Andy Murray In The French Open 2011

Wow the tennis gods have decided to be kind to Andy Murray this year in Paris. Andy Murray faces french qualifier Eric Prodan, if everything goes to script Andy's 3rd round opponent could be big hitting up and coming young gun Milos Raonic and if Andy goes deep into the draw potential quarter finalist could be Roger Federer's conquerer in Monte Carlo World No.8 Jurgen Melzer. If Murray manages to make it to the semi's, the man standing in the way will be 5-time champion and King of Clay one Rafael Nadal. There is no question why Andy Murray should not be considered a favourite at Roland Garros. There are players above him as favourites, the Nadals, Federers and Djokovics and rightly so. Murray though has found a rhythm to his game on clay and has certainly had the best run on clay since becoming pro and looks like he is over his Australian Open heartache. Another important part of Andy Murray's French Open campaign is his box. Will Darren Cahill be there? That for me is a big deal because if he can work with Andy during these next 2 weeks it will be a massive boost to his campaign. It would be the first time Andy has gone through a Slam without a coach. It is debatable the level of input Alex Corretja had during the US Open campaign of 2010 and the Australian Open 2011 campaign. Both campaigns brought mixed performances. We had the Andy Murray 'didn't want it and totally lost it' performance against Stanislas Wawrinka at the US Open and the Andy Murray 'planned everything and got outgunned at the end' performance at the Australian Open. What is certain is that Andy will come in without any pressure from the press because in some quarters players like David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro are considered favourites ahead of Andy based on previous results against the Scot on clay and also Clay is their preferred surface. Andy needs to let his tennis do the talking and really put himself in a position to be a serious threat at this French Open. I would hate for Andy to look back at this and like Marlon Brando in the Waterfront say "I coulda been a contender"

Great post legendkillar, thanks : )

Come on Andy!!

Solerina

First I saw the draw I thought, nice draw for Andy. Qualifier in R1 to get going, and no real clay-court specialists until the QF (where he'll probably meet Melzer or Almagro). Starts off this morning.

Come on Andy!!!!

The Murray forehand is looking very good today

Well done that man. Through in straight sets. A couple of blips, but nothing major. The forehand looks very good. Bolleli up next.

a few sloppy games, but job done, and well done at that. Serve was good I thought (percentage not great but very good when he got that first serve in), and returning was excellent (he won more than half the points on his opponent's serve). Just what you want in a first round slam match really, serene progress.

Bolleli shouldn't bother him too much I don't think.

good win for Murray, just the start he needed, can't wait for his next match now!

The draw looks good now for Murray now Almagro has been eliminated. Could this be it for Andy?

Good warm up match Andy, this quiet confidence may just pay dividends in Gay Paree

Here is Murray's BBC column. Talks about the boxing (DeGale vs Groves) and the last week-end of premiership football action (disappointed Blackpool went down). Also says he's happy to have got through his first game in three sets, but feels he didn't deal with the dropshots well, and got a bit frustrated because there wasn't any real rhythm to the match.

Finally he talks of his upcoming match vs Bolelli, and though he says the usual things (tough match, talented guy, tec.) reading between the lines he seems confident of getting the job done.

Hey MFC

I think he is taking it in his stride. I don't know if you saw this but I thought it was funny when the guy in the press said 'you don't look happy on court' Brilliant

Murray safely through to R3, an up and down performance not helped by awful conditions. Melzer has been knocked out too, so that's the two main threats in Murray's quarter gone I think. Probably the worst he has to face would be Dolgopolov (who IMO is a better clay courter than Troicki). It's amazing really, the draw looked good when it came out, and it's opened up beautifully with the early losses for Raonic, Almagro and Melzer.

Saw a good chunk of yesterday's match - Andy was far from his best and was being pushed too far behing the baseline by some good hitting by Bolleli. However, Andy managed to raise his game when it mattered and Bolleli choked somewhat, especially serving at 5-3 in the first after playing a very good few games.

The down the line backhand was working well, but the drop shot was useless (perhaps because it was very blustery). The forehand and serve were a bit hit and miss.

Good news - he got through again without dropping a set, and his side of the draw is opening up nicely to make a SF a realistic possibility. OK, nothg comes that easily to Andy on clay, but this is a good opportunity to have a good tournament.

dummy_half wrote:......... but this is a good opportunity to have a good tournament.

I really hope he does, dummy_half.

Welcome to the forum.........I hope you like it here : )

Solerina

Big day for Murray fans. Let's hope that the scans reveal nothing major that will prevent Murray from taking further participation in this years FO. The draw has been very kind to Murray and he has a real chance and I would hate to see a twist of bad luck rob him of that chance.

legendkillar wrote:Big day for Murray fans. Let's hope that the scans reveal nothing major that will prevent Murray from taking further participation in this years FO. The draw has been very kind to Murray and he has a real chance and I would hate to see a twist of bad luck rob him of that chance.

I'm really gutted that this has happened to Andy : (

I'm off here now untill tomorrow morning.......hopefully it will be good news, when I log in,

Solerina

Fingers crossed Andy, I hope you can continue to the latter stages of the FO. True grit shown to get through the match, I await with bated breath.......

Andy is going to *hit some balls* tonight to see if the ankle
holds up !!!

Personally I would rather he withdrew from RG - rest the ankle -
and come out fighting at Wimbledon ...

yummy

Yummy!!!

We need some more Murray fans to help us fly the flag!

I would sooner Andy continue because this is the best draw he could hope for and it would a long time before he would ever get a draw like this.

Andy Murray will wait until Monday before deciding whether he has recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury to continue at the French Open.

The Scot, 24, tested the ankle with a gentle practice session on Sunday afternoon but chose to delay confirmation of his continuing participation in the tournament.

Speaking in his BBC Sport column on Saturday evening, Murray said: "I'll ice it some more and probably have a scan before trying to hit some balls later in the day on Sunday.

"I'll rest it for as long as possible during the day and come to Roland Garros late in the afternoon. All being well, I'll be fit to face Troicki."

Source and more on the story at BBC Sport click here

Hi Chelsea and Legend

Am still a bit confused as to how I get back on this forum
having been *discontinued* But I am grasping at straws

We will know tomorrow If Andy considers his ankle up to
withstanding a five set onslaught, Personally I hope he
withdraws from RG and concentrates on getting fightin fit
for Wimbledon !!!

Luuuuuurve the new emoticons

Yummy welcome back

I find MTL difficult to grasp and people keep informing me of the WUMS over there

Not sure what Andy will do. As nothing has been said about it suggests it is not anything major.

With Monfils v Ferrer being carried over, this might hand Murray an advantage because if it is played on Suzanne Lenglen court I can see Petkovic v Kirilenko being moved to Court 1 and Murray v Troicki could be the last match on which gives Murray more time to recoup.

Am keeping my fingers crossed that Murray's ankle recovers in time, if there's any doubt though I don't think he should play, it could really affect his Wimbledon chances otherwise.

Got the feeling the delayed decision is to keep his opponent guessing!

If you remember his match against Simon at Monte Carlo - when Simon twisted his ankle and Andy tortured him with more drop shots to finish him off!!

Hope Troicki wasn't watching it and isn't any good at drop shots

Morning all

Still no word from the main Man !!!!!!!!!

morning yummy

latest news is he's going to have a quick practice at midday (UK time) and see how the ankle feels.

From twitter just posted:

suntimesbazzaf Barry Flatman (Sunday Times Reporter)
Intelligence reaches us that Andy Murray's 1pm practice session is effectively a fitness test on his ankle

Shall be interesting to see what Andy decides. Come on Andy.

Neeeeervous times !

Will he - Won't he ?

He has to Yummy. What an opportunity he has with the draw.

legendkillar wrote:Yummy welcome back

I find MTL difficult to grasp and people keep informing me of the WUMS over there

Not sure what Andy will do. As nothing has been said about it suggests it is not anything major.

I've not posted on v2 much, but have to respond to this.
There are no WUMs on MTL.
There are no "Murray is a loser" "Nadull is a moonballer" type articles and only one member has been banned.
Who are these people who keep informing you of the WUMS over there?

The site layout is very different from 606 and it took me a while to get used to it, but it's not difficult.

There are also no WUM's here.
There are no "Murray is a loser" type articles and no tennis members have been banned.

Y I Man

I'm comparing MTL to 606, not to here.
I'm just saying that legendkillar has been misinformed.

Likewise, I was comparing v2 to 606.

Right guys here we go. Andy has 3-0 record over Troicki. Will the fabled ankle like the heel with Achillies be the downfall for Murray in this match?

Predictions guys?

I say Murray in 3.

I think Murray will be very composed. I don't think his ankle will cause much of a problem to him. Murray in 3 for me also.

Murray to serve. Second serve. Backhand rally and a very late out call from a Murray backhand slice. 0-15. Big first serve down the T Troicki unable to return 15-15. Second serve, Troicki is going big with the forehand and is trying to move Murray around the court and Murray nets a forehand 15-30. Second serve. Murray tries to go big on backhand down the line and nets. 15-40. Commentators discussing if Andy's mobility is 100%. Second serve and Troicki hits a brilliant forehand onto the baseline and Murray goes long. 0-1 Troicki.

Trocki starts with an ace. 15-0. Troicki moves Murray around and Murray unable to reach the backhand. 30-0. Big first serve from Troicki and Andy goes long. 40-0. Troicki nets a forehand. 40-15. Another big serve and Andy goes long. 0-2 Troicki.

Murray's movement looks very dodgy out there so far

Murray first serve and Troicki is working Andy around and gets the point as Murray goes long. 0-15. Another first serve and Troicki returns and Andy nets the forehand. 0-30. Second serve. Andy is now going big. Whacks some forehands and Troicki unable to cope. 15-30. First serve and Andy reaches a forehand from Troicki and powers it back some and Troicki nets. 30-30. Second serve. Andy seems to pull the rally back in his favour, but Troicki reaches an attempted drop shot and puts it away. 30-40. Second serve. Andy nets a backhand. 0-3 Troicki.

Andy is going big now and I still think a wounded Andy seems more dangerous than a fit one. He has to go high risk high reward. Troicki is looking unconvincing. If Murray can up the anti I think Troicki will fold. Andy not out of this first set despite the double break.

UNJINX UNJINX UNJINX

:run2:

Murray gets to break point, but some decent serving pulls Troicki through

Troicki double faults. 0-15. First serve in and Andy goes long on the return. 15-15. Second serve. A forehand rally ensues and Andy goes long with the backhand. 30-15. Big first serve and Troicki attempts a drop shot and fails. 30-30. First serve and Murray pummels Troicki to the baseline with massive forehands. 30-40. Big serve gets Troicki out of trouble. deuce. Andy tries to go big and nets a forehand. Adv Troicki. Another big serve. 0-4. I wish the commentators would cut Andy some slack and give him credit. It is amazing he is getting some winners in there.

Not sure I can see Andy finishing this one unfortunately, he just doesn't look right out there

Murray first serve and Troicki rips a forehand. 0-15. Troicki again gets the point. 0-30. Andy opens Troicki up and hits a forehand winner. 15-30. Andy first serve. Tries a dropshot. Almost puts away the volley. 15-40. First serve and Troicki goes long. 30-40. Big first serve and Troicki returns. Andy comes to the net and a great volley only to be passed by a better backhand. 0-5. Brave stuff from Murray.

I really feel for Andy out there. Puts into context the disgrace that was Fognini.