Cincinnati Masters 2008 FI: Andy vs Novak Djokovic

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Cincinnati Masters 2008 FI: Andy vs Novak Djokovic

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I confess when he said it I immediately thought of Steven calling Gasquet that.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, looking for advice from Gasquet as to how to deal with crunch situations, doesn't really strike me as the best choice biggrin

Count Zero · Tennis legend

no no, he was thinking 'dammit boggo recently told me the sceret on how not to choke, what did he say again...'
and it worked

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

A revealing assessment of what went on in the head of "the Murray of the mid-point of 2008" and the calming effect of the on-duty members of Team Murray on Sunday by Neil Harman in today's Times. wink

steven · Tennis legend

Thanks for pointing that out, very interesting.

I see Neil is joining in the debate on here, e.g.

"Murray makes his opponents hurt and those ready to point to Djokovic's litany of errors as the crux of the final should acknowledge that Murray forced them out of him."

You won't be surprised to hear I agree with that.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Very technical description of the match here. I found it an interesting read: http://mvn.com/tennis/2008/08/04/murray-comes-of-age-turns-an-embarassing-situation-into-a-rivalry/

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Very interesting article, Imoen, thanks for posting it.

It is of no importance but I can't help wondering just what the exchange was between Djoker and his coach. If it was something as simple as asking the time, why did he refuse to say so? Weird.

indiana · Tennis legend

Madeline wrote:

Very interesting article, Imoen, thanks for posting it.

It is of no importance but I can't help wondering just what the exchange was between Djoker and his coach. If it was something as simple as asking the time, why did he refuse to say so? Weird.

I guess if it was about the time, he maybe thought that it would look bad in that some folk might start suggesting he was more interested in what the time was, and the effect on catching his plane, than he was oin actually winning the match.

It is kind of amazing to me that he could be so interested during the actual match. OK, there was a potential for real problems if the match went on and on into a final set. But surely you've got enough to deal with with the match itself, then deal with whatever time consequences result, after the match, not during it.

I mean anyway, what was he going to do, play quicker ? or what ? or OK, ( I'll voice it ! ) just lose the second set ?

I don't personally believe that final alternative came into play for one moment, I suspect that he simply probably has a strange mind that could take time out to think about his plane time, just as a sort of by the way. Hmm, I could miss my plane here.

However, in an otherrwise very good article it was very strange that the writer made so much of this time thing. It did actually look to me that he was broaching a strange circumstance, talking at length all round it as if it had some real meaning, but not being prepared to carry it through and put in type what he thought that meaning might be.

As I say, I don't believe there was anything out of order going on, but I do understand why Novak might be a bit reluctant do discuss why he should be asking about the time in the middle of a Masters Series final.