Storms ahead for Andy Murray
At the time of going to press Andy Murray’s US Open plans could have been thrown into turmoil with a horrendous spell of wet weather forecast to hit New York.
US Open chiefs were last night on the verge of cancelling today's afternoon session with heavy rain and thunderstorms set to hit Flushing Meadow. But, following a two-hour meeting, they instead opted to front-load their schedule in an effort to get the fourth round completed with Murray, weather permitting, first up on Arthur Ashe stadium at 11am (4pm UK time) against Donald Young.
Murray admits he's out for revenge against Young as he attempts to erase the painful memories of his darkest hour this season. The British No.1 takes on the American youngster for a place in the quarter-final of the US Open but there is additional motivation for him. Murray was at his lowest ebb when he suffered back-to-back defeats against Young and Alex Bogomolov jnr at Indian Wells and Miami in the wake of his crushing Australian Open final hammering at the hands of Serbian ace Djokovic.
Young was then ranked No143 in the world. That was back in March and Murray wants to erase that memory for good.
Murray said, “It’s not so much revenge against Donald; it’s more for the situation I was in there and making sure that I can move on from that.” And Murray has definately moved on from his slow start at Flushing Meadows.
He eased past Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday, not giving away a point in the opening 11 minutes of the match.
“Getting off to a good start was going to be important,” he said. “I was moving well early on and had good intensity.” That lasting memory of losing to Young should be more than enough to maintain Murray’s intensity.
Young, now ranked 84, has spent most of his young life struggling under the pressure of being the next great American hope. At 15, he was the best junior in the world and he found himself surrounded by agents, sponsors and members of the US Tennis Association. He was bombarded with wild cards into high-profile professional tournaments in the hope he would sweep all before him in his push to the top. But instead, he was beaten week-in, and week-out and his confidence was in tatters. It is only now, aged 22, that he is beginning to show signs he could make a name for himself.
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