Australian Open Day 10-14 - Djokurray! And others! :P

First topic message reminder :

Well some of you hardcore mob will no doubt be up watching the first round matches and even up first thing if your boarding the Fed Express. I will be utilising the power of Sky+!

So we have Federer, Nadal, Murray, Berdych, Gulbis and Dimitov all in action on the men's side.

On the ladies we have Halep, Sharapova, Bouchard, Ivanovic, Kerber and young gun Bencic.

Should be an action packed day.

Was it commentary on a match or was it an interview?

If Nadal had stopped at two, he would have been one. Heck if he stopped at five he would have been one.

Wrong thread...


Murray vs Dimitrov is obviously the match of the day tomorrow. Can't think Murray will start as badly as he did at Wimbledon, where Dimitrov basically ran over him from ball one, but he'll need to have a better second serving day, as that's where Dimitrov absolutely dismantled him. Haven't watched Murray all that much, how is his 2nd serve looking?

2nd serve is still pretty attackable, but his 1st serve is way better now hes back to his old motion and not protecting the back. His overall game is much freer too.

Dimitrov was taken to by Baghdatis and looked out of sorts for bulks of it, he needs to step it up.

If Murray is aggressive and serves well I am pretty confident he will win but given his past year of form that is a sizeable if. Dimi will need to up his game from the level he had against Baggy and of he does and can stay competitive in the sets until the latter stages he certainly can win.

I was planning to do an all-nighter today watching Fed, Rafa and Dimi, but with Fed gone I think I will try to catch a nap between Rafa vs Kev and Dimi vs Andy. Not sufficiently interested in the other two matches to stay up through the night.

I wish Dimi can take out Andy (with some hope) and Kev can beat Rafa (with little hope).

I think Murray will beat Dimi comfortably. I'd be surprised if he drops more than a set. Could very well be straights.

He's a better player and looks to be in better form.

Seeing Dimi play Baggy the other day (whilst I think Baggy played really well)
Dimi looked unsettled for a good part of that match Baggy really went for it...and I think that Murray, if he plays his attacking game from the onset, could well take an early lead and steal Dimi's confidence...I really believe Murray can win this one.

I am caught between wanting a Murray v Nadal SF and Kyrgios coming through from that half to play for a slam title. Kyrgios's lack of experience at such a stage in the slam is the unknown and he may be overwhelmed with the occasion, if he does make it that far.

Kyrgios is quite capable of a Tsonga 2008.

He even plays a bit like Tsonga.

Not just a bit, I'd say. He's almost a carbon copy, but with the self belief required to really make waves.

The big test will be whether he can keep that swagger when he starts to become a target

I will watch the Murray match with interest. I have no idea what will happen. Yes Andy has looked good this season, but the only top 10 player he's faced is an incredibly rusty Rafa in an exhibition.

It will be a key indicator of where he is. It won't tell us if he is back to slam winning form, but it will tell us if he's on the right path.

Yes Danny that is my thoughts too.

kingraf wrote:Not just a bit, I'd say. He's almost a carbon copy, but with the self belief required to really make waves.

Seppi had the self-belief to beat Federer after a 0-10 H2H.

To have a similar quality when starting in the ATP, is astonishing. Agassi with his long blond tresses, or even McEnroe, is the last time I saw something similar. If he thinks he owns the place now, I wonder if he actually won a slam, what would his attitude be?

Tomic is arrogant, but this lad is Monfils and Tsonga, rolled into one. Wish him an excellent health and an injury-free career!

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes Danny that is my thoughts too.

Close Murray-watchers may have more insight, but my old, dim eyes (and with a slowly deteriorating senile mind) discern a different 'physical' aspect, than the WTF from Murray. Am I wrong? Someone did mention that the back looks a bit better, and may have been shackling him down mentally.

laverfan wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes Danny that is my thoughts too.

Close Murray-watchers may have more insight, but my old, dim eyes (and with a slowly deteriorating senile mind) discern a different 'physical' aspect, than the WTF from Murray. Am I wrong? Someone did mention that the back looks a bit better, and may have been shackling him down mentally.

I said that Murray looked like he was struggling physically last year and Murray said himself that he wasn't feeling it physically in a recent interview, that coupled with what was happening behind the scenes with his coaching staff. Can't have made for a positive environment.

Hoping now that physical elements are behind him and that now the coaching issue has been resolved. He has been solid in his first few matches. Dimitrov is a step up from what he has faced and I hope Murray steps up and lays down a marker.

Well laverfan I would say his serving action has reverted to how it was a few years ago. Also I'd say he is leaner as well.

Key factors for me are what Andy turns up on court and the gameplan he employs. Andy at his best is one that is aggressive and first serve is on song. For me if he brings them onto court he will win. Dimi diced with defeat against Baggy and at times his game looked off. He will need to raise that level by a couple of notches and hope Andy throws in enough second services and if so he can certainly win.

I must admit I've not noticed the Murray service sction going back to how it was, but he is definitely carrying a bit less muscle and seems a bit more agile. He seems sharper. i've barely seen him grab his back this year, which is great.

He was out manoeuvred v Dimitrov at Wimbledon last year, so it will be interesting to compare mobility tomorrow.

Danny_1982 wrote:I must admit I've not noticed the Murray service sction going back to how it was, but he is definitely carrying a bit less muscle and seems a bit more agile. He seems sharper. i've barely seen him grab his back this year, which is great.

He was out manoeuvred v Dimitrov at Wimbledon last year, so it will be interesting to compare mobility tomorrow.

Like I said earlier, Mauresmo should have him sit through a video of that Wimbledon match in its entirety and drill it into him that passiveness gets you a thrashing.

I read earlier this month that Andy had a very different training block in Miami this winter. He worked less on core strength and more than normal on movement and speed. Probably a reflection of his mobility issues in 2014.

When Andy moves well and serves well (as you said earlier Craig) the rest usually works itself out.

Danny_1982 wrote:I read earlier this month that Andy had a very different training block in Miami this winter. He worked less on core strength and more than normal on movement and speed. Probably a reflection of his mobility issues in 2014.

When Andy moves well and serves well (as you said earlier Craig) the rest usually works itself out.

Well the change in his training block, I am sure, may be the change of direction he wanted to go in whilst others in his team felt he shouldn't so perhaps Jez Green felt musclebound was the way to go but Andy didn't and so he has a new fitness coach and has got leaner.

CaledonianCraig wrote: Also I'd say he is leaner as well.

Quite agree. Murray is leaner now than W last year. There is a V, rather than an H to torso, with less muscle (as Danny says). to Murray and his fans. (BTW, I prefer the "clover leaf" to the "fingers-crossed" as a better emoticon for Good luck).

laverfan wrote:(BTW, I prefer the "clover leaf" to the "fingers-crossed" as a better emoticon for Good luck).

+1

Is he leaner? I just thought his shirts got bigger. Murray's never had the most muscular of torsos, seems to have proportionally large things, but don't think he had that much to lose in the upper body region.

IIRC Andy in 2013 was around the 190lbs mark.

At this moment he is 185. So he has dropped some weight.

Backing Baby Fed in 4 close sets

kingraf wrote:Is he leaner? I just thought his shirts got bigger. Murray's never had the most muscular of torsos, seems to have proportionally large things, but don't think he had that much to lose in the upper body region.

Being leaner must be good for his back anyways

Good luck, Kev

Vamos Rafa

Rafa lookd rusty in the first set, Kev had his chances, yet it is Rafa with the set. Time to check out Berdych vs Tomic.

Anderson will be kicking himself hard now. Wasted many chances to break and he paid for it getting tight when serving to get to a tie break. His serve had been unchallenged until then but the scoreboard pressure told and Rafa pounced to take the set 7-5.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Key factors for me are what Andy turns up on court and the gameplan he employs. Andy at his best is one that is aggressive and first serve is on song. For me if he brings them onto court he will win. Dimi diced with defeat against Baggy and at times his game looked off. He will need to raise that level by a couple of notches and hope Andy throws in enough second services and if so he can certainly win.

Craig maybe it was the back but last year Andy really didn't get very many free points on his first serve like he used to. For a guy that can get into the high 130s he was pretty ineffectual with it. I think it has to do with the back. If he is leaner and more confident in the back then that should help the serve as well.

I can't see a way through for Anderson in this match.

Nadal taking control as Anderson goes mental walkabouts from 40-15 up to lose serve. Nadal leads 7-5 2-0 and you sense the belief and confidence draining from Anderson and transferring to Rafa.

I didn't see a way through two days ago. Rumours of Rafa's imminent physical capitulation have been greatly exaggerated. Even if he doesn't win the whole thing, he'll be feeling good about Garros.

Tomic much more competitive in this second set.

mmmmm more than I could have  hoped for but I should not underestimate the man
he is what he is, a fighter

socal1976 wrote:I can't see a way through for Anderson in this match.

Not now as you feel the boat may already have set sail so to speak but boy did he have plenty of chances in that first set.

Berdych is probably looking at this match the way Nadal must have looked Djokovic-Federer in 2011. Either he faces a guy he's lost seventeen in a row to...
Or his bunny

I think Rafa is an itch that Anderson cant scratch

It's probably not gonna be his bunny.

Berdych up two sets, I see Rafa steamrolling now.

That is it for me for now, will be back in about four hours around the time I expect Dimi and Andy will be starting out.

Good night.

Night

Berdych has looked good, Rafa has looked good. Nobody beats Berdych eighteen times in a row he'll be thinking... Or, "My god I love Nadal". Berdy does love him some Rafa

What are you on King ... pour me one please