https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Andy+Murray+Wimbledon+Champion+2016Neutralising the Raonic serve
The decisive factor for the final was always going to be how well Andy Murray dealt with Milos Raonic’s formidable serve. As tends to be the case against big servers, Murray was able to expertly take away his opponent’s biggest weapon by getting far more balls in play than they are used to. Going into the match Raonic had averaged 23 aces a match this tournament, and had won 81% of points on his first serve. Against Murray those figures were way down at 67% and 8. Even when Raonic produced a 147mph howitzer (the second quickest serve in Wimbledon history) in the second set, Murray not only got the ball back but went into win the point. It was breathtaking returning, and hugely demoralising for the Canadian.
Djokovic-like defence
Allied to the way Murray got the Raonic serve back was his ability to stay in points and force Raonic to go for more than he would have liked. The crucial first point of the tie-break was a case in point as Raonic netted a backhand approach shot to give up the mini-break, knowing that if it was anything but perfect Murray would rip a passing shot past him. A big part of John McEnroe’s coaching brief has been to improve Raonic’s volley game, and though its definitely developed hugely, it’s another level entirely playing a counter-puncher as good as Murray. The Scot’s passing shots were sensational at times, none more so than after somehow scrambling to return a Raonic smash flicking away a forehand winner in the second set tie-break. In total Raonic won just 61% of points at the net, which was down on the 68% he registered in the Australian Open semi-final between the two players in January.
Master frontrunner
Like any great champion, Murray has developed into an excellent frontrunner and has won 140 out of the 148 grand slam matches in which he has won the first set. Here, Murray played the first set perfectly – not going for too much, but making sure he kept the ball in play enough to unsettle his opponent. Once he’d won it, Raonic had to try and be more aggressive with his returns, but it resulted in more errors and not enough pressure on the Murray serve.
Greater focus
Throughout this tournament, and since getting Ivan Lendl back on board Murray has displayed less of the tetchiness that so characterized much of his career. Against Raonic there was only one real explosion, and that wasn’t for a lost point but at Lendl’s decision to leave his seat at the end of the set. Admittedly it was a relatively straightforward victory, but there were times – most notably in the second set when he missed a very presentable break point at 4-4 – when previously Murray might well have lost his focus. The No 2 seed also used the crowd when he needed their support, exhorting them to make some noise after he had fended off a couple of break points in the third set.
Forehand battle
One of the biggest changes in the Murray game under Lendl is the pace at which he hits his forehand. Under Lendl between 2012 and 2014, Murray averaged 127 km/h, but that figure went down to 121 km/h in the two years afterwards and had been down at 119 km/h previously. With Lendl back on board, Murray believes in the shot again, and as early as the second game he showed how aggressive he was going to be with it by ripping a winner past Raonic that served as a statement of intent. In the semi-final against Roger Federer, Raonic had done serious damage with his own forehand, but here Murray was at least his equal and it meant the Canadian could not dictate the points from the back of the court.
