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LITTLE more than a month away from a Wimbledon defence that already appears doomed, Andy Murray admits he does not know what is wrong ailing awith his once silky game.
The Scot has struggled since reaching the peak of a fabulous career with his stirring victory at the All England Club last July.
Since then the Olympic and US Open champion has had back surgery, split with coach Ivan Lendl's counsel, slipped six places to world No.8 — and lost to a battalion of foot soldiers.
While an 18-7 season tally is hardly shabby, Murray's annual struggle on clay continued with a 6-3 6-2 drubbing from Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo, who has also put Lleyton Hewitt and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to the sword in Madrid last week.
As impressive as world No.46 Giraldo has been at the Mutua Open, Murray's inability to gather momentum since Lendl's decision to stand down in March remains a growing worry for the French Open, which starts on May 25, and even more of a concern with Wimbledon looming.
Andy Murray grimaces as he returns a ball in his eventual loss to Santiago Giraldo in Madrid. Source: AP
Asked what was missing from his game, Murray said: "My coach is missing. That's a big part of my team.
"But even when I was working with Ivan, I didn't necessarily play my best tennis here last year. I'm not 100 per cent sure what it is."
While back soreness, and ensuing surgery, robbed Murray of the chance to add more lustre to career-defining his Wimbledon win, there is also a suggestion the baseliner is ensnared in suffering a massive mental let-down.
Since resuming in Doha, Qatar, in February, Murray is without a title and has suffered losses to Florian Mayer (ranked 40), Roger Federer (6), Marin Cilic (37), Grigor Dimitrov (22), Milos Raonic (11), Novak Djokovic (2), Fabio Fognini (13) and Giraldo.
His most recent title triumph remains Wimbledon, a result that cemented a personal best ranking of No.2.
Having scaled the sport's Everest, Murray understandably has been lost in something of a psychological fog.
The question is when, and how, does he emerge from it and reprise the clear-minded predator of 2012-13?
Murray is all smiles as he poses with the Wimbledon trophy after beating Novak Djokovic last year. Source: Supplied
"It's tough because some days I'm playing well, and then the next day I'm not playing well," Murray said.
"So, yeah, I need to become more consistent. My best tennis, or my sort of base level, has to stay the same for a lot longer.
"It's not necessarily about practising loads of stuff on the court.
"I need to be mentally stronger and more switched on for longer."
Lendl was with Murray for almost 30 months, presiding over his Olympic, US Open and Wimbledon triumphs before bowing out in Miami in March.
No replacement has been found. Nor is there an imminent move to fill the breach.
Murray recently listed eight potential targets.
Several Australians, including Roger Rasheed, Darren Cahill and Bob Brett, were speculated to be on Murray's radar, along with John McEnroe.
Murray says he will not be rushed into a new partnership, possibly because the coach he wants is currently under contract.
Fans take photographs as Murray parades with the trophy in front of an adoring gallery. Source: Supplied
Whatever the outcome, Murray will do well to find a way out of the maze in Rome before heading to Paris for the French Open.
Though accustomed to saturation media coverage during Queen's Club and Wimbledon, the amiable right-hander clearly struggles without a strong voice in his corner.
His struggles come in the lead-up to what shapes as a landmark grand slam at Roland Garros.
With clouds over the preparations of his three main rivals — Rafael Nadal (form until Madrid), Novak Djokovic (wrist injury) and Roger Federer (recent father to twin boys this week) — Murray would ordinarily shape as a leading contender. Not this time — not yet.
Murray's best result is a semi-final appearance in 2011, losing to Nadal in straight sets.
Despite a modest record in the French capital, Murray believes he can win there.
Without Lendl's anchor, it will be doubly difficult with men such as Stan Wawrinka and Dimitrov leading the sport's quiet — but unmistakable — revolution.
Murray showed he is an extraordinary competitor by becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years. His current task is equally steep.
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