The best game of tennis ever?

First topic message reminder :

Andy Murray’s feel for the game and his variety is second only to Federer’s in my opinion.

Check out this amazing game from his match against Llodra from this Australian Open. I don’t think I’ve ever seen 4 points like this in a single game, that too to win a set.

As the video description says,

“In tennis you can go for games without seeing something truly outstanding. When Andy Murray took on Michael Llodra they produced four of the best points you'll ever see in the course of a single game. Enjoy!”

This kind of tennis is so tough to play nowadays and so rare.

Just contrast this with the final for example where there were endless baseline rallies with little variety.

Hats off to Murray and the very talented but underrated Llodra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyxhHkOel2I&feature=related

noleisthebest wrote:

I don't know why he caves in to Nadal, I really don't.

It's because Nadal is better.

amritia3ee wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

I don't know why he caves in to Nadal, I really don't.

It's because Nadal is better.

It's because he plays better safety, not because he's a better all rounder.

noleisthebest wrote:
OH Tenez ....I actually thought of you when Federer failed to consolidate that break at the beginning of the SECOND set .
I was upset with him and thought with your head down that line, you cannot be tired already! Mind you, i was folowing the match via live scores on the train, so haven't seen the actual play.

I don't know why he caves in to Nadal, I really don't.

It's not a question of being tired NITB, it's a question of blunting the edges. Look at Nole, it doesn't bother going for lines, or winners much. He simply rallies. He can...Federer can't.

Nothing to do with the mind. Trust me. When the ball coming from Nadal is a bit less "energetic", it can be a very straight forward affair like it was in November.

And I am surprised you think it's the mind. Remember Djoko used to be close to beating Nadal for years...but could not win those key points in Hamburg, Madrid, MC, etc....then teh day he could rally with Nadal and did not have to risk it all on those key points...7/0.

Great video, thanks for the video, good quality.
Rolled out of bed one day and fortuitiously put this on live just at the point that video starts. I loved it, really entertaining.

carrieg4 wrote:What if both players are talented and one is fitter than the other? That is the case in many matches and it is the player that has put the work in to utilise their talent best that wins.

Not it's never the case. How can you say they are equally talented? We are muddying the waters here. There is no point discussing who is more or less talented. One thing for sure is that the top 4, at least Murray, Djoko and Nadal are the fittest. That everyboy agrees I am sure....and that is what makes them reach the later stages so consistently.

There is a strong argument for saying that some players should get their butts out on the track or down the gym a bit more often then maybe they will be better able to demonstrate their talent consistently not sporadically. Talent without application is a waste of talent. Like I said talent and physique are not mutually exclusive and there are some players who make the most of both.

Well you see that is easy to say but if you knew how hard those guys work, you woudl not say that. Even Safin was working extremely hard. As we have no proof to say one dopes and the other doesn't, likewise, we have no proof to say some work very hard and others don;t.

In fact if you listen to Nadal he says he doesn;t like working in teh gym and hardly does.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
OH Tenez ....I actually thought of you when Federer failed to consolidate that break at the beginning of the SECOND set .
I was upset with him and thought with your head down that line, you cannot be tired already! Mind you, i was folowing the match via live scores on the train, so haven't seen the actual play.

I don't know why he caves in to Nadal, I really don't.

It's not a question of being tired NITB, it's a question of blunting the edges. Look at Nole, it doesn't bother going for lines, or winners much. He simply rallies. He can...Federer can't.

Nothing to do with the mind. Trust me. When the ball coming from Nadal is a bit less "energetic", it can be a very straight forward affair like it was in November.


And I am surprised you think it's the mind. Remember Djoko used to be close to beating Nadal for years...but could not win those key points in Hamburg, Madrid, MC, etc....then teh day he could rally with Nadal and did not have to risk it all on those key points...7/0.

Of course Nole paints the lines, big time! That's the beauty of his game...esp his returns, right under your feet.
His line painting gets ridiculous sometimes, esp on those shortened angles.
He is happy to rally against Nadal because that's the easiest game plan for Nadal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXNc_iMkSIY

The original post on this match (which has been amended) was to highlight what the OP thought was a very good game. It quickly went back to the old agenda of physicality v talent which IMO had nothing to do with this match which lasted 1hr 48mins (not very long for a three setter). It wasn't by any means the best match ever and I reckon that Llorda didn't care too much after he lost the second set as he was still in the doubles and had a better chance there.

It wasn't a baseline dominated match. It was played in a good spirit, both players appeared to enjoy it, the crowd enjoyed it, and I imagine most people who saw it enjoyed it.

Yes Murray can play negatively ,which sometimes annoys me, but this match was certainly not the case.

Calder106 wrote:
Yes Murray can play negatively ,which sometimes annoys me, but this match was certainly not the case.

Oh! what a courageous and honest statement!

But don't you think you are taking the thread further away from its purpose?

No I'm stating facts which are related to this thread not to other threads.

Tenez wrote:

carrieg4 wrote:What if both players are talented and one is fitter than the other? That is the case in many matches and it is the player that has put the work in to utilise their talent best that wins.

Not it's never the case. How can you say they are equally talented? We are muddying the waters here. There is no point discussing who is more or less talented. One thing for sure is that the top 4, at least Murray, Djoko and Nadal are the fittest. That everyboy agrees I am sure....and that is what makes them reach the later stages so consistently.

There is a strong argument for saying that some players should get their butts out on the track or down the gym a bit more often then maybe they will be better able to demonstrate their talent consistently not sporadically. Talent without application is a waste of talent. Like I said talent and physique are not mutually exclusive and there are some players who make the most of both.

Well you see that is easy to say but if you knew how hard those guys work, you woudl not say that. Even Safin was working extremely hard. As we have no proof to say one dopes and the other doesn't, likewise, we have no proof to say some work very hard and others don;t.

In fact if you listen to Nadal he says he doesn;t like working in teh gym and hardly does.

Where did I say equally talented?? I was giving a theoretical example of both players in a match having a high level of tennis talent. No muddying of the waters from me, it is a valid point. Your response is strange considering that you spend an inordinate amount of time saying who is more talented than who in your opinion.

Re gym / track work. The evidence of work or lack of work is relatively easy to see. As for Nadals comments - it is a psychological advantage for your opponent to believe you don't have to work at it - he puts the work in. As does Federer.

Back to the OP. Fantastic few points with great touch and skills from BOTH players