Murray out of the Australian Open

Betting Hideout are sad to report that our British hopes have come to nothing in the Australian Open. Andy Murray might well have been the bookies betting favourite just prior to playing the Spanish hopeful Fernando Verdasco in the Australian Open, and OK he was every Brit’s hope too for a victory after so long in the tennis winning wilderness. However it was not to be, Murray went in big of heart and eager to prove his ability but was left wilting by Verdasco who prior to the match was ranked no.15. It has to be said in Murray’s defence that Verdasco was playing the game of his career; it was however not matched by Murray’s performance which was a pale shadow of his performances on the way to the Australian Open. Performances that had previously inspired hope of a British win for the first time since 1936, but of course this was only an off match, he should not be vilified because of public disappointment. Players like Murray do go on to have wins, and at only 21 he has every opportunity to move on to prove himself, he is without doubt one of our best contenders for a long time and the public needs to get behind him and lift his spirits, encourage the great fighting spirit - don’t get angry Andy, get even!

For Fernando Verdasco the history books could have a very different ending planned, after winning against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he now moves on to the Australian Open semi-finals against his Countryman, and of course World no.1, Rafael Nadal. The clash of the Titans springs to mind, Nadal will no doubt be confident of a win as he is well aware of Verdasco’s Achilles heel that he can sometimes lack concentration when the heart is on. Verdasco however now has something bigger to prove, it could of course all end in tears ……. as it has already for the Scot, no Grand Slam win coming in this direction.