Tennis

Eddie · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:31

We're really quite lucky as Brits to have a player as good as that.

Hotwired · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:31

Occurs to me the higher up the podium you go the more you have to bow for your medal.

Such late night thinking.

Craig1981 · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:31

Yeah we are. Two Olympic golds, back to back. That's something for the history books.

Marsman · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:45

First man to retain the tennis Olympic title. :cool:

Hotwired · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:46

This puts GB in second place for golds on medal table

Marsman · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:47

Pigeon_Killer said:
Gutted for Del Potro. No player deserves to go through what he's gone through in his career and had it been any player he was facing I would've been backing him.

Hear, hear!

Marsman · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:53

Hotwired said:
This puts GB in second place for golds on medal table

After the first 3 days, I really didn't think GB would get to the target for these games. They're on 38 with just over a week gone, so a real good chance of getting to 48.

Craig1981 · 15 Aug 2016 at 01:54

Hotwired said:
This puts GB in second place for golds on medal table

We'd already gotten there before Murrays gold, but with China getting some golds of their own today, its kept us in 2nd place.

Hotwired · 15 Aug 2016 at 02:05

Pretty sure hosting the olympics the last time gave a big boost to this one.

Expensive way to encourage medals though.

Davey_Pitch · 15 Aug 2016 at 03:20

Murray was simply exceptional tonight at times. Del Potro has a forehand like a sledgehammer but he was able to get so many back. As good as Murray has been for years, I feel he's stepped it up another level in the past 6 months. This year has been amazing. Aus Open Final. French Open Final. Wimbledon Winner. Olympics Winner. Is there anyone out there who would be surprised to see him reach the US Open Final as well, if not winning it?

I said it after Wimbledon, but I genuinely think Andy Murray is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. To do what he's done in this era of tennis is nothing short of astonishing. I love watching him play and who knows, maybe he'll be back in 4 years to win Olympic Gold one more time.

Rimsy · 15 Aug 2016 at 08:49

He's become a lot more aggressive in the last 6 months... No longer "pusher Murray" but now goes for all out winners rather than forcing errors through grinding.
The Lendl effect no doubt.

a1ex2001 · 15 Aug 2016 at 09:04

Awesome game of tennis both players at a phenomenal level, pleased for Murray hopefully some of the negative idiots that like to skate him will pipe down for a while at least!

Davey_Pitch · 15 Aug 2016 at 11:30

Rimsy said:
He's become a lot more aggressive in the last 6 months... No longer "pusher Murray" but now goes for all out winners rather than forcing errors through grinding.
The Lendl effect no doubt.

Indeed, and his 2-handed backhand has got a lot of extra oomph on it lately as well, it's a much heavier shot than it used to be. He was absolutely ripping it at times yesterday, especially cross-court.

Rimsy · 15 Aug 2016 at 11:41

Yeah it's great to see. Also a testament to his athleticism and brain that even with a well below par serving performance he was still able to clinch it. Winning the hard way but winning regardless.

semi-pro waster · 15 Aug 2016 at 12:45

Pigeon_Killer said:
I would imagine he'll get one in the next round. 3 Grand Slams, 2 Olympic golds and a Davis Cup is an astonishing return in the era he's currently playing in.

As a general rule I'd prefer for sportspeople to be honoured after their playing career is over but if that's not going to be the case then next round is as good a time as any.

He doesn't make tennis look beautiful in the way that Roger Federer did at his best but Murray is truly a fantastic tennis player.

Pigeon_Killer said:
Would love to name and shame all of the trolls who only posted in tennis threads whenever he lost and claimed he would never amount to anything.

Very tempting but for me it's enough that we no longer get these messages - it's hard to make any kind of case that his career is anything less than massively impressive and he can still hopefully go on to win many more.

FrankJH · 15 Aug 2016 at 13:10

Hotwired said:
This puts GB in second place for golds on medal table

I think this is the most stunning thing ( even though Im sure China will end up with many more golds /medals by the end of the games)

semi-pro waster said:
it's hard to make any kind of case that his career is anything less than massively impressive and he can still hopefully go on to win many more.

Im a huge Murray fan and have been for years, but I really wish his serve - compared to the other top players - wasnt so weak.

His all round game, and especially his defensive abilities are phenomenal, but his serve in general has never been that great. Admittedly over the last year or so he has improved his 2nd serve, and the speed /accuracy of it which is very good to see but for some strange reason his service games are generally more of a concern than when he faces anyone else's service game.

UTmaniac · 15 Aug 2016 at 15:35

I couldn't stay up to watch from the third set, but something about how Murray was playing reminded me of Jim Courier's style from ~25 years ago. Pleased he retained the title, the London gold medal was a great stepping stone in his career.

Pigeon_Killer · 15 Aug 2016 at 17:12

John Inverdale strikes again. In an interview with Murray he congratulated him on being the first player ever to win two golds. He complete forget Serena and Venus have 4 each.

I've no idea how or why the BBC continue to roll this moron out when it's obvious he knows nothing about the sports he's hosting.

marc2003 · 15 Aug 2016 at 17:16

Not watching but if he'd said 2 singles golds, it would be accurate.

Pigeon_Killer · 15 Aug 2016 at 17:22

He didn't, Murray pointed that out as well.