Shanghai

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Difficult to see Murray not retaining his title there. With 2 of the top 4 absent, I cannot see anyone troubling him. Nadal will have plenty in his hands with Nalbandian or Gulbis, Berdych, Ferrer. Tsonga could be a challenge for Murray.

Ferrer serving for the match.

Ferrer wins, third MS final.

The good thing about this match is taht we can see that faster balls gives a better chance to SVers and SHBH.

Isn;t it time they speed the game everywhere?

Well done Ferrer - only saw some of the second set, but Lopez was looking quite disheartened by the break, and then despondent by the second break for Ferrer to take set so thought it was pretty much all over then.

Having had the rugby on this morning, am now hiding from Man U so I have no chance to see Murray Television rights have been firmly booked for tomorrow!

See from scoreboard that Murray has taken first set 6 3

Interesting piece in The Times today about Murray - he says that relationship with Gilbert was very intense, but he is sure that if they had been player and coach a few years later that the relationship would have lasted much longer. Gilbert is, of course, Nishikori's coach atm.

I didn't realise that Murray was no longer tweeting his followers, not being a twitter user. I think this is a really good healthy sign that he is beginning to realise that on court he only has himself to rely on, and that he is beginning to cut out some of the extraneous voices. Could the boy be finally becoming the man?

It has so far been an impressive performance thus far from Murray. Has been serving well and played some lovely strokes.

Well played Mr Murray. Cementing his place in the final with a comprehensive victory. 6-3 6-0.

Murray bagels Nishikori in second set. Very impressive.

Well done Murray Wish I had seen

If only China, Thailand or Japan had the rights to host a GS event, over bo3 sets, Murray would be the undisputed number one.

The Stadium looked quite a bit more lively during the set I watched with Lopez and Ferrer - hopefully so for 2nd semi?

Fantastic effort by Murray and by all accounts his serving was strong and impressive?

very good from Andy. Serve especially impressive. A match too far from Nishikori I'm afraid. Final against Ferrer tomorrow, think Murray has too many weapons for Ferrer on a hardcourt...

He certainly should have I would think MFC, especially when his serve is working so well.

Terrific effort if he takes tomorrow - 3 tournament wins in a row. Hoping for a very good WTF from Mr M this year!

As expected Murray will defend his title.

Well I already stated about a very one sided semis win. In fact it turned out to be even more one sided than I had thought. Nishikori had already done enough of upsets in one tournament to keep carrying on. In fact he didn't do much great game wise. Nishikori has no real weapons of tennis. His game is some what solid to some extent but no real big weapon. He needs others playing poor to win. This tournament Haase, Tsonga and Dolgo did just that. He won by default as Haase, Tsonga and Dolgo all with better game, played poor and lost themselves. Nishikori just stayed to take the W.

But Murray was aware of it and wasn't going to let such a fantastic opportunity for a Masters final slip by. So well done.

It has been such a let down in terms of the attendances in Shanghai this week. I am hoping the ATP may consider a different venue that has much more exuberance about it.

Murray looks set for another Masters Title. Been fortunate given no Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in the latter stages. I am sure that Murray doubters will question the victory should he win tomorrow.

I hope that London can end the year on a high after a disappointing couple of months of poor tennis.

legendkillar wrote:It has been such a let down in terms of the attendances in Shanghai this week. I am hoping the ATP may consider a different venue that has much more exuberance about it.

Murray looks set for another Masters Title. Been fortunate given no Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in the latter stages. I am sure that Murray doubters will question the victory should he win tomorrow.

I hope that London can end the year on a high after a disappointing couple of months of poor tennis.

"Murray doubters" "question" any victory that he has, as he only wins when his opponents are either (take your pick) tired / ill / no interested / injured / having personal issues

Exactly, its a wonder how he's been top 4 for ages now...

Winning Shanghai will make Murray #3, not very different, but perhaps a good confidence boost for Murray.

Edit: If Ferrer wins his first MS 1000, it would be a great achievement for Ferrer. Hope it is a good three-setter. He came close, getting to the finals of Rome 2010 and MC 2011 (losing to Rafa on both occasions).

It'll be a significant breaking up of the Top 3 and a bit of a worry for Fed. I watched highlights of last years final and continue to be amazed at how easily de-motivated Fed became in that match

Of course he bounced back at O2, spanking Murray's behind, but when Murray gets No. 3 (it's surely just a matter of time) it will be genuinely desereved, because for me he is now better than Fed

No disgrace for the legend. 16 Slams, still getting to the business end of events etc at the age of 30. However, i now think it would be good for the game if this is a the new consistent Murray as he can definitely cause the Top 2 problems - playing like he is

For me the forehand is becoming to look a potent weapon, something I didn't think I'd be saying by now in February!! Will it break down in a Slam final? Only time will tell

Laverfan, all things being equal, i.e. assuming all his rivals are fit, do you think Fed will win another Slam? I'm not so certain any longer (I had him down for 18)

banbrotam wrote:all things being equal, i.e. assuming all his rivals are fit, do you think Fed will win another Slam? I'm not so certain any longer (I had him down for 18)

He did get to the FO final. If he had won the first set, I can speculate a different outcome. 2 MPs at USO 2011 SF, losing to a player with a 67-3 record.

It is a possibility, but as you say, not a certainty. 2012 may prove to be different. Of his longevity and motivation, I have no doubt.

banbrotam wrote:It'll be a significant breaking up of the Top 3 and a bit of a worry for Fed. I watched highlights of last years final and continue to be amazed at how easily de-motivated Fed became in that match

Of course he bounced back at O2, spanking Murray's behind, but when Murray gets No. 3 (it's surely just a matter of time) it will be genuinely desereved, because for me he is now better than Fed

No disgrace for the legend. 16 Slams, still getting to the business end of events etc at the age of 30. However, i now think it would be good for the game if this is a the new consistent Murray as he can definitely cause the Top 2 problems - playing like he is

For me the forehand is becoming to look a potent weapon, something I didn't think I'd be saying by now in February!! Will it break down in a Slam final? Only time will tell

Laverfan, all things being equal, i.e. assuming all his rivals are fit, do you think Fed will win another Slam? I'm not so certain any longer (I had him down for 18)

Okay fine. Just remember what you've said here. All the points.

The real test of Murray is when he will face the other elite, such as RF, ND, and once again RN. Whilst anything is possible, it is less likely that his passage to finals and beyond will be so smooth. Hope he does well. No way is he (yet) better than RF, points notwithstanding. Only if he defeats RF squarely at London will I agree with that.

Murray takes the first. Very tight first set and Murray pounces when it matters. Important service game for Ferrer now.

Ferrer gifts Murray a break in the 2nd. All going Murray's way.

Murray breaks again! Let's see if he can consolidate it this time.

Nope.

2 DF's by Murray in a row. Not the service game he wanted. Ferrer now back in this 2nd set. Cannot believe after bossing that point he loses it.

Aargh! No-one can say that watching Murray play is relaxing

Ferrer now back to square one. Murray chuffing consolidate this time!!!

brilliant lob there to snatch the break again

legendkillar wrote:Ferrer now back to square one. Murray chuffing consolidate this time!!!

Love the word chuffing - very similiar to the one I was thinking

A steady service game there. Murray now surely with the match in the bag.

Finally!

Murray's slice has done all the damage in this match. Ferrer is struggling to find the right shot to play off it.

Ferrer's aggression seems to end up in UEs in this set.

Murray now in his comfort zone. One game away from retaining.

Go Murray go

Murray to serve for the title. This has been a solid tight performance by the Scot. Superb stuff.

Just adding a bit of stress in (hopefully) the last game 30-30.

Murray with a match point and he seals it. What a great few weeks it has been. He has cleaned up in Asia

there it is, didn't play all that well, but maybe down to tiredness. His serve worked really well, and he did enough in the end. 86% of points won behind his first serve, with over 60% landing in.

Murray is the new world n°3

Manojchandra wrote:The real test of Murray is when he will face the other elite, such as RF, ND, and once again RN. Whilst anything is possible, it is less likely that his passage to finals and beyond will be so smooth. Hope he does well. No way is he (yet) better than RF, points notwithstanding. Only if he defeats RF squarely at London will I agree with that.

Murray and Fed's last three matches have been two Masters finals and a 2nd match group Masters Cup game. Can you tell me why the more meaningless O2 fixture appears to carry more weight than the significance of Murray beating Federer in a final for the first time and then doing it again?

I'm just genuinely interested and not trying to trip you up. A lot of the quite rightly valid arguments about Andy's earlier victories against Fed, were that they were matches of a lesser importance. Wasn't that O2 match less important - given their spankings of their opponents in the fist 'rubber'? If not does this make Andy's 2008 victory against Fed at the Masters Cup significant?

I think Manoj is not questioning the wins Murray has over Fed. But these 3 are the main reasons that Murray has still been waiting to win a major.
All wins must have been of equal importance but Andy had not dished it ou when it had mattered the most. Considering that he beat Nadal at USO in 2008 and Fed he has positive h2h for quite sometime but the killer punch lacked so far.
Maybe 2012 will be a different story.

banbrotam wrote:

If not does this make Andy's 2008 victory against Fed at the Masters Cup significant?

It is significant but I do clearly remember Federer suffering with a back problem in that match. One of the very rare time when Federer took a MTO.

Tenez wrote:

banbrotam wrote:

If not does this make Andy's 2008 victory against Fed at the Masters Cup significant?

It is significant but I do clearly remember Federer suffering with a back problem in that match. One of the very rare time when Federer took a MTO.

Tenez. Now who's concentrating on defending his player - rather than addressing the general point!!

Murrays playing well but my concern is the lack of impact at the Slams when it came down to playing a big boy. One thing we cannot say about Federer last year was that he didn't trouble the top two.

banbrotam wrote:I'm just genuinely interested and not trying to trip you up. A lot of the quite rightly valid arguments about Andy's earlier victories against Fed, were that they were matches of a lesser importance. Wasn't that O2 match less important - given their spankings of their opponents in the fist 'rubber'? If not does this make Andy's 2008 victory against Fed at the Masters Cup significant?

I think the only significance is that it proves that if Andy is playing his A game he will win over Fed's B game - he will, in all likelihood, stay with Fed when both are playing their A game and the result will be harder to call. He just stands no chance playing his own B game against either Fed's A game or Fed's B game, and I think with Andy this holds true against Novak and Rafa too.

Fed, Rafa and Novak have all proved that on the big occasion they can find another gear - an A+ game, a fifth gear. This year will tell us a lot about whether Andy actually has that 5th gear to go to and whether nerves have inhibited him on the biggest stage thus far.