First singles match tomorrow, but at 2pm local time (1pm UK), it should not be a problem for Andy.
Monfils might be, though. Another one who has been in very good form recently. He is a bit erratic and flashy but when he is on, he is very hard to beat. I'm hoping Andy can knock him "off".
The H2H is 1-1, both on clay in 2006, with Andy winning the first in straights and losing the second in five. At that point it was Monfils rather than Djokovic that people were comparing to Andy, and asking why Andy wasn't doing as well as Gael, ignoring that the Frenchman was nearly a year older which at that age is important. Gael's ranking of 18 is probably a bit misleading as he has been injured a great deal - partly because of his style of play!
Monfils is playing very very well recently. Should be a cracking match. The matchup in styles will allow for numerous long and exciting rallies, with Andy coming through in the end.
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Not very happy to hear Andy mentioning the knee problems in a radio interview. As it's a congenital problem rather than an injury I think you may have to just shut up and get on with it as best you can. Lets face it US Open finalist with a knee problem isn't doing too badly !!
You're probably right Madeleine, it was very early this morning when I listened to the interview and I may not have been giving it my full attention !
Some questions can fall into the "and when did you stop beating your wife" category. In that if Andy answers in full he seems to be making a bit of a fuss and if he doesn't then he's being evasive.
Should be a close match, but I'd fancy Murray to just do enough to get through - even if the knee is bothering him a bit, as Monfils apparantly isn't at 100% either
Monfils's defence is excellent, so Murray may have to be patient and wait for the errors to come here, but I think Murray will probably come through in 3 sets
And the even better thing is that I was the only one up in the house when I got up this morning so I've just taken control of the remote, so I can watch the match on Sky thus making doing the point-by-point even easier
And the even better thing is that I was the only one up in the house when I got up this morning so I've just taken control of the remote, so I can watch the match on Sky thus making doing the point-by-point even easier
15-0 - bh from Monfils goes long 30-0 - passive from both men but Monfils puts a fh long 30-15 - fh from Murray is too short and Monfils hits a big fh dtl 30-30 - fh from Murray is wide 40-30 - long rally but quite passive from both, and eventually Monfils puts an inside out fh wide Deuce - fh from Murray is dragged wide after a sliced bh rally Adv Murray - another long rally ends with Monfils putting a fh long Deuce - finally some aggressive play from both men, but a lucky netcord on bh wins the point for Monfils Adv Monfils - some huge fh's from Monfils during the rally, and ends with one dtl after he is dragged wide Game Monfils - Murray nets a dropshot which wasn't really on
Monfils leads 1-0
Just 2 first serves from Murray... and this is going to be a long and very hard match to watch judging by that first game
0-15 - great return sets up the point and Monfils makes the error after a big backhand 15-15 - Ace 15-30 - deep bh return and Monfils goes long with the fh 15-40 - DF Game Murray - nothing rally between them until Murray steps it up with a fh dtl winner
15-0 - great defence by Murray by Monfils gets to the net, plays a good volley, only for Murray to hit an excellent fh pass on the run 30-0 - bh return is long - 1ST SERVE WENT IN AS WELL 30-15 - great bh return sets up the point and Murray can't do anything with a bh 30-30 - deep bh's from Murray enable him to get to the net, but he nets the fh approach 40-30 - stunning defence from Monfils after a huge Murray fh but he puts the defensive lob long Deuce - good approach, but Monfils pass dips low and Murray slices the bh volley just wide Adv Murray - fh return is long Game Murray - Murray works the Monfils bh and he slices one into the net
Murray leads 2-1
Bizarre match from Murray so far - he's using a different tactic on every point, but it seems to be working as Monfils doesn't know what's coming next