Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh, its much better nowadays than in the past when the second men's semi final was a night match, played after the women's final !

While it may be largely the same now for both players, I would prefer the players to be more rested for the final and in better condition to give of their best in the final.

But I admit I do not understand any of the details about how much they would lose TV money etc if switching to a more player friendly ( and possibly better quality tennis ) schedule.

I guess I'm saying in an ideal world, you just wouldn't...

RJA · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
Oh, its much better nowadays than in the past when the second men's semi final was a night match, played after the women's final !
While it may be largely the same now for both players, I would prefer the players to be more rested for the final and in better condition to give of their best in the final.

I don't recall them ever playing a SF on a Saturday night (I could easily be wrong) but I do remember them playing one SF on the Friday night and one on the Saturday afternoon.

As for the players being rested. I undertsand that argument but part of me likes the idea of great touraments offering a unique challenge that isn't faced elsewhere.

indiana · Tennis legend

Stosur rapped up her match in plenty of time for Andy to get going at 6 pm BST as scheduled.

Then the heavens opened and are still open, so sometime.....

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 27th of August 2012 04:55:10 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Andy sounded and looked very relaxed and at ease with himself on Eurosport in an interview with Mark Petchey recorded yesterday.

He said Arthur Ashe is playing a bit slower this year with the other two main courts noticeably faster. Re speed, he said Cincinnati was just two quick this year, partly to do with the balls they were using as well as the court itself, with not really enough time to react and get in position, and it will be better here.

Interesting, in that I have always though fast hard courts suited Andy and one reason he usually did well at Cincinnati, since he has such ball sense and good reactions. I tended to believe that the seeming general slowing of Slam courts ( actually excluding the French Open ! ) was to his disadvantage.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 27th of August 2012 05:12:26 PM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Spectator wrote:
For those who can see what is happening, is Mr Murray playing as ... rustily ... as the live scores would suggest?

Yes. It's ugly. First set contained a series of extraordinary points that Andy had total control of then would put a drop shot wide, or a pass wide, when he had no need to go anywhere near the line as Bogomolov was on the other side of the court. Some of Andy's shots have missed the target by more than 6ft! While serves from the deuce court down the middle were, at times, going straight down the court, not moving an inch towards the target destination.

6-2 6-4

-- Edited by kundalini on Monday 27th of August 2012 09:14:27 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

The overall tale : ( The receiving points won are wrong, should be 52 / 93 and 39 / 92, but for some nonsensical reason DFs here get counted twice in the number of total points, which is err just plain wrong, and I'm sure I've seen this before. You could vaguely make an arguement for taking the DFs off the receiving points "won", but not adding to the total points played ). Clear that Andy was well on top of Bogomolov's 2nd serve as kundalini said :

Andy Murray (GBR)		Alex Bogomolov Jr. (RUS)
7	Aces	1
5	Double faults	2
45 of 92 = 49 %	1st serves in	67 of 93 = 72 %
30 of 45 = 67 %	1st serve points won	36 of 67 = 54 %
23 of 47 = 49 %	2nd serve points won	5 of 26 = 19 %
132 MPH	Fastest serve	122 MPH
109 MPH	Average 1st serve speed	106 MPH
85 MPH	Average 2nd serve speed	91 MPH
18 of 25 = 72 %	Net points won	28 of 42 = 67 %
9 of 19 = 47 %	Break points won	4 of 12 = 33 %
52 of 95 = 55 %	Receiving points won	39 of 97 = 40 %
46	Winners	24
31	Unforced errors	35
105	Total points won	80

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 27th of August 2012 09:45:24 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Ugly is the word, hopefully he'll be reenergised for his next match.

My limited theory at this point, is could he be still mentally drained from doing so well at Wimby and the Olympics? Never has had time to recover from either tournament properly. Spoke on Sky about needing to have just a few days by himself last weekend. Just a theory, hopefully a completely bogus one and we'll see a much better performance in the next round.

-- Edited by philwrig on Monday 27th of August 2012 11:19:03 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:
Andy sounded and looked very relaxed and at ease with himself on Eurosport in an interview with Mark Petchey recorded yesterday.
He said Arthur Ashe is playing a bit slower this year with the other two main courts noticeably faster. Re speed, he said Cincinnati was just two quick this year, partly to do with the balls they were using as well as the court itself, with not really enough time to react and get in position, and it will be better here.
Interesting, in that I have always though fast hard courts suited Andy and one reason he usually did well at Cincinnati, since he has such ball sense and good reactions. I tended to believe that the seeming general slowing of Slam courts ( actually excluding the French Open ! ) was to his disadvantage.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 27th of August 2012 05:12:26 PM

Interesting, sounds like the exact same interview they just used on Sky.

indiana · Tennis legend

Breakee break, 2 games all with 4 breaks !

Andy 2 points from 10 on serve, 3 first serves in.

Early days smile

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

I noticed that the US Open website has one of the keys to a Murray victory being "Keep first serve percentage more than 67%". Currently it is 28% and he's winning 5-2*

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, was just going to mention that 1st serve % ! Ah, well at least the breaks became one way. 6 - 2 the first set.

Spectator · All-time great

For those who can see what is happening, is Mr Murray playing as ... rustily ... as the live scores would suggest?

indiana · Tennis legend

Wey, overall Ist serve % now hits 50% ( 43 / 86 ) 4 - 1 * third set

Spectator · All-time great

Must be nice to be able to play a stinker (in your own exalted terms) and still beat a top 100 player 2, 4 and 1. Glad he's through, and hope he's got his jitters all out in that match!