Andy Murray In The French Open 2011

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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"

Well done Andy. Thought he was down and out at 2-5 but great fighting spirit to win in the end

Pretty tense at the end but what a shot to win it

Guys Guys Guys. Jesus made a come back from dead when all seemed lost and created Easter. Liverpool pulled off an amazing come back in 2005 to win the European Cup. Take That made a comeback when we thought the music scene couldn't get any worse. But this, yes this. Andy Murray. Nowhere near fit. One leg beats a top 20 player from 2 sets down. Folklore stuff!!

legendkillar wrote:Take That made a comeback when we thought the music scene couldn't get any worse.

http://www.televisiontunes.com/Great_Escape_%28The%29.html#

WHAT A GUY !

WHAT A PLAYER !!

WHAT A MATCH !!!

Must admit to being over the moon to see Murray come through today. I hope his ankle gets alot better before his next match.

From twitter:

TennisReporters
Murray injury update: "The three main tendons that go into the ankle... I have a partial tear in one of them."

Cheers Y I Man, thats not great news for Murray then.

Sheesh that was nerve wracking. Just watched a rerun - still nerve wracking. I LOVE TENNIS

First post here.

Great win for Andy today (just caught the full replay on the red button of the set today). One thing Andy has by the bucket load is fighting spirit and now he has to cut out these mental lapses in matches as they certainly DO NOT help his cause.

Caledonian

Nice to see you here and you can now concentrate on tennis and forget about the "maronic" wums that were on 606

Morning all Murrayites

Good luck today Andy !!!!!

I shall be PACING around the house as per usual



Oooooooohhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm

Good Morning all to you Murray fans.

A bright welcome to our new members. Glad you join us.

Murray v Chela today. What do we guys think?

Murray has defeated Chela 2 years running here and surely must start as favourite.

The word 'Ankle Tendon' has replaced Metertarsal as the must have injury to have when going for a major prize in sport.

I shall have one eye on the Nadal v Soderling match to see what form Murray could be up against on Friday.

Come on Murray, I fancy him in 4.

I'm not going to predict a result Legend - It's TOOOOO risky
when Andy is involved

Yummy no hiding today. You must feel slightly comfortable that Andy is facing a player who he has a strong chance of beating.

Andy aiming to be the first British player since Fred Perry to reach the semi finals of all the Grand Slams. Another milestone for this remarkable young man.

Murray will be fine, if his injury holds up. Chela has a poor serve which Murray should be able to climb into, and no real big weapons with which to hurt him. Murray destroyed him in Paris two years ago and beat him last year despite not playing great tennis. I'm going to be bold and say Murray in three.

Unfortunately I'll be in the train so won't catch the match, would appreciate some kind of summary from anyone to get home to...

MFC I shall provide a summary

Andy Murray fans, a little stat.

The last number 4 seed to win the Mens French Open?

Andres Gomez back in 1990. Some pub quiz trivia for you.

He defeated a certain Andre Agassi, who like Andy Murray lost his first 3 Grand Slam finals before winning Wimbledon in 1992. An omen maybe?

Agassi put the defeat down to his wig in his Autobiography. Not sure I have heard that excuse before.

The only thing that I can see stopping Andy reaching the S/F is his ankle.

Let's hope not and if he can please try and do it in three sets

Best of luck to Andy today. If he wins through to the semis today I was wondering how many men have reached the semis or better at every Grand Slam event?

Sportslover - obviously an optimist. When does Murray ever make things easy on himself and us...

It's fair to say that if he was fully fit, Andy would start as a short price favourite over Chela, but with the ankle being as it is, who knows.

Another stat.

The last time the top 4 seeds were in the Semi Finals at the Mens French Open?

2006

1 Roger Federer
2 Rafael Nadal
3 David Nalbandian
4 Ivan Ljubicic

I hope his ankle holds up !!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Andy's ankle doesn't worsen then he should win with few problems and he will expect to win as well against an opponent (now 31) who he has beaten five times out of six.

I wonder when we will see Andy to start hitting his forehand with some weight behind it? That is key if he is going to through in straight sets. Chela holds. The one thing that I will criticise Andy for is when he plays the drop shot he never seems to get enough height or distance on the lob.

Andy noooooo. Chela has had some opportunities to capitalise on some poor play from Andy and he doesn't. Break point for Chela. Andy finds a first serve. Another break point for Chela. Andy needs to go flatter with some of these strokes. Just not going to win the match on UE's!! Break for Chela. Andy Andy Andy. Maybe this will be a 5-setter! 1-2

Chela serving. Some of Andy's strokes are not passing the service box. Chela is forcing his way here. Andy is now smacking his racket. The wind is certainly going to play it's part. Hold of serve for Chela. 1-3

Murray now serving. Andy's body language seems to be of that of a teenager who has been told his allowance is stopping at 16. He is dragging these rallies out for far too long. UE's are now creeping in and 2 break points for Chela. Andy saves some with some smooth play and a forehand up the line. 1 left. More like it Muzza. An ace and now we are at deuce. Another break point for Chela after some good attacking play, Andy goes lazy and serves up junk. Andy's movement too late for the net and Chela hits a wild forehand which hits Andy Murray' racket and the double break and it is now 1-4.

Andy needs a blend of coaches for me. Here they are:

Paul McKenna - Maybe he can hypnotise Murray into thinking he is a dog.

Cesar Milan - Too teach him discipline when he is a dog.

Derren Brown - To trick him into thinking Grand Slams are a hit about in the park.

Chela serving and Andy playing strokes that are begging to be slapped. Chela is happy to obliege. Chela misses a forehand up the line. This is fast becoming a hitting session for Murray. Chela is either perplexed by this or the wind not helping. Andy brings up 2 break points after a lovely cross court forehand. He is now playing like the cool kid at school and Chela playing like the kid who finishes second at everything and constantly gets bullied by the cool kid. Andy breaks. 2-4

Andy now serving and finding his range on serve now. Goran used to say there were 3 Gorans. Too me there is 3 Andy's. The one who belts everything with a care free attitude. The one that decides winning in 3 sets isn't the way. And the one that swears and just loves netting and hitting things wide. Andy plays some sublime drop shots and holds serve to love. 3-4

Chela to serve. 2 quick easy points for Chela. Another UE for Andy. Chela goes long. Chela now racking up a couple of UE's. Andy gives way and Chela holds. 3-5

On the merit of things Chela deserves this first set.

Andy serving to stay in this first set. A couple of UE's again from Andy and Chela has 2 set points. It must be Christmas in Paris because Andy keeps on giving. Andy blows a sigh of relief when a backhand from Chela down the line is just wide. 1 more set point. Andy decides he is going to play a pants drop shot, Chela gets it and Andy puts the return away. That was like pulling wings off a fly, plain cruel. Deuce. Ace from Andy. Andy again nets a backhand. Deuce. First serve and Chela unable to return. Adv Murray. Another ace. 4-5

Chela to serve for the first set. Murray starts to open the forehand and it goes wide. Chela decides to read from the Murray handbook and decides to not come to the net when dominating and allows Andy back in to take the point. Andy tries another drop shot and finds the net. Murray after a ripping forehand brings another break point. He nets another forehand. Deuce. Chela works the point well and brings up set point. DF from Chela. Deuce. Chela tries the hotdog and it is just wide. Break point Murray. Murray breaks!!!! Murray breaks!!! 5-5

Murray to serve for the lead in this set. After some good net play Chela takes the first point. Andy tries another drop shot. Someone please tell him noooooo Andy. 0-30. After a bruising rally Murray gets the point. Murray doesn't like the overhead and lets Chela back in. 2 break points for Chela. Murray saves one. 1 more to go. Murray is stretching the boundaries of space and saves the break point. Patrick Moore would've been proud. Deuce. Big serve and volley and Murray leads 6-5.

Down to the nitty gritty now. As Cotton McKnight said in Dodgeball 'Time to seperate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys, the awkwardly feminine from the possibly Canadian'

Murray reall is fighting out there. It would be amazing for him to win this set after how he started.

Chela to serve. He decides he likes the overhead and puts one away. Murray playing a much better length now in rallies. Some cat and mouse at the net and Murray puts away the volley. Murray is now having a better feel of the conditions out there. Puts away a lovely cross court backhand. Murray tries a drop shot and Chela decides he will play one and beats him all ends up. 30-30. Massive point now. Chela plays a brilliant backhand. Great shot. Murray balloons a second serve return. 6-6. Tiebreak.

Very tight out there, this could still go either way.

This set i mean

I reckon Murray has got him here and will go on to win in straight sets

He is running away with the tie break stevo, i certainly hope he runs away with the match

Murray to start. Murray nets a backhand. Chela has made his intent known. All out aggression. 0-1. Andy goes after Chela. Backhand up the line. 1-1. Murray plays a lovely return. 2-1. Murray needs to compose himself. Murray reads the Chela play well and comes into the net and puts away the backhand. 3-1. Murray working the angles superbly. 4-1. Chela now needs 2 big points. Chela nets the backhand. 5-1. This will be a blow if Chela loses this first set. Chela second serve. Andy plays a drop shot and Chela picks it up and puts the volley away. 5-2. Murray serving for the set. Chela goes after the Murray second serve and goes long. 6-2. Set point Murray. Murray takes it 7-2. Murray takes the first set 7-6.

7-2 in the TB
First set to Andy.

Does like making us sweat though

That set for Murray was Robin Hood in reverse. He gave to the poor till they got too rich and stole it all back.

What a set to win for Murray, that will really affect Chela.

One of these days I might actually watch a set without
resorting to El Cabinetto

No one can doubt Andy's fighting spirit - mental application at times poor but guts he has it in abundance. That was a big set for him to win as that will hurt Chela and means if he wants to win he'll need to do it over four sets and probably well over three hours (asking a lot for a 31-year-old after playing a four hour match two days ago).