Week 43 - ATP World Tour 500 - Valencia, Spain - Hard (AM)

airsmashers · County player

RE: Week 43 - ATP World Tour 500 - Valencia, Spain - Hard (AM)

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Big win. If he can win tomorrow he'll be 500ish points clear and reckon he's safe.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

I'm really enjoying the end to Andy's year. We had become rather anaesthetised to his unwavering genius, week in, week out.

Comments in this section had dried up to a trickle. No real following of his matches live, mostly quite dry post match statements of victory and speculation about schedule or coaching.

Even when he performed, objectively well - in terms of tennis as a whole - reached Grand Slam Semi Finals even, it was just what was 'expected', Andy would not be happy with anything less; and, unless he played flawlessly, he could expect some criticism, even if he won.

But, with the drop in form and general malaise has come, not a lowering of expectations, or standards, amongst the commentators here, but an acceptance perhaps that the grace and skill that once flowed from him with such ready ease now have to be worked for a little more.

The frailty and variability might mean that this stretch hasn't seen his greatest technical feats on the court, and at times it has not been pretty. I think it's been easier to become an uninhibited Andy supporter again. Not that anyone ever stopped, but that to say well done was reserved for 4 or 5 events a year, winning a 250 almost seemed derisory.

Everything in this last stretch has meant something, with a very definite purpose, every result crucial.

To see Andy apply himself to it, slog gruellingly through this schedule, fight through the vicissitudes of his form, and, ultimately look like he will have enough reward from it - will meet his goals, or what we superimpose them to be - has left me, and I can only speak for me, really very pleased indeed, and with yet another reminder of just how admirable Andy is, and how lucky we are to have him.

EddietheEagle · County player

What I enjoyed about his win today was how he bossed a lot of the rallies, didn't overly fret over his own inevitable errors and kept the pressure on. A superb win, I'd say.

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

AliBlahBlah wrote:
I'm really enjoying the end to Andy's year. We had become rather anaesthetised to his unwavering genius, week in, week out.

Comments in this section had dried up to a trickle. No real following of his matches live, mostly quite dry post match statements of victory and speculation about schedule or coaching.

Even when he performed, objectively well - in terms of tennis as a whole - reached Grand Slam Semi Finals even, it was just what was 'expected', Andy would not be happy with anything less; and, unless he played flawlessly, he could expect some criticism, even if he won.

But, with the drop in form and general malaise has come, not a lowering of expectations, or standards, amongst the commentators here, but an acceptance perhaps that the grace and skill that once flowed from him with such ready ease now have to be worked for a little more.

The frailty and variability might mean that this stretch hasn't seen his greatest technical feats on the court, and at times it has not been pretty. I think it's been easier to become an uninhibited Andy supporter again. Not that anyone ever stopped, but that to say well done was reserved for 4 or 5 events a year, winning a 250 almost seemed derisory.

Everything in this last stretch has meant something, with a very definite purpose, every result crucial.

To see Andy apply himself to it, slog gruellingly through this schedule, fight through the vicissitudes of his form, and, ultimately look like he will have enough reward from it - will meet his goals, or what we superimpose them to be - has left me, and I can only speak for me, really very pleased indeed, and with yet another reminder of just how admirable Andy is, and how lucky we are to have him.

Very nice post, Ali.

Spectator · All-time great

Hear, hear.

Spectator · All-time great

By the way, I put this in another thread, but will place it here, too, in case. It's a good article - and rather agrees with you, Ali: www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/10/when-andy-attacks/53088/.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I won't quote it again, but that was a great post by Ali. I too had become rather dismayed by the apparent lack of interest in Andy's matches - it drove me frequently to AMFF, just to hear some discussion. I wonder however if some of it is caused by so many of Andy's matches being available on TV rather than livestreams. I for one couldn't possibly post if watching on TV - but I don't have Sky or Eurosport so am almost always on livestreams.

steven · Tennis legend

SF: (3/WC) Andy Murray WR 10 beat (1) David Ferrer (ESP) WR 5 (CH 3 in 2013) by 4 & 5

FINAL: (3/WC) Andy Murray WR 10 v Tommy Robredo (ESP) WR 21 (CH 5 in 2006)

H2H 4-3, including a 5-7 7-6(9) 6-1 win in last month's Shenzhen final

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Not the three-setter that I had hoped for but it sounded like a slog for Robredo, which is good news for Murray, lasting over two hours.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Spectator wrote:
By the way, I put this in another thread, but will place it here, too, in case. It's a good article - and rather agrees with you, Ali: www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/10/when-andy-attacks/53088/.

Thank Spectator, I enjoyed that article.

I'm very glad to hear the other voices too, thank you. It's good to know I'm not alone

Good to see Andy do the business again today. The H2H with Robredo is closer than I would have guessed, but I sense Andy is building real momentum. Fatigue aside, I think he has every chance to add another title tomorrow.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Robredo's two ATP wins came when Murray was 18 and 20 (whilst Robredo was mid 20s) and the third was at the Hopman Cup in 2010.

Of course he couldn't have come any closer in their last match, which I'm sure will be fresh in both players minds.

Jan · Hall of fame

Spectator wrote:
Hear, hear.

"Thirded"

Great post by Ali

TMH · Futures qualifying

Robredo 1/1 and Murray 0/6 on break points tells you all you need to know. Robredo playing very aggressively at the minute.

*3-5.

TMH · Futures qualifying

A very tired looking game hands over the first set.

I don't know what he's playing at. Just letting Robredo dictate and chasing all over the court with often no reward. If he's tired he should be playing more aggressive, not less. Robredo's very comfortable at the minute.