Great day for Murray, sad day for tennis

Posted by Alex Livie on 26/01/2010

I want to revel in Andy Murray’s performance, but the underlying feeling I have from the Scot’s stunning over victory Rafael Nadal is one of sadness.

Murray was simply sensational, he executed his plans to perfection and was a deserved winner. But the sight of Nadal offering his hand at 3-0 down in the third set on account of a knee injury had me contemplating the Mallorcan’s future rather than Murray’s bid for glory.

Don’t get me wrong I was pulling for Murray all the way through, having tipped him for victory at the start of the Australian Open, but it was uncomfortable to see such a mighty player left in disarray.

Nadal had a quite stunning time of things in 2008 and the first couple of months of 2009, and when he reduced Roger Federer to tears at the 2009 Australian Open final, it left the impression that he was ready to take on the mantle from Federer.

Time and again Nadal had the beating of Federer, a player many suggest is the greatest to pick up a racket, and he did not just beat the Swiss, he dismantled his game. The pair have met in seven Grand Slam finals and Nadal has won five of those. He had an 81-game winning streak on clay and was the first person to win 400 singles matches from 500 games played.

But those are just distant memories and I get the impression that Nadal’s time at the top of the tree is over. Tendinitis in his knees have left him a shadow of his former self, the air of invincibility is no longer there, and although I do hope I am wrong I just feel that at 23 he is on his way out.

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