Was Andy Murray Unfortunate To Be Playing During Such A Golden Era?
Introduction
Of all the eras of tennis, the Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Novak Djokovic eras were some of the most dominant in any sport. Between 2006 and 2016, only four players outside of this golden trio won a Grand Slam – Juan Martin Del Potro, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic and Andy Murray.
However, tennis analysts and fans almost unanimously believe that the Brit was an extremely commendable 4th best player in the Federer/Nadal/Djokovic era. If Murray had been plying his trade during the 1990s, or even in the modern game, would he have perhaps had half a dozen or so more Grand Slams in his trophy cabinet? Well, it’s a subjective discussion. Let’s have a look at some of the facts.
Taking On The Greats
In the early days of his career, Andy Murray was touted as one of the best talents in the sport. This was even in comparison to the mega-talents that were emerging alongside him. Murray’s first Grand Slam in 2012 broke up the monotony, albeit temporarily.
The wagering odds at this time reflected this dominance, especially for those dominant on their chosen surface. Nadal on clay was a foregone conclusion; some wagering odds going into the French Open were remarkable – especially in the early 2010s. Nadal would go into the tournament as a 5/1 or 6/1 odds-on favorite.
Even for the “King Of Clay” – these tennis wagering odds were phenomenal. They have only been rivaled by Federer’s dominance at Wimbledon, including a 2017 title where he won the entire tournament without dropping a set.
A feat that hadn’t been achieved in the gentlemen’s singles since the 1970’s. The tennis betting odds at Bovada showcase how much the game’s dynamics have changed since then – and although some tennis fans and analysts thought that Carlos Alcaraz could be the one who picks up the baton from his countryman Rafa Nadal and flies the flag for the new generation, the rise of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic’s Indian summer has taken the wind out of his sails.
How would Murray have fared against this new crop of talent? If it wasn’t for injuries, could he still operate at the game’s elite level like Djokovic?
Andy’s Highs and Lows
Connecting the word unfortunate and Andy Murray is a great disservice to the Brit. He’s the only men’s singles double Olympic gold medallist and was a double Wimbledon champion when Federer was at the height of his powers.
Despite an array of hip injuries, Murray achieved his number 1 ranking for several months during 2016 – when he was considered the most in-form and consistent player in the world. It was a remarkable feat, with the golden trio still firing on full cylinders.
Djokovic and Nadal would especially scoff at the idea that Murray is the only one who suffered injuries. Nadal and Novak, with their knees, and the Serbian’s struggle with hamstring tears and concussion. However, Andy’s injuries debilitated him for months at a time, caused his early retirement, and shaved years off his career.
Murray gave as good as he got during this period and faced off against some of the top names. Still, even if he had a clean bill of health during this period, the idea that he would’ve managed to beat Federer at Wimbledon or Nadal on clay consistently is probably a bridge too far.
Murray In Other Eras?
If Andy had emerged as a top name in the mid to late 90s or were starting his career now, he would likely have a bit more success. We won’t see a golden trio emerge like that in tennis again for a long time. It transcended the sport and brought millions of new fans to the sport. However, if the same injuries had plagued him, he could have easily ended up in a position where he struggled to gain momentum.
It’s all relative and opinion-driven, and it’s hard to pick up and put down legends in any era. One thing Andy did was show that British players could compete on the main stage. For decades, Brits were not considered a threat on the world tennis stage. Tim Henman, whose best finish at Wimbledon was a semi-final, had a hill named after him.
If Murray had operated in the same era, we’d imagine he’d have gotten the better of Hewitt or Kuerten in the 90s. The 90s was a golden era for many sports, especially basketball, as you can see from some of the players available to pick from in the 1996 NBA draft below. Tennis, however, was a few years behind its new golden age, which didn’t start until the mid 00’s.
Final Say
Overall, Murray was unfortunate to play during such a competitive era and suffered several serious injuries. It’s hard to think of a great player throughout the sport’s history who didn’t have some sort of injury. Still, Murray’s injuries were extensive, and even in light of this, he achieved a number-one ranking for several months, two Olympic golds, and several Grand Slam victories.
In another era, he would’ve likely won more – but so would Nadal, Federer, or Djokovic if they were around in the 80’s or 90’s. It’s a subjective question, but one thing is undeniable – Murray is a legend of the sport.
