What's this? A biblical quote in this most secular of blogs? I haven't gone all theological on you, it was just a thought that occurred to me as I watched Novak Djokovic dismantling Andy Murray this morning at the Australian Open tennis.
Two reasons, really. Firstly, if you are not fortunate enough to have access to EuroSport, and instead relied on British terrestrial television, you'd have thought that the tournament began and ended with the Men's Singles Final. It's the only game the Beeb have shown, and it has to be asked if they'd have bothered doing so had Murray not made it. Djokovic has played some of the best tennis I've ever seen from him during this tournament, the best player in the tournament has undoubtedly won it, but nobody without EuroSport has seen any of it here, which is a shame. Basically, if it's not Wimbledon, or it's not a Brit involved, terrestrial TV in this country doesn't want to know. So we have this two week tennis mentality where it's everywhere in June, but as soon as Wimbledon's over, that's it, odd exceptions like this morning apart.
And as for Murray, I genuinely believe that he fell for all the 'best chance to win a Grand Slam' stuff and underestimated his opponent, a stupid mistake given that they're mates and practice partners. He should know how good Djokovic can be and not assume he's beatable just because his surname isn't Nadal or Federer. But never mind, Murray's quite capable of beating himself - his demeanour on court betrays whatever he's feeling, another mistake which will help any decent player on the other side of the net. I think most tennis fans think it's simply a matter of time until Murray wins a Slam, but it doesn't work like that as Tim Henman, who had a much better temperament when things weren't going his way than Murray has, ably demonstrated with his close-but-no-cigar career.
(Literally as I type this the Aussie presenting the trophy has just said, "Andy, it's just a matter of time before you fulfil your destiny." See? Your destiny, not that there is such a bloody thing, can't beat your opponent for you. You have to win.)
(He's just said it again!)
Anyway, enough brackets. I find myself oddly indifferent to his results. He's gracious in defeat, granted, but on the court he's still some way off having the head to win a Slam, and that makes it difficult to warm to him.
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