Hopman Cup RR: GB v Russia

wolf · Tennis legend

Hopman Cup RR: GB v Russia

steven · Tennis legend

WS: Laura Robson WR 403 lost to Elena Dementieva (RUS) WR 5 by 4 & 0 cry

Held her own in the 1st set, at least!

MS: Andy Murray WR 4 leads Igor Andreev (RUS) WR 35 by *5-1

Bolt · Lower Club Player

Andy wins the first set 6-1 and leads 4-0 in the second
Lisicki lost in straights

gjr · Club Coach

Destroyed him.

I think, I maybe wrong but Murray returned every serve in the first set.

Bolt · Lower Club Player

Andy wins in 51 minutes 1 & 0

Bolt · Lower Club Player

We win the first set of the dubs 6-4

Bolt · Lower Club Player

We lead the 2nd set 3-1 with Andy to serve

Bolt · Lower Club Player

Laura lost her serve twice in the 2nd set Dementieva served for the set and was broken TB went to Russia 8-6 team GB win a great MTB 10-6 Laura held her nerve well in the MTB

goldfish · Futures qualifying

I was a little sceptical when I first saw that Andy and Laura would be playing the Hopman Cup. However, it's been a complete revelation to me to see just what a good player Laura already is. I wondered whether it would be a confidence destroyer but absolutely not. Her team obviously have her training spot on - provide her with as much fun and high level competition as they can whilst she sits out the years before she can play a full senior schedule.

I only managed to listen to the end of set 2 and the match tie-break of the mixed doubles on the radio commentary today but the description of Laura at the end was 'gracious, no princess, a credit to her mother and father, media darling and sponsorship dream'. Really looking forward to highlights this evening. It's been a great competition so far for both Andy and Laura and they should both have learnt a lot from playing together. Brilliant already to get to the final. Particularly impressed by Laura's resilience when she's being pummelled by the opponents and her length of shot in baseline rallies. What a great treat for her family and for her to play in front of so many relatives.

The commentator implied that Laura is not playing in the senior tournament at the AO.

gjr · Club Coach

goldfish wrote:

I was a little sceptical when I first saw that Andy and Laura would be playing the Hopman Cup. However, it's been a complete revelation to me to see just what a good player Laura already is. I wondered whether it would be a confidence destroyer but absolutely not. Her team obviously have her training spot on - provide her with as much fun and high level competition as they can whilst she sits out the years before she can play a full senior schedule.

I only managed to listen to the end of set 2 and the match tie-break of the mixed doubles on the radio commentary today but the description of Laura at the end was 'gracious, no princess, a credit to her mother and father, media darling and sponsorship dream'. Really looking forward to highlights this evening. It's been a great competition so far for both Andy and Laura and they should both have learnt a lot from playing together. Brilliant already to get to the final. Particularly impressed by Laura's resilience when she's being pummelled by the opponents and her length of shot in baseline rallies. What a great treat for her family and for her to play in front of so many relatives.

The commentator implied that Laura is not playing in the senior tournament at the AO.

It's been a great week as you have said and enjoy the highlights.

First set from Laura today in the singles was a quite high level and bodes well for the future.

Andy played like sometimes he can against the "all so close but not quite there player" and destroyed him completely.

The MD was really good and quite tense at the end. All good stuff for Laura for the future. She served much better today and maybe only 1, possibly 2 DF's inthe the MD. Tomorrow should come down to the mixed again and I wouldn't put it past them winning this.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Wow, I expected Laura would lose and Andy would win, but I wasn't at all confident for the mixed. Well done our pair.

indiana · Tennis legend

I must admit I rather shared goldfish's scepticism about GB's Hopman Cup adventure. I wondered if best prep for Andy, thought was expecting a bit much from Laura and wasn't sure at all they could justify a 3rd seeding, however that was arrived at. Seemed maybe more a more marketing thing to me, Andy clearly top class capture and pretty popular in Australia and Laura with her Aussie connections. So I got most of that wrong then

( well apart maybe from the marketing, but hey, it's pretty much worked out on all levels smile

)

It's been really good. Andy has played well, and some of my doubts about him not getting enough quantity and quality of match practice are eased further by him now having an additional match against Robredo and given it's the final it should be very competitive.

Laura has competed generally very well, OK fallen away in a couple of her matches, but in all her matches at her best she has been very competitive especially from the baseline against high cleaa opposition. It has been hugely encouraging.

The mixed doubles has been really good to see, Laura has held her end up well especially when it has really mattered, including in that final MTB when Kazachstan were poised for a potential 3 - 0 win against Germany that could have nicked a final spot.

It has all gone just so much better than I ever expected. Be great if they can seal it all with the title, and would just love it if Laura could get a singles victory.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 8th of January 2010 11:34:15 AM

philwrig · Hall of fame

I must admit I am a complete physical wreck following these matches through the night but only one more to go before a few days rest and the start of Aussie open qualifying !

The highlight of the matches was Andy's performance in his singles just simply irresistable. Andreev was poor but Andy is playing the best I have seen for a long time. Clearly trying to incorporate a more attacking style including volleying after a fair % of first serves.

Laura was very good in the first set but unlike Lisicki who gave Laura a number of cheap points Dementieva retrieved alot better and so by the second set Laura hadn't nothing left in the tank physicially.

As for the MD our pairing adopted a more serious approach with far fewer smiles but still should have won this comfortably in two sets. Remember because of Kazakhstans display against Germany this was a must win match. But a few sloppy games let the Russians back in and then they really upped their games( the Russians that is ) especially Andreev and it took a supreme effort by our guys to get the win in the MTB.

I must say I have never seen Andy so pumped in a doubles match even possibly Davis cup.

To finish another two articles on Laura from Mr Harman
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6979838.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6979833.ece

Note the line: Laura is not a natural athlete and that will be a red line in her whole career

Now time to go back to bed I am exhausted.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

Some of Laura's singles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMTXfU86ZA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbERo5OwCLc

And the mixed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vicMnu-krW0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQGsSZRqBg

-- Edited by RBBOT on Friday 8th of January 2010 09:18:09 PM

airsmashers · County player

Does anyone think that Andy playing away from the main tour this week and therefore away from some eyes will give him a little edge in AO when he incorporates this sightly more aggressive approach?