In such a solitary sport, you have to be your own “best friend” on the court.
Andy Murray’s best friend often seems to be Satan himself.
His madmanic expressions are fun to photograph, and fans love him for his passion. But are his tantrums getting in the way of his return to glory?
Murray didn’t blow a 2-1 sets lead to Stefanos Tsitsipas because he has a metal hip. It’s because he has a heavy metal temper.
ESPN, BBC and Tennis Channel really should hand him a guitar and a microphone. Nobody can hurl invective at himself and his box like the Mad Muzzard. Not enough James Hetfield of Metallica can scream like Andy.
Among other players, Novak Djokovic tries to manage his emotions by strategically venting before or after crucial stages of the matches. Djokovic calls this “emotional intelligence.” While it might seem that Novak is going “off the boil” at times, he’s usually able to regain composure, sharpen his focus, and elevate his level to an extra gear. That’s why he’s won 23 slams, not three like Murray.
Murray’s rage once helped him get into a position to win those three slams. But now I wonder if he can even control it. He had to summon deep reservoirs of rage to overcome hip surgeries that would have retired almost any other player years ago. It’s as if he’s created a beast mode that he can’t easily turn off.
This Andy-beast seemed to take over at 4-4 in the crucial fourth set of his loss to Tsitsipas at Wimbledon. He was only a few points from sealing the match — a juncture where Djokovic often goes into a supreme state of inner silence. But Murray, instead of challenging a point that he would have won, flew off the handle. He ended up losing the game, the set and the match.
(See the Brain Game analysis of the match here: https://www.braingametennis.com/andy-murray-needs-to-chill/)
Revered as a feminist icon for his stated support of women, he seemingly used a part of their body in vain. If so, it wouldn’t be the first time. For years, the British and American media, who fawn over Andy, have given him special treatment. They let him get away with behavior that would scandalize Djokovic, Alex Zverev, Fabio Fognini or other players.
This likely won’t change. Murray has earned his status as a tennis icon, perhaps the most beloved athlete in the UK. Murray, who used to be awkward and shy, can be exceptionally earnest with the press during interviews and press conferences. Nobody wants to see him fake it on court.
But he really needs a “best friend” to tell him to get the Andy-Beast under control. Andy Murray has to become his own best friend again.
words and images copyright Christopher Johnson Globalite Media all rights reserved.
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