John McEnroe: Pressure still on Andy Murray despite gold

22 August 2012

John McEnroe today warned that Andy Murray’s gold medal‑winning performance at the Olympics does not guarantee he will break his Grand Slam duck at the US Open.

Flushing Meadows has always seemed the most likely destination for the world No4’s major breakthrough. Murray reached the final in 2008 and, having beaten both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the Games, and with Rafael Nadal withdrawing through injury, has been tipped to go one better this time.

The final Grand Slam of the season begins on Monday and the manner of Murray’s 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Federer in the Olympic final suggests he is better placed than ever to claim his maiden major. However, McEnroe believes the British No1 still has to contend with a burden of expectation until he ends his wait for one of tennis’s top honours.

“Winning the Olympics doesn’t really get the monkey off Murray’s back,” said the seven-time Grand Slam singles winner. “But it’s certainly a good start.

“Obviously he is going to come in as the No3 seed, which doesn’t necessarily change a whole lot for him because, if things go according to form, he’d still have to beat two out of the top three guys.”

In 1984 McEnroe demolished Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon final for the loss of just four games, giving the American confidence to win the US Open and 13 of 15 tournaments that year.

Murray has spoken of a greater self-belief since his one-sided victory over Federer but McEnroe (above) believes that world No2 and defending champion Djokovic is the man to beat.

“Though it’s pretty wide open between the three top, I’ll probably have to pick Djokovic for the title,” he said. “Nadal’s out of the picture but Murray’s beaten Nadal at the US Open before, so it’s not as if he didn’t feel he could do that in the past. He’s still got the two guys that he’s lost to in the Grand Slams to deal with.

“So, bigger beneficiaries of Nadal’s absence may be Roger and Novak. If you asked Roger, although he wouldn’t admit it, he’d be pleased that he doesn’t have to play Rafa because he’s got a pretty bad record against him. For him not to have to deal with him at all, I think that’s a good thing for him.”

Nadal’s long-standing knee problem has kept him out of action since his shock defeat to unseeded Czech Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon.

“Everyone’s worried [about Rafa],” said McEnroe. “I’m worried. This happened three years ago and he bounced back in a big way then so I’m hoping something similar happens this time.

“I’m assuming that he and his camp are thinking longer term, so they can keep him going for four or five more years and win a number of Grand Slams.”

McEnroe will be playing in the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall. The tournament runs from December 5-9.

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John McEnroe: Pressure still on Andy Murray despite gold

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