Cincinnati Masters 2008 SF - Murray v Karlovic

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Cincinnati Masters 2008 SF - Murray v Karlovic

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Not going to be an easy match because of how fast the courts are, but I can't really see Murray losing this match unless he has a bad day.

Murray broke Querrey 4 times, Tursunov 4 times and Moya 5 times - Querrey and Tursunov have big serves, and Moya a decent serve, so he's breaking a lot which suggests he's not having too much trouble returning serve.

Yeah, if Murray throws in a bad service game he'll be in trouble as it could well be the set gone, but if he keeps his cool he should be able to take him in the tiebreaks as he just needs 1 or 2 good returns, or Karlovic to miss some first serves and he'll beat him (and he should win 90% of the baseline rallies as well)

Take the serve away from Karlovic, and his game matches up perfectly to Murray, so unless Karlovic serves the best he's ever served and/or Murray has some muppet moments, Murray's winning this... maybe needed a couple of tiebreaks to do so though

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Madeline wrote:

I'm just praying for a later start!

Can't see that happening, somehow! Irrespective of whom Nadal plays in the other SF, it's bound to be the later match! cry

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Stircrazy wrote:

Madeline wrote:

I'm just praying for a later start!

Can't see that happening, somehow! Irrespective of whom Nadal plays in the other SF, it's bound to be the later match!

Or Lapentti smile

It will be like Toronto I guess and start at around 3-4 ish in the afternoon, although with the heat I don't know for sure... it won't be a 12 start though I'm sure

indiana · Tennis legend

I tend to look at it less that the fast courts make Karloviic a real threat as rather the only reason Karlovic is in this semi-final is that the courts are fast. Essentially, he is not in the same class as Andy, and his GS / MS record is pretty shocking.

Yes, it is his best surface and yes he beat Federer, but Andy's real forte is returming and he is capable of disilusioning Karlovic by the number he will get back and get back well.

Of course if Karlovic is in one of his real hot serve days, then even Andy may not get enough back well enough to break service.

However, I predict he will break at least once in each set, and that may be enough as long as his own serve is in reasonable working order and he doesn't go walkabout for a game.

Andy to win in straight sets.

DavidC · Tennis legend

The afternoon match (almost certainly Andy v Ivo) starts at 1pm (6pm BST) according to Sky's schedules and Bet365.com

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, OoP confirms Andy is on at 1pm local time.

Now judging by today's match, that might be OK, because that just about coincides with the time when Andy woke up in the Moya match smile

Ratty · County player

I'm rooting for Ivo's opponent every time he plays.

I've nothing against the guy on a personal level, but his style of play has the same entertainment level as watching paint dry.

So for the good of "tennis", COME ON ANDY!!!!!!!!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I find Ivo's play entertaining. Is he actually going to miss a serve? Can the opponent get a racquet on it? Is he even going to try to get to a difficult pass?

But then, I could possibly find enjoyment in watching grass grow. It's all in the mind!

1pm is better than noon, but I definitely wanted a later start, not only for Andy's sake - I have to be out until just after 7pm! cry

-- Edited by Madeline at 10:56, 2008-08-02

Salmon · Tennis legend

It's all a matter of taste. Although it's not my favourite form, I find big serving far more entertaining than 342 stroke long rallies ending in an UE.

Andy has said that he hates playing him and I can understand why! This match could be tough as Andy has played a lot of tennis in the last two weeks, while Ivo skipped Toronto.

S&V · Club Coach

I dont like this one, Karlo's serve has been amazing this week and Andy has a tendency to drop his own. Hope I am wrong.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Salmon wrote:

It's all a matter of taste. Although it's not my favourite form, I find big serving far more entertaining than 342 stroke long rallies ending in an UE.

My thoughts exactly.

Can I just send a huge thanks out to everyone who's been transcribing the murray matches, I've been in France all week so it's been absolutely great to be able to catch up. I don't have the relevant sky channels so please could someone do so again this evening?

Hopefully it should be a fairly routine win for Andy and then he can rest whilst his opponent in the final has a huge ding dong, late into the night battle....On the other hand, I would've said the match against Moya should've been routine and this is Andy so I'm not holding my breath too much!

murrayman650 · ATP level

big ivo to serve first

S&V · Club Coach

Wow he is fast.

murrayman650 · ATP level

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