US Open is Murray's to lose

The 2010 US Open is less than three weeks away, and the biggest names in world tennis are currently training hard to make sure they hit top form in Flushing Meadows.

Andy Murray is no exception, and after losing in the final of the Los Angeles Open last week, the Scot is still some way off top form.

Like so many other players before him, Murray had to make a tough call after Wimbledon. His results weren’t where he wanted them which meant something had to change. This lead to the sacking of coach, Miles Maclagan.

The decision to sack Maclagan after making a grand slam semi-final suggests only the ultimate success will be tolerated from now on.

A new coach could be just the thing to achieve this success. Even though his game is not in need of a drastic overhaul, hearing some new ideas from a new voice could finally lead to a “passive Murray”, being replaced by “dominating Murray”.

This US open is Murray’s to lose.

Of the top players in the world Roger Federer has this year showed a rapid decline, and Novak Djokovic hasn’t been in good form since he won the Australian Open over two years ago.

Rafael Nadal on the other hand has been in outstanding form since regaining full fitness, but serious questions need to be raised over his New York form where the Spanish superstar has never been past a semi final.

Unlike other tournaments, Nadal’s heavily top spun balls sit up more for his opponents in New York. See his loss to Juan Martin Del Potro last year as proof of this.

Andy Murray at 100 per cent wins the US Open.

If the British number one can finally get the monkey off his back and break through at Grand Slam level, the opportunity is there to become a dominating force in world tennis.

However, the longer the Scot takes the harder that is going to be.