indiana wrote:

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british4524 wrote:
Andy is now heading to Sun rise challenge


Is that such a good idea ?!

 
 

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A fascinating match of varying quality and while Davydenko won comfortably in the third set, Andy showed enough to suggest this was an opponent he could have beaten. In the windy conditions neither player was able to win many points with the serve alone. The typical point saw Davydenko dominate, hitting huge forehands from side to side while Andy defended with mixed success.

In the first set it was all Davydenko. He pressed, he attacked the net, his deep hitting, especially on the forehand side was too much for Murray, yards behind the baseline trying to keep the ball in play. Odd moments of brilliance from Andy, a stunning double-handed backhand down the line came out of nowhere, but his returning was passive, his serve lacked penetration and it was rather embarrassingly one-sided.

Forehand to forehand there was only one winner in the opening set. Andy's looping forehand was simply an invitation for Davydenko to unleash. Long rallies ended with unforced errors from the single handed backhand slice.

All change in the second set. Davydenko's level dropped, throwing in double faults and unforced errors. Andy raised his game and attacked more, short angled backhands, more aggression on the forehand, the occasional venture to the net to pull off a stunning volley. A few unreturned serves helped Andy to hold serve in tight games though big serves were not much in evidence. Neither player showed much competence at holding serve during this set. By the end the server was gifting points to his opponent game after game with forehands wide and into the net as Andy broke to lead 5-2, lost his serve, then broke again to take the set.

Sadly the third set was disappointing from Andy. Three wild forehands cost him an early break and his level of play never returned to the heights seen in the second set. Andy made almost no effort to make things happen in this set. The points he won largely came from Davydenko's errors while Andy himself threw in large numbers of careless unforced errors. Little pressure on the Davydenko serve for most of the set. 0-30 at 3-4 was his chance to break back but timid play cost him the opportunity and he lost serve again to finally lose the match.

Tactically this was a poor display from Andy. Too many points were dominated by Davydenko with Andy way behind the baseline trying to pull off miracle shots. That he managed a few just highlighted the talent he possesses but the percentages were all in Davydenko's favour. The forehand looked poor in comparison with Davydenko's aggression while the backhand slice broke down far more than usual. Few big first serves and a lot of points where Andy settled into long rally mode after the return rather than trying to dominate from the start. His returning was generally passive, getting the ball back in play only for Davydenko to boss the rally with his first groundstroke.

In the first and third sets Davydenko looked a fine player. Sure he made mistakes but his play was bold, even coming to the net to volley and winning a fair percentage despite a technique that could do with a lot of work. Fierce groundstrokes off both sides pressed Andy back and it was this aggression that made him a worthy winner.

As for Andy's serve, you have to wonder about the decision to cut down the pace in the hope of getting a higher percentage of first serves in play. The current version barely looks top 100 standard, with almost no penetration; the huge aces down the middle and the slightly rarer big serves out wide, have largely vanished. The majority of successful first serves come at a hardly frightening 110-115 aimed vaguely in the direction of his opponent's body but get returned with little difficulty. Last year's hints of promising weapon have turned into a serious liability that top players can break several times each set. Not surprisingly Davydenko returned comfortably throughout.

Somewhere in this match was a message to Andy: good players don't hand you the victory that often. You need to make things happen rather than hope that your opponent will make the first mistake.

Cheers for your comments, Madeline.

I must admit that while longer term I was wondering about the worth of the Sun Rise Challenger ranking wise, I can see the point about shorter term increasing ranking points since he could well end up very close to the cut for Rolland Garros  / Wimbledon seeding.  And indeed if that helps get him seeding and better draw and hence more ranking points, I suppose there is a long term benefit too.

I also didn't realise it was in Miami with potential similar conditions.

Hey, what a good idea this Sun Rise Challenger is   

Read some of the posts above.........

Quotes from 2 different posters.....

As for Andy's serve, you have to wonder about the decision to cut down the pace in the hope of getting a higher percentage of first serves in play. The current version barely looks top 100 standard,.....

At a lower level Andy is able to raise his game to turn the tide in his favour but right now he doesn't have the weapons to change the momentum in a set aggainst a top player.

I can understand some things that people are posting but just so we can have a good natured debate the 2 commets above raised my heckles slightly.....

Can we remember then just a few weeks ago Andys less than 'top 100 serve' got him past two of the top players on the planet. As for the inability to change momentum and come from behind he did just that against Hewitt and to a lesser player against Soderling, who is no mug, he snatched victory away from the jaws of defeat !

He had a poor match. Tatically and his performance were not his best. He admits that.

Look at these stats. He has played 4 players that are currently listed in the Top 10.

Won 2 lost 2. In both losses he took a set.

Lets not get to down on Mr Murray. Apart from 1st full year on the tour etc..etc...he is learning so much from making these mistakes.

If he stays healthy, has the support of his family and coach and maintains his drive and determination he will get into the top 20 this year. Sure his serve needs attention etc...but it will come in time. Petchey can see what we see. (So can Judy).

Heres hoping for a good 'Sunrise'

Drew wrote:

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Read some of the posts above......... Quotes from 2 different posters..... As for Andy's serve, you have to wonder about the decision to cut down the pace in the hope of getting a higher percentage of first serves in play. The current version barely looks top 100 standard,..... At a lower level Andy is able to raise his game to turn the tide in his favour but right now he doesn't have the weapons to change the momentum in a set aggainst a top player. I can understand some things that people are posting but just so we can have a good natured debate the 2 commets above raised my heckles slightly..... Can we remember then just a few weeks ago Andys less than 'top 100 serve' got him past two of the top players on the planet. As for the inability to change momentum and come from behind he did just that against Hewitt and to a lesser player against Soderling, who is no mug, he snatched victory away from the jaws of defeat ! He had a poor match. Tatically and his performance were not his best. He admits that. Look at these stats. He has played 4 players that are currently listed in the Top 10. Won 2 lost 2. In both losses he took a set. Lets not get to down on Mr Murray. Apart from 1st full year on the tour etc..etc...he is learning so much from making these mistakes. If he stays healthy, has the support of his family and coach and maintains his drive and determination he will get into the top 20 this year. Sure his serve needs attention etc...but it will come in time. Petchey can see what we see. (So can Judy). Heres hoping for a good 'Sunrise'    

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I've noticed that some posters on this board take the enthusiastic, encouraging approach, saying that gaining a set against a top 20 player is a positive sign and that Andy should not be expected to beat players ranked above him. While others comment on the weaknesses in his game, complain about his tactics and disappointing performances.

And yet I would imagine that most of us feel that Andy is a player with the talent that in time should take him close to the top 5 and hopefully allow him to compete for, if not win, grand slam titles. He is that good.

I've read comments on here about the Ljubicic match (Andy lost in 3) saying he played well. Yet having watched the first set and a half of that match I am really struggling to believe anyone could have thought Andy was playing even remotely well - he was incredibly fortunate that Ljubicic gifted him the break to win the first set and after that his game went to pieces.

There is another point. People who don't happen to have Eurosport or Sky Sports may have seen very little of Andy's tennis since Australia, or indeed since Wimbledon last year. If you are following matches on the internet you get a sense of the flow of a match, for instance if one player is holding serve easily, but you don't know why players are winning the points.

So I'm not going to change my style. When he plays well I'll say so and when he plays poorly I'll say so. If his double-handed backhand is firing winner after winner down the line or his drop shots are working to perfection, I'll mention it. And if his serve is, as it was against Davydenko, practically toothless, that'll get a mention too. (by the way his serving was poor against Hewitt too)

If you want to read relentlessly positive descriptions perhaps you might want to skip my contributions.