It's worth noting that although Murray has had memourable victories against players such as Gasquet and Wawrinka at Wimbledon in recent years, he has yet to defeat a top four player in front of his home crowd.
Delpo has beaten Verdsasco 6 - 4 3 - 6 7 - 6 ( 1 ), which means if Andy beats Federer he is in the semis ( since Federer and Delpo will just have one win and play each other last )
All Group A results have been 3 setters so far, so one thing that could make things more problemtic later for Andy would be if he lost in straight sets here.
I can't really make up my mind about who I think will win this one, tend to think though that a fair chance it will go 3 sets.
This group also have the vital rest day on Friday and with Djoko appearing exhausted at the end of last night's match I see the winner coming from this group and probably the winner of tonights match. Wow that's a bold prediction.
Ah! But some of us have to count our pennies and can't run to affording Sky. Then again, some of us object to having to pay a fortune out for lots of programmes we wouldn't watch just to watch the odd programme we might want to.
Fair enough. I just wonder how many true sports fans are missing out because so much sport is now on sky and if sky cut the cost of subscriptions how many more subscribers would they would get.
Although a big sports fan, I have never subscribed to Sky or Eurosport, partly because over and above the cost, I wouldn't trust myself not to spend just far toooo much time watching sport at home.
Freeview plus pubs and sportsbar and occasional ATP purchases serves me well
-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 08:44:24 PM
It's better to watch BBC 3 on iPlayer than the stream on the BBC sport website. That way you can pick a larger resolution without going to full screen.
You can't beat Roger when he is playing well, which he was, with a first serve % of only 46 - not when your second serve is questionable. Andy, you better beat Verdasco on Thursday!
Edit - Andy lost 6-3 3-6 1-6
-- Edited by Madeline on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 11:02:15 PM
You have to wonder what kind of weird-ass contract the BBC have for this event, given Sue Barker just announced they don't know whether they are covering Thursday's match or not.
Andy really struggling with his forehand at the moment especially the halfcourt one in fact the only shot which is firing at the moment is his first serve. Worrying times for Murray fans.
I agree with Mad, Andy certainly needs his service working well against an on-form Fed.
There was a combination there of Andy's serve % never being that high and seeming to lose penetration after the first set. However, even in the first set there was much more general pressure on Andy's service games. Ended up with 101 points on Andy's service games and just 67 ponts on Roger's ( for just one game more ) and there was already a marked divergence after the first set which Andy won. Pressure like that can really build and ultimately, as in this case, the wheels can finally come of fa bit.
I know I have often in the past been one to resist that Andy needs to really change his strategy. But there are times I really do notice that he works a position and then gets a shot particularly on his forehand side that it is quite clear that if he was prepared to really ping it ( and it went in of course ) the point would be his, but he safety first often gives players another shot. There was a particular instance of this in the very first rally of the match, good rally as it was.
I think it is clear that Andy is such a good defensive scrambling player that if he ever really got as good an attacking set-up as one or two players then that defensive ability is what could separate them rather than as it does now often compensate him. The other potential problem is of course that it can be so draining, fit even as he is now is, chasing down balls from such as Federer all the time.
I do occasionally wonder if Andy looks too much to use his defensive abilities rather than accept that he has those great gifts to help him out when in trouble but should otherwise try and impose himself more in rallies.
Anyway just some general thoughts that I have been thinking more these last few months, but not so easily applied in ATP finals against Roger in top form. I think it has been mentioned by some before though that maybe he could almost experiment with a more a attacking strategy in some other lesser tournaments.
Maybe Andy's general strategy and offensive / defensive mix is ultimately what is and will continue to be best for him, but I do hope he never is left in future years wondering what if....
Slightly worrying that Andy was flexing his leg so much near the end, hopefully nothing too serious.
Anyway, now beat Verdasco in straight sets and he's in the semis, lose to Verdasco in straight sets and he's out. Go to 3 sets and he could be through or out, whether he wins or loses, depending on the other result and indeed possibly on the game difference in the Verdasco match.