Two Tennis Greats Think Andy Murray Will Win The US Open

Written by: Staff on 23rd August 2012

Two Tennis Greats Think Andy Murray Will Win The US Open |

A pair of former Grand Slam greats have gone out on a limb to pick Andy Murray as their title favorite for the US Open. Television talking head mats Wilander and crazy Croatian Goran Ivanisevic say the Scot may just be buoyed enough by his Olympic gold medal to do some trophy damage at this edition in New York.

Murray beat Roger Federer in the Wimbledon gold medal match this month but then fell flat with knee problems in subsequent Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

Swede Wilander, who won the Open nearly a quarter of a century ago, told the ATP senior tour: “My prediction for the US Open is Andy Murray winning. I’m not saying that just because he won the Olympics, it’s because I think that he’s a different man.

“I think that (coach) Ivan Lendl has helped him tremendously. He’s becoming better physically all the time, he hits his forehand better, but the biggest difference is emotionally. He’s more even-keeled, he’s more positive, and there’s not as much pressure for him at the US Open as there is at Wimbledon.”

Murray who has lost all four Grand Slam finals he has played – including his first to world No. 1 Roger Federer at Flushing Meadows in 2008.

Murray has long called New York his favorite major, a place where he can escape the pressure that falls upon him during each edition of Wimbledon.

Ivanisevic says that the injury absence of Rafael Nadal form this edition will not be an especially big help to Murray. “I think Andy is ready, with or without him. He has beaten Rafa before anyway. If Andy plays well, he can win it. I would really like to see him win it – he deserves it.

“He played a really great Olympic games and I think this will give him extra motivation and confidence. The US Open is his best surface so I think he will do it.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, Andy Murray, ATP tennis news, British tennis news, Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, US Open 2012, US Open favorite