Murray Decries US Open Scheduling

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 6th September 2013

Murray Decries US Open Scheduling

epa03853111 Andy Murray of Great Britain reacts during a press conference after losing to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during their quarterfinals round match on the eleventh day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/DANIEL MURPHY |

The way Andy Murray figures it, the less said the better about another year of quirky US Open scheduling. With his loss in the quarter-finals to Swiss Stan Wawrinka, the defending champion thought it best just to say his quick goodbyes and be done with the event for this season.

But the world No. 3 fired a shot across the bow of the US federation as he prepared to leave when asked about the bizarre way the event operates, playing the first round over three days instead of the more traditional two: “I don’t really want to get into that,” said a disappointed Murray. “You can see for yourself how the schedule worked out. When you play the first round over three days, it’s tough.”

Murray’s late start three full days into the competition may or may not have been a factors in his loss in the quarters. But the summer Wimbledon winner admits that the past 12 months when he made his grand slam title breakthrough and then backed it up at the All England Club have taken some kind of a toll.

“It’s been challenging physically and mentally for different reasons. Physically I played some extremely tough matches in that period. Mentally, it was very challenging for me to play Wimbledon, the last few games of Wimbledon to you guys may not seem like much, but to me it was extremely challenging.”

The Scot added: “A lot of work goes into not just those (big) matches but the work you do to get yourself ready for them, as well. It’s tough.

“It’s just very, very difficult just now. With the guys around us, it’s very challenging. I’ve played my best tennis in the slams the last two, three years. I lost today in straight sets, so that’s disappointing. I would have liked to have gone further.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Sports, Tennis, US Open, Wimbledon