ATP weeks 26-27 - Wimbledon

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: ATP weeks 26-27 - Wimbledon

RJA · Hall of fame

Being broken from 40-0 is simply criminal

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

What a disappointment! I was so looking forward to seeing that smug smile wiped off Fed's face & an end put to those sly digs. furious

S&V · Club Coach

Hugely disappointed but he made strides and I expected a poor fortnight so taking what I can from it.

RJA · Hall of fame

Well, he played far better than any of previous three finals, and you have to acknowledge how well Federer played, but the harsh truth was that when it really counted Andy came up short. At 4-4* in the second he had a great chance to break and didn't take it. At *5-6 in the second he led 30-0 but at 30-15 missed a simple winner and was broken. At *2-3 in the third set he led 40-0 but was broken. At *2-2 in the fourth he played an awful game.

RJA · Hall of fame

kundalini wrote:
His level dropped alarmingly under the roof. Thought he played well for a lot of the 2nd set but missed chances on bps then the easy forehand that went long cost him. Murray's tennis in the 3rd and 4th sets was poor and even then he managed to waste opportunities to put pressure on Roger.

That missed forehand at *5-6 30-15 seemingly turned the match in just the same way that the missed forhand on BP against Nadal in last year's semi did.

Rich · Lower Club Player

Gutted for Murray. I felt for him when he was crying and speaking at the end. He can be mighty proud of his efforts in making the final and finally winning a set in a GS final. His time should still surely come in a major final. I actually think his reaction at the end will win him many more fans. He's the best we got by miles. I hope now he picks himself up for the Olympics because he has an excellent chance of a medal there. keep going Andy. Sooner or later one of these finals will be yours. Proud of you and Jonny Marry for the last fornight. Done a power of good for British Tennis.

Happycynic · Pro player

Sniff. But I'm proud of the man. After an only moderate (by his standards) pre-Wimbledon half of the year, he stepped up. Fed was just better than him under the roof.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well said, Rich. I have always thought it is cruel to ask the defeated player to give an interview, before he has time to collect himself.

I didn't expect him to win, all I was really hoping for was that he would give a better account of himself than he has done in his previous finals, and he did that. I still think he would have had a better chance if he had met Djokovic in the final, but it wasn't to be. No matter how badly he plays during a tournament, Fed nearly always manages to pull out a good performance in finals. Eight Wimbledon finals, and he has won seven of them! And the other was very close.

I think Lendl has made an enormous difference to Andy's attitude (and forehand, and second serve), and I'm still looking forward hopefully. The trouble is, Andy's best surface in hard, and there are so many good players on hard.

Rich · Lower Club Player

I agree Madeline. I can't fault him as he gave his best and that is all anyone can do. Like many on here I have followed British tennis for years and just to have a day like this is tremendous. If only it can encourage more to take up the game in this country. I had tears in my eyes sat watching him try to speak at the end on court. He can hold his head high and take away lots from this. Finalist at 3 of the 4 slams. Many good players would love that record. Just don't go on Eurosport as to read the comments there from people is staggering. The horrible insults. Thank god it's not like that on here.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Before the match started, I thought the weather was crucial. Fed showed against the Djoker that he is basically unbeatable indoors and so it turned out. Andy also played well under the roof but the Fed was imperious. I thought Andy was starting to run out of gas during the fourth as well, having put so much into those first 2 sets. He probably nicked the first set against the run of play, but should have had the second, and from 2 sets to love up there probably would have only been one winner.
Still though what an achievement, given how out of form and seemingly crocked with a back problem he was at the start of the tournament.
I'm sure everyone else was choked up at the end during Andy's emotional speech,which won't do any harm for how he's perceived in the publics eye. Bottom line is he's still heading in the right direction but I think its vital that Lendl stays around, as Andy is much closer to beating the top guys than he was 12 months ago with his help.

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

It was hard to watch that interview at the end....but I think he won over so many fans over here during the Championships....I was really gutted for him. I thought a set and a break up he was on his way....gutted but Andy is class and I hope Fed is right and that he does snag a major and that it is Wimbledon.

Spectator · All-time great

I do not think that one year ago Mr Murray would have made it to the final -- don't think he would have been able to handle the series of high-pressure matches, particularly the QF and SF ones. To have made it through Ferrer and Tsonga, with all the mental, tactical and physical challenges they posed, back-to-back and with so much at stake was a tremendous accomplishment. And he looked rock-solid doing it. Do people really think it's coincidence that he's improved so much since Lendl came into his camp? He (Mr Murray) doesn't seem to think it is!

Watching his box at the end was, in addition, so moving. The intensity of camaraderie and affection was a real tribute to him. And yes, I like the fact that Lendl was outwardly still pretty impassive. It's good to have both steel and emotion on your side.

I've always had this slight niggling fear that Mr Murray just might not quite be able to win a Slam. It's gone. Wish him all the best.

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 9th of July 2012 01:23:51 PM

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 9th of July 2012 01:24:29 PM

Spectator · All-time great

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree :)

In terms of who he's beaten in the past and to whom he's lost ... I don't think you can compare this year's draws with previous ones. I'm not a statistician -- so make no claims for what follows! But I did a rough-and-ready average of the rankings of his opponents in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, AO was 40, RG was 66 (what a gift!), W was 39 and USO was 40. This year, Wimbledon was 25, and Ferrer and Tsonga were (realistically) 5th and 6th respectively in the world, whatever their Wimbledon seeding. He's never gone through two top ten players back-to-back before in the late rounds of a slam. And the time when he had the next scariest average ranking of opponents (2010 RG -- about 36 ... but it should have been worse than that, as Gasquet was underranked), he went out to Berdych in the fourth round.

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 9th of July 2012 02:18:04 PM

Armchair · County player

I thought Andy conducted him self really well this year. He seemed to give more time to the media and to be less defensive in interviews (or they were less on the attack).
I think the outcome is that he'd attracted many more fans even before he got to the final.

Obviously very sad he didn't win but a very well played tournament and another milestone achieved in reaching the final.

I'm not that fussed about the Olympics but looking forward to the US Open with interest.