"Bookending a Summer of Sport": Andy Murray

Whilst watching today's coverage of the Athletes Parade, on more than one occasion I heard pundits discussing how Andy Murray could "bookend a summer of sport" by winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open this evening. It seems like we've been talking about this forever. The constant hype surrounding the Scot must be suffocating for him. That's why perhaps this evening is his best ever chance at winning that elusive first Slam.

With all the public attention on the London Games, Murray's achievements across the pond have slipped under the radar somewhat. Without the traditional added pressure that comes with the dearth of British Grand Slam champions, maybe Murray can end the drought. Now, I have been watching a reasonable amount of the US Open and I have to say, there is very, very little to choose between either of these evenings finalists. Djokovic has five Grand Slam title to draw upon this evening, which makes him slight favourite with the bookies, but on recent form, there is nothing to choose between them.

It was Murray's tears at Wimbledon which were the precursor to the summer of sport, a desperately disappointing ending to the most successful British men's campaign since 1935. Since then, Murray achieved his first major tournament victory, by overturning his Wimbledon defeat to Roger Federer at the Olympic Games. As if the importance of the Games to tennis players was in doubt, when injury ruled Rafael Nadal out, he described himself as "hugely disappointed to miss the most important event in the world of sport".

The gold medal achieved at the Games would have given Murray new found confidence that he can beat the world's best players on the biggest stage. The perception that he was a serial choker has now been eradicated, for the time being at least. A Grand Slam will always be the ultimate goal for any tennis player and no questions will be fully put to bed until that goal has been achieved.

Undoubtedly, it has been a remarkable summer of sport, the likes of which we will never witness again. It really would be the icing on the cake if the perennial underachiever stepped up this evening and won a long awaited Slam.