Can Andy Murray Win the US Open
This is the question that fans of the talented Scot are asking themselves with the start of the 2012 US Open this week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Judging by his first round win over Alex Bogomolov of Russia on Monday (6-2, 6-4, 6-1), the answer is why not. However, third US Open favorite Andy Murray (7/2) still has much work to do if he intends to beat betting favorite Novak Djokovic (11/8) of Serbia, and second favorite Roger Federer (5/2) of Switzerland.
The 25-year-old who did himself and his country proud by winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, struggled with his serve against Bogomolov, getting only 50 percent of his first serves in. However, many have put that down to 'opening day nerves', and expect him to raise his game as the tournament progresses.
The Scot takes on Ivan Dodig on Thursday
In his next game scheduled for Thursday, Murray will take on Ivan Dodig of Croatia, who dispatched Hiroki Moriya, of Japan, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round. Presumably Murray will use the time between now and then to iron out the issues with his first serve, and walk onto the court in a few days oozing with confidence.
It was not lost on tennis betting fans the emotional toll that losing in this year's Wimbeldon final to Roger Federer had on Murray, who became the first Britain to make a final of arguably the world's most important professional tennis tournament since 1938. Murray needs is to win his first Grand Slam to unlock his true potential.
Incidentally, if Murray wins the 2012 US Open, he will become the first British man to win a Grand Slam since 1936, so, as was the case during Wimbledon this year, Murray will once again have the pressure of an entire nation resting on his broad Scottish shoulders.
Murray has the Skills to Beat the Best
Whether he'll achieve that on the hard surface in New York remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - there is no question that Murray has the skills and talent to beat the best in men's tennis, he just needs to believe that he can do it. That said, Djokovic and Federer are no strangers to the US Open or multiple Grand Slam wins.
Djokovic won his first US Open in 2011 and has five Grand Slams under his belt. As the defending US Open champion and having failed to secure even a bronze medal in the Olympics, expect him to come out firing on all cylinders. Federer, meanwhile, has won 17 Grand Slams, including 5 consecutive US Opens from 2003 to 2008, and is always a threat.
According to the latest US Open tennis betting odds at Canadian-friendly online sportsbook Bodog, Murray will start as the overwhelming 1/80 favorite against Dodig (14/1) on Thursday.
