I might be a little late posting this but I've only just recovered from that amazing match! I've no nails and would have had a drink for nerves had it not been so early in the day! I wanted Andy to win but I thoroughly enjoyed the match, the best of the tournie maybe so far and the match of Murray's life for sure. It takes two to make a match, so all credit to Nadal, he must be a relieved man right now! He showed real tenacity to come through that, especially as Murray was just about the most problematic opponent he could have asked for but he found a way. :bow: However, I'm focusing on Andy asl Rafa was by far the favourite and should on paper have won that match fairly easily, but didn't and I think that today Murrray showed us all that he can live with the big bys and is just getting better and better which is great news for his fans and fans of British tennis. :D

I've always been a Murray fan and I always though he had huge potential and have had every confidence in him, but he surprised even me today. The variety of his game is truly remarkable, he has both the desire and the ability to mix things up and try almost anything, and he really does understand how to play the game and has a great tennis brain - he's a player not a slugger and we need more like that. I was impressed that at least in the first set and a half, and throughout other parts of the match, he did not let Nadal dominate him and the rallies. He also weakened Nadal's weapons somewhat, absorbing the pace of his shots and giving Nadal little to feed on and staying agressive in the rallies. he employed some excellent tactics and did not make the mistake of trying to play Nadal at his own game from the back. Nor did he try and overdo the serve and volley, his variety and committment to playing his own way really did cause Nadal some big problems, at times making him look one dimensional. I thought Andy was very tough today, he refused to fear Rafa, took it to him and gave him all he had. Despite letting the lead slip in set 2, he pulled himself back in the 3rd (which I wasnt expecting) - great tenacity against one of the most tenacious players on the tour. :bow:

He really showed true class with his shotmaking, combining finesse, power and at times sheer audacity and genius a la Mac/Fed, woth the guts of Connors as well. There were some awesome points, and it was very exciting. As a person who remembers the Golden era there was a touch of that about procedings today and I hope we will see that again, it was a long overdue and refreshing change from baseline slugfests. :ok: Andy showed real heart and it was great to see, he gave all he had and you cannot ask for more than that. As an aside, if he had beaten Nadal he'd have completed his set of top five scalps! :o

Murray did lose though, so some might say that detracts from the credit he is receiving but I strongly disagree. He wasn't supposed the beat rafa today, there is supposed to be a huge gulf in class between a 2 times slam winner World No 2 and a player like Andy, but that gulf is narrowing fast and Murray really did show that he's the full package today. And what is more encouraging is that he did create the chances to win the match, as in break points missed by the narrowest of margins and beign 4-1 up in Set 2 and then having a physical problem and a dip. Okay, so he did not convert the chances into victory but many players just don't get anywhere near and don't get a glimmer of a chance of victory against Nadal and the likes. Andy did and all credit to him for that. :ok: Nadal would also be expected to win because he is more experienced than Murray and his sheer physicality alone is often enough to win through, so no disgrace to Murray at all. I bet he's bitterly dissappointed but he'll learn loads from this and he'll bounce back stronger. And one thing he showed today is that he has real balls and guts, so more power to his elbow - literally :D - and mental toughness. His stamina has improved amazingly. He may have got a bit worn in the last set but don't most players against Nadal, and it was a four hour match so fair play to the boy.

I hate to be corny but I think Andy sent out one of those chilling warning today! roflmao He's going to be a great player and people had better believe it. There were times when Andy was dominating Rafa and it really did not look like Rafa was the world number 2 and 2 times GS winner, compared to Murray being an up and coming top 20 player. Overall, Rafa found that little bit extra but I really don't think Murray was truly outclassed toady. In fact, that match was worthy of a GS final - and I can't wait until those two play again, hopefully it will be in a GS final :D Truly great performance frorm Andy today, well done :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: Great performance from Rafa to find that bit extra in the closing stages, and one of the best matches I've seen for ages -throughly enjoyed it and wish I coudl erase my memory of it and sit and watch it all again. Think those two coudl have quite a rivalry in the future.


Great stuff boys!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

SB, have the Murray family hired you as their propangandist roflmao

Judy murray's got everyone on board :rolleyes: roflmao

Not yet, I was working for Rafa but I think the relationship might be over when they find out that insulted his clothing and called him one dimensional on the BBC! roflmao

On a serious note, if you didnt; apprecaite elements of that perfromance today there is something seriously up matey. even I've acknowledged Rafa and I can't stand his style of play. Credit where it's due though. :)

Speaking of which she owes me 50k for this post and the bank transfer hasn't arrived yet! ;)

Cant stand the woman SB! roflmao

getting exposure of her son :rolleyes: roflmao

Let's see how Adny fares on clay versus Rafa. There might be a bigger difference there. We all know Rafa is vulnerable on hard courts.

I'm pis*ed that I didn't get to see the match as the Canadian sports network elected to only show the ladies' matches - Sharapova they showed twice would you believe!!! They're going to get a nasty letter from me. The tennis coverage sucks big time here.

Murrey is great for tennis as a whole one of the most exciting players on tour, he plays in an unconventional way and i hope Gilbert doesn't knock that out of him-i think that unique ability to play unexpected shots is his hallmark and gives him an edge. Nadal won the match but looked predictable, every forehand an echo of the last, running down balls again and again, that's his game ok, but i'm not about to start liking it. In contrast Murrey constantly beguiled us with shots he never should have played, dancing on the net with verve and creativity and mixing a strange unexpected but delightful cocktail for our delectation.
He lost the match but showed us he has what it takes to join the big boys, if he does join them it'll be great for tennis fans because he isn't a grinder, he's a magician.

which broadcaster are you watching?? this canuck wants to know :D

because i think you are watching tsn's purchased coverage from ESPN, an amerian broadcaster. tsn has no say in what matches they cover. for us canadians the blame lies in time zone differences. melbourne is almost a day away so whenever tennis from there reaches our shores, it's old news. tsn has just elected to show yesterday's matches to fill time slot hours today :rolleyes: :angry:

annoying and silly, isn't it??

Yea they showed that match and the hingis one and couldnt show the Rafa-Andy one :angry:

I will say that Andy impressed me today but proved my point as well that he isn't quite up to the standard just yet.

Delightful cocktail - love it BT :D

Yes he is showing himself to be a refreshign change, which is why I really don't get how true tennis fans can be so dismissive and scathing of both his game and his person. And even more worrying, support s player who as you say does the same stuff day in, day out. Oh well, some of us obviously like variety more than others. I can't stick the sluggers and grinders, but at least I can respect what skill is involved in a style I dislike. However, I do think that many chose to slug and grind becasue they dont; have the flair, skill and finesse or even the mind to play any different. If they coudl, then surely they would add to their games, we dont; see Shara for example using touch and volleying supremely at the net do we? :D

Agreed Super, it's as if the majority of tennis players were cloned, or grown in test tubes, Sharapova fallis into that category playing the same game from the back of the court hitting hard with little variety.
Unfortunately for them if they drop out of the top 40 they're programmed to self destruct, a puff of white smoke and there gone, unfortunately there's another one waiting to take the clones place, ah well.

"which broadcaster are you watching?? this canuck wants to know

because i think you are watching tsn's purchased coverage from ESPN, an amerian broadcaster. tsn has no say in what matches they cover. for us canadians the blame lies in time zone differences. melbourne is almost a day away so whenever tennis from there reaches our shores, it's old news. tsn has just elected to show yesterday's matches to fill time slot hours today

annoying and silly, isn't it??"

Yes it's more than annoying! I'm still angry about it. Bet they show the Roddick and FedEx matches tonight though!!! The thing is the Rafa-Murray match finished at 10 am Toronto time so I don't see why they couldn't have shown it at 3 pm instead of simply repeating the Crappypova game. I clearly remember Dick Enberg saying at 5:30 am that they would be showing the Nadal match at 3 pm.

If you're a Canuck, what are you watching? Did you get to see it? We get TSN here - rubbish! Remember the Rome final between Fed and Nadal last year - TSN showed - I kid you not - only the last set in the middle of the night on tape delay. That was it!

I would do ANYTHING to get to see this match - does anyone have it on tape??? Can someone post it on YouTube?

:D Love it, lol! Sounds rather scary, a bit Brave New World with the laboratory produced people. Yuck! I heard someone saying that Bollettieri basically has people standing on the baseline hittting back hard balls even harder for hours on end. The results are truly one dimensional. it's beyond me why he cant; teach them the other stuff as well though.

It is a terrible thing in all seriousness, because once everyone plays the same way sport becomes boring. For me anyway (and it seems fo rmany sports experts, commentators, pundits or whatever) there are aspects of tennis that really make for exciting and interesting viewing. I'd say

1. contrasting styles - the baseliner v the serve volleyer, counterpuncher v the shotmaker, etc.

2. a. variety of shots and play - both in a game of tennis and from a particular player; mixing things up, being unpredictable b. sheer genius of shotmaking, flair and individuality - which tends to follow from variety cos if you are not a great shotmaker you won't have much of that.

If you look back to the Golden Era when tennis was considered to be at it's most exciting, you'll find less clones and more individuality and genius, more variety of styles of play, more great matches with contrasting styles. The names of the day being the likes of Mac, Connors, Borg says it all really. There are so few real players out there and too many sluggers. And because sport is a very serious industry with little room for error and all about winning, no matter how ugly or boring, individuality, flair and risk taking is nto encouraged. It's all defensive play and I find that all a bit cowardly. there is that old motto drummed into me by my dad from a very young age - best form of defence is attack. Maybe by dad should replace Bolletieri, but sadly he knows Jack about tennis coaching. roflmao

Totally agree with your coments SB. I missed the match :( but it sounded like Murrays best ever and no shame in losing. :ok: He plays a very clever game and reminds me of Miloslav Mecir,one of the most talented players of the Eighties . Andy's proved he is good enough to win a Grand Slam some day and did himself proud :)

Thanks Al. :) Glad someone agrees, it doesnt; seem like many though much of Murray yesterday judging form the sarcasm and lack of interest. Still do I care? NO! roflmao Yes Mecir was quite something, although not a name many remember. I never saw much fo his play but he was oen of the most natrually talented and magical holders of a tennis racquet. Santoro is another one who is very gifted, shame he never went on to win the biggies. :(

All this talk of old players with great shotmaking is making me wnat to buy tennis oldies videos. I might well do, as I see so little to rave about in the game at times. I can watch those classics and great shots over and over though.

I was very impressed with Murray, but I do feel his forehand still needs a lot work. On the big points he wasn't able to play it simple. Rafa always had a gameplan ready on the important points and was able to take the initiative when he really needed to.