With the news breaking of Andy Murray’s potential retirement, this is a look back at four matches in his career that are overlooked but were important in his stellar career.
2009 Miami Open Final against Novak Djokovic (6-2 7-5)
The Miami Open is a Masters 1000 event and is one of the most important tournaments outside of the Slams.
The Scot had ended 2008 as World No. 2 and had won his first couple of Masters titles but had yet to win a Slam.
Murray had beaten Juan Martin Del Potro in the semifinal to set up a meeting with World No. 3 Novak Djokovic. In contrast, his Serbian counterpart had already won his first Major, triumphing at the 2008 Australian Open. He had also collected four Masters singles titles, including winning in Miami two years earlier.
However, Murray won comprehensively to secure the biggest title of his career and prove that he could become a Grand Slam champion.
2012 US Open Quarterfinal against Marin Cillic (3-6 7-6 6-2 6-0)
Murray came into the final Major of the season yet to win a Slam, having fallen short in four previous finals.
At World No. 4, Murray advanced to the quarterfinals with relative ease. He faced World No. 12 Marin Cillic, who had last reached this stage in 2009.
Cillic made a great start in winning the opening set. The Croatian continued his momentum with Murray’s game littered with errors to lead 5-1 in the second. Suddenly the match turned, with the man from Dunblane getting more joy with his serving and forehand. Cillic saw himself embroiled in a tie-break and the momentum had completely changed.
Murray sensed his chance and took advantage, easing through the third set.
The Scot then completed the turnaround by whitewashing Cilic, who seemed out of ideas.
Murray beat Tomas Berdych in the semifinal before triumphing in five sets over Novak Djokovic to win his first Slam.
2013 Wimbledon Quarterfinal against Fernando Verdasco (4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5)
Murray was now a Grand Slam champion but was without a Wimbledon title, after losing to Roger Federer in the previous year’s showpiece.
Verdasco was ranked No. 54 in the world but had the weapons to hurt the home favorite, including a fearsome forehand. This played out to a shocked Centre Court crowd as the Spaniard claimed the first two sets. These were the first two sets Murray had lost in the tournament and he was on the brink of defeat.
With the support behind him, the Scot rallied to win the third set. The fourth was a tighter affair, Verdasco fighting against the momentum but Murray edged it, forcing a decider.
The intensity went up as both players knew the slightest error could prove costly. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Murray held to love and gained a break in the next game.
Another error by the Spaniard confirmed Murray’s outstanding fightback. The World No. 2 would go on to beat Novak Djokovic in the final for first title at SW19.
2015 Davis Cup Quarterfinal against Gilles Simon (4-6 7-6 6-3 6-0)
Great Britain went into this tie without a win over France in 37 years and faced a line up of Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Nicolas Mahut.
The tie was being played at Queen’s Club and the home backing helped as Britain entered the final day with a 2-1 lead.
Murray, by now a multiple Slam champion, was the favorite to beat the World No. 11.
However, Murray, possibly feeling the effects of playing the doubles the previous day, lost the first set and found himself 2-0 down in the second. He was not about to give in easily though and eventually forced a second set tiebreak. Again the man from Dunblane did it the hard way, being 4-1 down before fighting back to level the match.
The British No. 1 had the momentum won the next two sets comfortably to seal an impressive win.
This sent Britain into their first Davis Cup semifinal in 34 years and eventually to their first title since 1936.
