THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

There is something different about the very best players in sport. Apart from the obvious fact that they win more often than the others. It's a combination of masterful technique and supreme self-belief. The technique puts them in the position to execute, the self-belief allows them to execute. The combination makes them champions.

You saw that today in the Australian Open final. Murray had chances in the third set; but, despite the fact that he is currently the second or third best player in the world, you never really felt that he would take them. Federer's simple serve - one bounce, toss, bang - contrasts with Murray's complicated effort: "too many moving parts", said Mats Wilander afterwards. And his one-handed backhand means that he hits his shots off the correct, right leg, instead of being forced to hit two-handed shots off the wrong, left leg. Under pressure, no wonder Murray's legs felt a twinge or two.

Federer was generous to say that Murray was too good a player not to win a Grand Slam tournament. But Sampras said that after beating Henman at Wimbledon, and Henman never did win one. Murray has now been in two Grand Slam finals, both times the younger man, both times against Federer; and he has lost them both in straight sets. It is true that Agassi got off to a poor start in Grand Slam finals, but even Agassi needed to straighten himself out before becoming the player he eventually became. Murray is only 22, but by his age, Sampras and Federer had both won at least once. As had Nadal. As had Hewitt. As has del Potro. I know that I am sticking my neck out here, but I don't think Murray is going to. And maybe, in the innermost part of him that he doesn't show to anybody, Murray thinks so too. It would account for the tears.

Walter Blotscher