Doha final: Andy v Ljubjcic

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Doha final: Andy v Ljubjcic

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Madeline wrote:

I agree, Aria. Sometimes I am glad I am not an expert: they so rarely seem to enjoy matches (sorry, Kundalini!)

Quite true. I find the matches painful to watch. Must try to watch fewer this year.

Eddster · Junior player

Probably fair assement Kundalini, but even with some timid play if he gets that smash in court or waits for it to come down before attempting it in one of the bp in the first game of first set, it's a completely different match. Thought he seem to trouble Ljubcic a lot more in Madrid not quite sure why though, probably for the reason you suggested. I think Murray played like that because he is not feeling 100% and so more conservative I have seem him do it before, hopefully we may see a different Andy in Kooyong (no idea how to watch it online or anywhere btw) or at the AO. And I definitely heard him cough a few times between points. But was impressed with Ljubcic would say he looks better player than Roddick, (comparing because both big servers) seems he can do more with his groundstrokes.

-- Edited by Eddster at 01:27, 2007-01-07

steven · Tennis legend

I didn't think it was a poor display either, I thought it was a top class match, and I love the way that Andy always looks like he's capable of beating any top 10 player he plays.

However, I agree with kundalini that if Andy plays to his potential, he's capable of beating players like Ljubo on a regular basis and I'll start getting a bit concerned if he carries on losing Finals he has a good chance of winning (1 out of 4 is not exactly Fed or Rafa standard, after all), but hopefully he won't.

When I saw it, I thought the missed smash on BP no. 3 in the first game might be the crucial mistake of the match, and I still think it was.

Other crucial errors were letting Ljubo break straight back after drawing first blood in the 2nd set, letting him get ahead at the start of the final game (I thought Ljubo won the last game of the 1st set, so that wasn't so bad, but Andy definitely lost the last game of the match) and ewwwwwwwww trying a drop shot on that final match point - Brad must have been squirming in his seat even before that one left the racquet.

Ljubo did play some excellent shots himself, of course, and Andy's recovery to win that 2nd match point when he was off balance and looked down and out was amazing.

I thought Andy put in another good serving performance (most of the time) - 68% first serves in isn't bad, although I did get the impression he wasn't going for that much on them and the fact that he won the same % of points on 1st and 2nd serves (59%) bears that out.

I also thought it was nice to see Andy attacking the net a bit, but he's clearly not experienced enough at doing that yet to know instinctively the right time to come in - he looked very exposed a few times. Hopefully his feel for when to come in will improve though.

Great match though, and a really good start to the year for Andy, especially when you remember that he did it all with quite a bad cold.

Unfortunately, Djoko won in Adelaide, so Andy will be 15th rather than 14th on Monday, but that's still a new career high.

Salmon · Tennis legend

My understanding of the game is pretty poor; but I don't watch Andy's matches. British players seem to lose whenever I watch them.

Tim -

Seen: Six Won: Two.

Greg -

Seen: One Won: Zero.

Boggo -

Seen: One Won: Zero.

Andy:

Seen: Six Won: ZERO.

I'm not counting the last set of the delayed match against Benneteau that I got to see. I've stopped seeing Andy on TV now. Hurray for Livescores.

Drew · Jan 7, 2007

Top 10 for Andy....Ljubo....says

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6238463.stm

Count Zero · Tennis legend

to be honest i wasnt that impressed with andy's performance, just seemed very flat to me, didnt take nay risks, he just seemed to rely on lubo to make a mistake, and he made some pretty tame ones himself, i prefer to see a player going for is shot and it just missing the line rather than dinking obe into the net.

But i understand cause he didnt look well, and it was over all a great week for him. maybe he shuld skip the exhibiton event or tank it to make sure he is better for the AO.