Andy Murray needs to start playing a whole lot better in the bigger ATP events if he is ever to win a Grand Slam tournament - or even reach the later stages of one.

The youngster is a brilliant player but has been beaten in a host of matches in big events, which he should be winning if he is to challenge Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for major honours.

The past week in Indian Wells, Murray could have done so much better. I know in hindsight most athletes could say the same thing - but in Murray’s case he really could.  He had the ability to go all the way in the prestigious tournament, often regarded as the fifth Grand Slam event of the year.

'Anything less than semi-final spot in Miami next week will be a poor result for the Brit on the American hard courts'


But even in his second round match, after his first round bye, the young Scot looked out of sorts. He had to come back from a set down to defeat Austrian Jurgen Melzer, a player hardly in the form of his life. In the 3rd round Murray again came close to defeat against Ivo Karlovic.

I know the huge Croat is a dangerous player, but Murray should be looking to win these early matches a lot more comfortably than he is in order to conserve his energy levels for the later stages. His quarter-final match was against Tommy Haas, a player he beat last year and should have beaten again.

Winning the first set 6-2 easily, and coming back from a break down in the second, the momentum should have been with Andy, but instead he crumbled to the German and again did not fulfil his potential at the big event. Anything less than semi-final spot in Miami next week will be a poor result for the Brit on the American hard courts.

Roger Federer wasn't at his best in Indian Wells, evidenced by his embarrassing defeat by Mardy Fish, playing out of his skin. Another Federer scalp could have happened and the Brit could have reached his first Masters Series Final.

Novak Djokovic would have been a different match in the final, but at least Murray would have got a few more heads turning and made a name for himself on a bigger scale. Although smaller tournament victories are very important to any player’s ranking, it is the big Masters Series and Grand Slams which hold the big ATP points to really move Murray into the top five in the world.

It will be interesting to see how Murray does actually fair in Miami and even more interesting when we move to the clay court season in Europe. Murray will hopefully be fit to test himself against the best on these punishing courts. Get ready for the long rallies Andy!

This is a big year of development for the Scot. He needs to progress in his career and not look back at what has happened in the past. He needs to take advantage of these dips in form by Federer and even Rafael Nadal, who hasn’t looked to be on top form yet. 

Murray has definitely got the game and needs to be mentally focused on every event he plays especially in the top tournaments where he is going to have to string a host of excellent matches together against the very best in the world if he has any chance of success.