Murray’s Mountain to Climb

Cue the miserable rainy English mid-summer weather, the strawberries and cream and more importantly, the over-hyped unrealistic expectations towards a certain Brit.

Outside the main stadium courts at the All England Club resides a big screen and a relatively small picnic area. A patch of grass once known as Henman Hill (or on occasion Rusedski Ridge) has been for the best part of a decade, Murray Mound.

And there sits Wimbledon’s fair-weather tennis fans expecting – nay demanding – Murray to make it at least to the semi-finals where he would inevitably lose to one of the Big Three (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the “Big Four” with Murray’s inclusion).

However, this year, Murray Mound will appear more like a molehill compared to the mountain the out-of-form, out-of-sorts, and low-on-confidence Andy Murray, will have to climb to claim his first Grand Slam title.

Murraymania may well be short-lived as the Scot faces what could be described as a nightmare draw.

It is conceivable that the World Number 4 could lose at any stage of the competition, a burden not shared by the other members of the supposed “Big Four”.

His potential run to the title looks something like this:

While the Scotsman will be the heavy favorite to roll into the second round, Davydenko is not the sort of floater any player wants to see across the net while getting your feet wet in a major championship.

As recently as 2009, Nikolay Davydenky took down Robin Soderling, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Juan Martin Del Potro en route to winning the ATP Tour Finals in London. Something even Rafael Nadal has never achieved.

Having maxed out as high as World Number 3 behind a peaking Roger Federer and a fully-developed Rafael Nadal back in 2006, Davydenko has a record of semi-final and quarter-final appearances in majors (4 and 6 respectively) to rival anyone.

The head-to-head favors Murray – just – at 5 and 4, but that’s basically a tie.

When you consider that many of the first rounders are ranked well outside the top 100, this is about as tough as it gets for an opener.

An in form Murray should win comfortably, but it would not rock the tennis world if Davydenko knocks down Murray at the first hurdle.

The exact opposite of the baseline counter-pushing Davydenko, standing at 10′ 6 (or is it 6’10? I forget), Dr. Ivo is as dangerous as anyone on his day.

Consistently the biggest server in the game, his fastest delivery of 156 mph stood as the world record until recently and is still the fastest recorded at the tour level.

He’s claimed scalps over Roger Federer – costing the Swiss his World #1 ranking at the time, and defending Wimbledon Champion Lleyton Hewitt back in 2003 in his Grand Slam debut.

He’s even made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon back in 2009, losing to eventual champion, Roger Federer.

While Murray has never lost to Karlović, there’s a first time for everything, especially if you’ve already gone 4 or 5 sets in the first round.

In a nutshell, Karlović is dangerous, especially on a fast surface.

And in the first week while the courts are still slick, Wimbledon can be lightning fast.

Another massive server, Kevin Anderson brings a lot more game to the table than Murray’s previous opponent.

Many in the know have expected great things from the South African for a while now. At his best he looks like a world beater, but could just as easily lose in the first round to a no-name nobody.

The last time the two faced each other, less than a year ago in Montreal, Anderson took down the Scot quickly and painlessly 6-3 6-1.

At the time Murray was struggling for form, just as he is now.

Again, this is a match up that favors Murray, but just as equally could send him home in straights.

I’ve made it clear on several occasions that I believe Milos Raonic could be heir to the throne that’s been co-held by the Big Three for the last few years (if they ever stop winning).

If Raonic is in good enough form to make it to the second week, the Montenegro born Canadian is a real threat against anyone he faces, not only Murray.

The one and only time they played, earlier this year in Barcelona, Raonic won in straights.

And that was on clay. A court far better suited to the British baseliner. The quicker court definitely plays into the hands of Raonic.

He’s got a big game, and his time is due.

While Andy Roddick is clearly passed his best, he’s still tricky, and on the green grass of Wimbledon, he’s down right dangerous.

Fresh from winning Eastbourne, Roddick has now won at least one tournament a year for 12 straight years – a streak matched only by Roger Federer.

For the best part of the last decade, Andy Roddick has been among the best 2 or 3 players in the world on grass, claiming 5 tour titles on the surface, as well as appearing in the Wimbledon final three times, and once in the semi’s.

To add to that, almost half of his losses at Wimbledon have been at the hands of one Roger Federer.

In 2009 Roddick beat Murray at Wimbledon en route to the final.

If Roddick makes it this far, he’ll be primed for another shock win, and my money would be on the American.

After his record-breaking 7th French Open title, his 11th grand slam in all, Rafael Nadal is now a real threat to Federer’s moniker of Greatest Player of All Time.

And although Murray’s name is often banded around with the Big Three, his head-to-head against the Spaniard is a dismal 13-5, losing every time they’ve played on grass.

After 2 weeks of play, the grass plays much slower, and is far better suited to Rafa Nadal’s game.

Equally, Nadal would be far fresher having faced a much easier path to the semi-finals, whereas Murray could have potentially burned out 2 rounds ago.

If Murray makes it passed Nadal, I’ll eat my hat.

Andy Murray (4) v Novak Dkokovic (1) or Roger Federer (3)

Will is a sports producer and tennis pro whose television career has seen him work for CNN, ESPN, TBS, TNT, and VH1.

During his tennis coaching career, Will has worked with National and International juniors in various countries including England, Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic, Anguilla, St. Maartin, and the United States.

His academic career has seen him earn Masters' Degrees in both Sports Information and Organizational Management, as well as Bachelors' Degree in Psychology.