Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open (men's)

Julia Carrot · All-time great

RE: Weeks 3-4 - Australian Open (men's)

Armchair · County player

Yay !!! Had me worried there a couple of times, roll on Sunday.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Very impressive 5th set from Andy. Made life difficult for himself at times but overall a very good performance as Andy was the better player throughout.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Yes, he was the better player. And he looked great too

I liked that outfit ! Though he'll probably show up in a mismatch (pun not intended) again on Sunday.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Should have won in straights !!..but ah well at least he's in the final.. but 4 hour match now makes the Djoker the clear favourite.

Andy playing at a higher level this year but so is Novak so will require a super human effort to get the win on Sunday.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

I recorded it and just watched the key moments. Thought Andy was impressive though RJA is right that Murray had opportunities in the two sets he lost.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
Should have won in straights !!..but ah well at least he's in the final.. but 4 hour match now makes the Djoker the clear favourite.

Andy playing at a higher level this year but so is Novak so will require a super human effort to get the win on Sunday.

I don't think playing for 4 hours will have done him any harm. In fact he probably needed a lengthy match to prepare him for the final.

philwrig · Hall of fame

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Should have won in straights !!..but ah well at least he's in the final.. but 4 hour match now makes the Djoker the clear favourite.

Andy playing at a higher level this year but so is Novak so will require a super human effort to get the win on Sunday.
I don't think playing for 4 hours will have done him any harm. In fact he probably needed a lengthy match to prepare him for the final.

I hope you're right, just when you have a long night match you basically don't get to sleep until 3am or so making the recovery time even shorter.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Was a good match. Andy was the best player but you've got to admire Fed's simple willpower and presence, and picking the points to really go for. I have to say the commentary did my head in a bit. Federer really is master of the tie break. But he did really deserved to lose, that outfit was terrible.

Liked andys attitude and lack of triumphalism at the end, I think he had a chance versus Nole.

RJA · Hall of fame

savva0122 wrote:
I have to say the commentary did my head in a bit.

I pity anyone who had to watch this match on BBC with the twin idiots (Lloyd and Castle) in the commentary box. I really am blessed to have Eurosport.

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

RJA wrote:
Utterly pathetic from Murray. Just retreated to rolling in second serves. Deserves to lose the match after that.

im sorry but what the bloody hell are you going on about, some fan you are, give the guy a break

Julia Carrot · All-time great

From Roger Federer's post match interview, when asked.......

Q. Do you think Andy has learned to deal with the setbacks when they come his way?

"So obviously with the win I think at the Olympics and the US Open, maybe there's just a little bit more belief or he's a bit more calm overall.
You want to be excited, but you don't want to go overly crazy, you know, each and every point. So it seems like he has more peace when he plays out there, and in the process he has better results, I guess."

(I can't believe I am actually quoting Roger Federer as usually I find much of what he says a bit squirm worthy, but I do think he was spot on there in his analysis.)

RJA · Hall of fame

Tennis36 wrote:
RJA wrote:
Utterly pathetic from Murray. Just retreated to rolling in second serves. Deserves to lose the match after that.
im sorry but what the bloody hell are you going on about, some fan you are, give the guy a break

Well yes it was a bit of an over reaction on my part, perhaps because I am such a fan of his. However I stand by my comment that his serving at *6-5 in the fourth and in the tie break was absolutely pathetic. He was rolling second serves into the middle of the box at 75-90 MPH, it deservedly cost him the set and could easily have cost him the match. If it had of done I wouldn't have had any sympathy for him. He has already suffered far too much heartache in big matches where he was outplayed to cause himself more by throwing away big matches where he is the better player.

As I said in a later post he picked himself up very well for the final set and I give him a lot of credit for that. I also think he played very well for a good 90% of this match. Being a fan shouldn't mean you can't call out a player for some pretty woeful play and I am pretty sure Lendl will have a few words to say about how the fourth set ended (pretty sure that Andy will be pretty unhappy about it as well).

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

yeh understand your point, just thought saying he doesnt to lose was bit harsh, thats all

indiana · Tennis legend

Tennis36, this is a forum definitely generally supportive of British tennis players.

But we can be that and indeed fans and still be critical to varying degrees.

I am a huge Andy Murray fan and have often given him similar very pointed criticism as RJA did. As far as I an concerned this forum is not just for cheerleading

Today, after liistening to most of the match, I just saw the fourth set TB and fifth set. I thought Andy regrouped to finish very well against a partly tiring Fed.

His serve ( about which I am often critical ) seems generally to have been pretty good today. I can't coment on RJA's specific earlier criticism, which he is fully entitled to give and if anyone wants to argue re the actual statenent, fair enough.