Yup, it's worse

Luke: "I don't believe it."

Yoda: "And that is why you fail."

The slow slide into insanity continued today for a befuddled Andy Murray in Miami as the Brit baller fell to American qualifier Alex Bogomolov, Jr. 6-1, 7-5 in his opening round match. He stumbled at the same hurdle last year as defending champ - not the record he was looking to match me thinks.

"Wait a minute. He's ranked WHAT?!?!"

The fifth-ranked Muzz has now gone 0-9 in sets dating back to the Australian Open finals - a worrying stat for someone of his quality particularly since his loss today and at Indian Wells (to Donald Young) were to ballers ranked outside the Top 100 (Donald was ranked 143rd; Alex is ranked 118th.) He's not even winning sets off these guys and almost ate a bagel in the first set today.

So what's going on here? 

Well, Muzz may have given a clue in his post-match presser today saying,

I was trying to get myself back into the match, trying to find ways. But I just didn’t have that spark.

Ah, yes. That "spark" as in that desire, will and belief perhaps to push through tough moments in matches and pull out the win when your game is faltering. Muzz seems burnt out from his own self-induced pressure. Sure, he feels it from the media and fans but he's his own worst enemy. A frenemy, if you will.

"Mine eyes are empty."

And let's not underestimate what that loss to Novak Djokovic in Oz did to him. As much as they talk publicly of being good friends after coming up together, they're fierce competitors at heart. I'm sure it was tough for Muzz to watch his boy grab a Grand Slam first but even worse to lose a third major final to him, too. Not cute. He's falling further behind quickly - as if he needed more pressure. 

Too bad Yoga isn't available for coaching. He'd smack some sense into Muzz (who's kinda reminding me of petulant Luke in that clip above) not to mention making him raise crazy shit with his super Scottish powers. Plus, he wouldn't look half bad in a headband and adidas track suit. Don't get it twisted, y'all.


[Photo(s): Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]