Andy Murray failed to hold back his tears after the heartbreaking Wimbledon loss. For the fourth time he had finished second-best in a grand slam final and three of those defeats have come against Roger Federer.
The Scot can, however, take comfort from the career-graph of his coach Ivan Lendl. The Czech, now American, lost his first four grand slam finals before winning the 1984 French Open and then he went on to win seven more.
Murray does not seem very far from a first major. He had not won a set in the first three of those finals - the 2008 US Open and the Australian Open of 2010 and 2011 - but on Sunday he took the first before Federer's turned it around with his sublime skills as he took advantage of a misfiring first serve to break once in each of the remaining three sets.
"I'm getting closer," Murray said after the defeat, choking on his tears. And Federer believes him.
"He's done so well over the years, he's been so consistent and to me it [his tears] shows that he cares so dearly about tennis," Federer said. "He will at least win one Grand Slam, so this is what I hope for Andy."
The win could come as early as the US Open in September, but Murray perhaps wants Wimbledon more than any other grand slam.
"This tournament, the public and my family and friends all mean a great deal," he said in his BBC column. "I'm more determined than ever to make sure I'm the guy lifting the trophy next time round."
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