Hard mode: activated
A stagnant economy makes every policy choice feel like it comes with impossible trade-offs
Andy Murray always struck me as the most relatable member of men’s tennis’ Big Four. Roger Federer was all liquid whip and David Foster Wallace profiles1, Rafael Nadal played every point as if the fate of the world rested on his strings, while Novak Djokovic genuinely appeared to believe that positive emotions can purify water.
Murray, on the other hand, was one of us. He got mad when he missed and would rant sarcastically at his box. But what really distinguished the Scot from his great rivals was a technical flaw. Murray’s game was, in the words of the tennis writer Steve Tignor, an elaborate edifice built to mask the fact that he lacked the most important shot in the sport: a point-ending forehand.
While Federer, Nadal and Djokovic won cheap points and racked up 20, 22 and 24 Grand Slam titles respectively, Murray was forced to find other ways to win. He had to play his way into rallies, move his opponent around, rely on his variation, consistency and smarts. It was hard work and rarely pretty.
Look, I’m not about to throw a pity party for the bloke. He won three majors, including two Wimbledon titles and almost $65m in career prize money, excluding endorsements and other income. It’s just that he was clearly operating on a higher difficulty mode than his great rivals. And while Keir Starmer’s game is football rather than tennis, my hunch is that the prime minister can sympathise with Murray’s predicament.
The tennis analogy is almost over
Governing a nation during a period of 2% annual GDP growth, favourable demographic trends and a post-Cold War peace dividend is like playing tennis with Federer’s serve, Nadal’s forehand and Djokovic’s return. Every policy lands cleaner, every problem feels smaller, the rising tide does much of the work for you. But when the economy stalls and living standards sag, you’re a bit more like Murray. Every day is a grind, every decision feels like an impossible trade-off, and the voters are just a bit miserable.