indiana wrote:

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For all one says about his attitude at times and it was really bad as I indicated earlier at the end of the second set / beginning of third he must just about the best comeback to win record from 2 sets down records around.

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And there is the paradox of Andy Murray. He has tremendous fighting spirit and I never think he has lost until the last point has been played (certainly not in big events anyway) but then there is the other side of the coin, the Andy that is so negative that you want to hit him, the Andy whose frustration with himself is so overwhelming that it costs him matches that he should win.

Troicki's 5 set record: 5 wins 4 losses including 2 losses (Melzer and Stepanek) and 2 victories (Luczak and Bopanna) from 2 sets up. 

Bopanna (629) 6-3 6-3 5-7 3-6 6-3
Djokovic (3) 3-6 6-3 6-2 5-7 3-6
Melzer (16) 7-6(5) 6-4 3-6 6-7(6) 3-6
Dustov (429) 6-4 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-2
Luczak (78) 6-3 6-3 1-6 2-6 6-1
Gimeno-Traver (98) 6-7(5) 6-0 1-6 6-3 7-5
Kubot (142) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3
Stepanek (15) 7-6(1) 7-6(3) 3-6 1-6 2-6
Davydenko (4) 1-6 6-1 3-6 6-1 2-6

From what I've seen so far, I would imagine Andy will determine who wins the match. Troicki produced some inspired winners and looked superb at the net but the flow of the match reflected Andy's performance. Until very late on, Andy's drop shot seemed to lose more than it won, often because his touch was missing on the next shot. Going after Viktor's 2nd serve was another tactic that didn't appear to work, as far too often Murray's return failed to find the court, including a key one on break point at 4-5 in the first set.

In all his matches so far, Andy's opponent has won a higher percentage of their 2nd serve points than Andy has done behind his 2nd serve. The figures are typically close but each time Andy is slightly below their figure. On first serve Murray has been significantly better in each contest. 

I confess I am not very optimistic. If the match had been able to continue last night I am convinced Andy would have got the win, but as it is:

1. Troicki looked dead on his feet and uncertain what to do last night - he has had the benefit of a night's rest, and the advice of his coach.

2. I'm not certain Andy was wise to have the strapping on his ankle removed. Will that not have allowed his ankle to swell up?

3. Andy is notoriously a slow starter, even when fit, let alone when tentative about his ankle.

All of which could be problems in a one-set shoot-out. Good luck, Andy, I really hope you can do it!

I do think Andy would have won last night if a 5th set had been played, though I guess the match was always played in the context that there was never really a chance 5 sets would be played.

I don't really think Andy's ankle in itself will any longer be an issue, only possibly Andy still having some doubts or bemoaning in his mind that the issue ever arose.  I think the fixed starting time could well be some help in that they can arrange a good warm-up realatively close to the match.  You can make that quite a strong warm-up since he is only going to have to play one set and that in itself may both help remove any remaining ankle doubts and get him more ready to go, although I get the impression he isn't generally quite as slow starter as he once was.

I'd make Andy favourite, but he cannot afford to lose the plot as he did at the end of the 2nd set yesterday where the issue was not his ankle but initially a few poor plays and then getting ridiculously down on himself.  

Warning: watching Andy Murray matches is bad for your health.

Well, it's bad for my health, anyway. My blood pressure must be through the ceiling. But I am so, SO glad to have been over-pessimistic! Well done, Andy.