London, Sep.17 (ANI): World Number three Andy Murray is of the view that winning a Grand Slam title in the present day and age is far more tougher than it was before, given the kind of talent on show in the tennis circuit.
He said that when players are competing against the likes of Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal and now Juan Martin Del Potro, winning a title was not easy.
“It’s really, really tough to win the slams now so Del Potro’s effort was pretty good. There’s no question that Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) are two of the best ever. Roger’s people say he’s the best of all time; that’s not really up for debate. And Rafa, providing he stays healthy, I’d expect to get to double figures on slam wins,” The Telegraph quoted Murray, as saying.
“That’s better than any two rivals have managed together and then behind them the standard is very high. There are guys like (Andy) Roddick who’s only managed to win one slam right at the start of that career and he’s a great player,” he added.
Murray, who exited from the US Open in the fourth-round, also said that he wanted to take his mind off his disappointment and move on.
For the moment, he is only concerned about defeating a couple of Polish journeymen to provide Britain with the platform for a victory which would ensure they do not get demoted to the Davis Cup’s third tier for the first time in 13 years. (ANI)
Ashes Test: Ponting has got it right, says Benaud
Cardiff (Wales), July 12 (ANI): By closing his side’s first innings with a lead of 239, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has set his England counterpart Andrew Strauss a task that will test his leadership as well as his batting ability, feels former player and noted commentator Richie Benaud.
“I was disappointed in England’s bowling attack because I’ve been singing its praises of late.Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff were in the form of their lives and I rate Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar highly,” Benaud says in his article for News of The World.
“Neither the England off spinner nor the left hander bowled a tight line and length and their changes of pace were virtually non-existent. Ponting, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke handled them superbly, but I give top marks to Marcus North,” Benaud says.
“When Ponting was dismissed with Australia 118 behind, the chance was there for England to gain a sizeable lead – but North rebuffed them. More credit to him because he was another written off as being below Ashes standard,” he adds.
He also says that Ponting’s declaration was perfectly timed as he was keeping tabs on the weather.
He (Ponting) wanted 10 overs at England before the rain arrived. In fact he managed only seven, but it was enough to take two England wickets, Benaud says. (ANI)