negative thing for me in his match is the beginning of the fourth. When the other have more doubts, is in really trouble, you make for the opponent easier than what should be, no? For the rest, he can be No. 1 at the end of the season. The level is there. When you are able to play how many, five Grand Slams in a row playing semifinals or final, it's only a mental thing."