Horrible draw I know, but I don't think we should fear the Byrans quite so much with Mirnyi in the team, he's got plenty of experience of both playing them and beating them so I'm going to hope for an upset.
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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
Bloomin' 'eck! How awful. An easier draw, with them getting the opportunity to get more matches together under their belts would have been a bonus. Still go get 'em guys.
Bloomin' 'eck! How awful. An easier draw, with them getting the opportunity to get more matches together under their belts would have been a bonus. Still go get 'em guys.
-- Edited by helki at 19:40, 2008-01-07
Last up on court 6 Tuesday with play due to start at 11.00AM in Sydney. We should know the result by the time we're up and about.
Bloomin' 'eck! How awful. An easier draw, with them getting the opportunity to get more matches together under their belts would have been a bonus.
Except at the AO. I've only just remembered that he won't be with MM there AO, he'll be partnering Kevin Ullyett (who played with Booty in the first round in Sydney & lost - to the all-Aussie pairing of Jones & Sirianni!) - cf. 28th November article in The Grauniad for confirmation:
Murray plans to double up with Mirnyi
Steve Bierley
Swapping partners has been a feature among the leading doubles teams towards the end of this year and it has now seen Jamie Murray link up with Max Mirnyi, formerly the foil of Sweden's Jonas Björkman. "I had heard that Kevin Ullyett was going to be playing with Björkman, so I guessed Max was available," said Murray. "I was kind of hassling him a little bit to e-mail me and see what he wanted to do. I didn't really think it would happen, if I'm honest. It took me a while to find someone. I held off and held off but I think I have found the right one now. I am more excited about it than relieved," Murray said. "I don't see why we can't do well in the big tournaments - the Masters Series and the grand slams - and maybe we'll win one this year."
Murray is already committed to playing with Zimbabwe's Ullyett, coached by Miles Maclagan, a former member of Britain's Davis Cup team, at the Australian Open in January, but will play with the Belarussian for the first time in Doha, prior to Melbourne, and then almost certainly for the rest of the year after the opening major. Murray had been searching for a partner since his split with the American Eric Butorac, with whom he won the Memphis, San Jose and Nottingham tournaments this year. "Max and I both play quite a similar kind of style, which I think will work well. He serves big, volleys well and has a great presence. I think he's a great player. He's obviously won a load of tournaments and grand slams as well. He and Björkman won the Masters Cup last year."
Mirnyi, 6ft 5in and nicknamed the "Beast of Belarus", has 33 doubles title to his name, including the French and US Opens, and was the world No 1 in 2003.
Yeah that has all changed now, as Booty's new partner Ashely Fisher has picked up a knee injury, so Booty will team up with Kevin Ullyett at the Australian Open, leaving Jamie free to team up with Max.
An easier draw, with them getting the opportunity to get more matches together under their belts would have been a bonus. Still go get 'em guys. 
