Tale of a knight: Andy Murray's epic journey as the thorn in the Big-3's side

Friday, 19 April 2024 at 01:58

Andy Murray will end his career this year with a record that places him as the greatest rival to the Big-3 and will never be surpassed. The 3-times Grand Slam champion has been the only tennis player who managed to interrupt the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

The former world No. 1 recently suffered an injury during the Miami Open. Murray had physical discomfort while facing Tomas Machac in the third round. After the match, examinations indicated that he suffered a total tear of the anterior talofibular ligament and an almost total tear of the calcaneofibular ligament.

Murray announced on social media that he would be out of action for a long period. The Briton had already acknowledged in previous weeks that he is unlikely to continue playing after the summer, so there won't be many tournaments for Murray before retirement.

Currently, he appeared in the entry list of the French Open, so his return could be at Roland Garros, before the Grass season begins and with the possibility of Murray seeking to play the Olympic Games again.

Murray, the biggest rival for the Big-3

Despite coinciding with the dominance of Federer - Nadal - Djokovic, Sir Andy had a remarkable career with 3 Grand Slam titles and 8 finals. The 36-year-old tennis player has 46 titles, including 14 Masters 1000, in addition to two gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

Murray is just four matches away from reaching No. 1000 on the Tour and has a record of 732-258. Without a doubt, the Briton was a major problem for the Big Three when he was in his heyday and holds the record for the player with the most victories against the three, with 30 wins.

Murray won six of his first eight matches against Federer, but the Swiss won their overall head-to-head 11-14, while he is currently 11-25 against Djokovic and 7-17 against Nadal. The former world No. 1 is far behind those who follow him on the list: retired players Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga totaled 17 victories each, and then Dominic Thiem with 16 in total.

Read also

Murray won his last Grand Slam title at 2016 Wimbledon

Most Match wins against the BIG-3 in the Open Era

1. Andy Murray: 30

2. Juan Martín Del Potro/ Jo-Wilfred Tsonga: 17

3. Dominic Thiem: 16

4. Lleyton Hewitt: 14

5. Tomas Berdych: 13

6. Stan Wawrinka: 12

7. Alexander Zverev/David Ferrer/David Nalbandian/Andy Roddick: 11

Scott Barclay

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From the shot of Ivan Lendl in his box, to forgetting which side of the court he's supposed to be serving from, to finally - oh so much finally! - getting over the line, Andy Murray winning the 2012 US Open title will always be absolutely CINEMA.

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8:20 AM · Apr 13, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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