With the latest update of ATP Rankings, Britains Andy Murray has found himself outside the world’s top 20 players for the first time since August 2006.
Murray had made his best ever start to a season (10-1 win/loss) but has since struggled, winning only four out of his last eight matches.He has slipped nine places to 22nd, and along with Guillermo Canas also dropping nine places, it has allowed Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya back inside the top 20.
However the Murray camp (Andy now has an entourage to rival Jennifer Lopez) will not be overly worried with the situation. Coming up next is the clay court season, and whilst this may not be Murray’s best surface, he should be able to move back up the rankings. This is because he has no points at all to defend, having missed the whole clay and grass court season last year with a wrist injury.
This should see a swift march back up the table for Murray, and as long as he can stay injury free up to Wimbledon, and play to the standard we know he can, it is not unrealistic for him to be challenging for a place in the top 5 by the time the tour reaches the All England Club again.
ATP Tennis Now 
Real shame for Andy to slip out of the top 20. Do you think that he has the abilty to get back in there? Also, what do you think the reasons are for his recent decline? British tennis isn’t great right now is it.
Yes stepney its a real shame about Andy, although he has since moved up one place to number 21. It’s difficult to say what has gone wrong, but if pressed I would presume its a mixture of a.) slight burnout from having such a great beginning to the year, and b.) coming up against in form opponents like Mario Ancic.
Thanks for the comment
Matt
Thanks for the reply.
You could be right, i think that Murray’s exploits at the turn of the year may be catching up with him.
Surely though, if he is looking to mount a serious challenge on the coveted top ten places, he needs to address this problem. No professional sportsman should suffer from burnout.
On the other hand, if his opponents are just better than him, then there’s not much you can do, apart from train harder!