Loss In Montreal Is A Wake Up Call For Murray

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 9th August 2013

Loss In Montreal Is A Wake Up Call For Murray

epa03779649 Andy Murray of Britain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's final for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 07 July 2013. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Andy Murray may hold the Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic titles but a third round exit from the Rogers Cup, Canada’s leg of the ATP World Tour’s Masters 1,000 Series, proved to the Scot he needs to recapture his game in time for his upcoming title defence at Flushing Meadows and he admitted: “It will take time before I’m back to playing my best tennis.”

The world no.2 went a complete month without swinging a racket in competition following his Wimbledon final triumph against Novak Djokovic on July 7. After being given the luxury of a first round bye in Montreal, he managed to win his initial comeback match against Marcel Granollers but lost out a day later to the talented if unpredictable Ernests Gulbis.

“You can’t expect to play perfect straightaway because it takes time,” maintained Murray as he said goodbye to an undefeated run of 13 matches that stretched back to the Rome Masters in May and his enforced retirement against Granollers because of back issues.

Murray had been back in training with coach Ivan Lendl for more than a week before heading to Montreal eight days ago but he maintained the talent of Latvia’s Gulbis made it hard for him to rediscover his touch.

“I was playing a very good player, someone that gives you very little rhythm on the court,” said the world no.2. “But I actually thought I hit the ball better today than yesterday.

“I had a bit longer to prepare this year. But maybe I just need to make sure I get a few more matches in practice in the future.”

Murray is still involved in the Montreal doubles alongside fellow Scot Colin Fleming and a good win against the fourth seeded pairing of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek meant a delay in traveling to Cincinnati for next week’s seventh leg of the ATP’s Masters 1000 series at the Western and Southern Open.

“The goal is to try and peak at the US Open,” Murray said. “But to do that you need to make sure you prepare yourself well and obviously I would have liked to have done better here.

“All I can keep doing, is trying to keep improving every day. Hopefully by the time the US (Open) comes around, I’m playing my best tennis.”