ATP Paris Masters : QF - Andy v Nalbandian

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

RE: ATP Paris Masters : QF - Andy v Nalbandian

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Nalbandian to serve - 2-1

0-15 - fh from Nalby is long
0-30 - bh is dragged wide by Nalby
15-30 - defence is too good from Nalby after recovering from being lobbed, but the smash wasn't good enough, and eventually Murray nets a fh
15-40 - bh return winner
30-40 - unreturnable serve
Game Murray - outrageous fh pass from Murray after an excellent bh approach

2-2

wolf · Tennis legend

That's better, this Murray guy can play some outrageous shots too.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Murray to serve - 2-2

0-15 - fh return hits the line and Murray can only net
15-15 - great fh dtl is a winner for Murray
30-15 - a good dropshot opens up the court, and he hits a bh pass winner
30-30 - Nalby ghosts into the net after a lovely bh and puts the bh volley away
30-40 - DF (challenged correctly by Nalby, although after a delay)
Deuce - Murray gets to the net and puts away the fh volley
Adv Nalby - 2nd serve not great and he nets the fh (Murray showing discomfort with the knee injury)
Game Nalby - brilliant bh dtl from Nalby and Murray hustles well but cannot get to the fh volley

Nalbandian leads 3-2

(Fed has withdrawn, so Blake gets a w/o into the semi's....)

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Nalbandian to serve - 3-2

15-0 - Ace
15-15 - good fh return and Murray nets a bh
30-15 - good fh approach and fh volley from Nalby
40-15 - unreturnable serve
40-30 - fh-fh rally, and Nalby nets under pressure
Game Nalby - good bh pass from Murray, but Nalby does enough to put the fh volley away

Nalbandian leads 4-2

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Murray to serve - 2-4

15-0 - great volley from Murray and Nalby can only put the fh pass long
15-15 - DF
15-30 - bh return winner dtl
15-40 - short 2nd serve, but another bh return winner
30-40 - Ace
Game Nalby - good fh return sets up the point, he gets to the net, and plays a great bh smash

Nalbandian leads 5-2

Thinks it's GSM now... Nalby would have to have a major meltdown now not to win

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Nalbandian to serve - 5-2

0-15 - good return, and Nalby nets the fh
0-30 - great bh return is a clean winner
0-40 - good fh return, and Nalby nets
15-40 - Nalby s/v, but his volley hits the net and drops just short of Murray
30-40 - bh return into the net
Game Murray - bh from Nalby goes wide

Nalbandian leads 5-3

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Murray to serve - 3-5

0-15 - it's Murray's point, but he misses an easy volley
15-15 - big fh dtl from Nalby, but he nets the follow-up bh
30-15 - Ace
30-30 - good fh approach and he puts the bh volley behind him
30-40 - another brilliant point... Nalby has the point won until a poor bh volley, Murray doesn't do enough with the bh, and when tries to attack the net he puts the fh long
GSM Nalbandian - some lovely volleys by Nalby at the net and Murray just can't get a racket on the drop volley

Nalbandian wins 7-6(3), 6-3

wolf · Tennis legend

Key stat - Murray first serve 47%.

Throughly enjoyable match though, and I would put money on Nalbandian retaining his title on the form he showed today.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Very good match of tennis, showing just why both of them are great players to watch, but on the day Nalby was just too good, and showed why he is one of the best players in the world when he's interested.

Murray's passing shots weren't quite as good as usual, and points he would normally win, Nalby was getting 1 shot more back, and the lack of first serves throughout the match was a problem as Nalby is an excellent returned and will always pounce on it.

Though, Murray would have beaten a lot of players the way he played today - Nalby would have beaten anyone

indiana · Tennis legend

Watched it on Masters TV.

Good tactical battle between 2 of the best returners in the game ( so breaks were always likely, and it did need Andy in really good serving form ).

Impressive dispaly from Nalby and yes, I could see him possibly retaining his title.

Andy looked if anything mentally a bit tired, although he fought as best he could.

A little rest, recuperation, work on a few things and I reckon he'll be ready to go for Shanghai.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

I enjoyed that match too. Nalbandian's display was up there with the performances of Federer at the US Open and Nadal at Wimbledon, in their victories over Murray.

Andy played reasonably well, first serve percentage was alarmingly low in the first set but he was winning a very high percentage then in the second set the penetration seemed to go missing, Nalbandian reaching, and returning with interest, some decent serves.

Nalbandian's level was ridiculously high for long spells and even a fresher Andy would have struggled to win. Shame Andy played a poor tiebreak. He couldn't afford to miss first serves and drift sliced backhands long at such a crucial stage of the match.

I think this match and the US Open final against Federer should be the ones team Murray should be taking a close look at to see what needs improving. Clearly top players aren't frightened by Andy's current second serve so that needs addressing.

It was noticeable that Nalbandian was pushing Andy around the court during most of the points. Over the next couple of years it would be nice to see Andy develop the ability to take control of the majority of the points against the likes of Nalbandian.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hey, kool to get a match analysis from you again, kundallini. You've been so quiet with these while Andy has been winning smile

Clearly, as you have said, Andy's first serve percentage was far too low. And as you say he was getting worked around quite a bit by Nalby today. I really hope he takes time to work much more on his serve in the weeks after Shanghai, and indeed does a ittle on it during the next week.

I think most of the points Nalby took control of were immediately after serve, either as a result of his own serve or his return of Andy's. Once properly in a rally Andy generally gave as good as he got.

And, generally his return game was still in good order.

Of course, he will look to make all the improvements he can with his serve and other aspects of his game to improve even more.

The prospects of an improved Andy, particularly on serve, would promise so so much, over and above what has kind of not been too bad of late smile

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Thanks for the commentary, FD. It seems like I missed a good match, even though it ended up with the wrong result.

Next year, Andy, cut out St. Petersburg! 3 weeks in a row (when going deep into, even winning, tournaments) is just too much. And of course, as others have said, improve the second serve.

Ah this time last year, I was saying that if he could improve his first serve he would be somebody to be reckoned with. . . well, he did that (except apparently for this match) and he is. So if he can improve the second serve. . .