Week 9 - ATP 500 - Acapulco, Mexico (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

Week 9 - ATP 500 - Acapulco, Mexico (Hard)

airsmashers · County player

Murray wins 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2

Played quite poor in the 1st set but Simon came out quite aggressive, Andy didn't really step up his game until he had to break in the 2nd set to save the match. In the 3rd Simon dropped his level properly not helped by a shoulder niggle/injury for which he had the trainer on and Andy was able to take advantage playing some good stuff towards the end.

steven · Tennis legend

QF: (2) Andy Murray WR 7 beat (6) Gilles Simon (FRA) WR 23 (CH 6 in 2009) by 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2

12 wins in a row v Simon, even if it was a very dodgy 1st set!

Assuming I haven't misread any more ATP ranking rules in the haze of a too-early morning, I think that means Andy:

- is certain to move above del Po
- will end the week above Berdych as long as the Czech goes no further in Dubai than Andy manages here
- will move up to WR 4 if he wins the title (since Ferrer has gone out in the QFs here)

Gulbis and Dimitrov are into a 3rd set.

steven · Tennis legend

SF: (2) Andy Murray WR 7 v (4) Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) WR 22 (CH 19 in Jan)

H2H 3-0, all in straight sets, though some of the sets have been very close

Back to a not before 04.00 GMT start ...

-- Edited by steven on Friday 28th of February 2014 07:35:20 AM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

From what I read on the ATP site, it sounds like another Houdini job. He can't afford to get to match point down against the better players. Never mind, he got the win and the points, and I hope he starts better against Dimitrov.

P.S. I get the same results regarding ranking, Steven. Not that that means much!

-- Edited by Madeline on Friday 28th of February 2014 09:03:08 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

steven wrote:
Assuming I haven't misread any more ATP ranking rules in the haze of a too-early morning, I think that means Andy:

- is certain to move above del Po
- will end the week above Berdych as long as the Czech goes no further in Dubai than Andy manages here
- will move up to WR 4 if he wins the title (since Ferrer has gone out in the QFs here)

Correct.

However Berdych is likely to reach the final in Dubai.

indiana · Tennis legend

Good incentive, WR 4 and the seeding that comes with it, before IW ( I am assuming that they use this coming Monday's rankings for seedings given its "late" start ).

I think Andy is still a work in progress as to getting back to his best, but it will come.

indiana · Tennis legend

Anyway, poor Gilles, I believe that he now moves clear of some Federer guy as Andy's most defeated opponent ( 12-1 to 11-10 )

Spectator · All-time great

Mr del Potro's withdrawal has given Mr Berdych a very smooth path to the finals.

steven · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
steven wrote:
Assuming I haven't misread any more ATP ranking rules in the haze of a too-early morning, I think that means Andy:

- is certain to move above del Po
- will end the week above Berdych as long as the Czech goes no further in Dubai than Andy manages here
- will move up to WR 4 if he wins the title (since Ferrer has gone out in the QFs here)
Correct.
However Berdych is likely to reach the final in Dubai.

Yes, that's why I wrote it the way I did instead of suggesting that Andy was already WR 5. In-running, he is WR 5 at the moment but Berdych is probably more likely to reach the final in Dubai than Andy in Acapulco, given current form.

Spectator · All-time great

And then there's Mr Federer ...

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Looked like Andy had a lot of trouble with his serve. Some of his second serves were awful, but his low 1st serve percentage is worrying for the SF. Still, progress.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I have only just finished watching this match - I had a busy day. His serving was really poor, he won't get away with it against somebody playing well. One of the commentators mentioned he was throwing the ball too far forward, and having to "chase" it to hit it. I watched for this after that and had to agree it happened a lot, and of course with the ball too far in front it is likely to end in the net.

The match against Dimitrov should be interesting - but I think Andy will have to serve better to stand a chance of winning.

indiana · Tennis legend

It is quite extraordinary how bad Andy's second serve has remained throughout his career, given all his work and improvement in other areas.

The serve is something that you have total contol of and can clearly be worked on intensively, yet....

Spectator · All-time great

Is that wholly fair? There was a point last year where I think a number of people (more expert than I) felt there had been a reasonable improvement. And given that, as you say, Mr Murray is absolutely - indeed at times scarily - committed to improving wherever he can, I doubt it's a question of his not having worked on it.