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Tennis: John McEnroe says Andy Murray needs to 'step up' at US Open

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 08:  Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during Rogers Cup at Rexall Centre at York University
Image: Andy Murray: Needs to deliver in New York next week

Andy Murray needs to 'step up' at the US Open, according to John McEnroe.

The former Wimbledon champion has struggled to find his best form after undergoing back surgery last September.

Murray, who claimed his maiden Grand Slam in New York in 2012, has not shied away from his struggles for consistency, highlighted by his quarter-final capitulation to Grigor Dimitrov that brought his Wimbledon title defence to an end.

Heading into the last grand slam of the year, Murray is still looking for his first ATP final since winning Wimbledon last year.

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McEnroe, who won four times at Flushing Meadow between 1979 and 1984, said: "It's difficult to say what's happening with Andy.

"It seems like the physical issues are behind him - it's impossible to say for sure from the outside but that's how it looks.

"It's been a process for him to come back from those issues so that takes its toll on the confidence, and he made a big change - I thought he and Ivan (Lendl) worked well together.

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"To change course when he did is tricky so it remains to be seen what happens there. You need to give it more time to judge, but you sort of feel like the US Open would be a time he needs to step up because it's been a struggle compared to what it's been the last couple of years."

The end of his hugely successful partnership with Lendl in March certainly did not help Murray's confidence levels, according to McEnroe.

Reserve judgement

You always need to give these things some time to see how they relate to each other and whether she can make that little difference. Can she help him find that extra two to five per cent? That's the key. It remains to be seen.
McEnroe on Murray and Mauresmo

The US Open will be Murray's second grand slam with Amelie Mauresmo in his corner, and McEnroe is reserving judgment on whether the partnership can be a success.

The American, who was himself briefly linked with the role, said: "Amelie Mauresmo's appointment was a little out of left-field and an unusual choice, but she's had some coaching experience and she's been out there herself so she can bring things to the table.

"You always need to give these things some time to see how they relate to each other and whether she can make that little difference. Can she help him find that extra two to five per cent? That's the key. It remains to be seen."

If Murray can negotiate the first week, he could face either world No 1 Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer, who he lost to in Cincinnati last week, in the last eight.

Djokovic has struggled on the North American hard courts so far, losing early in both Toronto and Cincinnati, but McEnroe - who will return to London for the Statoil Masters at the Royal Albert Hall in December - makes him the man to beat.

"I think Novak had an incredible run at Wimbledon and it seems to me he is waiting for the Open," he said.

"I don't think it matters a whole lot what's happened with his results in the summer. To me, he's still the favourite going in.

"There's a cast of other characters that will want to break through and to finally put their names in the record books, and the most obvious ones are Dimitrov and (Milos) Raonic, but Djokovic is still the favourite."

The Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall takes place from 3-7 December

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