Australian Open 2012 - Day 6

First topic message reminder :

This is where it happening...

Amazing scoring from Djokovic thus far. He cuts through the draw like Borg did in the 70s on clay versus an amateurish field!

Glad Gasquet is showing some consistence! impressive win over Tsip, the man in form.

Tsonga physique making little work of tiny Gil.

Ferrer beats Chela convincingly and Nishikori wins Benneteau in 4 but was only a few points to lose in 3.

He knows how to beat Tsonga, Tsonga only beat Murray when he was young and raw.

This match has gone a bit flat. Lots of erratic play from both players. The crowd are not so into it anymore

The raonic BH is mis-firing big time

I wouldnt say tsonga's ground game is too poor overall but would agree his backhand is a definite weakness. He hits a lot of routine backhands into the net. When his forehand is on he can be lethal and as you say his serve is huge

Hewitt's been around forever, is he older than Rod Laver?

slashermcguirk wrote:He hits a lot of routine backhands into the net.

Because he refuse to play anti-tennis moonballs that the Spaniards have worked so vigorously on. Don't blame him.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:I believe Murray will struggle more against Kukushkin than Tsonga sadly, Tsonga's ground game is pretty poor, when you take his serve away he might be looking at a ranking outside the top 25.

Like he did in Brisbane!

Simple_Analyst really has you summed up “Emancipator and Josiah. The former known for writing non sensible comments and the latter for being consistently ignorant”

For once I agree with him, but in your case both points apply.

I have a degree in upsetting Nadal/Murray fans, no wonder you both think that way!

JM Orwell claimed that "Ignorance is Strength" so why not take that as a compliment?

Josiah Maiestas wrote:I have a degree in upsetting Nadal/Murray fans, no wonder you both think that way!

More of a mild irritation really - nothing of any substance so nothing to get upset over.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Oh dear, 5live talking about how exciting the Murray-Llodra 1 sider was, British journalists are really blinkered when it comes to Murray.

Frew McMillan, is noted as probably the best summariser out there and he was just as impressed with Murray's play. If that kind of Tennis can't even inspire you to write a few positive words about Murray, then there will be a danger of you not being taken seriously when you write about him

Josiah Maiestas wrote:You would've thought Murray had invented a new style to this tour or something, when really he's just a taller and harder serving version of Michael Chang, with a weaker mentality.

Erm. As I said earlier!!

Hewitt takes the 3rd set on a tie break

Hewitt takes the 3rd set in tie break

banbrotam wrote:Frew McMillan, is noted as probably the best summariser out there and he was just as impressed with Murray's play. If that kind of Tennis can't even inspire you to write a few positive words about Murray, then there will be a danger of you not being taken seriously when you write about him

I know Murray is a good player, his ranking doesn't lie. It's a shame that you can't accept that others hate his style of play.

break_in_the_fifth wrote:Murray did bring something new to the tour in 2008 but he gave that up so he could just try and loop the ball endlessly. Hopefully Lendl will talk some sense into him.

What like today, with his 20-odd winners in the 2nd set

We have on here, certain scribers who have a set negative view of Murray and refuse to change their minds despite the evidence. Believe Fre McMillan then. He has stated that the forehand was more in evidence than the backhand at the back end of last year, i.e. I'm not certain that him looling the ball "endlessly" is consistent with having a sharper faster forehand

If you watched him tongight and still cannot appreciate his skills then it's your funeral. I

Hewitt now 2 sets to one up

Pure nostalgia, but I like to see him doing well.

banbrotam wrote:What like today, with his 20-odd winners in the 2nd set

Against Llodra, who is mainly a doubles player.

I just wish he would take the initiative more against the higher ranked players, no?

Most players with Hewitt's career of injuries would have retired 3-4 years ago, kudos to him.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

banbrotam wrote:Frew McMillan, is noted as probably the best summariser out there and he was just as impressed with Murray's play. If that kind of Tennis can't even inspire you to write a few positive words about Murray, then there will be a danger of you not being taken seriously when you write about him

I know Murray is a good player, his ranking doesn't lie. It's a shame that you can't accept that others hate his style of play.

I fail to understand how any true Tennis fan can hate Murray at his best, when he can play every shot in the book and when he's at his best 'skills' wise is only second to the GOAT

I'm a Tennis fan or 30-odd years and have seen the various types of Tennis that era has thrown up. Maybe you like the short point power stuff and hence would have or did love the serve an power borefest of the early 90's. Maybe you think that points should end after four strokes because you get bored easily. Maybe you think it's irritating when a player caresses the ball rather than tries to kill it.

If your inspiration is Del Potro and all the other 'subtle as brick on your head' type players, then that's your choice.

Delpo is not my favourite player actually, I like watching matches with players that refuse to be bullied and don't get upset at losing a few points, which is what happens in 90% of Murray matches. His passive game style might be a bit more admirable had he not shown such negative body language in big matches, like in AO 2011 final, or semi's of Wimbledon and USO.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

banbrotam wrote:What like today, with his 20-odd winners in the 2nd set

Against Llodra, who is mainly a doubles player.

I just wish he would take the initiative more against the higher ranked players, no?

I think his record against all his rivals, given that he has a positve head to head agianst all but around 3 of the Top 20, shows he takes the initiative

As did his last two Tennis finals against Federer

I'm afraid Murray will always be tagged by some as some kind of pacifist, plodding, passive moonballer - even Llodra was talking nonsense about it today. I'm certain that if someone new to Tennis has watched Andy since around April of last year (when he got that ever improving forehand to start working) wouldn't agree - but in life you have one chance to make a good first impression and it's very easy - not to say lazy, for people to revert to type

According to that idiot on Eurosport (the one who commentated on his 2nd round match) Andy is now behaving on court and it's all down to Lendl. The fact that Murray's on court demeanour has hardly changed at all from the US Open, when there were hardly any spells of negativity (indeed I wish he had beaten himself up a bit given his insipid performance against Nadal) of course seems to have been forgotten

i.e. another case of we'll remember what someone was like in the past and assume that's the norm

Raonic is playing like a bum and choking the match away, he clearly doesn't yet belong on a main court.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Delpo is not my favourite player actually, I like watching matches with players that refuse to be bullied and don't get upset at losing a few points, which is what happens in 90% of Murray matches. His passive game style might be a bit more admirable had he not shown such negative body language in big matches, like in AO 2011 final, or semi's of Wimbledon and USO.

If you're going to be influenced by a few bad spells in a match or mystified as to why a player might get a bit frustrated whislt playing three players who will win more than 30 slams betwen them and then forget the 22 titles, 7 Masters, best returning game in the world, best double backhand in the world, best shot on the run in the world, sublime touch (all when he's playing at his best) then a feel a bit sorry for you

I watch Tennis for the all-round skills of the guys. The draw dropping 'how did he do that?' stuff, i.e. Mac, Connors, Leconte, Agassi and Mecir of the past and Fed, Nole, Murray and Tsonga of now. Henman anytime before the guff Rudseski used to serve up. Sampras bored me, but I was full of admiration for him. Skills and brawn. Not just brawn

[quote="banbrotamSampras bored me, but I was full of admiration for him. Skills and brawn. Not just brawn[/quote]

I felt exactly the same - years of Wimbledon finals that seemed to be sets consisting of 48 aces and a tie break

Had to admire the skill though

Best returning game in the world you say? Djokovic fans would laugh at that. Infact his double handed backhand is nowhere near as good as Djokovic's either. You've obviously been under a rock in 2011.

Hewitt - Djokovic 4th rounder, this will be worth watching

I can't believe there has to be a winner from the Ferrer/Gasquet match, 2 most boring players ever.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Delpo is not my favourite player actually, I like watching matches with players that refuse to be bullied and don't get upset at losing a few points, which is what happens in 90% of Murray matches. His passive game style might be a bit more admirable had he not shown such negative body language in big matches, like in AO 2011 final, or semi's of Wimbledon and USO.

I too was very disappointed by his showing in last years final. It's too easy to let it go based on the year Djokovic had. Murray just gave up after the first set when there was still everything to play for and didn't seem like he wanted it much at all.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Hewitt - Djokovic 4th rounder, this will be worth watching

Unfortunately Novak will steamroll him; can't imagine a worse matchup for Hewitt at this stage of his career

Josiah Maiestas wrote:I can't believe there has to be a winner from the Ferrer/Gasquet match, 2 most boring players ever.

Says it all really. One of the best backhands, second only to Federer as a thing of beauty, in the world and you think it's "boring"

I assume 20/20 cricket 'floats your boat' and the Test stuff is too long, boring and difficult to understand

Great win for Hewitt, really can never write off these weak era players. Hopefully he can beat Djokovic next.

To be honest I can see where JM is coming from.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Best returning game in the world you say? Djokovic fans would laugh at that. Infact his double handed backhand is nowhere near as good as Djokovic's either. You've obviously been under a rock in 2011.

No I think Nole fans would say that Murray's is as good as again did the non partisan and fair minded McMillan - who often is quite rightly critical of Murray

Nice of you to acknowledge the change in Nole's game in 2011. Do you think you could do the same with Andy, or does your 'set in stone' view of him, make that too difficult

You like winding fans of Nadal and Murray up - you don't, you just amuse us

break_in_the_fifth wrote:To be honest I can see where JM is coming from.

Out of all the matches, other than the Nole one, this would be my first choice

A cat and mouse Tennis match, where the ball is caressed for once. Young budding Tennis players should be ordered to watch it

banbrotam wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Best returning game in the world you say? Djokovic fans would laugh at that. Infact his double handed backhand is nowhere near as good as Djokovic's either. You've obviously been under a rock in 2011.

No I think Nole fans would say that Murray's is as good as again did the non partisan and fair minded McMillan - who often is quite rightly critical of Murray

Nice of you to acknowledge the change in Nole's game in 2011. Do you think you could do the same with Andy, or does your 'set in stone' view of him, make that too difficult

You like winding fans of Nadal and Murray up - you don't, you just amuse us

Hewitt!!!!

banbrotam wrote:

break_in_the_fifth wrote:To be honest I can see where JM is coming from.

Out of all the matches, other than the Nole one, this would be my first choice

A cat and mouse Tennis match, where the ball is caressed for once. Young budding Tennis players should be ordered to watch it

The Ferrer Gasquet match?

I would put wawrinka backhand up there with gasquet as a thing of beauty. As for argument around murray....he is clearly an excellent player, he just needs to be more aggressive in the big matches. I have always thought djokovic is superior and definitely stand by that given his amazing results on all surfaces. 4 slams, masters cup, Davis cup, master series on all surfaces and olympic medal.

Murray is a great talent that just needs more belief.

I don't mind Gasquet's backhand when it's effective but if it was good as some people would like you to think then he would have had much better results in his career. Gasquet's problem is he hates competing in rallies, Ferrer atleast gets results despite being boring. My problem is neither of these 2 players should be playing in a QF as the result will be so predictable. It's time they both quit and allowed new talent to take up their spot.

slashermcguirk wrote:I would put wawrinka backhand up there with gasquet as a thing of beauty. As for argument around murray....he is clearly an excellent player, he just needs to be more aggressive in the big matches. I have always thought djokovic is superior and definitely stand by that given his amazing results on all surfaces. 4 slams, masters cup, Davis cup, master series on all surfaces and olympic medal.

Murray is a great talent that just needs more belief.

Agree 100%. Wawrinka obviously suffers from being Switzerland's No.2 as he continues to underachieve. Anyone with a backhand like his, should be a Top 10 fixture

I never saw Andy Murray's match today as I was working but am slightly mystified as to why all the scorn thrown on his performance. After all people are enthusing about Djokovic (fair enough) but Mahut was injured and ranked no.81 in the world. Andy Murray beat Llodra ranked no.46 in the world also in straight sets dropping just four more games than Djoko against a better opponent.

I find it very interesting how some (not everyone) can be so dismissive of Murray. I say this because he is coasting through matches and is widely tipped to reach the semis and yet I, as a fan, can see areas of his game that can be improved. Areas such as second serve, break point conversion and being more consistently aggressive in matches. Now if we were saying there is nowhere he can improve then I'd be more worried. The point is he is a triple slam finalist and yet there is room for a lot of improvement. Frightening thought eh?

CaledonianCraig wrote:I never saw Andy Murray's match today as I was working but am slightly mystified as to why all the scorn thrown on his performance. After all people are enthusing about Djokovic (fair enough) but Mahut was injured and ranked no.81 in the world. Andy Murray beat Llodra ranked no.46 in the world also in straight sets dropping just four more games than Djoko against a better opponent.

I find it very interesting how some (not everyone) can be so dismissive of Murray. I say this because he is coasting through matches and is widely tipped to reach the semis and yet I, as a fan, can see areas of his game that can be improved. Areas such as second serve, break point conversion and being more consistently aggressive in matches. Now if we were saying there is nowhere he can improve then I'd be more worried. The point is he is a triple slam finalist and yet there is room for a lot of improvement. Frightening thought eh?

Absolutely!

Anyone betting on Wozniacki winning her first major?

Leff wrote:Anyone betting on Wozniacki winning her first major?

Clijsters, Na Li, Azarenka in her half. Makarova (upset Bepa), Williams, Kvitova and Sharapova in the other half with Lisicki (underdog). Looks tough for CWoz right now.

I have a feeling it will be Serena Williams who will lift the trophy. My dark horse would be Kvitova.