‘Andy Murray could have won a calendar or career Grand Slam if not for injury,’ says legend Rod Laver

[Hitman]

Combined with Djoker upping his game even further under Boris after 13. Even without the back injury he was going to need some serious improvement to keep winning slams.

The thing is we will never know how much Murray would have improved though. He reached his apex at W 2013 IMO and was enjoying his rivalry with Djokovic at that time, that period from Rome 2011 to W 2013 was the most intense period of the Djokovic v Murray rivalry. They were going at each other during that time. After W 2013, it all came crashing down for Murray.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Laver truly dislikes Djoker.

 

[MeatTornado]

The thing is we will never know how much Murray would have improved though. He reached his apex at W 2013 IMO and was enjoying his rivalry with Djokovic at that time, that period from Rome 2011 to W 2013 was the most intense period of the Djokovic v Murray rivalry. They were going at each other during that time. After W 2013, it all came crashing down for Murray.

I can't believe I'm actually at the point where I'm nostalgic for the Murrovic rivalry. I couldn't stand it at the time.

 

[Hitman]

I can't believe I'm actually at the point where I'm nostalgic for the Murrovic rivalry. I couldn't stand it at the time.

I always enjoyed their rivalry. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[quirotkicks]

Laver truly dislikes Djoker.

Yeah this seems like more of an indirect potshot at Djokovic than anything. Feisty Laver, kind of funny.

 

[BGod]

Had that back injury after 2013 and came back to get #1 in 2016. Can't help but be intrigued if the guy doesn't get injured how his 2014-2016 goes despite Novak's dominance.

I think winning an AO & FO was certainly possible.

 

[King No1e]

AO definitely. RG not a chance.

Andy was not beating Novak in any of those AO matches. He had about as much chance of beating Djoker at AO as Fed did of beating Nadal at RG.

 

[NatF]

The thing is we will never know how much Murray would have improved though. He reached his apex at W 2013 IMO and was enjoying his rivalry with Djokovic at that time, that period from Rome 2011 to W 2013 was the most intense period of the Djokovic v Murray rivalry. They were going at each other during that time. After W 2013, it all came crashing down for Murray.

Murray at his apex goes down 0-2 to Dasco

 

[MeatTornado]

I always enjoyed their rivalry. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Well of course. You have the built-in Novak fanhood to begin with and that's half the rivalry.

But as a neutral 3rd party, it just wasn't very interesting to me from a tennis perspective. It was just like Player 1A vs 1B going at it every point with little variation.

 

[Red Rick]

Murray was already running around with the back injury when he won Wimbledon in 2013. His true peak was in 2012/early 2013.

 

[MeatTornado]

Andy was not beating Novak in any of those AO matches. He had about as much chance of beating Djoker at AO as Fed did of beating Nadal at RG.

You know the Australian Open was still held in 2017 & 2018, right?

Just because Novak wasn't in the final doesn't mean the trophy wasn't awarded those years.

 

[King No1e]

You know the Australian Open was still held in 2017 & 2018, right?

Just because Novak wasn't in the final doesn't mean the trophy wasn't awarded those years.

Was Murray really injured at AO17? I thought the hip problems only became serious later on in the season.
2018 may have been the year, but then who knows if he would've been on form?

 

[MeatTornado]

Was Murray really injured at AO17? I thought the hip problems only became serious later on in the season.
2018 may have been the year, but then who knows if he would've been on form?

He said he'd already been feeling it for years before it finally forced him to stop after Wimbledon. Popular theory is that his end of season 2016 push was the final nail in the coffin and he never truly recovered from pushing himself so hard there. Unless of course Mischa Zverev randomly became unbeatable that day. But considering how bad his season was after that, clearly he was already feeling it.

If we assume he never gets injured, it's pretty safe to say that he would've been in form enough to at least make the final in 2018. Considering he practically lived there for the previous 8 years when healthy. And once in the final, Roger was very beatable that day. Not a lock to win it by any stretch, but it would've been by far his best opportunity.

 

[Hitman]

Murray at his apex goes down 0-2 to Dasco

Nadal at his apex nearly got taken out by Dasco also. The dude can bring not just heat...but Tabasco heat.

 

[MichaelNadal]

LA Noire

 

[duaneeo]

I think Laver is right. Andy suffered from sciatica during nearly all of his peak/prime years because of bulging discs. Anyone who's suffered from severe sciatica can say with certainty that it affected his game. Andy continually adjusting his natural movements to deal with the sciatica eventually led to the hip injury.

It's actually quite impressive that Andy's had such a successful career. Still, there's a big 'what-if' had it not been for his injury. 2011-2016 likely would've been the Djokurray era.

 

[Deleted member 733170]

Even I have to admit, that would be some stretch.

Nooooooooooo!

 

[Musterrific]

Nothing but respect for Laver, but he's dead wrong on this. If none of the Big 3, or any of the other legends of the sport since Laver's stunning achievement have managed to pull it off, why on earth would he think Murray could have?

He was simply never good enough.

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

Well Rod is 81 years old, it is ok for him to talk senile stuff from time to time.

 

[Bobby Jr]

“I think Andy Murray could have won a calendar Grand Slam if he hadn’t been injured,” Laver told Herald and Times Sport.

This is the moment Laver confirmed he's finally over the hill.

 

[RS]

Murray was already running around with the back injury when he won Wimbledon in 2013. His true peak was in 2012/early 2013.

I think 2015-2016 Murray was very good also. 2012-early 13 for slams though.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Laver truly dislikes Djoker.

That's an understatement.

Laver behaves more like a hyper fanboi than a serious veteran analyst.

He is worse than Wilander. That's a sort of accomplishment...

 

[UnderratedSlam]

I think Laver is right. Andy suffered from sciatica during nearly all of his peak/prime years because of bulging discs. Anyone who's suffered from severe sciatica can say with certainty that it affected his game. Andy continually adjusting his natural movements to deal with the sciatica eventually led to the hip injury.

It's actually quite impressive that Andy's had such a successful career. Still, there's a big 'what-if' had it not been for his injury. 2011-2016 likely would've been the Djokurray era.

So using this logic my injuries also prevented me from CYGS.

Was he injured in 2016? 12/13?

Should have come close to winning all 4. He didn't.

 

[Another Tourist]

[emoji847]

 

[Lleytonstation]

That's an understatement.

Laver behaves more like a hyper fanboi than a serious veteran analyst.

He is worse than Wilander. That's a sort of accomplishment...

At his age... he is thinking “I am old, and I am coming back!”

 

[Sysyphus]

healthy Murray would have a chance at the CYGS in 2017, but it'd be tough. Nadal was in fine form at the French that year, and Fed was quite inspired for a couple of slam and can be a tricky match-up for the Scot in majors.

But in 2018 it would've been smooth sailing, CYGS guaranteed, no one to even conceivably stop him.

Likely 2019 as well.

Double CYGS for Muzz, Hurrah!

 

[Pheasant]

Laver, Laver, Laver. What are we going to do with you. You said that Murray could have won a CYGS. That is so wrong!

MuryGOAT WOUlLD have won a CYGS. If Laver can win 3 of them(including Pro Slam), then I see no reason why MuryGOAT wouldn’t have won 4 CYGSs.

 

[ABCD]

Laver, Laver, Laver. What are we going to do with you. You said that Murray could have won a CYGS. That is so wrong!

MuryGOAT WOUlLD have won a CYGS. If Laver can win 3 of them(including Pro Slam), then I see no reason why MuryGOAT wouldn’t have won 4 CYGSs.

Interesting opinion.

 

[Wurm]

Was Murray really injured at AO17? I thought the hip problems only became serious later on in the season.

He had shingles at the AO17.

Interviews he's given after having the surgery indicate the hip started being an issue as early as 2014 and he's mentioned that he was having trouble serving towards the end of long 5 set matches in 2016 due to the discomfort it was causing, but it only reached a critical state during the Wawrinka match at the FO.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

What if Laver said it in Japanese?

Something may have been lost in translation... He may have said that Murray couldn't win CYGS in a million years.

 

[mbm0912]

I value Chris Fowler's opinions more than Rod's.

 

[ABCD]

He had shingles at the AO17.

I did not know that.

 

[roysid]

I was thinking he meant career grand slam then burst out laughing when I realised he meant calendar grand slam.
Murray couldn't even win a AO despite making 5 finals. His best chance was in 2015 final but he choked badly. Roland Garros he played brilliantly in 2015-16 but even than Djokovic was better.

Anyway Rod Laver in his old age does the right thing..i.e praising everyone and call Rafa/Roger/Novak the greatest depending on who is winning that time. That way he is is everyone's good books and gets box office seat in slams plus the cup named after him

 

[nolefam_2024]

Yes he made ao finals 5 times he could win it clearly

RG

Get the hell out of here

 

[SonnyT]

At AO, somebody had to take out Djokovic, then Murray could grab that one. At RG, Murray needed a free ride, just the sort Federer had in '09.

 

[nolefam_2024]

At AO, somebody had to take out Djokovic, then Murray could grab that one. At RG, Murray needed a free ride, just the sort Federer had in '09.

Maybe even that would not be enough. Murray was brutally beaten in RG 16 final. He does not have creds at RG.
He is 3-6 vs top 10 and 1-5 vs top 5 in RG. That's not promising at all. Fed won just 1 and even he was far better beating Delpo who was top 5 in semis. Barely..