After putting up the most successful season in his career, Andy Murray faces the pressure of living up to his status as world's no.1. ESPN Peter Bodo thinks not only pressure will test Murray at the Australian Open, but fatigue as well.
Murray ascended to the top of the world after putting up a series of strong performances towards the end of the 2016 ATP season. The year was highlighted by his ATP World Tour finals win over Djokovic to seal the year-ender world's no.1.
However, Bodo predicts the red-hot Murray to cool down a bit at the Australian Open championship. The effort he exerted to bag the top spot of the world ranking could start haunting him, especially in a five-set majors format.
Bodo thinks Andy Murray seven-year streak of reaching the Aussie Open quarterfinal will end next year.
Bodo on his Aussie Open prediction for Murray:
"One scripted storybook moment for Murray could have been a win over Melbourne nemesis Djokovic in the 2017 Australian Open final, bringing with it the No. 1 ranking. Instead, the crescendo occurred early and with an even greater prize: the prestigious year-end No. 1 ranking for 2016.
Murray, 29, rode a 26-match winning streak into the offseason. His efforts must have been draining, physically and emotionally. Expect him to be vulnerable Down Under."
Murray, who was recently named the greatest Sportsperson in UK's history by the Telegraph, is indeed facing a herculean task at the Australian Open.
Aside from fatigue, the first majors tournament of the year will feature Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and a crop of up-and-coming players who are more than ready to join the Grand Slam club.
But if there's one person who can prove Bodo wrong that would be none other than Murray, whose tenacity and determination to overcome challenges become a major component in his recent success.