Andy Murray will start the defence of his San Jose title this week against American Kevin Kim. Kim is 28 and currently ranked 108. He has a career high of 63 which he reached in March 2005 but he's spent most of his career on the challenger circuit, playing the occasional ATP event. His 2006 highlights were winning challenger titles in Dallas and Cordoba. He's had a poor start to 2007, losing in rd1 of Sydney, Delray Beach and the Australian Open and he's also played a couple of challengers this year, losing in round 1 of the Waikoloa 50K to a Mexican ranked outside the top 200 and last week he retired in round 1 of the Dallas 50K. Kim's a counter-puncher, he's very fast around the court and frustrates opponents with his retrieving skills. He's got a good serve for fast surfaces but he lacks a big weapon to outhit opponents from the back which is why he's been unable to break the top 50 and was only in the top 75 for a short period of time.
Murray is the 3rd seed and he's seeded to face Hyung-Taik Lee in the quarters and Andy Roddick in the semis.
The only thing standing in between Andy and the semis (in my opinion) is Andy himself if this being his first attempt to defend a title affects him then there could be a problem. But I really don't see Andy as that type of player so I'm fully expecting him to breeze through the first few rounds.
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
I hope he wins the match comfortably though expect a few rustinesses here there but hopefully this will be his happy hunting ground for many years to come!
Well, it's getting close now. . . I'm afraid there is no way I am getting up at 4.30 in the morning to watch a scoreboard, but barring injury there should be no way Andy will lose this, so I hope for good news in the morning.
I see from the poll we are all quite confident. . .
Madeline wrote: Well, it's getting close now. . . I'm afraid there is no way I am getting up at 4.30 in the morning to watch a scoreboard, but barring injury there should be no way Andy will lose this, so I hope for good news in the morning.
I see from the poll we are all quite confident. . .
Now THAT'S more like it, I don't mind staying up to watch a scoreboard. Though I expect him to beat Pless fairly comfortably, too.
What a difference a year makes! This time last year we were agonising over every match, because Andy was quite likely to go out in the first round whoever he met! In fact, he seemed then to have more difficulty beating lower-ranked players than higher-ranked.
Hopefully he has got over that, as there are now a heck of a lot more players ranked lower!
Madeline wrote: In fact, he seemed then to have more difficulty beating lower-ranked players than higher-ranked.
Hopefully he has got over that, as there are now a heck of a lot more players ranked lower!
On the bright side(ish) if he hasn't they'll soon be a whole lot more players ranked higher!!
Seriously though I think Andy has gotten over that, which is great news. I just hope he hasn't stopped beating the players ranked higher than him more often than not too!
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
It was Jamies 21st birthday yesterday. Apparently it was mentioned during the on-court interview, and Jamie was called out of the crowd and presented with a birthday cake! Nice one, Andy (I assume it was his idea). And nice one Jamie, spending your 21st watching your brother play.
though expect a few rustinesses here there but hopefully this will be his happy hunting ground for many years to come!
May get to catch the start...
