American Sam Querrey defeated Andy Murray on Sunday to win the Farmer's Classic in Los Angeles, his fourth title of the year. Only Rafael Nadal has more with five.
Murray, ranked fourth in the world, is the highest ranked player Querrey has ever beaten. After playing some consistent tennis and winning four titles this season so far, Querrey is beginning to step it up as the U.S. Open looms. The problem for Querrey has always been the same: he isn't even a second thought in the grand slam tournaments.
Querrey did defeat Murray on Sunday which should not be ignored. Murray is a great competitor and has established himself as one of the best players in the game right now. However, Murray also said he was tired from the recent tennis gearing up for the U.S. Open. Murray also had a match point in the second set.
While winning the Farmer's Classic is great for the young American, perspective cannot be lost on how the tournament played out. The tournament is played in Los Angeles, Querrey's hometown. Other than Murray the tournament lacked any real star power. Every one of Querrey's matches went three sets. He also not only fended off a match point in the second set against Murray, but also had to fend off a match point in the semifinals as well against Janko Tipsarevic.
Every grand slam the same story plays out. Querrey will have a win or two, but by the third round he will flame out and head back home to LA. It won't necessarily be against a better player than him either.
When the U.S. Open begins in late August, the Americans will trot out Roddick, Blake, Fish, Isner and Querrey as their main hopes to keep the title on American soil for the first time since Roddick won in 2003. If Querrey wants to be considered as a real threat along with Roddick, he'll need to finally produce when it counts.
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