Rome Masters R1 - Murray v JMDP

Count Zero · Tennis legend

RE: Rome Masters R1 - Murray v JMDP

murrayfan99 · Lower Club Player

jmdp retires amid many tears

Drew · May 5, 2008

Been working and following the SB....what did JMDP do to get injured ?

Drew · May 5, 2008

A win is a win...quick recovery to JMDP

murrayfan99 · Lower Club Player

seemed to be a lower back strain - no sign that he was struggling until he failed to chase a drop shot (the last point played) but Andy had been dominating since getting fired up

-- Edited by murrayfan99 at 22:45, 2008-05-05

Count Zero · Tennis legend

cant tell he just stopped after a am drops shot winner.
the commentator thought maybe all the drop shots andy made his play took thier toll,nothing looked painfull, but he was in clear pain so mayeb some kinda spasm?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Not the way you want to win, but I think Andy would have come through this match anyway.

I told you Del Potro was "femmer". He seems to get a lot of injuries - maybe because he is such a big lad, not fully grown into his strength yet, a bit like Andy was a couple of years ago.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Juan Martin Del Potro's back injury early in the third set handed Andy Murray victory in their opening round clash in Rome. But to be fair to Murray, he had all the momentum at that point, coming back from losing the opening set and then gaining an early break in the third before the injury occurred.

Murray played with a great deal of imagination, serve and volley, drop shots, aggressive returning against the second serve, crisp backhands and the odd fierce forehand. The only real weak aspects of his game were his second serve, again far too vulnerable, and his sliced backhand which often lacked depth or bite, and ended up gifting his opponent control of the rally.

Del Potro gained the first break after a rain interruption to lead 1-3. Andy recovered to 3-3, only to fall behind again 3-5, but broke back to love as Juan Martin served for the set. At 5-6 Del Potro came up with an amazing backhand down the line, a ball shot off the line causing Andy to lose control then the infamous Murray drop shot misfired on set point. Andy slightly unfortunate to lose a close opening set.

Neither player threatened to break until Andy adopted an aggressive approach returning the second serve, then coming into the net to volley into the space. He pulled back from 40-15 to break point then saw Juan Martin's forehand go long. A poor service game from Murray allowed JMDP to break straight back. But Andy regained the initiative with another break as unforced errors cost the argentinian player.

This time Murray held to take the set and he produced more super play to gain the early break in the third set. With Andy serving at 1-0 15-0 JMDP went to chase a drop shot then pulled up clutching his back. An unfortunate end to an interesting match.

Positive signs for Murray watchers. He mixed up his game reasonably well. Some good use of serve and volley, though it perhaps became a little predictable at times. The drop shot won more than it lost, and his volleying was excellent. His routine groundstrokes too often fall short but there were plenty of outright winners too.

-- Edited by kundalini at 23:29, 2008-05-05

-- Edited by kundalini at 23:31, 2008-05-05

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Thank you for the summary Kundalini, I have put it up on bt.net.

Hmm. I may have jumped in before your second edit. I did replace the asterisks in mi**** - really Activeboard censorship is hilarious - but as far as I can see that is all you have altered, so I will just leave it.

Happycynic · Pro player

According to the BBC website, Murray is a bit furious with Del Potro for dissing his mother during the game ('banter', 'sledging' or just uncouth behaviour as you see fit).

If true, have a little less sympathy for his injury. I ask you. What has Mrs Murray got to do with anything?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Happycynic wrote:

According to the BBC website, Murray is a bit furious with Del Potro for dissing his mother during the game ('banter', 'sledging' or just uncouth behaviour as you see fit).

If true, have a little less sympathy for his injury. I ask you. What has Mrs Murray got to do with anything?

There's a similar, if slightly shorter, version in today's Times:

Andy Murray claims rival insulted his mother in walkover win

Neil Harman

Andy Murray's opponent dissolved into floods of tears last night, impaled on the twin prongs of the British No 1s brilliance and his own susceptibly long, lean body. Juan Martín del Potro, of Argentina, quit in the second game of the final set not long before midnight just as Murray's game was approaching a decisive peak. It was an unsatisfactory end to an extraordinary match.

Murray is into the second round of the BNL d'Italia Masters, where he faces Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, courtesy of a victory recorded as 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 in his favour. That does not tell half of an absorbing story, for Murray had fallen behind, was warned for an audible obscenity, argued that del Potro had criticised Judy, his mother, for her support from the stands and then started to play some quite delightful tennis. Having been messed around so much, it was somehow apt that del Potro should pull up with a back injury when moving forward to reach another drop shot and have to withdraw, his eyes reddened and swollen with tears. Murray went over and patted him on the back - lightly, it has to be said.

The Scot, though, was still seething afterwards about del Potro's criticism of his mother. "I will accept lots of things, but not when someone insults my mum, the nicest person in the world," he said. The conditions were similar to those in last year's opening round, when Murray was forced to start, stop and start again before his game and self-belief were gradually whittled down by Gilles Simon, of France. Steady drizzle made the court almost impossible to penetrate, rhythm was hard to come by and, at times, the opposition was in bewitching form. But these circumstances - and Murray's belief that officialdom is conspiring against him - are often when the Scot comes into his own. Only two games were completed before the pair scurried for cover and, upon the resumption, Murray played one of those games for which he has the definitive copyright: there were four drop shots, three successful. Del Potro, hampered all year by back problems, lacked the toughness to secure his foothold. Murray makes great play of his ability to win three-set matches and he was well on his way when the action abruptly stopped.

* The article has attracted the following reader comment:

Murray is the BIGGEST baby since McEnroe. I feel bad for his mother and brother...I pay JUST to watch him lose.....

j byrd, morris, usa

Silver · County player

Isn't that what's usually referred to as 'Argy Bargy?'

That's one of those tales my grandad used to tell me. I may be wrong!!! (Technically he might be wrong, of course...)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I would love to see a match between Del Potro and Djokovic! I bet JMDP would have a fair bit to say about Djoke's mum - and I would like to see Novak's reaction!

john · Top national player

For those who didn't see it, Del Potro's problem was with Andy being very vocal on Potro's unforced errors. His comment about Andy's mum was based on the fact that she was courtside and was also cheering Del Potro's ues. (by the looks of it on TV, she was pretty much the only one there which would have made it more obvious).

Andy's problem was that he felt Del Potro hit a backhand straight at him when he (Andy) was at the net. On replay, the backhand wasn't particularly close to him at all.

Apparently there is some "history" between them from back in the juniors. Petchey said on Sky Sports today there is "history" between Andy and quite a few other players his age and he used to "hear them saying things" when he worked with Andy.

Make of all that what you will.