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

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Also not Berdych's biggest fan, but I do like him, and he's a watch connoisseur, I'm an amateur watch maker... Gotta support the market!

Granted he won that first set, but how much has that taken out of him?

Needs to follow it up.

I think it is vital Berdych doesn't lose this set otherwise Murray goes favourite for me - and as I say that Murray breaks.

I feel like a jailer with so many keys today. Key now that Murray holds.

great response from Murray so far, Berdych's problem is that he knows he needs to play at that first set level all the time to have a chance, he's just dipped a bit here, maybe relaxed a bit thinking the hard part is done, and Murray has recognised that and upped his level just a bit, and pounced.

Murray making some of us look idiots! "This first set is vital" yet inside 12 minutes he's halfway to parity!

A double break now for Murray - playing much better now but boy has Berdych levels dropped.

If ever we needed evidence of why Berdych doesn't dine at the top table, this set is it.

HM Murdoch wrote:If ever we needed evidence of why Berdych doesn't dine at the top table, this set is it.

The evidence from these two sets are:-

Berdych playing great and Murray a level or two below his best - close set 7-6 to Berdych. Second set Murray playing great and Berdych a level or two below his best - Murray leads 5-0.

Berdych needs a sub right now!

I could murder a bagel!

well what a way to drop your first set of the tournament!! bagel alert!

Murray just stepped it up a bit, Berdych just dipped a bit, and his head seemed to drop.

Murray needs to keep this going though.

Murray bagels Berdych 6-0 and we are back level at one set all. Now we will find out if this is really a new Berdych with new mental strengths.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Murray needs to keep this going though.

Agreed. Another early break in the third set could be the straw that broke the camel's back.

yep. genuinely feel that if Murray can get an early lead in the third set he might runaway with this one.

Disgraceful from Berdych.

Well played Andy for raising his level but that's utter capitulation from Tomas.

If Andy takes the third, he's home and hosed.

Tuesday Berdych plays like a multiple AO champion.

Thursday he plays like Bogdanovic.

What a plum

Berdych looks a touch weary, he's not quite bending his knees as much on the low BHs anymore, good hold from Murray from 15-30 down.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Berdych looks a touch weary, he's not quite bending his knees as much on the low BHs anymore, good hold from Murray from 15-30 down.

Perhaps - but he shouldn't be as he has had short matches to get him this far so should be plenty left in the tank.

Berdych definitely looks weary, Murray on the other hand looks supremely fit.

I think Berdych desperately needs to step up the aggression, he had a couple of short balls in that game but didn't do anything with them, and it doesn't look like he's going to outlast Murray in the rallies to me.

Murray playing really well here. So much better than the first 5 or 6 games. If he keeps playing at this level, surely Berdy can't stay with him.

Wow from 40-love down Andy fashions a break from a cacophany of gifts from Berdych and leads 4-2 in the third set.

OK Berdych let him back in that game, but that is simply stunning at the end there from Murray!

HM Murdoch wrote:Disgraceful from Berdych.

Well played Andy for raising his level but that's utter capitulation from Tomas.

If Andy takes the third, he's home and hosed.

We did call it that the first took everything out of Berdych.

Just amazing what has transpired.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:OK Berdych let him back in that game, but that is simply stunning at the end there from Murray!

Yes when it got to deuce Murray played great points.

This is just superb from Murray. Hitting deep and moving Berdych all over the place to hold to love. Dominant.

Uh oh Gerry, HE and IMBL are gonna be so mad

emancipator wrote:Uh oh Gerry, HE are gonna be so mad

Gonna be? They are already.

Berdych's movement looks poor. He looks like he's lost a step from a few years ago.

emancipator wrote:Uh oh Gerry, HE and IMBL are gonna be so mad

Gerry is as JM said of Berdych a bit of a plum.

Murray serves out to take the third set to lead 6-7 6-0 6-3.

BOOM! Another excellent set of tennis from Murray, who moves swiftly into a two sets to one lead.

Ffs, that set just sums up everything

Berdych caving in at the business end of a slam again. He is such a frustrating player. Always seems to take a big scalp but cannot seem to back it up. In a way this was a great opportunity for him as Murray's game seems to set up well for him and he has had a lot of success against him. It is all between the ears with Berdych.

Murray for the final now it seems, not taking away anything from him but Berdych really needs to improve the mental aspect of his game

I've never seen Murray play this well against Berdych. He is pulling him one way and another, the way a player of Murray's abilities should take care of a player with Berdych's abilities.

If he keeps this level up there's no way back for Berdych.

If.

It Must Be Love wrote:Ffs, that set just sums up everything

How good Murray is?

CaledonianCraig wrote:

It Must Be Love wrote:Ffs, that set just sums up everything

How good Murray is?

I was talking about my frustration with Berdych, but Murray's level has just been ridiculously high since halfway through the first set.

But with Berdych... why on earth did he muck up that service game. Serving 2 DFs is criminal, and then a slow first serve ? Against Murray ? Arghh

Also unless Djokovic improves his level from the tournament so far, I see Murray as favourite against Djokovic in the final.
However I do think Djokovic will step his game up a gear, hence I see him as favourite for the tournament. It's not going to be easy though, with Murray playing like this.

Not even mildly surprised. The biggest question about Berdy has never been ability related. Its also been his mental fortitude when placed under pressure. He's folded like a cheap deck of cards in this fire fight.

The only way I see Berdych finding a way back in here is for Andy's level to drop and him to re-invigorate his game. Even then it will mean he will have to go around four hours to get the win. Is that physically beyond Berdych?

unless djokovic improves his level???? he hasnt lost a single set and has lost one service game!! He has also beaten much tougher opposition, Verdasco and Raonic. IMBL......a touch harsh! Wawrinka will be very dangerous, needs to worry about him before Murray

kingraf wrote:Not even mildly surprised. The biggest question about Berdy has never been ability related. Its also been his mental fortitude when placed under pressure. He's folded like a cheap deck of cards in this fire fight.

Well I did say read nothing into his thrashing of Rafa. He did that as there wasn't much coming back from Nadal and Berdych could see that and feed off it. That wasn't about his own mental strength just more that he saw Rafa was a pale shadow of himself.

Murray hasnt won yet, Big Berd still has a little time

No I'd still make Novak favourite on the grounds of his mightily impressive record in Melbourne.

temporary21 wrote:Murray hasnt won yet, Big Berd still has a little time

Needs a helping hand though from Murray me thinks.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

emancipator wrote:Uh oh Gerry, HE  are gonna be so mad

Gonna be? They are already.

Oh Caledonian son of Craig, do not EVER tinker with the words of the emancipator.

Ye have been warned



emancipator

slashermcguirk wrote:unless djokovic improves his level???? he hasnt lost a single set and has lost one service game!! He has also beaten much tougher opposition, Verdasco and Raonic. IMBL......a touch harsh! Wawrinka will be very dangerous, needs to worry about him before Murray

Trust me, Djokovic has another gear he can move into, and I think he will do so in the next few matches.
Against Verdasco and Muller I thought Djokovic was solid but not at his best, he was a bit passive in the first set against Raonic, but picked it up in sets 2 and 3.
It's true Murray has dropped more sets, but so far I think he's still played better tennis (Dimitrov red lined against him for a set, as did Berdych in the first set here).

Let's see what happens anyway.

Berdych needs a dose of positivity. The slumped shoulders are conveying the wrong message to Murray.

Come on Berdy Fight! (I want to see a fifth set).

laverfan wrote:Berdych needs a dose of positivity. The slumped shoulders are conveying the wrong message to Murray.

Come on Berdy Fight! (I want to see a fifth set).

He needs a dose of Cow blood

Just sublime from Murray still, hitting with great variety; when needed accelerating with pace and depth, and at the same time moving Berdych around before hitting the lines when needing the killer blow.