Andy Murray

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Andy Murray

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

One of my lasting memories of Andy - and this is a story I have told here before, albeit a long time ago - was that day in Belgium when he hit 'that' lob to win the Davis Cup. I was fortunate enough to be there that day. But the moment I am talking about was well away from the cameras and the spotlight and to frame it, this was shortly have John Lloyd (?) had made that comment about Andy needing to do more for GB tennis.

With the presentations over, the lights dimmed and the cameras off, almost everyone from the playing and support staff had left the arena. I have no doubt that Andy also had the urge to go and celebrate with his team mates. Nobody would have begrudged him if he had done so. But instead, he spent probably 45 minutes, walking around the GB crowd that were still in their seats, getting selfies with anyone who wanted it, including an excited expat from Spain. There was no fanfare, no media coverage, no tangible benefit for Andy, but he understood what it was like from a fans perspective and chose to share those moments with the people that took their time and their money to support him around the world.

No doubt, that Andy was as much a class act off the court as he was on it.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
One of my lasting memories of Andy - and this is a story I have told here before, albeit a long time ago - was that day in Belgium when he hit 'that' lob to win the Davis Cup. I was fortunate enough to be there that day. But the moment I am talking about was well away from the cameras and the spotlight and to frame it, this was shortly have John Lloyd (?) had made that comment about Andy needing to do more for GB tennis.

With the presentations over, the lights dimmed and the cameras off, almost everyone from the playing and support staff had left the arena. I have no doubt that Andy also had the urge to go and celebrate with his team mates. Nobody would have begrudged him if he had done so. But instead, he spent probably 45 minutes, walking around the GB crowd that were still in their seats, getting selfies with anyone who wanted it, including an excited expat from Spain. There was no fanfare, no media coverage, no tangible benefit for Andy, but he understood what it was like from a fans perspective and chose to share those moments with the people that took their time and their money to support him around the world.

No doubt, that Andy was as much a class act off the court as he was on it.

I also remember the rest of the team rushing on as he lay on court after his winning lob vs Goffin and jumping on him.

He then picked himself up and headed straight for Goffin and the rest of Belgium team to commiserate wit them, I think before anyone else.

Class is the word.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Long feature article from today's Standard: what will Andy do next?

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

Who do you think was the "young Scottish kid" in pre qualifying mentioned on the BBC website?

* nevermind, the Standard is more in depth and actually mentions Charlie Robertson

-- Edited by thegingerlightbulb on Saturday 3rd of August 2024 01:35:02 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

x.com/newwaveandpunk/status/1820075140727623773

indiana · Tennis legend

Andy is now a former ATP ranked player.

Enjoy that retirement !

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Andy in (blissful) retirement. smile

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

And so Rafa is confirmed to retire at end of season- he will stop after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Not sure if he is planning to play anything before like Paris or one of the other indoor events?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

In an interview, Rafa has talked about rivalries and said Roger was his biggest rival

Which I get and agree with - it was the two of them before Djoko, the contrast and some of the epic matches like W 2008.

www.menstennisforums.com/threads/nadal-says-federer-is-his-biggest-rival-in-his-first-interview-post-retirement.1031440/

Of course, Djoko fans see it as a slight on Djoko - not saying he is the biggest rival implies he wasnt as good, but he was the GOAT etc etc - you know how it goes!

But the question I had was - who is or was Andy Murrays biggest rival? I dont mean who he played the most, but which rivalry stands out for Andy as his career rival - or did he have one at all?

In my head I always lump Andy with Djoko or Federer, not Rafa really. Roger through the Wimbledon and slam finals and Olympics. but somehow I think of Djoko as Andys main rival - probably due to playing and growing together through juniors as well as pros. Im not sure from djokos perspective it would be Andy, but thats fine. Leeds see Man Utd as their biggest rivals, Man Utd clearly wouldnt!

What do others think of who Andys main rival was?

Sheddie · administrator

I'd say that Djokovic was almost certainly Andy's biggest rival. Played him in so many slam finals - obviously won US Open 2012 and Wimbledon 2013, but if he hadn't been there, Andy could easily have 4 Australian Open titles and a Roland Garros to his name.

So many of the most significant victories came over Novak - beating him to win the 2016 Tour Finals and secure year-end no 1 in particular comes to find. Also beat him in Cincinnati 2008 for his first ever Masters title, again in Rome 2016 - that felt like a really significant one for Andy, his first big clay title outside of Madrid.

Overall, of the 21 Masters finals that Andy contested, he played Novak in 10 of them, way more than any other player. Novak was always there.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, definitely Djokovic.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Cool - the Nolefam wont like it though - hes not good enough to have Djoko as his main rival!

christ · Futures level

Stan the Man.

I don't think that Mr Murray saw Messrs Federer, Nadal and Djokovic as rivals: they were - the three of them - the aspiration. There was undoubtedly a period when he made up the fourth leg of the Big Four, but equally doubtless Mr Murray was only hanging in that group by his fingertips. I think that he wanted - needed - to establish himself alongside the Big Three, and to do that he had to beat rivals such as del Potro and Wawrinka.

-- Edited by christ on Tuesday 22nd of October 2024 06:16:24 PM

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

Definitely Novak!