The Perfect Headline for the 2011 Men’s Singles Australian Open Final

I think it goes without saying that I shouldn’t give up my day job for a career in graphic design.  Despite the terrible display of my Photoshop skills, I have the headline that’ll redeem me:

Scottish Fold

Explanation: Andy Murray is Scottish.  The cat is a Scottish Fold (notice its folded ears).  And like the feline, Mr. Murray folded on his third try at a Grand Slam final this past Sunday in Melbourne.  It’s a cliche to say that a single point decides a match, but in this case, it was true:

There was no point of greater importance than this one.  Murray was down 4 games to 5 in the first set, and down 15-30 on his serve.  If he wins this 39-shot rally, it’s 30-30 and I’d bet my last dollar it goes to a tie break.  But he loses, and it gives Djokovic double break point, which he quickly capitalizes on, and wins the first set, and subsequently, the match, in straight sets: 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

Where to from here for Andy Murray?  He’s been to the finals for three Grand Slams, and he’s lost them all in straight sets.  On the bright side, Ivan Lendl lost his first four and still managed to win eight championships in his career.  And let’s not forget that Murray’s done way better than his U.K. compatriot, Tim Henman, who never got past the semifinals of any Grand Slam.