I wrote an article in the first issue of La Vie about Andy Murray's ultimately unsuccessful quest to win the 2009 US Open.

 

I finished that article by predicting that 2010 could turn out to be the Scot's year. But defeat in the final of the Australian open means that his first Grand Slam title remains elusive.

 

Taking the tournament as a whole, it was a very fine display from Murray in the heat of Melbourne. He can look back with pride on a series of classy performances, but ultimately he was to fall just short of his goal.

 

His first four opponents were disposed of without the loss of a single set; a relatively easy route to a quarter final clash with Rafael Nadal.

 

In an eventful match, Murray took the first set and then went two up by winning a tie breaker, after fighting back from being a break of service down. Murray was 3-0 ahead in the third set when a knee injury forced the Spaniard to retire. The injury may have hampered Nadal to some extent towards the end of the match, but that does not take away from a very good display by the Scot.

 

The semi-final saw Murray take on the big serving Croat Marin Cilic - the man who had ended his US Open dreams. The contest started badly, with the Scot losing his first set of the tournament. But he gradually began to come to terms with the power game of his opponent and levelled the match. And, as the Croat tired, Murray became even stronger, taking the next two sets to reach his second career Grand Slam final.

 

So Murray had the chance to become the first Scot to win a Grand Slam tournament, and the first British man to win one since Fred Perry in 1936.

 

But he could not have a tougher test than to face the brilliant Roger Federer. The Swiss legend had already amassed 15 career Grand Slam singles titles - more than any other man in the history of tennis.

 

There were a large number of Scots in the Melbourne crowd to cheer their hero on, as there had been all week. The community centre in Dunblane, Murray's hometown, was packed with supporters, and, all over the country, many more got up early on a Sunday morning to watch the match at 8:30am!

 

Both men started the contest well, but Murray's service was not as dominant as it had been in earlier rounds, and Federer found a string of forehand winners. A close first set went Federer's way by 6-3.

 

In the second set, Federer hit top form and, as well as Andy Murray was playing, he could not stop the imperious Swiss from dominating. The world number 1 took the set 6-4 to open up a two set lead and it seemed as if nothing could stop him.

 

Murray tried his utmost to get back into the game and actually went a break up in the third set. But he could not capitalise and Federer came back to take it into a tie break.

 

There was tremendous drama as the score swung back and forth. Five times, Murray had chances to win the set. And twice he managed to save match point. But Federer eventually took it by 13 points to 11 to close out a straight sets victory.

 

So Roger Federer showed again why he can make a very strong case for being the greatest player of all time. This was his fourth Australian title and the 16th major win of his illustrious career. He dominates on all surfaces and has reached the final in an incredible 21 out of the last 25 Grand Slam events.

 

A very emotional Andy Murray found it hard to speak after the game, saying, "I can cry like Roger, it's a shame I can't play like him." He went on to praise his conqueror. "He was much better than me tonight so well done to him for that."

 

Federer was magnanimous in victory, telling the Scot, "Andy, well done for your incredible tournament. You're too good a player not to win a Grand Slam so don't worry about it."

 

At 22 Murray has a great deal of time ahead of him to prove Federer correct. The next chance for the new world number 3 to break his duck will come in the French Open in May. But clay is not his favourite surface, with his game more suited to faster courts.

 

So could the hallowed courts of Wimbledon offer him a better opportunity? Well, Murray has made the quarter final and semi final in the last two years. The odds on his going one step further this year will be short.

 

A Scottish victory at Wimbledon? I like the sounds of that!

 

  

Gordon Johnston