Andy Murray

Shhh · Challenger level

Andy Murray

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I see Andy feels that Lendl will bring him clarity on how to play but also how to practise. He goes on to say, he doesnt feel he has been practising the right way for the past 18 months.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/26/andy-murray-switches-focus-to-grass-after-another-early-exit-in-miami

Presumably that is a large part of what caused the split with Jamie Delgado, or am I implying incorrectly?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Well, contrary to earlier plans, Andy now seems to be heading to play in Madrid the week after next

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-10734887/Andy-Murray-play-clay-court-season-all.html

Hard to keep up!!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Although it seems it is just Madrid and not the French Open etc

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/61161702

So presumably Surbiton still in the plans?

Madadman · Top national player

Good to see Andy playing some part of the Clay season. Was too long a break to play no tennis.

flamingowings · All-time great

twitter.com/andy_murray/status/1516949269781098496

There's a whole thread where Andy explains his WC views (if you follow the linked tweet above) but the linked tweet is one where he says he was planning on playing some hard court tournaments before they were cancelled.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Good that Andy responded and it remained good humoured. Personally I think Andy has had too many but, as said, who are we to judge.

One thing - the challengers havent just been cancelled, they havent been on the schedule for a good long time and before he decided to take his sabbatical. He therefore would have known that before he took the break and was saying he wouldnt play the clay - so that doesnt quite add up; plus there is a well discussed challenger in Morelos in Mexico next week that is hardcourt !

Those points aside , Im pleased Andy responded and engaged with the guy and it kept sensible and intelligent !

Shhh · Challenger level

Andy is the greatest thing that has happened to British tennis and he has transcended that we with the way he has conducted himself over the years. He is a superb bloke.

But he does take too many wild cards. There were no hard court challengers this year that got cancelled. If he wanted matches he could play qualies. He is thinking "sure why not, if you are offering?" without being conscious of what it may have meant to somebody else. For somebody with a whole team around him planning every last micro detail that they can control I feel this is wrong on his part. Just my opinion.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
Andy is the greatest thing that has happened to British tennis and he has transcended that we with the way he has conducted himself over the years. He is a superb bloke.

But he does take too many wild cards. There were no hard court challengers this year that got cancelled. If he wanted matches he could play qualies. He is thinking "sure why not, if you are offering?" without being conscious of what it may have meant to somebody else. For somebody with a whole team around him planning every last micro detail that they can control I feel this is wrong on his part. Just my opinion.

Yep, tend to agree. If he just wanted matches, playing qualies would have done the job anyway; cant remember how many rounds they have in Masters events, but 2 qualies matches, maybe a main draw if he gets through, in Madrid and ROme, and job done. It seems he may be playing ROme qualies, in fact, instead of taking a wild card to the main draw, although presumably that would need to be a QWC at this stage.

christ · Futures qualifying

Sport isn't only about providing a living for sportsmen, it is also about providing a show for the spectators. I think that there are many, many people for whom seeing Mr Murray at an event is worth the entrance money alone even in his declining years. These people are being benefited by Mr Murray taking wild cards.

If I may make an analogy Tiger Woods accepting a technically unearned invitation to play in a golf tournament may deprive a journeyman golfer of a place in the event, but hundreds or thousands of spectators would have their day made, even if he is hobbling round 30 over par.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

christ wrote:
Sport isn't only about providing a living for sportsmen, it is also about providing a show for the spectators. I think that there are many, many people for whom seeing Mr Murray at an event is worth the entrance money alone even in his declining years. These people are being benefited by Mr Murray taking wild cards.

If I may make an analogy Tiger Woods accepting a technically unearned invitation to play in a golf tournament may deprive a journeyman golfer of a place in the event, but hundreds or thousands of spectators would have their day made, even if he is hobbling round 30 over par.

And in general I definitely agree - I just think that maybe 20 is a little more than is reasonable, being honest. And I am a massive Andy fan, as well are, so don't mention it to attack him.

Shhh · Challenger level

christ wrote:
Sport isn't only about providing a living for sportsmen, it is also about providing a show for the spectators. I think that there are many, many people for whom seeing Mr Murray at an event is worth the entrance money alone even in his declining years. These people are being benefited by Mr Murray taking wild cards.

I think we would all agree with that christ but I do not believe that is the issue. Andy has said he has turned to these tournaments as some hard court events were cancelled. That does not appear to be true(?) He said he wants matches before the grass, well qualies would provide those and may be closer to where his clay court game is too.

The tournament will be delighted to have him, as will be fans. The disrespect (if any) is shown towards a fellow professional whom he is taking the opportunity from. As I say, just my opinion.

indiana · Tennis legend

Of course if Andy didn't take a MD WC that one would almost certainly be awarded to someone else so the same net position for players bordering on the MD or qualifying.

So what Andy is taking away is another player's WC rather than a ranking 'earned' place, which always have to be considered allowing for WCs.

Whether Andy gets too many may be open to debate but it is very understandable that individual tournaments choose to give one to him

Aberdaberdonian · Club Coach

So a comparison of how Andy's performed this Q1 vs 2021 Q1. He entered double the number of tournaments compared to last year and earned just short of 4 times the number of points. Continue at this rate and fingers-crossed WCs should become a thing of the past.

AndyM 2022 Q1.png

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

has anyone seen anymore about Andy and his recent Madrid illness - and presumably that he isnt playing in Paris, or is he?!