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"

Got a bit of a John Higgins feeling about Andy this year CC. Winning whilst not playing well..........

eirebilly wrote:Got a bit of a John Higgins feeling about Andy this year CC. Winning whilst not playing well..........

I'll take the same end result anytime.

It would'nt be a bad thing CC :-D

Will be watching Murray taking out the King of Clay.

C'mon Murray, my new Westie is even pulling for you

COME ON ANDEEE

I wanna new Westie !!!!

What is it with Murray when his opponent gets to 5?

How many times has he fought back from there this tournament?

It is because he thinks its lost and relaxes? Come on Andy!

Great first set. Bit like the Wimbledon match last year, Nadal playing the big points slightly better than Murray. That's all it is really.

Murray needs to be as aggressive as he was in those last 4 games, and he can push Nadal. Murray only took 1 out of 4 or 5 break points, needs to perhaps take more chances on those big points. He might as well, the longer each point goes on the more likely Nadal is to win it, so why not?

Good stuff though.

Murrays blown this; he was well capable of winning but he's been slack when it mattered.

18 break points for Murray, 3 taken. That's the bottom line.

Nadal played great on a number of them, but Murray didn't go for it enough on a number of them. Too safe. Trying not to lose a big point rather than win it.

All in all, great tournament for him though. Just a shame as if he'd played those points better he could have really pushed him.

All I can say is wow. Nadal's forehand very much decided that match. Andy Hesitant to really go for his backhand due to the wind. Nadal coped much better with the win. Having said that 18 break points created against Nadal on clay. That shows he is able to create more opportunities, a mix of great play by Nadal and lack of execution by Murray making the difference. Nothing for Andy to get down about because I am sure before the clay season he would've taken a semi final place at RG.

Ifs and buts

Still onwards and upwards Andy - And get that ankle better

Very much agreed yummy.

Some people on another thread seem to think it is more of a case that Andy blew it, which is total nonsense.

As Buzz Lightyear would say 'To infinity and beyond'

Did you hear what they said on Eurosport just now? Murray may be out of Queens with the ankle injury. Not sure how I feel about the impact of that.

The more time he gets on grass the better, but part of me thinks a bit of time off to get that ankle right and a favourable draw at SW19 might actually be better for him.

Hello Andy fans,

Great effort today by your your guy. It is still obviously a great performance from him to get to this semi and the second set was like a game of chess. Well done to him.

All I can say that the gap is ever closing and a strong djoko, recuperated delpo and fit andy will not let him any more slams.

Andy today's game with Rafa.

How many break points did you have and failed to convert!

Apart from the windy conditions you played well and clay no longer is a " bogey" surface for you.