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Andy Murray has accused Serena Williams, the defending US Open champion, of making the women's tour "pointless" by only being interested in winning grand slams.
Murray made his comments as the controversy over Dinara Safina's right to be the world No1 despite having failed to win a major title continued to rage in New York and his views will only inflame the situation.
Serena has won three of the last four slam women's singles titles but is only the world No2 because the rest of her tennis schedule does not match the work that Safina puts into collecting ranking points at tournaments around the world.
Murray told BBC Radio 5Live: "If Roger Federer wins three slams this year there's a very good chance he's going to be No1.
"Last year Rafael Nadal won the most slams and he finished No1. Normally, it works pretty well, because on the men's side the top players always show up for the big tournaments.
"On the women's side I don't think Serena and Venus show up as much. Tennis has an 11-month calendar and if you have ranking points which are too small for Serena to turn up at some of the smaller events, then the whole calendar is completely pointless and she can turn up - which is what she wants to do - at the four slams and play, and then not play for the rest of the year.
"And I think you have to be rewarded for consistency and her consistency in slams is great, but in the other tournaments I don't think it is."
For Murray, the attack on Serena comes as he prepares to face Chile's Paul Capdeville in the men's second round later today and it will be interesting to gauge the reaction of local tennis fans who give the Williams sisters unqualified support.
Former champion Maria Sharapova brought stability to women's draw last night, after fifth seed Jelena Jankovic was dumped out of the US Open as she struggled to deal with the emotional trauma caused by the sudden death of her grandmother.
There was also a shock defeat for fourth seed Elena Dementieva, who fell 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to American Melanie Oudin to take the total of women's seeds out of the tournament to nine.
Sharapova was never in danger of joining that list and defeated Christina McHale 6-2, 6-1 to join Safina, who also made the third round although her stuttering form continued as she stumbled to a 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over Kristina Barrois.
Jankovic took to the court knowing that her only grandmother had passed away overnight and was without her mother who had flown back to Serbia.
Alone and distraught, Jankovic was patently vulnerable and, despite battling hard, she lost 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 to Kazaksthan's Yaroslava Shvednova.
Jankovic will fly home to Belgrade today and said: "There are more important things in life than tennis. When you think about it, this is just a small event compared to somebody in your family who dies.
"I was really tired and tight. When you are mentally affected by this kind of thing, that all goes together.
"When you are sad, when you are down, you're not the same person. You don't move as well and don't hit the ball as well. My head wasn't really there. I was like a shadow of myself but what can you do?"
In the men's draw, fifth seed Andy Roddick, the Wimbledon runner-up, is looking ominously strong. The 2003 US Open winner's famed serve was operating at nearly 140mph during last night's 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Marc Gicquel, of France.
Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, was also a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner over Carsten Ball in the second round with his Australian opponent helping the Serb's cause by committing 45 unforced errors during the match.
Reader views (17)
Murray should concentrate on living up to the unrealistic expectations the British people and press have laid at his feet, and win a fluke grand slam. Then his public relations advisors should teach him to act like Federer - a true gentleman. The man is jealous of the millions the Williams's sisters have earned. Keep playing the Master's and become No:1 seed despite being embarassed when it really matters.
- Patricia, Kent UK, 10/09/2009 01:08
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I think he's got a very good point, some of you guys need some tlc and a hot cocoa. Masters tournaments are worth winning oddly enough, and they're big news especially when players rack up a number of masters titles. Murray needs to get out of the gym and back on the tennis court more, he's wearing himself out for the majors as far as I can see.
- Daniel Preston, Finchley, 09/09/2009 15:10
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Who care what Andy Murray has to say! The media plays this guy up so much, it makes me sick. He has yet to win a Slam - winning three out of four is much harder than two out of three. The day he wins more than one Slam, he can comment about other players.
- Pilar C, Washington DC, 08/09/2009 21:14
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Murray the Muppet !!!!
If he had as many slams as he has opinions then he would be a fine player !
- Big Boy - London, London U.K, 08/09/2009 18:30
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Murray should stop critisizing others and focus on his slamless game. Would you rather have a player who only shows up at the Masters Series but not Grand Slams? Then Andy Murray is your player. Serena Williams 11 Majors. Andy Murray 0.
- 10sfan, New York City, USA, 08/09/2009 05:18
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when he wins 11 slams, then he can talk
- Mark, london, 04/09/2009 14:55
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Murray has a big mouth. He should win at least one grand slam title before opening his mouth. It is no use in winning minor ones, collecting points to become no 2 which is a spurious any way.
- Gary Smith, London, England, 04/09/2009 14:38
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If ever Andy Murray wins a slam he should announce loudly and clearly that it is for Scotland. I do not want him representing me.
- Mj, East Anglia, 04/09/2009 14:35
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Not another 'my two pence' ignoramous. Why don't you get a life and stop being a moron Andy.
You have an incredibly successful career both behind and infront of you. What does it matter what tournaments other people play? You have got to forget about the Williams sisters and concentrate on your own shortcomings as well figuring out a way to conquer those two monsters of tennis Rafa and Roger in the slams. If I were you I would concentrate on discovering the 'killer shot' that you sadly lack in your armoury. You seem to be able to keep the ball in play all day long but I have yet to see the 'killer shot' that destroys allcomers. Grow up, forget about the Williams and just concentrate on yourself.
- Knowitall, London, 04/09/2009 14:08
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Concentrate on your game!!!!!!!!
- Osa Novia, london, 04/09/2009 13:31
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get lost, SERENA 4 LYFE
- Archie, hayes, London, 04/09/2009 13:05
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He is just stating the obvious, why the fuss...
and Robert you have no idea what it takes to reach Henmans level making a statement like that.
- Mike, London, 04/09/2009 13:01
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Didn't useless Tim Henman make some derogatory comments about the woman's game when he was around? Seems like Murray has inherited his big, stupid mouth. Yes Murray, win a Grand Slam and then talk!
- Robert, Philadelphia USA, 04/09/2009 12:24
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Maybe he should focus on winning that first elusive major! Later on in his career he can reflect on his comments.
- Mark, London, 04/09/2009 12:14
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The Williams sisters do not play in every tournament to give the womens equivalent of Andy Murray a chance of actually winning something. Andy Murray will never win a tournament worth winning.
- H Wilson, London, 04/09/2009 11:42
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Murray is probably right in some respects. But the womens tour would be a complete farce if the Williams sisters turned up to play in every tournament. The simple fact is that there are very few, if any, women tennis players capable of beating them, even if they were only half fit. So by only playing in the 'slams' the Williams sisters are actually helping the womens game at the grass root level, rather than showing the complete inadequacy of the current crop of top women players, who in effect are merely fashion icons who can play a bit of tennis.
- Paddy, Croydon Uk, 04/09/2009 10:39
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Poor reaction. He would say the same if he would have won a grand slam title already. A real and accepted number one must have won one of the big titles..
- James Madden, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 04/09/2009 09:05
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