In a sport where losses sometimes come around as frequently as weekends do, perspective is a valuable commodity and lucky for Andy Murray, he’s got plenty of it.
The world No.2 could be forgiven if he gets a case of déjà vu when he takes on Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final on Sunday, having faced and lost to the Serb three times already at the same stage on the same court, including one just 12 months ago.
He also lost his first final in Melbourne, to Roger Federer, back in 2010, and on Sunday, he’s trying to become the first in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam title after losing a quartet of finals there.
The Scot is also bidding to avoid becoming just the second man to lose five finals at one major. The other player to do that was his ex-coach Ivan Lendl at the US Open.
But history and stats are not fazing Murray and while Rod Laver Arena has caused him a lot of heartbreak, he is also one of the most consistent players to perform at Melbourne Park.
“Five finals is a great achievement. You can’t take that away from me,” Murray reminded everyone ahead of Sunday’s final.
“I should be happy about that. There’s very few players that will have made five Australian Open finals, so I have to be proud of that achievement.”
In fact, only three other people have done so in the Open Era – Djokovic, Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg.
“Obviously when you get to the final you’re disappointed if you don’t win. But, I mean, I’ve obviously played very good tennis here. I’ve given myself many opportunities to reach the finals. Seven straight quarter-finals, as well,” the 28-year-old added.
“I have a very good shot on Sunday if I play my best tennis. I need to do it for long enough to have a chance. I’m aware of that. I don’t think many people are expecting me to win on Sunday. I have to just believe in myself, have a solid game plan, and hopefully execute it and play well.
“But, you know, the previous disappointments, it’s one tennis match. Doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past really. It’s about what happens on Sunday.
“People like to read into what’s happened in the past, but Stan (Wawrinka) beat Rafa (Nadal) in the final here. I don’t think he’d ever won against him in like 13 attempts. When he beat Novak here, the same thing, as well. There’s no reason it’s not possible for me to win.”
Since defeating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in 2013, Murray has lost 10 of his last 11 matches against the Serb. The one victory during that stretch came last August in the Montreal final and Murray’s coach, Amelie Mauresmo, believes it was important to halt the losing streak.
“Maybe it got to him but it didn’t break him so now he comes back even stronger each time believing that he can do it,” Mauresmo said of Murray’s 0-4 record in Australian Open finals.
“He’s been in the last spot a few times and he’s really putting a lot of effort to try and get the trophy on Sunday.”
Djokovic has won his last 20 consecutive Grand Slam matches and his only defeat in the last five majors fell at the hands of Wawrinka in Paris last year.
“He does everything so well, his consistency is incredible. He’s capable of raising the level towards the end of majors with the way he’s been doing it the last few times,” said Mauresmo of Djokovic.
“Obviously right now it’s the biggest task in tennis to beat him in a Grand Slam final. Stan did it last year, you have to be inspired from that as well.”
Murray had one less day to prepare for the final than Djokovic as the British two-time major champion played his semi-final on Friday not Thursday.
For five out of the past eight years, the man who played his semi-final second has been the one to win the final.
Murray doesn’t see it as a huge factor and looked ready in his practice on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, in which he was joined by Mauresmo and Davis Cup captain Leon Smith. Murray sat for a few minutes to watch his brother Jamie – who was preparing for his doubles final – hit on centre court before he walked off to get some rest ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Aussie legend Pat Cash, who won Wimbledon in 1987 and is a two-time runner-up in Melbourne, feels people should not discard Murray from the equation.
“They are very evenly matched in many, many areas, there’s nothing in it. One is just a little bit tougher than the other so far. And it’s all mental, it’s as simple as that,” Cash told Sport360.
“I think Andy’s Davis Cup win (with Great Britain in November) – that turns you into a man, it really does. Even though his opponents weren’t that highly ranked, you’re still playing in a big situation and it toughens you up. So that may be the difference.
“I think it’ll be a really good match. People are saying Novak, Novak, Novak, I don’t know, I think it’ll be a really, really good match.”
Murray is bidding to become the fifth reigning Davis Cup champion to win the subsequent Australian Open in the modern era.
