Andy Murray: Epic rivalries with Federer, Djokovic, Nadal & extra | ATP Tour

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Andy Murray: Epic rivalries with Federer, Djokovic, Nadal & extra

Trying again at Murray’s memorable Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence

July 28, 2024

Throughout his iconic profession, Andy Murray grew from a boisterous, rising Scottish star to an ever-present, grizzled veteran and legend of the ATP Tour. In that point, the 37-year-old developed all method of Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalries — some with older opponents, some with youthful foes, and lots of together with his contemporaries.

Murray’s greatest rivals had been little question his fellow members of the Huge 4: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Murray has met every of these superstars no less than 24 occasions, together with 36 conferences with Djokovic.

ATPTour.com seems again on the historical past of these matchups and one other pivotal sequence, in opposition to Stan Wawrinka, that formed the story of Murray’s aggressive profession.

Murray vs. Djokovic (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-25)Murray and Djokovic are contemporaries in probably the most literal sense, with Murray only one week older than the Serbian. Their long-running rivalry was sparked on the ATP Masters 1000 degree, the place 9 of their first 10 Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences befell (together with the primary seven from 2006-09).

Murray misplaced their first 4 matchups however then gained the primary two of what would finally grow to be 19 ultimate conferences between the pair, triumphing in Cincinnati and Miami earlier than Djokovic gained their maiden Grand Slam showdown within the 2011 Australian Open ultimate.

Whereas Djokovic loved the lion’s share of success on this rivalry, Murray claimed three straight matches from 2008-09 (together with these Cincinnati and Miami finals) and two straight matches in 2012: their Olympic semi-final en path to the gold medal in London, adopted by a five-set US Open ultimate that earned him his first main crown. These are the one two stretches throughout which the Briton gained consecutive matches in opposition to Djokovic.

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic”>Murray defeated Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in 2013. Picture by Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures.

Two of probably the most important match wins of Murray’s profession got here in opposition to Djokovic, whom he beat to say his maiden Wimbledon crown in 2013 and within the championship match on the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals (then often called the ATP World Tour Finals). The latter, performed in London, was a straight shootout for year-end No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It’s a really big day,” Murray mentioned after a 6-3, 6-4 win on the 2016 season finale noticed him finish the yr on a 24-match profitable streak. “It’s been a troublesome rivalry [with Djokovic]. I’ve misplaced a lot of them however clearly I’m glad I’ve acquired the win in the present day. To complete the yr No. 1 could be very particular. It’s one thing I by no means anticipated.”

The pair met 5 occasions in 2016, all in finals, with Murray additionally profitable in Rome however Djokovic taking the titles on the Australian Open, Roland Garros and in Madrid.

Murray and Djokovic are one in every of solely two pairs of ATP Tour gamers to have contested the ultimate at every of the 4 majors (additionally Djokovic and Nadal). The Serbian owns an 8-2 document in opposition to Murray on the Slams, together with a 5-2 mark in main finals.

Djokovic additionally owns an 11-8 edge in tour-level finals and a 14-6 benefit on the ATP Masters 1000s. However he by no means beat Murray on grass, the place the Briton is an ideal 2-0.

Their rivalry was all the time one constructed on mutual respect, as evidenced by their teaming up in males’s doubles for the 2006 Australian Open when each had been 19.

Murray vs. Federer (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 11-14)Murray led Federer for a lot of their rivalry, till the Swiss gained their ultimate 5 conferences to complete with the higher hand. Murray owns a 6-3 edge on the ATP Masters 1000s, together with consecutive 2010 ultimate victories in Toronto and Shanghai, whereas Federer dominated with a 5-1 document on the majors.

Roger Federer, Andy Murray”>Murray beat Federer within the 2010 Rolex Shanghai Masters ultimate. Picture by Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures.

Murray’s Grand Slam frustration in opposition to the Swiss got here to a head within the 2012 Wimbledon ultimate, when he misplaced in 4 units regardless of a superb begin on dwelling soil. “I’m getting nearer,” he mentioned by tears in the course of the trophy ceremony, a comment which may have utilized to his bid to beat Federer at a serious as a lot because the Briton’s private quest to win his dwelling Grand Slam. To that time, Murray was 0-3 in opposition to the Swiss on the Slams, with every assembly coming within the title spherical.

However one month later, again on Centre Court docket, Murray dominated Federer in a straight-sets win to say the gold medal on the 2012 London Olympics.

“It is primary for me, the most important win of my life,” Murray mentioned. “I’ve had quite a lot of powerful losses in my profession and that is the easiest way to return again from the Wimbledon ultimate.”

The arrogance from that victory helped the Briton recover from the road on the All England Membership the following yr, when he beat Djokovic to grow to be the primary British man to win the Wimbledon singles title since Fred Perry in 1936.

Murray and Federer additionally performed 5 occasions on the Nitto ATP Finals, with Murray incomes a comeback three-set win in 2008 earlier than Federer swept their conferences in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014. All however a type of year-end conferences got here within the round-robin stage, with their 2012 semi-final in London the lone exception.

Starting with the 2009 season finale, seven of their final 16 matches had been performed in London.

Murray vs. Nadal (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 7-17)Murray misplaced his first 5 conferences with Nadal however broke his duck within the 2008 US Open semi-finals to succeed in his first Grand Slam ultimate. Regardless of trailing within the Lexus ATP Head2Head, Murray owned a 3-1 edge in tour-level finals in opposition to Nadal, claiming wins in Rotterdam (2009), Tokyo (2011) and Madrid (2015).

Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal”>Murray and Nadal after their 2009 Rotterdam title match. Picture by Hamish Blair/Getty Pictures.

The rivalry peaked in 2011 with 5 conferences on among the ATP Tour’s greatest levels. Nadal gained the primary 4 — semi-finals at Monte-Carlo, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — earlier than Murray flipped the script within the Tokyo ultimate.

Nadal owned an 8-3 edge on the ATP Masters 1000s and a  7-2 benefit on the majors. The pair performed only one five-set match: their very first assembly on the 2007 Australian Open, the place Nadal grinded out a win from two-sets-to-one down. The Spaniard was additionally 2-0 in opposition to Murray on the Nitto ATP Finals, with a semi-final win in 2010 and a round-robin victory in 2015.

Their 2010 assembly on the year-end occasion was probably the most dramatic of their 24 encounters, a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(6) win for Nadal. After three hours, 11 minutes of unimaginable high quality in London, Nadal clawed again a 1/4 deficit within the decisive tie-break to advance to the title match.

“It was an important match,” Murray mentioned, his head held excessive in defeat. “At this time is why I play tennis. I in all probability performed one unhealthy recreation the entire match, or possibly simply a few unhealthy factors. Whether or not it is the perfect match I performed and misplaced, I do not know.”

Murray vs. Wawrinka (Lexus ATP Head2Head: 13-10)Each three-time Grand Slam champions, Murray and Wawrinka are separated by simply two years in age, with the Swiss 26 months older. The pair’s rivalry spanned 20 years on the ATP Tour, from 2005-24.

Their clashes typically showcased contrasting types, pitting Wawrinka’s aggressive shotmaking and sheer energy in opposition to Murray’s tactical precision and defensive prowess. These completely different approaches added an intriguing dynamic to their encounters, a compelling narrative throughout the sport’s greatest levels.

Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray”>Murray and Wawrinka met for the ultimate time at Roland Garros in 2024. Picture by Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures.

Murray gained the one two finals he contested in opposition to Wawrinka, one at first of their rivalry (Doha 2008) and one nearer the top (Antwerp 2019). The Antwerp title was the Briton’s final on the ATP Tour, coming after his hip resurfacing surgical procedure.

“It means rather a lot,” an emotional Murray mentioned. “The previous few years have been extraordinarily tough. Me and Stan have had quite a lot of damage issues within the final couple of years. Wonderful to be again taking part in in opposition to him in a ultimate like that.”

The contemporaries met at each Grand Slam however the Australian Open, with Wawrinka proudly owning a 5-3 edge on the Slams. They break up two of their highest-stakes matches in consecutive Roland Garros semi-finals in 2016 and 2017. It was a fair 3-3 break up on the ATP Masters 1000s, with 4 of these matchups going three units.

In 2023, their rivalry even prolonged to the ATP Challenger Tour, with Wawrinka beating Murray within the first assembly between former Grand Slam champions in additional than 40 years.