Rob McLean - Victory in Dubai can inspire Nadal
It may have only been an exhibition event. Try telling that to Rafael Nadal because, without a tournament victory since the Rome Masters in May, any win, anywhere, will suffice. Manana from heaven for the Spaniard.
Victory over Robin Soderling in the final in Abu Dhabi last weekend might just be the turning point after a 2009 that began brilliantly in Australia and ended with serious knee problems and all sorts of questions about his future.
It was also sweet revenge for his shocking defeat to the Swede at the French Open in May and it might just stop him mimicking Nadal's habit of picking at his shorts in between points.
However, Soderling definitely gets the award for the most improved player of the last 12 months and managed to beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Abu Dhabi - his first over the world No 1 in 13 attempts.
While there is no reason to panic for the Swiss genius, any of his rivals looking for signs that he is past his best will be encouraged by the fact that he has now gone five tournaments without a title.
Nadal and Federer are both playing in this week's season-opening ATP Tour event in Doha but Murray is not defending his title, preferring to go to Perth to play in the Hopman Cup, the low key eight country team event, with 15-year-old Laura Robson.
Part of his thinking was to get to Australia early to acclimatise for the Grand Slam which starts on January 18. Worryingly, the Scot has already been getting his excuses in early, saying that even if he doesn\t win a major he would have had a brilliant career.
Unfortunately no one will look at it that way. Murray can go on to win 20 more Masters Series titles, which are just below the Slams in importance, but without a Slam or two he will never be remembered as one of the greats.
A player's career is defined by these titles. But he is right about the current state of the men's game, with the current group of players arguably the strongest the tour has ever had.
On the bright side, if his partnership with 15-year-old Robson blossoms, he could always target the Slams doubles. In that way, he could at least be on par with his brother Jamie, who holds the family bragging rights after he won the Wimbledon mixed doubles in 2007.
Victory in Perth would give Great Britain their first win in the event's 21-year history.
BRIT WATCH: Hopefully Murray won't be the lone British success this year. With Elena Baltacha and James Ward both qualifying for the main draws of their first tournaments of the season, it will be fascinating to see how the rest of the Brits fare in the new season. These two deserve special mention as they have persevered with careers when serious illness disrupted their progress. Baltacha has had a serious kidney complaint while Ward has just recovered from glandular fever. The British No 4 has clearly benefitted from practising with Rafael Nadal as well as getting some advice from Greg Rusedski.
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Date published :
06 Jan 2010 - 08:51:36
