Aegon Championships 2011: Andy Murray Is The Champion

Andy Murray became the champion at Aegon Championships by defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6 7-6 6-4 on Monday, the 13^th June.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was the first to sprint away hitting heavier ground strokes than Andy Murray and took the first set 6-3. He was hitting ground strokes at 78 mph while Murray hit the ground strokes at 69 mph. His serve was very good. He was playing great, but the only suspense was whether he can go on playing like that for the remainder of the match. Those familiar with his game were keen to see where the things would go wrong for him to lose the match. It started around the eighth game in the second set. He started indulging in casual game on Murray’s serve and made it automatic for Murray to hold his serve. The basic principle of percentages that you at least return the serve to the other side of the net was given up. Two break points came and went away in jiffy. Both the points were lost without succeeding in prolonging the rallies. Both these points were lost by Tsonga than won by Murray which a top ranked player does not usually allow. He fights and makes opponent earn it the hard way. This did not happen with Tsonga in that game when he surrendered the game going for a spectacular shot. The set went to the tie break and Murray wrapped up the tie break 7-2.

With the crowd cheering Tsonga’s mistakes too, things started getting to Tsonga’s psyche. It happened last year too at Wimbledon where Tsonga played so well to take the first set from Murray, but faded thereafter. The final set would provide a turning point in the fifth game when Murray earned a break point and converted it when Tsonga tried to go for a spectacular down the line shot. Murray was winning without having the need to hit many winners. If the old script had to be repeated, Tsonga would not come near breaking Murray in the remainder of the match. It indeed happened that way. When Murray played deliberate half volley between his legs to win the eighth game, the crowd cheer made it clear to Tsonga that he was in an alien land. The fear of the unknown was getting to him. It looked easier to sail with the wishes of the crowd. He lost the set 4-6.

A question might arise one more time as to why does Tsonga lose. The answer is the same - it is his nature to lose when he can also win. Why should he win if it is easier to lose.