Sorry but that was a shocking display. What happened to attacking tennis? Trying to win the point? Serve and volley like in Aus? I spent half the match screaming "hit the ball" at the tv set as Andy let yet another chance go by to take control of the rally. He just didn't want to go for his shots.

Didn't expect him to win. But I thought he'd give it a go. Instead we got a marginal improvement on the Baghdatis display but he'd have struggled to beat Schuettler or Clement playing like that.

Overall he's done ok this Wimbledon but what a disappointing exit. Everyone knows that you have to take the game to Nadal if you are to beat him yet Murray didn't even want to take on the second serve. There was a point midway through the third set when Andy had 15-30 on the Nadal serve, he got a straightforward second serve in the middle of the box and proceeded to timidly return it into the middle of the court and of course Rafa puts away a big forehand.

I kept thinking back to their match in Australia and wondering what was Murray thinking?


-- Edited by kundalini at 20:42, 2008-07-02

Ha Ha not allowed to say mis-hit!

The first thing to state is that Nadal was very impressive, and the final against Federer will be a classic match, and I'd be disappointed if it doesn't top last years epic match given both their current form.

But that wasn't the best performance from Murray.... in fact... it was a terrible performance, as he went out and played the way it is never going to beat Nadal. To beat Nadal you either need for him to have a really bad day, or to hit through the guy by playing agressive tennis and hitting lots of winners.

Murray didn't do that, and consistantly tried to outrally Nadal and wait for him to make the error, rarely attacked the net, and basically handed Nadal a spot in the SF without putting anything into it.

He looked flat out there, so maybe the Gasquet match took far too much out of him, but I don't think his level of play against Gasquet for sets 1 and 2 was a lot better than what he produced today... he only played well against him when he got the break back, and before that didn't play well.

At least he's reached a QF though, finally beat a player from his generation, and is back in the top 10, but performances like that show he has a long way to go to reach the big 3, and he looks way behind Ferrer, Davydenko and Roddick at the moment as well.

While it was a very disappointing display we need to take things in context. Firstly Nadal was absolutely superb and the way he is playing at the moment I believe he has every chance of beating Federer.

Secondly it is hard to under estimate what Monday's match took out of him. Mentally he looked drained and it's not really surprising. It wasn't just a tough five setter but it was the match where a) he proved that he really does belong in the top 10 and b) won over the Tennis watching public. He will play long five setters in the future but they won't be such a big deal and so emotionally draining.

Overall the tournament has been hugely positive and as long as stays free from injury there is no reason why a can't push on from here.

Madeline wrote:

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Ah well. When I first saw the draw I said, "he's not getting past the quarters". Why did I have to be right?

At the moment Rafa is just a better player. Back to the drawing board, Andy, and better luck next year (like getting into a quarter where you don't meet the top 3 until semis). Hey, that means getting your ranking up to 4 - well, do that then!

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Yes, guess getting to no 4 sorts that, which I honestly think is doable.  Otherwise, hope for luck in getting drawn in the "right quarter" !

I thought it was an absolutely tremenodous performance from Rafa. I can't see that Andy at his absolute best would have beaten Rafa, but then if he had managed to put some pressure on, I guess you never know, but I think not.

He did seem to know from interviews that he had to play aggresively against Rafa, it seems just on the day the body and mind were not in a state to really do it. A pity, and I wish he could have given of his best, although I really don't think he was as bad as some have made out.  Great credit to Rafa !

He's going in the right direction.  Best season yet on clay, and best Wimbledon result.  He's also 8th in the ATP race now ( just 5 points behind Roddick in 6th ) , well unless Safin goes and wins the thing, with American hardcourts, Olympics and European indoors to come, which should be good for him. 

He has undoubtably made real progress fitness-wise, it is very clear to see.  It does look by his reaction to Monday shown today, that he has still a lot more to work on and he has already said that himself.  He knows this, and I am convinced he will do the necessary work that will only make him a better player.

From a few months ago, when I wondered where he was going and questioned his team, I am much more optimistic now and it is clear that certainly the work with the fitness guys in the team is paying dividends.  More fitness work, and maybe with a lot achieved there, more concentration back on improving aspects of his tennis ( eg. serve consistency ) then the only way I see for the next year or two is up.

madfan wrote:

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I agree that Andy has had an amazing 10 days at Wimbledon and all credit to him BUT, to win a Grand Slam you have to have the mental and physical strength to win 5 setters and then come back 2 days later and. possibly, do the same. Will Andy ever get in good enough physical shape to do this? I think that he is an awesome tennis player but just question if he can ever get the "engine" to go all the way in a slam

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 I don't doubt that he will eventually get himself in good enough shape to win a Grand Slam. Why? Because I don't doubt his will to win and that will to win will drive him to get himself in good enough shape. He has already put a huge amount of work in and isn't that far away from being where he needs to be. It was more the mental and emotional strain of the Gasquet match than the physical effect that hurt him today.  What people also need to remember is that Andy isn't a natural athlete like Nadal. For Andy who was basically a skinny kid it is much much harder to get into great physical shape but he clearly is getting there and know's what he needs to do.

What is most important from the last 2 weeks is that he has clearly matured. He is always going to be a bit moody (he can't change who he is) but the worst of his teenage stropiness appears to be behind him.

A few months ago I think we all had serious concerns about where his career was going but now it looks like the very difficult choices that he has made in the last year have been good ones.