Whatever happens versus Djokovic - and realistically, it's hard to see anyone beating him at this point, though with Mr Murray, it's possible - Mr Murray is at this point the person with the 2nd best record among tennis players thus far this Spring ... and after the ups and downs of the past few years, that's a real delight in itself. Great win v. Ferrer. Terrific clay season.
The first two games of the fourth set must rank as just about the best games he has ever played on clay. His positioning fitness alertness shot selection and agility was something else.
Re crowd support - I was sure they were shouting for "Andee" until late in the third - when many started shouting for "Daveed". Just wanting to prolong the match I suppose - I've done it myself when not bothered which player wins, supported the underdog in order to see one or maybe two more sets for the price of my ticket.
Re crowd support - I was sure they were shouting for "Andee" until late in the third - when many started shouting for "Daveed". Just wanting to prolong the match I suppose - I've done it myself when not bothered which player wins, supported the underdog in order to see one or maybe two more sets for the price of my ticket.
Yes, not sure that the French crowd have anything particular against Andy, just pretty lukewarm about him, certainly he doesn't enthuse them like Fed or Rafa.
So, it's probably fairly natural that they take to the underdog against Andy and / or player who has fallen behind Andy in a match.
Not sure really how they regard Djokovic, but I suspect similar to Andy, so it will be interesting to see how the crowd reaction goes in the SF.
Re crowd support - I was sure they were shouting for "Andee" until late in the third - when many started shouting for "Daveed". Just wanting to prolong the match I suppose - I've done it myself when not bothered which player wins, supported the underdog in order to see one or maybe two more sets for the price of my ticket.
I think you're right, Madeline - from what I saw, it seemed like cheers to get a tight match going and drawing it out, not anything personal either way.
From my experience, the French take the mick slightly out of Andy for being 'grumpy' (but he is quite grumpy, in his own way) but it's taking the mick in a friendly way - they actually quite like him because he's Scottish (after all, it's not English!). And they think of the Scottish as grumpy so it all plays nicely into their preconceptions. I don't think they have any real feeling about David Ferrer (general respect for longevity and tenacity aside). Rafa is their Spanish 'fave' so there's no need for another. There's definitely more support overall, I would say, for Andy than David.
The crowd were NOT shouting Andee it was Daveed. My friend was there and was trying to shout over the Daveed. Def not Andy at any point other than the odd Scottish visitor shouting over the Daveeds.