Murray should take inspiration from Agassi to end Britain’s Grand Slam drought
By ANISunday, February 6, 2011
LONDON - British tennis ace Andy Murray, who again failed to end Britain’s 75-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion, should take inspiration from former American legend Andre Agassi to end the trophy drought.
Murray, who lost the Australian Open final last Sunday, was earlier defeated in last year’s Australian Open final and the US Open final in 2008.
According to the Daily Express, Agassi, who is hailed as one of the all-time greats, had a similar phase where he had lost the 1990 French Open final, the US Open final the same year and then the 1991 French final before winning his first Slam at Wimbledon in 1992.
Agassi admits in his autobiography that he even considered quitting tennis, such was the mental anquish he endured.ust before the French final of 1991, Agassi said: “I can’t imagine what it would feel like to make three Slams finals and not win. I need to beat him. When it’s all over, I just tell myself I don’t have what it takes to get over the line. You need to quit the game”
However, Agassi recovered, repaired his game and his confidence, and triumphed against the odds at Wimbledon.
“In the final against Goran Ivanisevic, I lead by two sets to one and I’m one set from my first Slam. Then he wins the fourth and I think, here we go again. I can see the headlines,” the newspaper quoted the 40-year-old, as saying.
“I tell myself I’ve never been so close, but what if I don’t win again? The ridicule, the condemnation…”
Agassi won the fifth set and admits: “After two years of calling me a fraud, a choke artist, the media lionise me.”
“They say winning Wimbledon forces them to reassess me, to reconsider who I really am. But a win doesn’t feel as good as a loss feels bad and the good feeling doesn’t last as long as the bad, not even close,” he added. (ANI)
