US Open: Murray starts title defence

Andy Murray strolled into the US National Tennis Centre on Saturday without a care in the world, brimming with confidence and self-belief as he prepares to defend his US Open title as the competition serves off on Monday.
Signing autographs and joking with the media, the Scotsman’s relaxed demeanour could not have been any different than when he arrived at Flushing Meadows a year ago.
And this time he plans to do something he forgot to last year. He wants to enjoy himself.
In 2012, Murray arrived in New York still searching for his first grand slam title. He had won the Olympic gold medal but the grand slams had eluded him and he continued to be pestered about why he had not broken through.
That all changed under the bright lights of New York when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in a nerve-tingling five-setter, to end his own drought and become the first British man in 76 years to win the US Open.
Returning this year as the defending champion has rekindled those memories though he confessed his emotions last year were somewhat stifled.
“I was so relieved that night that maybe I didn’t have the chance to maybe enjoy it may be as much as Wimbledon or the Olympics, for example,” he said.
“There was so much relief last year that I wasn’t necessarily enjoying it as much as I should have.
“So when I came back and practiced on the Arthur Ashe court, you know, the memories came back, and that was nice.”
Despite his breakthrough, Murray knew winning the US Open was never going to release the full expectation on him from the British public.
That only came when he won Wimbledon in July, a moment etched in British sporting history but one that was a blur to him.
With the weight of expectation lifted from shoulders, Murray holds no fears about trying to defend his title at Flushing Meadows, the most raucous and intimidating venues of the four grand slams.
“I think there is less pressure. I think before the first match ‑ and probably anything before the first match there will be nerves there ‑ I expect to be pretty nervous because it’s a new experience and it’s different,” he said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Clashes between Nigerian army and Boko Haram kill 18

Image
Maiduguri - Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic law in Nigeria's north, and other spin-off Islamist groups have become the biggest threat to stability in Africa's top oil exporter.   Suspected members of Boko Haram killed 11 people in an attack on Damboa town in Borno state on Thursday, shooting at soldiers, burning shops and killing civilians, a military source said, asking not to be named because he was not authorized to give official statements. "More troops have been dispatched to the area to confront the insurgents. They sneaked away towards the bush leading to parts of Yobe and Gombe States," the source said. Around 50 gunmen in cars and motorbikes stormed the rural town, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to hide in nearby farms, locals said. In neighboring Gombe state, police officers killed seven members of Boko Haram in a two-hour gun fight in the early hours of Friday, Gombe Police Spokesman Fwaje Atajiri told reporters....
Read more

The Untold Love Story Between Bianca Ojukwu and Femi Fani-Kayode

Image
Not many are aware that former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-kayode and former beauty queen, Mrs Bianca Onoh were heading for the altar in the late 80’s, but the wheels of their love life was clogged by an unexpected event. Bianca Odinaka Olivia Onoh, the sixth child of Late Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh, the second republic governor of the of the old Anambra state, had met Femi Fani-kayode while she was  studying for her A- levels in Cambridge Tutorial College. The latter was also attending the University of Cambridge for his Master’s Degree programme in law. Sources revealed that the beauty was already a queen before they met. Bianca had won the MISS MARTINI, a beauty pageant organized by the beverage company known as Martini Rossi, while schooling at Yorkshire in England. Then, Femi, whose father was the second Queen’s Counsel{Senior Advocate of Nigeria} that Nigeria produced, was finishing his Master’s programme, while Bianca was settling down for her...
Read more

Dillish is the Winner of Big brother Africa 2013

Image
After expressing her desires to be the first woman to win the Big Brother grand prize since Zambia's Cherise did so seven seasons ago, Dillish has done it for all of Africa's women! The gorgeous Namibian started her Chase race as the proverbial underdog and was labeled everything from lazy to a pampered princess. As the Chase rolled on however, Dillish quickly emerged as a very strong contender for the Chase title and won her fellow Housemates and Africa over, with her quirky, accented alter ego, aptly titled Princess Dillish. The Namibian made sure to stay away from trouble and coasted through the Chase by taking her place behind the scenes. While her fellow Housemates got themselves into hot water, fighting and gossiping their way to what they hoped was the top of the mountain, Dillish remained grounded and maintained cordial relations with her fellow Housemates. The only time the Namibian got herself in a spot of trouble was when she and her good friend, ...
Read more