Masters tournaments have become a Catch-22 for Andy Murray. If he wins one—which he's done eight times—he doesn't get proper credit because he still hasn't accomplished his ultimate goal of winning a Grand Slam title. This is not without reason, though some observers take it too far. But really, what does another win at Cincinnati mean for a player with such great expectations?
If Murray loses in one, especially early, like he did Saturday night to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-4, 6-2? Well, don't expect any positive vibes then, either.
Last year, Murray lost his opener at Indian Wells to Donald Young, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Compared to this year's opening-round disaster, the Young match was a commendable performance for the Scot. Murray didn't lose to Garcia-Lopez by trying to go for too much, or even because of a barrage by the Spaniard—though he did hit some incredible shots—but because his game failed him. Normally automatic while covering the baseline, Murray poured errors on the forehand and backhand sides, and was not effective returning serve. Murray had seven break point chances, including three after falling behind a break in the second set (at 0-40, down 1-2), but couldn't convert on any. The world No. 4 reached for shots, lacked his usually exquisite timing, and let the not-always-threatening Garcia-Lopez dictate play. With his torque-filled swings, the underdog did just that, breaking Murray immediately after winning the first set. And to his credit, Garcia-Lopez didn't crack once the finish line was in sight. Up 4-1, Garcia-Lopez earned an insurance break and let Murray dig his own grave in a perfunctory final game.
Four years ago, after losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer famously said that he had "created a monster," where anything less than a title would be considered a failure. The ATP's Top 4 have conjured something similar?—should any of them fail to reach the final four, especially at a prestigious tournament like Indian Wells, it's stop-the-presses news. This is not without reason, however, because they've been so utterly dominant for so long. This result is indeed a stunner, and Murray looked like he was about to explode walking off the court. Expect substantial improvement in Miami, but the damage was done. March Madness has begun.
—Ed McGrogan