Andy Murray can leave the doubting to Tomas Berdych
EXPERIENCE is the key. As Andy Murray plots his path past Tomas Berdych – the last obstacle between him and a US Open final – experience is everything.
Scotland’s finest is aiming for a fifth Grand Slam final – getting to this stage of a Major has become a habit for him. The experience of holding one of the four famous trophies is still an unknown quantity but, with an Olympic gold medal in his trophy cabinet, Murray has had a taste of what it feels like to close out a big match against a top rival.
Coach Ivan Lendl believes it could make all the difference against Berdych today and, possibly, in the final tomorrow. “We should absolutely count the Olympics,” said Lendl when asked about Murray’s record this year at the Slams.
“I don’t think you guys have seen the full significance of the Olympics.
“The Olympics are harder to win than Majors. They may not be as established in the tennis public’s mind but this will change very quickly now that Andy and Rafa Nadal have won the last two.
I don’t think you guys have seen the full significance of the Olympics
“Before it was a bit different, because the top guys didn’t win. If you get a top guy winning in Rio in 2016, it will be right up there with everything else.
“To me, Andy has already won a big one and the most difficult. He was 21 in Beijing and he wasn’t ready. He’s 25 now, he’ll be 29 in Rio and 33 wherever it is after that and unlikely to be among the favourites. He has two chances – and he did it on the first one.”
His record against Berdych – four losses in six – is not worrying Murray or the Czech-born Lendl, who knows Berdych and his manager, Miroslav Cernosek, well.
One of the best tactical analysts on the Tour, Murray has seen enough to come up with a plan. “Tomas has a big game, a lot of weapons,” said Murray. “He can hurt you on both sides, off his serve and he is very aggressive on return of serve too. When he’s on form, he has had good success.
“But he can be up and down and you need to capitalise on those moments when he is not playing so well.”
Berdych has only played in one major final – Wimbledon 2010, where he was clobbered by Nadal – and this is only his third Grand Slam semi-final. Getting to the final would be a result in itself for him, but winning is the only acceptable outcome for Lendl.
“We didn’t come for semi-finals,” he said curtly.
