Why Hasn't Murray Won a Slam? It's The Serve, Stupid.

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We call it the "Big 4" in men's tennis, but three of the four have broken through and won multiple Grand Slams (a whopping 30 between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic combined) while Andy Murray is still coveting that elusive maiden Slam title.

So, why do we even bother counting Andy Murray among the game's elite when the cold hard facts say he is not deserving? Is it an expression of sympathy for the tortured artist who wears his heart on his sleeve, a mere bone thrown to give forlorn British tennis fans something to believe in, or is it justified?

Well, the answer is simple, and yet, it's complicated too: Between the lines, Murray does possess an elite game. He's a physical specimen, he's tactically brilliant, and his shotmaking abilities are on par with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. But between the ears Murray can become discombobulated at times. Oh, let's be honest, he can fall into a bottomless pit of agony and despair and not come out until the match is over. His last Grand Slam final was a clear indication that Murray is not yet capable of adequately dealing with the pressure of a Grand Slam final.

It's a shame, because Murray's clearly a highly intelligent player, and he no doubt puts great emphasis in his mental preparation on the importance of poise in such situations, but he's yet to conquer his nerves under the brightest spotlight in tennis.

Can he? Sure.

Will he? I don't know.

But before you think that nerves are the only thing keeping Murray from being the next Novak Djokovic -- a player who rises up and takes over men's tennis for an extended period of time --let's look at what I believe to be the real reason that Murray hasn't gotten over the hump yet: his serve.

For years the rap on Murray has been his lack of aggression. Pundits have consistently blamed Murray's failures on the fact that his predilection for cat-and-mouse rallies and his lack of a Berdych or Soderling-like forehand is what's hurting him. I don't agree. I think that Murray was born to be the type of player that he has become, and he should embrace it and stick to it. Can Murray focus some of his effort on being more aggressive when the situation calls for it? Yes. Does he need a massive philosophical overhaul? No.

What Murray does need is to serve better. You don't believe me? Check the stats.

Murray's 46th on the ATP Tour at winning 2nd serve points. If that isn't a recipe for disaster when you are regularly trying to beat two of the best returners in the history of the sport, I don't know what is. Nadal is 1, Federer is 2, and Djokovic is 3, in case you were curious.

Murray's 41st on the ATP Tour in first serve percentage, and he's 23rd in percentage of service games won. Federer is 2, Djokovic is 5, and Nadal is 15.

Murray can strengthen his mind all he wants and become as aggressive as everyone else wants him to be, but until he starts getting better results from his serve, he'll only be able to win a Grand Slam title if he plays perfect tennis in every other facet of the game.

If I was Murray's coach I'd tell him to leave his game the way it is. He's an amazing tactical player, and he gains confidence from being able to execute his unique brand of tennis against the best players in the world. That's who he is and he's damn good at it, so why should he change?

But the serve needs to get better. He needs to make more first serves, he needs to deal with his service games better emotionally, and he needs to construct better points around his second serve.

Until he can serve like the other members of the "Big 4" I think the monumental task of becoming the first British player to win a Grand Slam since 1936 will continue to be too much for him.

2011 First Serve Percentage:

Murray: 59%, 41st

Nadal: 68%, 6th

Djokovic: 65%, 11th

Federer: 64%, 14th

2011 2nd Serve Points Won:

Murray: 50%, 46th

Nadal: 57%, 1st

Federer: 57%, 2nd

Djokovic: 56%, 3rd

2011 Service Games Won:

Murray: 81%, 23rd

Federer: 89%, 2nd

Djokovic: 87%, 5th

Nadal: 84%, 15th

The Fan Child's WTA Awards, Part 2

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Okay. In case you missed The Fan Child's WTA Awards, Part 1, you might want to click the link to put all of this in context.

Without any further ado, I'll start handing out some more awards...

Best Defender: Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki's shortcomings have been ruthlessly well-documented throughout 2011. Everything from her lack of a devastating forehand to her methods of employing a suspect pda strategy. Some of the criticism is legit, and some is just the product of an insanely unforgiving public. But there is one thing you can never, ever take away from Caroline, whether she backs up her No. 1 ranking with a Grand Slam title or not: the woman can defend. Woz has all the tools of a great defender: the footwork, the fortitude, the situational comprehension, and the shots, and she's proven time and time again (see six titles in 2011) that her defensive style can hang with the best offensive players in the world quite nicely, thank you.

Best 40-something: Kimiko Date Krumm

Okay, she's the only 40-something, but that doesn't stop me from handing out an award to the ageless wonder. Kimiko wasn't as successful in 2011 as she was in 2010, but for those of us who got a chance to see her employ her old-school strokes and tactics up close and personal, we should consider ourselves lucky. And let's not forget her fabulous 2nd-round match at Wimbledon with Venus Williams, which was voted by Tennis Channel's James LaRosa as one of the top 5 women's matches of the year.

Zaniest: Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Bethanie is unafraid to let it all hang out, and because of that, she's very deserving of this award. Bethanie took a lot of heat for dressing up in a tennis ball-encrusted outfit at the pre-Wimbledon players party, but can you blame the woman for trying to liven things up a bit? Yes, yes, the tube sock-wearing motorcycle-riding baseline basher can crash our players party any time -- and she can wear anything she wants when she does.

Best Disappearing Act: Kim Clijsters

Kim, wherefore art thou?

Best pound-for-pound player: Dominika Cibulkova

Have you ever wondered how hard Dominika Cibulkova would hit tennis balls if she were a 6' tall player like a lot of her WTA peers? I mean, she already pretty much knocks the fuzz off the ball, and outhits most of her bigger, taller opponents, so it's a scary thought. The 5'3" 121-pounder broke through for her first WTA title this year in Moscow, taking out Kaia Kanepi, who is 8 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier.

Best new doubles pairing: Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond

It didn't take these two doubles aficionados long to start making serious hay on the WTA's doubles circuit. After joining forces in April the pair of old-timers won four titles, including the US Open and the WTA Championships. Now that they've figured out who will play the deuce court, an Olympic appearance and a lengthy stay at the top of the rankings might be in the cards.

Stay tuned for more of The Fan Child's WTA Awards later in the week...

The Fan Child's WTA Awards, Part 1

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The WTA posted its year-end player awards yesterday, but something about them left me feeling a little disappointed. Well, not disappointed really, but I did feel that more players deserved credit for their remarkable achievements. Depth was truly the calling card of the WTA this year, with three first-time Grand Slam winners and lots of other surprises along the way. Sure, Petra Kvitova is clearly deserving of player of the year, but how about a rule precluding her (or anyone else) from getting more than one award when there are so many other deserving players?

All totaled, Kvitova won four awards, including one voted on by the fans (favorite breakthrough player) and another voted on by peers (Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship). Make no mistake about it, Petra is totally deserving, but I've created The Fan Child's WTA Awards to recognize some of the other great players who've been left off the WTA's official list.

So, here goes:

Most Inspiring: Na Li

First Asian Grand Slam winner in tennis history? Check. Thought by many to be past her prime and not truly elite? Check. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the biggest story in tennis this year, Na Li. Not only did she have 116 million watching her French Open final in China, she also proved that press conferences and on-court interviews can be hilarious episodes of comedic genius too. But seriously, think about it: No matter what happens in Chinese tennis for the next million years, Na Li will always be the one who cracked the code. And she did it against the odds, on a surface that she outwardly disliked, with tons of spunk and nerve to boot. It's true that Li hasn't been the same player since this remarkable triumph, but that does not in any way cast a shadow over Li's truly remarkable performance at Roland Garros. Nothing ever will.

Comeback player of the year: Serena Williams

Sabine Lisicki, who has chosen by the media for the WTA's version of the award, is very deserving, let's make no mistake about that. But is she as deserving as the player who went through a near-death experience, was expected by many to never play again, then rose from the ashes to become the Tour's hottest player of the summer and reach the US Open final? I don't think so. I know the last thing that Serena wants is another meaningless award -- the woman wants Grand Slams titles -- but if there was one comeback player in the WTA this year, it could only be Serena.

Most Pleasant Surprise: Sam Stosur

I actually don't understand why Sam Stosur wasn't voted by her peers for the Sportsmanship award, but because she wasn't I'm going to do her a solid and vote her in for the WTA's most pleasant surprise. Honestly, is there a nicer, more down to earth player on the WTA Tour? Still, as talented as Stosur was, most believed that she'd forever be known as a player who always found a way to not get it done when it counted the most. But lo and behold, there was Sam Stosur, staring down Serena Williams in the US Open final, and playing the best tennis of her career, precisely when it counted the most.

Best Crowd Pleaser: Andrea Petkovic

Ah, the Petko dance, the vids, the indie music, the hilarious, sentient, and self-effacing tweets, the laid back viral video shot on the Indian Wells grassy area with James LaRosa. Is there anybody better suited to deliver the message that WTA players can say more than stuff like "it is what it is" and "I'm just going to try and play my tennis" when the camera is on them? I think not.

Grunter of the Year: Maria Sharapova

This one was very close. I hemmed. I hawed. But in the end, based on the strength of her decibel level and on her Grand Slam final appearance at Wimbledon, I have to give it to Maria. Obviously Vika is a close second, and in a surprising twist, Francesca Schiavone, she of the "Ah-Heeeeee," came in third.

Server of the year: Petra Kvitova

Since I'm not going to do the conventional player of the year thing, I have to give Petra something. Petra used that big swooping lefty serve as the cornerstone of her dynamic game this year, and she's finally proved that someone other than a Williams sister can bring the heat on the serve when it counts. In second place is Sabine Lisicki, who has the chance to enter the top 10 next year, largely on the strength of her serving prowess.

Best Net Player: Francesca Schiavone

In a game ruled by baseline bashers that fear they'll turn into pumpkins if they cross the service line during a point, Francesca Schiavone breaks the mold. Francesca may not have the purest volleying technique, but she more makes up for that in aggression and a willingness to finish points at the net. Schiavone is one of the most exciting players to watch on Tour because she plays tennis in three dimensions, using everything she can to construct winning points.

Is there anybody I've left out? Of course, that is what part 2 is for, so stay tuned for more in the upcoming days.

ATP World Tour Finals: Federer, Nadal Set to Meet

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will renew their storied rivalry next week in London, as the two were drawn into Group B alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish. Below are all the singles and doubles group pairings.

Federer is attempting to become the first player to win the event for a sixth time. The 2010 champ is currently tied with Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl, who have each won the title five times.

Nadal leads Federer in their head-to-head rivalry 17-8, and he won all three matches that the pair contested in 2011, losing only one of the eight sets they contested.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is seeking a second World Tour Finals title to top off one of the most successful seasons in ATP history. He will contest Group A, along with Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych,

Play begins on Sunday, with 2 singles and 2 doubles matches taking place. Stay tuned for previews and analysis later in the week.

Second Serving: Looking Back at Paris

The Federer Express wasn't the only train rambling its way to a Paris title on Sunday. The Indo-Pak express made some noise too.

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Yes, The BNP Paribas Masters most certainly was about Roger Federer's 18th masters title -- his first in the city of light -- but Federer's eye-opening run to the Paris winner's circle wasn't the only feel-good story of the week. The Indo-Pak Express, the formidable doubles tandem comprised of Indian Rohan Bopanna and Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq-Qureshi, cruised to their first masters title yesterday when they defeated the French wildcard pairing of Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau.

The 6-2, 6-4 victory will most certainly bring more exposure to the Indo-Pak Express's peace-promoting project "Stop War, Start Tennis," and, even though the home crowd was rooting for a French triumph, most tennis fans would agree (even the French) that an Indo-Pak Express victory is never a bad thing.

In fact, Bopanna and Qureshi, who first brought their cause to the mainstream when they reached the 2010 US Open final, might be the hardest doubles team to root against in the history of the sport. Each is soft-spoken and good-natured, and collectively the pair is selfless in the pursuit of a higher purpose: raising awareness and calling for the end to a long, dark period in Indo-Pakistani relations.

Throw in their gentle air, Qureshi's clean toothpaste-commercial looks, and their willingness to sit down and talk about their respect for each other and their opponents, and you've got yourself a recipe for making the world a better place. And who isn't rooting for that?

Regardless of rooting interest, yesterday's win was a huge achievement for the pair, and -- even better -- for peace. Bopanna and Qureshi's cause is a noble one, and their commitment to steady improvement shows that they are aware of the fact that the better they play, the better chance they have of actually making a difference. It's a big task to be sure, erasing more than a half century of bitter acrimony between the nations, but the Indo-Pak express doesn't appear daunted at all by the magnitude of it.

While they are shining a spotlight on the silliness of the hostility and suspicion that divides the two nations, tennis fans are taking notice. As they make their way to London for their first appearance at the prestigious Barclays World Tour Finals, here's to hoping that they raise a lot more awareness for their cause, win or lose.

Click like on the "Stop War, Start Tennis" page to join the Indo-Pak Express in promoting peace through sport.

Other Notable Occurrences Last Week In Paris:

Isner Reaches Career-high Again:

A nice run by John Isner, especially his quarterfinal defeat of David Ferrer and his close call against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis. Isner rises six spots in the rankings with the effort, giving him consecutive top 20 year-end finishes. Is the 26-year-old poised to make a run at becoming the top-ranked American? If he can find ways to improve his rate of success in the return game, he'll do more than that -- he'll be a viable threat to contend for Slams, especially in New York, where the crowds will be behind him. It's a big if though...

Federer, Federer, Federer:

I'm noticing some frustration from Djokovic and Nadal supporters about the media making too much of Federer's recent revival. But wouldn't they want the same for their charge, if he'd endured his first year in many without a Slam, was the subject of so much "Roger is done" talk, and still -- as he seems to prove time and time again -- had plenty of game left?

Nole, Nole, Nole:

There are no questions about Djokovic's game heading into London. That said, health is a big concern, and if he pushes too hard to make one final grand statement in London next week, he may need more than one month to replenish. Cue the argument for a men's season that ends one week after the women's season here...

Well done Mardy Fish:

In all my haste last week I failed to give Mardy Fish his due for an incredible 2011. Fish is the only first-timer of the eight in the London field, and he's been grinding all year to reach this spot. Remember back in Australia, when Fish was so dejected after taking ill in Australia and losing in the 2nd round to Tommy Robredo? His presser was heartfelt afterwords, and he made it clear that he had no idea what was wrong with him or how he would rebound from there. Turns out he had a thyroid issue, and while he was dejected, Fish was unwilling to let it curtail all the progress he had made in the 2nd half of 2010 with the weight loss and the fitness regime.

He bounced back on American soil (semis in Miami), made the Wimbledon quarterfinals and took a set from Rafa, then proceeded to have the best summer of his career. Even when he lost a heartbreaker to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 4th round of the US Open, Fish didn't stop battling. He made the semis if Tokyo to solidify his place in the race, and now, here he is, one of the elite eight in men's tennis, and a shining example of how hard work and dedication can change the course of a career, even when many thought it wasn't possible...