Hamburg AMS R3: Murray v Nadal

wolf · Tennis legend

Hamburg AMS R3: Murray v Nadal

murrayfan99 · Lower Club Player

How about an alternative prediction poll - which Andy will turn up (add some more interesting alternatives if you like)

1. the Andy that gave Nadal a fright at the AO '07 - serving and pressurising to the best of his ability

2. Andy the gormless server

3. Andy the gormless retriever - the "how to make Djokovic look even better than he really is" game plan

Difficult poll since there are combinations - but I'm certainly hoping for more of no 1 and less of the others.

I certainly hope that we will see one of his better performances of the year - allowing for the fact that he might still lose quite badly if Nadal pays Andy the compliment of turning up with his A game.

Happycynic · Pro player

It's the red stuff, so would have to back Nadal. He was born on the damn stuff.

Still, always brings out the best in Andy.... so should be worth watching.

So I vote Nadal to win. But Andy 1 will turn up.

Hope to be wrong about the first of those, of course.

eblunt · Club Coach

murrayfan99 wrote:

How about an alternative prediction poll - which Andy will turn up (add some more interesting alternatives if you like)

1. the Andy that gave Nadal a fright at the AO '07 - serving and pressurising to the best of his ability

2. Andy the gormless server

3. Andy the gormless retriever - the "how to make Djokovic look even better than he really is" game plan

Difficult poll since there are combinations - but I'm certainly hoping for more of no 1 and less of the others.

I certainly hope that we will see one of his better performances of the year - allowing for the fact that he might still lose quite badly if Nadal pays Andy the compliment of turning up with his A game.

or 4. Moonballing Andy ?

mkkreuk · Admin:Moderator + ATP qualifying

Poll added as requested by murrayfan99. As you said, there are combinations to this answer, so you can choose all that apply.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I voted the first option - but that doesn't mean I think Andy will win, unless Rafa has a bad day!

eblunt · Club Coach

Maybe he should have a "blisters" gameplan. Find out which type of shots are most likely to aggravate Rafa's blisters when retrieving and stick to then. A bit like a boxer 'working' on an opponents cut eye or soemthing.

He needs to know which foot has the problem, and whether they are on the outside or the inside of the foot, in order to be able to fashion the most blister inducing game against Rafa.

steven · Tennis legend

You're evil, aren't you. LOL

Count Zero · Tennis legend

he'd have that if BG was his coach no doubt.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Well he's warming up. Nadal chose to receive first so Andy to serve. Hopefully he's brought his best game. And I'm off to watch it, might post scores sporadically if no one else is but I can't do game by game as it mucks up the streaming.

Go Andy!

johnnylad · Tennis legend

scoreboard is playing silly buggers but Andy is 1-3 down.

Plenty of time though!

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Murray 2-3 Nadal
A bit better from Muzza, but he's having to work hard to hold his serve right now. The Scot resolves to come into the net a couple of times to good effect, and an ace relieves a little of the pressure being exerted upon him by Nadal. The Spaniard pushes him to deuce, but Murray - with an exquisite lob and ace along the way - just about holds.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Murray 3-4 Nadal
Murray is still giving away the odd cheap point - he can't afford very many of them - but he holds his nerve to serve out to 30. Looks like the Scot might be looking to mix in a bit of serve-volley as well. No harm in that.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Murray 3-5 Nadal
New balls for Nadal... and a glimmer of hope for Murray as he dominates three of the first four points to earn two break points. His forehand is long on the first and a wayward return brings it back to deuce, though. Nadal eventually holds but Murray is starting to get good bounce on his shots now, which is affecting Nadal's ability to power back his returns - perhaps the Scot is finalising a gameplan?

(these are pasted from bbc sport by the way for anyone who doesn't recognise the unusual commentary)

[ 9000th post!

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-- Edited by johnnylad at 19:01, 2008-05-15

Salmon · Tennis legend

Congrats, Jonnylad!!