photo by Horia Varlan, some rights reserved
US Open challenger Andy Murray admitted his chances of clinching his first Grand Slam have been scuppered by tennis.
A dejected Murray told reporters he faces an “incredible task” to win the competition after organisers at the rain-affected New York tournament said the Open crown would still only be awarded to the player who won the most games of tennis.
Match referee Gus Tyler told a press conference that while an appeal had been made by the Murray camp, they had no choice but to continue with the tennis format.
He said: “Representatives from Mr Murray’s team have indicated that, should the rain continue, they would be happy to decide the tournament with a series of best of five games of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
“While we appreciate our tennis-only rule puts Mr Murray at a disadvantage, there really is no other way of settling the tournament.”
It is understood Murray has tried to garner the support of players left in the tournament to decide the title with an easier game for the Scot.
Rock, Paper, Scissors has already been rejected by Roger Federer, with Rafael Nadal understood to be mulling over a winner takes all game of hide and seek at the Flushing Meadows venue.
“There’s clearly some sort of conspiracy here,” said Murray. “Asking me to win a series of tennis games, one after another, is just too much to ask. What do they think I am? Surely we can come to some arrangement.”
As the News Grind went to press, the remaining players in the competition had just received a two-word text message from Murray. It read: “Bar Skittles??!”
>> Photo by Horia Varlan, some rights reserved
