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Post Info TOPIC: Arnaud Clement vs Andy Murray
Who wins? [35 vote(s)]

Andy makes a great start under Brad's tutelage and wins his second ATP title. Andy in Two
51.4%
Andy chokes on the frog but struggles through to a battling victory.
20.0%
"CantGetAFirstServeIn" turns up and Can't win a set. Clement in straights.
14.3%
The resurgent Frenchman wins through after a cuthroat battle. Arnaud in 3.
14.3%


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Arnaud Clement vs Andy Murray


Andy Murray is confident he can win his second career title on Sunday when he faces Arnaud Clement in Washington.


The 19-year-old Scot takes on Clement in the final of the Legg Mason Classic.


"I've played well all week, I haven't dropped a set all week, I'm feeling confident, but it's going to be tough," Murray told Five Live's Sportsweek.


"If I play like I did (on Saturday) I've got a good chance but you can't afford to give too many cheap points away because he' so consistent."


Murray beat Dmitry Tursunov in the semi-finals on Saturday and will face Clement at 2000 BST on Sunday.


The Scot reached his first ATP final at the Thailand Open last October, losing to Roger Federer in straight sets.


He has since won a title in San Jose and risen to 35 in the world rankings, but lost to Clement in five sets in their only previous encounter at last year's US Open.


"This time I'm a bit fresher," said Murray. "Last year I'd played nine weeks in a row.


"I came back from two sets down but started to get a bit tired, which I think was understandable."


Murray has teamed up with new coach Brad Gilbert for the first time this week, but insists the American's influence so far has been largely in terms of confidence.


"He hasn't changed my game," said Murray. "The only other thing that's changed is that he's given me extra confidence.


"Having Brad Gilbert in your corner is an unbelievable confidence booster. Tactically, he's great, but in terms of my game he hasn't changed too much."


Murray added: "I like having someone who's positive and upbeat and I love the way that he is.


"He gets up early in the morning, he loves life, he's never negative and although he talks a lot, it's good stuff.


"He realises the way that I am. I'd much rather get up and practice at 11 o'clock and have two great hours of practice than get up at seven and have two bad hours of practice.


"He understands that, he worked with (Andy) Roddick when he was 19, he's got kids my age, so he's used to being around youngsters and he's dealt with me very well so far."


Murray revealed that he has not yet been contacted by the LTA regarding the appointment of a new Davis Cup captain.
John Lloyd is the favourite, with an announcement expected next week.


"I haven't spoken to anyone about it," said Murray. "I think John was a very good player in his own right.


"He's commentating on tennis so he knows what quite a lot of the players play like.


"I get on with him well, we've had good fun when we've been together, but I'd probably like to speak to someone first before the decision is made."



-- Edited by mkkreuk at 20:32, 2006-08-06

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8pm BST.  Cushions at the ready!


How anout a poll, they are always fun!  



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timmoore46 wrote:



How anout a poll, they are always fun!  





Done.


I've gone for Andy..in straight sets...but two tight ones. 7-5 7-5



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A quick assessment of Andy this week based on last night's match and the stats for the other matches and a look at his opponent in the final:


First serve has been fairly typical of this year but with an even worse first serve percentage this week 47% compared to his average of 56% for the year. Yesterday he tried a few faster serves but tended to miss narrowly, mixed in with some medium paced body serves and a few kick serves which did trouble Tursunov on the backhand side. 16 aces this week of which 13 came in the very first match. Andy's been winning 75% of points on first serve this week compared to 67% for the year while on second he is also doing better with 56% won up from his average of 50%. Overall he is holding serve close to 90% of the time compared to 71% for the year.


And the reason for this improvement, apart from opponents not really playing that great, is that Andy has been more aggressive on his initial groundstroke, striking forehands for outright winners, forcing errors from his opponent and enabling him to dominate points. His second serve seemed somewhat more ambitious than usual, surprising Tursunov with faster serves to the forehand, better direction on body serves, typically deeper than usual, which may explain the increase in double faults this week with 18 so far when he would typically have made 10.


This week Clement has yet to drop a set with wins over Hrbaty, Hewitt and Safin on route to the final. He has been dominant on serve winning 77% on first and 58% on second; his opponents have struggled to compete in his service games with only Lleyton Hewitt having much of an impact and he failed to take enough of the break point opportunities he created. Clement certainly gives the impression of being a player that has hit top form this week though Andy might be encouraged that Hewitt wasn't too far away despite a disappointing first serve percentage.


In his last match against Clement Andy was guilty of playing very passively for the first two sets, with long rallies usually being won by the frenchman who would move Andy around the court before taking him wide then come into the net to make a straightforward volley. Murray adopted a more aggressive approach in the third and fourth sets but didn't have the energy to win the match in the fifth. It was noticeable that Arnaud made very few unforced errors during the match which will be quite a change from the erratic groundstrokes of Tursunov.


So the key to this match is likely to be control of the points. If Andy lets Clement dictate then he could be in trouble as Arnaud is capable of constructing the points intelligently so that Andy is forced to attempt a low percentage passing shot from a position deep behind the baseline if not beyond the tramlines as well. 


I'd expect Clement to make far more returns than Tursunov managed so Andy will need to serve better on first, and continue to be adventurous on second serve, backed up with an aggressive initial groundstroke.


 


 



-- Edited by kundalini at 15:26, 2006-08-06

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Thank you, I alway learn loads from your posts, being very ignorant on the finer points.




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mkkreuk wrote:


  

  • "I get on with him well, we've had good fun when we've been together, but I'd probably like to speak to someone first before the decision is made."





  • Correct me if I'm wrong but that sounds like code for 'I'd rather it wasn't him'.


    Thanks for the insight Kundalini once again.


    I've gone for Andy in three. I think Clement is more in form than any of the players he's come up against so far, however I think Andy was playing great last night so should be able to handle it.



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    imoen wrote:

    mkkreuk wrote:


      

  • "I get on with him well, we've had good fun when we've been together, but I'd probably like to speak to someone first before the decision is made."





  • Correct me if I'm wrong but that sounds like code for 'I'd rather it wasn't him'.


    Thanks for the insight Kundalini once again.


    I've gone for Andy in three. I think Clement is more in form than any of the players he's come up against so far, however I think Andy was playing great last night so should be able to handle it.





    Nah - I think that's the usual thing that most DC players think 'I would like to know what his ideas are for the team before he comes in and is my boss for the next two or three years.'

    I'm going for Andy in 3 - basically because I've went for him in three in most of his matches and I'm too superstitious to change it now.

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    THis match shouold be on Eurosport 2 for those that have that channel. i thought i saw a question earlier asking where it was on, but can't find it now.

    I hate that most men's tennis seems to be on Sky when i don't have it!

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    Is there anyone doing live commentary?



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    The match should be starting very soon.  Has anyone got it on TV?  As us skyless folk are in the dark! (so to speak/see *LOL*)

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    I'll do commentary for all you unfortunates.


    my internet is playing up though so I may disappear for a while, but I'll be back!



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    OK, here we go. Is a post per game OK, or do you want it more often? Brad is once again all in black.


    Clement to serve first.


    second serve. 0-15, good rally from Murray, forces the error from C who nets.


    0-30, passing winner.


    second serve. 15-30, A nets.


    30-30, great bh from C, A couldn't get the reply in court.


    30-40, ue from C, he nets. bp, a whoop from the crowd!


    game A. C sends a fh long.



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    Game 1 and Andy breaks Clement

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    15-0. Ace/unreturnable not sure which, either way a first serve!


    15-15, A got a very lucky net cord there but C recovered and A made teh mistake.


    30-15, great serve, C replies only half-way down the court and M puts away the half-volley.


    40-15, ace. Really good serving from A so far.


    saying that, he went about 6inches wide! but wins the game with a fh winner.


    2-0.



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    What a start! 2-0 to andy! come on!

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