Week 15 - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo - Clay

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Week 15 - ATP Masters 1000 - Monte Carlo - Clay

indiana · Tennis legend

Very pleasantly surprised to come on and read this.

Simon is no great clay courter but he is perfectly adequate and a general top player, so that is a good looking result. Also, good to see that Andy had the first set well won before Simon turned his ankle and the match played out a bit differently thereafter.

So for a second year in a row, after spring horrors, it does seem Andy is finding his game in the clay season, and at least this year it hasn't got worse before it got better.

I just hope the path continues upwards

steven · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
Much much better, Andy just about back to his best level, really pleasing performance.
As for the dropshots, the crowds reaction just resulted in Andy trying to play more of them. Dangerous thing to try and cross a French crowd but Andy I think was revelling in the situation.

Maybe Nadal gave Andy some tips on how to get hated by the GEM crowds - being disliked by the Parigots has never done Rafa any harm at RG, after all!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Yet again Andy is assigned the second afternoon slot on the Court central for his first-ever encounter with the Portu-goose.

indiana · Tennis legend

QF : (3/WC) Andy Murray WR 4 vs Frederico Gil (POR) WR 82

Gil certainly seems to prefer clay, but overall his clay record is no better than Simon's and last week in Casablanca L16 : Gilles Simon beat Frederico Gil 6 - 3 6 - 4

Now we all know that if B beats C one week and then A beats B the following week, then A will also beat C, so that's that sorted wink

As far as I can see, victory against Gil would lead to just Andy's second ever senior clay court semi final. following Monte Carlo 2009 when he beat Davydenko in the QF before losing to some Nadal chap.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 14th of April 2011 09:50:16 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Andy's chances tomorrow are Gil..t edged. I apologise for how bad that pun was. The depths that I have sunk to.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'll get YOUR coat

(I always feel that smiley should be the other way round, going left to right, but I'm not sure why I think that)

indiana · Tennis legend

No, no, Phil, one shouldn't apologise for puns. Just fling them out there and then let other folk deliver a verdict.

Anyway, see you've been given your coat smile

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Not exactly a great shock, but maybe a little surprising:

QF: (7) Jürgen Melzer defeated (2) Roger Federer by 4 & 4!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

The wind was terrible in that match, it looked like a sandstorm in the desert with clay flying everywhere. I have nasty memories of how the wind affected Andy in Indian Wells a couple of years ago - keeping my fingers crossed it had dropped now.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

*4-1 - two breaks - I do like a double break for insurance! Gil seems to have a very good forehand, but the backhand looks a bit weak.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

The nasty wind comes back and Andy is down 15-40 serving for the set - but Andy holds strong and takes the first set 6-2

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

A bit of a lapse of concentration from Andy and he yells at himself to focus. This he duly does and goes a break up in the second set, *2-1.

-- Edited by Madeline on Friday 15th of April 2011 03:08:16 PM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Another break - *4-1 - I think Gil's tank has run dry. He has certainly given it his all up to now, well played to him.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Can I get this in before Stircrazy? The Portu-goose is cooked 6-2 6-1