Murray in Form

FrankJH · 10 Jan 2009 at 12:03

Surfer said:
hrmm.....

this is what Federer had to say about Murray's playing style March 2008

Apart from Qatar - it wasnt until way after that that Murray went on a major run of success (after Wimbledon) - I think due to injury, just read Fed's comments after NY last year (ok maybe Fed would always be reasonably polite as he won anyway) , but even later last year I think Murray beat Fed two or three times in succession, and Fed has been a lot more glowing about AM's game

Pity the final today will be overshadowed with AM's back problem - which was evident from yesterday's match, AM has a great record against Roddick, but R's one real weapon is his incredible serve......

azza21 · 10 Jan 2009 at 12:57

FrankJH said:
Apart from Qatar - it wasnt until way after that that Murray went on a major run of success (after Wimbledon) - I think due to injury, just read Fed's comments after NY last year (ok maybe Fed would always be reasonably polite as he won anyway) , but even later last year I think Murray beat Fed two or three times in succession, and Fed has been a lot more glowing about AM's game

Pity the final today will be overshadowed with AM's back problem - which was evident from yesterday's match, AM has a great record against Roddick, but R's one real weapon is his incredible serve......

I do not think Roddick has the game to besat Andy Murraym even with that serve. Hope Andy Murray can play today though add another title to his list.

Hamster · 10 Jan 2009 at 15:49

Both players starting well with their serves. Pity it's not live in HD.

Hamster · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:17

He eased through the first set. Lost only 5 points on his serve too!! :eek:

andy@moFo · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:21

JoeMama said:
Both players starting well with their serves. Pity it's not live in HD.

I stopped watching the Murray game because I was struggling to see the ball on that horribly coloured tennis court. Very annoying.

Hamster · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:23

andy@moFo said:
I stopped watching the Murray game because I was struggling to see the ball on that horribly coloured tennis court. Very annoying.

Do i sense a little sarcasm there?!

Hamster · 10 Jan 2009 at 16:57

Roddick was thumped there. I can't believe how much Murray's speed, strength and all-round game has improved over the last year; simply astounding. He now plays every shot in the book and reads his opponents well. The only barriers that could stand between him and a Slam this year are physical condition and mental toughness.

azza21 · 10 Jan 2009 at 17:04

Superb stuff from Murray, he's looking unbeatable at the moment.

Can't wait for the Aussi open, its going to be the best its been for years. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Tsonga (proved last year how good he can be) and Gasquet is playing good tennis too.

semi-pro waster · 10 Jan 2009 at 17:12

Congratulations to Mr Murray, the reports earlier were suggesting he might be pulling out due to back problems but I'm very glad that wasn't the case.

SCM · 10 Jan 2009 at 17:25

It is well done to Murray continuing his form from the end of last year over to this year and building on his fitness during the short off season for tennis. Looks like the good work started under Gilbert is being carried on with his new team who he seems a lot more comfortable with.

Hopefully the back issue was just down to the courts being used this week and all is well for the AO starting in just over a weeks time.

SCM

elroberto · 10 Jan 2009 at 19:04

Good win for Murray, he's got a good chance in the Australian Open now, he'll be one of the favourites now, hopefully he'll bag it. I'm sure he's got at least one Grand Slam in him this year and with Federer still out of sorts this could be the perfect tournament for him to do it.

Eddie · 10 Jan 2009 at 19:06

I think 2009 is going to be a great year for British tennis, Murray is definitely the man to beat atm.

el_dazza · 10 Jan 2009 at 20:36

shoot1st said:
I think 2009 is going to be a great year for British tennis, Murray is definitely the man to beat atm.

He is seriously good atm, he's now favourite to win the Aussie Open.. I'd never have seen that coming. Good to see him consistently performing, whereas last year he often lost the first set against a nobody and struggled after that

FrankJH · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:08

el_dazza said:
He is seriously good atm, he's now favourite to win the Aussie Open.. I'd never have seen that coming. Good to see him consistently performing, whereas last year he often lost the first set against a nobody and struggled after that

I think thats discreditiing Nadal and Djokovic too much (not to mention Federer on the big occasions)

The plus point from AM's point of view is depending on the draw, the AO should give him a load of "free"points as he did comparatively badly last year.

AM has a VERY good chance given a good draw to get to the Quarter's / Semi's at least (he hasnt a great record against Djokovic, or Nadal although he at least beat the latter last week and the US Open in 08)

Its a pity tennis rankings work on how you performed last year in comparison (as AM didnt get any more significant points than he did last year for winning the same tournement) although Fed and Nadal may have lost some......compared to the difference at the end of the year it doesnt count for much so far

el_dazza · 10 Jan 2009 at 21:18

It'll be an exciting year though. Murray right in the mix with Nadal, Federer, and you can never discount Djokovic, who I think will be Murray's biggest problem at the Aussie Open. If someone like Tsonga can raise his game a little..

andy@moFo · 13 Jan 2009 at 23:46

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7825889.stm

I get the impression that Federer really dislikes Murray or Murray's rise from 500th in the world to 4th and favourite for the Auzzie open so quickly and obviously the ratio of wins he has over Federer.

gazzamcg · 14 Jan 2009 at 12:35

Perhaps Federer is trying the mind games given the last couple of meetings between the two.

I think Federer feels at this moment he has more chance of beating Andy in a slam than in an atp tournamnet.

FrankJH · 14 Jan 2009 at 13:19

gazzamcg said:
Perhaps Federer is trying the mind games given the last couple of meetings between the two.

That is more likely what that quote was all about

gazzamcg said:
I think Federer feels at this moment he has more chance of beating Andy in a slam than in an atp tournamnet.

I realise you said "he feels he has...." - but I cant believe for a second that any top player gives in on any tennis court to another top pro, no matter the competition

They take an ATP loss as badly as a slam, otherwise they wouldnt be at the top of the game in the first place imo

gazzamcg · 14 Jan 2009 at 13:24

FrankJH said:
That is more likely what that quote was all about

I realise you said "he feels he has...." - but I cant believe for a second that any top player gives in on any tennis court to another top pro, no matter the competition

They take an ATP loss as badly as a slam, otherwise they wouldnt be at the top of the game in the first place imo

I was meaning perhaps Murray raises his game more against Federer than vice versa when they compete in an atp tournament.

We know how harder it is to play in a slam over the two weeks, Federer with his experience and raising him game feels he will beat Andy 99% of the time in a slam at the moment.

Surfer · 14 Jan 2009 at 13:36

tennis on standard cable/sky or only things like sky sports packages? (prefer to watch it on tv rather than internet)

Would like to see murray play in AO to see the improvements made in his game. Fed trying mind-games on Murray is good news - shows he regards Murray as a major threat enough to try this stuff to get an edge over opponent.