Henman: Tough for Murray to win slam in 2014
FORMER British No1 Tim Henman fears reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will not win a grand slam in 2014, in what he believes will be the most exciting year in tennis for a decade.
The “big four” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Murray had shared 37 of the last 40 grand slam titles between them before Stanislas Wawrinka won January’s Australian Open.
Henman told City A.M. the world No3’s victory in Melbourne has given fresh hope to the rest of the tour, with the previously dominant quartet – including Murray, who has played just 12 matches in six months due to a back injury – beginning to lose their stranglehold.
“Breaking the dominance of the top four is so difficult because they have excellent fitness levels and are mentally strong, but also so good technically,” said Henman, an ambassador for the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club in June, which Murray will play.
“Stanislas Wawrinka’s win was important for a lot of players, because it proved it can be done. Many players can crash that party. Grigor Dimitrov is getting better and better.
“I expect him [Murray] to win more grand slams, but not necessarily this year. He’s playing in an incredibly tough generation. But that’s the beauty of it, it’s one of the most exciting times I can remember.”
Murray has fallen to sixth in the world rankings as a consequence of his lack of time on court. Yet his compatriots have made a storming start to the year, with Dan Evans closing in on a place inside the world’s top 100, while James Ward and 19-year-old Kyle Edmund are ever-improving.
Britain’s Davis Cup victory over the United States last month, with Ward beating former top-20 player Sam Querrey, helped set up a first World Group quarter-final since 1986 against Italy in April.
But Henman has warned against getting too carried away too soon.
“I played in the Davis Cup for my whole career along with Greg Rusedski and we were never able to win a group match, so it’s a great achievement,” he said. “Italy away, on clay, will be a tough match, but great exposure for British tennis.
“There is still too big a void behind Andy Murray though. Ward and Dan Evans could break into the top 100, but the outstanding prospect is Kyle Edmund. He’s someone I expect to see have really big results in the coming years if he can become physically stronger and keep working hard.
“Really I’d like to see half a dozen get closer to Murray.”
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