Andy Murray makes agonising confession after losing to Grigor Dimitrov at US Open
Andy Murray has spoken out after losing to Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open
REUTERS
Andy Murray has agonisingly claimed he may need to accept his deep runs at Grand Slams are now a thing of the past.
The Brit had gone into his match with Grigor Dimitrov hoping to reign supreme and make the third round of the US Open.
However, Murray was unable to cope with his opponent - with Dimitrov claiming a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win to book his place in the next stage of the tournament.
Now, speaking after the defeat at Flushing Meadows, Murray has confirmed he may need to accept deep runs at major tournaments are a thing of the past.
Grigor Dimitrov was too strong for Andy Murray in their US Open clash
REUTERS
“Maybe I need to accept that [at] these events, the deep runs and everything that I felt like I’m capable of, they might not be there, as well," he said.
“I’m aware what I’m doing, it’s unbelievably challenging to play at the highest level as I am now.
"And some days it’s harder than others."
He continued: “Today is obviously a really disappointing defeat and probably the manner of it as well.
“I mean, I fought hard enough but just didn’t play well enough.
"Ultimately these are the events that you want to play your best tennis in, and create more great moments, and [I] didn’t do that this year.”
Murray also lamented his failure to hold serve during the match, while adding that his serve let him down as well.
“I think I got broken at the beginning of every set so could never sort of get any scoreboard pressure, really," he continued.
"Then the times when I did sort of get back into sets or sort of break back, I just didn’t play well enough.
"Didn’t serve well enough.”
The 36-year-old was once the best player in the world.
During his prime years, he won three Grand Slam titles, including the US Open all the way back in 2012.
Injuries have hampered the Brit in recent years, however, and it's a miracle that he's still playing at such a high level given how much he's suffered.
Murray has no plans to quit tennis, even if he's a shadow of the player who once challenged, and sometimes beat, the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“I still enjoy everything that goes into playing at a high level," he said.
“I enjoy the work. The training and trying to improve and trying to get better, I do still enjoy that.
"And that’s what keeps me going. If things change and I stop enjoying that or my results, my ranking and everything; like, if I start to go backwards in that respect [and] in a few months’ time I was ranked 60 in the world or whatever instead of moving up, things might change.”
Dimitrov will now face Alexander Zverev in the third round.
The German booked his own place in the next stage with victory over compatriot Daniel Altmaier in four sets.
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Andy Murray had previously won the US Open all the way back in 2012
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Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev have also booked their places in the next round, with both men previously winning the competition in 2022 and 2021 respectively.