USO SF - Andy v Nadal

DavidC · Tennis legend

RE: USO SF - Andy v Nadal

andyjmr · Intermediate Club Player

I'm so proud of Andy!!

What a great performance, and what fabulous tennis. Whether he will have the legs tomorrow is another matter, but whether he wins or loses the final it's just so exciting to see him grow in stature like this.

Keith · Intermediate Club Player

What can I say?

Perhaps even better than winning yesterday, as critics could have pointed to a tired Nadal, but no, Andy did it with an incredible performance.

Cheers to all forum members, and (though I'm not a massive poster), especially to those who have been around for the last three years, and always believed in Andy's ability (and those who always believed, but have discovered this forum more recently).

One more step, maybe not tomorrow (just don't know), but it will come!

P.S. As I'm in Spain, I've got to give credit to the Spanish commentators. They obviously wanted Rafa to win, but were more than generous with their praise on Andy. Perhaps to be expected, as (unlike many of their British counterparts) they have always recognised the talent of Andy.

Vandenburg · Futures level

its bin along 11 year wait guys.
97 grey v rafter.

Robxon · Lower Club Player

Once I had scraped myself off the ceiling and restarted my pacemaker, I suddenly realised that this result would have me plummeting down the pick'em ranks.

Never have I been so glad I was wrong!

Yesterday morning, I honestly didn't believe that there was any way he could win this match. This morming I hardly dared believe he could win it.

Hear me now......

I am a Believer!

SteveWalker · Social player

Wow. Thought Murray was out of it when he went a break down in the 4th set, but by the end Nadal didn't know how to handle him. Had a feeling the match might end with a panicked drop-shot but didn't think it would be from the world no. 1! If he can produce that kind of tennis tomorrow then you have to fancy him even against Federer, but it's a big if...

steven · Tennis legend

What a fabulous match and what a stunning, brilliant win.

They were playing points that lasted three times as long as they normally would just because shots that would be screaming winners against virtually anyone else were coming back with interest.

What is most stunning is the way he did it. He never ever stopped fighting. So nearly got back into that 3rd set ... but Rafa held on to win it, I thought that might pump Rafa up enough and deflate Andy enough for Rafa to win ... 7 break points in that game early in the 4th, all reached brilliantly, only one really got fluffed by Andy ... getting broken himself after Rafa held on was hardly a surprise ... but the way he came back after that - unbelievable!!

We always knew he was capable of being one of the very best players in the world, but what do they say you need to win grand slams?

- to be in top condition physically - check!
- to be able to grind out wins when you're having a bit of a 'mare of a day - check!
- to be able to play your very best against the very best in the world - check!

Most of all, how did he manage to serve like that for so much of the match? Over 20 aces, over 60 winners. Absolutely stunning.

Oh and bamboozling Rafa enough to make him play a dodgy dropper on match point ... priceless!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I *think* I have just about recovered. But sleep? No chance. My nerves are tingling as though the entire National Grid were running through them.

We know he has the game to beat Federer. Will he have the energy? I don't know. But whether he does or not, this run has been simply magnificent. I think it will take a long time to wipe the broad grin off my face.

RJA · Hall of fame

There really is very little that needs to be said about the quality of Andy's tennis in this match. Quite simply Andy's racket did all the talking that is needed.

What really impressed me however was his mental fortitude. After missing out on seven break points in the second game of the fourth set and then capitulating on serve in the next game in the most abject fashion it would not have surprised anybody if Andy failed to pick himself up and Nadal had run out to a fairly comfortable win. What Andy has done so well these last two weeks is to remained totally focused throughout. There have been many occasions where he has faced huge setbacks and disappointments and could easily have gone away. Not only has he not done so but he has never looked like doing so. His mental strength has been immense.

Whatever happens in the final (and you have to make Federer at least marginal
favourite) Andy has proven that he belongs at the very top of the game. For those of us who have supported him since the early days that is something special and I feel bloody proud of him tonight.

steven · Tennis legend

Well said, and by the way, lest anyone doubt the magnitude of this win in the history of British tennis (and without wanting to take anything away from Greg, for obvious reasons!), when the other two British men who have reached slam finals in the open era got there, they were helped by other players doing their dirty work for them - neither John Lloyd (who thrashed Bob Giltiinan 4, 2 & 0 in his semi) nor Greg (who beat Bjorkman 6-1 3-6 3-6 6-3 7-5 in his despite suffering from a virus) had to face a single seed before they got to the Final. Andy has had to beat the player with longest current hard court winning streak and then the world no. 1, winner of the last two slams and Olympic gold medal to reach his.

Keith · Intermediate Club Player

For many of us it was Andy winning the US Open juniors that first made us sit up and take notice. since then he's always spoken about dreaming of winning on the Arthur Ashe, this is his first chance. Federer looked very mean and keen against Djoko, but I'm full of hope.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

kundalini wrote:

Murray has the weapons to win but can he execute?

Yes he can. (I liked the point that got him to match point)

Next.

-- Edited by kundalini at 00:50, 2008-09-08

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

lol, Kundalini that has to be one of your best match reports, can we just post that as the front page article?

(not trying to take anything away from your other reports which I love to read after every murray match

)

Andymonium · Satellite level

wow. i still cant believe. it feels like just yesterday when he was fighting to make into the top hundred. weve had our up and downs but it pays off to be a murray fan. this is the best feeling ever and he hasnt even won yet.

Keith · Intermediate Club Player

Quick review of the Spanish press.

All are saying that whilst Rafa had a bad day on Saturday, he was on form on Sunday, but Andy's "carat gold tennis" silenced his doubters and showed what everyone (in the Spanish press at least) had been predicting; that he was the one player capable of breaking the triumvirate of Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic. (Alex Corretja, especially, has always been a huge fan of Andy's talent)

In particular they were praising Andy's ability to come back in the fourth set, showing a mental strength to match his tennis technique. (For the benefit of the British press, they have always stated that the physical side was just a matter of time, and declared it problem solved earlier this year.)

I think it was the 2005 Seat Godo tournament in Barcelona when Andy started appearing on the Spanish radar (and TV), and they started to talk him up.

Whilst suggesting that the long season has taken it's toll on Rafa, all Spanish press are declaring Andy the deserved winner. They are also huge fans of his technique and tactics.