Tennis / Reaction / Andy Murray

The value of reaching a Grand Slam final

An analysis of players who reached their first Grand Slam final suggests Andy Murray can, at least, expect another semi-final appearance in one of the four majors in 2009.

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Reaching the final at Wimbledon or Flushing Meadows is the key here. Since 1997, of the 15 different finalists in these two Slams only David Nalbandian, (and now Murray), has contested only one Slam final. Juan Carlos Ferrero, who lost the 2003 US Open final, is the only man whose ‘other’ final appearances were on clay.

Only Nalbandian, Mark Philippoussis, Todd Martin and now Murray have never WON a Slam amongst these 15 finalists at Wimbledon and the US Open.

So, by his efforts last week, Murray has set himself up as a likely finalist at least and a probable winner in the future. Yet can we expect a Major trophy as early as next year (11/4 with Blue Square and 888sport)

This decade there have been six players who reached their first Slam final at Wimbledon or Flushing Meadows and three (Djokovic, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt) went onto win a Slam next year. All six reached the semis of a Slam at the very least. Two of the three winners had earlier lost in the final in New York.

In our view the prevailing pattern (and this seems to be strengthening rather than weakening in the current decade) is for further Slam success the following year and 11/4 looks to offer a hint of value. He won’t win in Paris but all three of the other Slams offer decent opportunity.
 

 
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