US Open - Matches

First topic message reminder :

Have changed the topic so that this thread can run through the tournament. Hope that's OK

HM Murdoch wrote:So we had a slam QF in which a player only won 4 games.

This was the day after a 4th round match in which a player won 3 games.

This is a monumentally poor tournament so far.

Rafa is just too good. Not only is he looking likely to reclaim the number one position having given everyone else several months head start he is making it too difficult for the competition. Maybe he should give his opponents a 0-30 start in all games and/or play with his right hand to make his matches look a little more competitive? Nole is pretty good too but he has benefited from the head start.

Oh please just stop HE. It's very wearisome now.

Not counting any chickens where Nadal is concerned. We all know the big tests lie ahead should he play Djokovic or Murray. Conversely, we also know he's better than the rest of the field anyway.

laverfan wrote:Very glad for Gasquet, the second slam SF of his career (after a 6+ year gap), but what a challenge he has!

(I am sad for Ferrer though, he fought back well, but not well enough).

Stan and Colonel have their work cut-out. Stan has a better chance, IMHO, compared to the Colonel. I would love to see Stan make it to a Slam SF.

Me too, but I hope it's not this tournament

Ha, I'd never heard Stan speak up until this moment. He sounds much more French than I thought he would.

On a side note, where do all these players who speak English as a "second language" learn the phrase "for sure"? Do they teach it?

Really looking forward to this match. Expecting it to be pretty tight. Murray has only really performed in patches so far, as he always seems to for the first week and a bit.

His quarters usually come with a health warning too. Thinking back to last year against Cilic, Wimbledon this year against Verdasco...

I'm hoping he'll have a bit too much for Stan. Some interesting stats for the match, Stan has served loads more aces this tournament, and Murray has a mightily impressive 64% points won on second serve leading into this match. Two stats that surprise the hell out of me!

The key to this match is how Andy approaches it. Too passive and conservative and he is lining himself up for a repeat of 2010. If he is aggressive and serves well and approaches the net after hitting attacking shots I think he will be fine.

And there goes the Grand Slam for the Bryans. Paes and Stepanek have been on a different level today.

TSJ - I dont know l, but English is not my first language and in oral speech, I use "for sure" a lot...

Murray squealing quite a bit while serving. When did he start this? Sound quite feminine.

Stan is looking very focused, Murray is a bit passive so far

All level, but Stan ahead on points if this was boxing.

Stan taking the initiative earlier.

Why is Boris such a reactionary commentator? He just states the bleedin' obvious and even then he gets it wrong.

Does either player want to win this set?!

Allez STAN THE MAN!

Well deserved first set to Stan the man. Dictated pretty much every rally in that set.

That was pathetic pushing tennis from Murray.

He almost got away with it with Stan choking at every possible opportunity.

Why do people say Murray is a good wind player? I don't know what he does better in the wind than most.

A good set from Stan there, he's doing exactly what's needed at the moment in keeping the ball in play and hitting some superb returns but can he keep it up? 2010?

And Wawrinka gets six set points in the tenth game and Stan breaks to take the first set after a monumental game lasting 16 minutes. Stan will get a great boost from that and Andy smashing up his racquet isn't the right mindset. Can Murray turn this around?

Would it be fair to say that Andy is not too pleased with how he played then?

I still fancy him to come through.

Awful match so far. Murray showing no fortitude whatsoever. Pushing the ball into play like Wozniacki.

Stan should unload on those WTA second serves instead of pushing it back into play most of the time.

Come on Stan.

I can't stand this ultra defensive tennis that Murray reverts to. So boring.

emancipator wrote:Awful match so far. Murray showing no fortitude whatsoever. Pushing the ball into play like Wozniacki.

Stan should unload on those WTA second serves instead of pushing it back into play most of the time.

Oi!!! At least Wozniacki occasionally hits an offensive shot.

CaledonianCraig wrote:And Wawrinka gets six set points in the tenth game and Stan breaks to take the first set after a monumental game lasting 16 minutes. Stan will get a great boost from that and Andy smashing up his racquet isn't the right mindset. Can Murray turn this around?

Let's hope not, for the sake of humanity.

The Special Juan wrote:

emancipator wrote:Awful match so far. Murray showing no fortitude whatsoever. Pushing the ball into play like Wozniacki.

Stan should unload on those WTA second serves instead of pushing it back into play most of the time.

Oi!!!  At least Wozniacki occasionally hits an offensive shot.

Ok I'll give you that.

One a set is about par for her.  

The problem with Stan is that too often he has his opponent on the ropes only to let them escape.

emancipator wrote:The problem with Stan is that too often he has his opponent on the ropes only to let them escape.

Just like he has done there...

Completely agree Eman, I'm cheering for Stan ever more than usual!

Murray hoping his first serve will get him enough points... Cos it's the only aggressive shot he's playing. And he's not getting enough in! I know it's windy, but surely he knows playing this safe wont get it done.

Stan on the other hand seems to be saying 'screw the wind, my only chance is to go for it!' And is being rewarded for it.

Olly wrote:

emancipator wrote:The problem with Stan is that too often he has his opponent on the ropes only to let them escape.

Just like he has done there...

Absolutely.. I'm expecting many more of these occurrences throughout the match.

This looks like the pre 2012/2013 Murray, variable second serve quality, forehand errors, a little too passive at times. Feel like we've travelled back to about 2010 at the moment.

LuvSports! wrote:Completely agree Eman, I'm cheering for Stan ever more than usual!

Yeah, at least Stan is going for it, unlike this insipid safety first stuff from Murray.

Stan slapping Andy with Toblerone's all over his face.

Let's see if Andy can return the favor with haggus.

Andy playing like Fed with Robredo, silly mistakes, out of focus.

I don't see a way through for Murray here. He's toast.

Stan just dominating.

It's weird, I've seen Murray play much worse against opponents who have played better and still turned it around, such as Cilic last year or Verdasco at Wimbledon. There's no question about it if Wawrinka keeps this up he's going to win easily but even the slightest falter is going to make Murray up for this.

I'm not going to criticise Murray, but simply say full kudos to Wawrinka for what he's doing so far. Groundstrokes are so potent, really penetrating and he's punishing any soft balls...

2 sets up for Stan. I think its over.

Jahu wrote:2 sets up for Stan. I think its over.

It's far from over.

Stan can implode at any time.

But I hope you're right  

Good performance by Stan so far. Far from over though.

Of course, but not today, he wants a shot at Djoko for his AO loss.

Lets get a few things straight here. Stan is in the form of his life (in his own words) and is playing at a great level here whilst Andy isn't at the same level here today so the scoreline is no surprise. Next thing for Lendl to work on? A game plan to combat hard hitters?

His only chance is for much more first serves in, much better returning too, particularly on second serves. Can't see it though. I don't think I've seen Murray unload once this match. Absolutely bizarre.

Am I right in saying he's had no break points? Unheard of for Murray.

Yes Danny many facets of his game haven't functioned today for some reason but take nothing from Wawrinka he has played superb.

Danny_1982 wrote:His only chance is for much more first serves in, much better returning too, particularly on second serves. Can't see it though. I don't think I've seen Murray unload once this match. Absolutely bizarre.

Am I right in saying he's had no break points? Unheard of for Murray.

2013 AO final.

The contrast in ball striking and talent imo are as stark as the contrast between the arctic and the sahara!
How much for this lesson so far Stan?

The improvement on Stan's FH over the last 18 months has been truly stunning.

"Murray will try to make this a physical match, but it doesn't look like he can do it."
Thats how murray wins, fitness & defense, that's it.