Miami Masters 1000 Thread.

[temporary21]

First topic message reminder :

Cue the 80's music! Roll up roll up for all things Miami!

[Haddie-nuff]

Temper at the end of that set by Novak snatching the towel from that poor kid

[temporary21]

Start is vital Andy musnt fart

[Henman Bill]

I agree Friday semi, Sunday semi, BO3. It's nothing compared to A0 2012 7-5 in the semi and even longer final.

[Haddie-nuff]

Sorry I refuse to believe the ironman is tired and I hope Muzza doesn't either. We have seen Novak win back-to-back four hour plus matches before. Here he has has a full days rest after a way less than three hour match so he certainly can't be tired.

Ok .. whatever

[ZZ]

this is boring.

the only time murry or djokovich is interesring is when they play rafa cause of rafas style.

[It Must Be Love]

Ah I missed the last 20 minutes or so.
If Djokovic seemed tired at the end of the second set, then that's ominous signs for Murray for the third set.

[CaledonianCraig]

That is a couple of terrible misses in that rally.

[ZZ]

don't worry u didn't miss much the last 20 mins was the same as everything b4

[Henman Bill]

well murray had 3 smashes in a row, played safe on every one, lost the point. I hope Federer and Tim Henman are not watching this. Maybe Tim can coach them on the smash.

[It Must Be Love]

this is boring.

the only time murry or djokovich is interesring is when they play rafa cause of rafas style.

Umm... I remember similar comments from you during the Aus Open final.

I'm a Nadal fan (not that most of the forum think so now...), and thus of course I love it matches much more when Nadal is playing against one of them, but I have the perspective to know that it can't be that the only interesting matches they play are when my favourite player is involved.
Even if this match-up isn't to your taste, what about Federer-Djokovic ? What about Murray-Tsonga ? etc.

Get a sense of perspective please, and maybe stop only coming on this forum solely to be negative.

[Haddie-nuff]

Try Rafa

[CaledonianCraig]

Djoko breaks at the start of the third.

[Henman Bill]

stop feeding the trolls

[It Must Be Love]

Their pretty similar players, and generally the one who can dictate without making too many UEs comes out on top.
I think this match-up, more than others, mainly replies on who can keep up the mental intensity.

[CaledonianCraig]

Still feel Andy needs to play with more variety against Novak.

[Danny_1982]

Mentally and physically, Novak has the edge when their matches turn into a physical war. Well done to Andy for making it a war, but I feel the outcome is inevitable. Like New York, like Melbourne.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mentally and physically, Novak has the edge when their matches turn into a physical war. Well done to Andy for making it a war, but I feel the outcome is inevitable. Like New York, like Melbourne.  

A defeat does look on the cards but it sure makes a difference from tame two sets defeats. Edit - well as long as this set isn't one-sided.

[Henman Bill]

Yes, Murray is improving, it wasn't all that long ago he nearly lost 6-0 6-0 at the WTF. He looked terrible.

[CaledonianCraig]

well murray had 3 smashes in a row, played safe on every one, lost the point. I hope Federer and Tim Henman are not watching this.  Maybe Tim can coach them on the smash.

What were you saying??

[CaledonianCraig]

And that is that I would say. Novak leads 3-0.

[Born Slippy]

Depressing if Andy gets bagelled here.

My ipad packed up at 40-30 to Murray in the first game of this set. Has Novak really upped it since or has Andy fallen apart?

[Danny_1982]

This is quite important I feel now. Andy has lost I'm sure of that, but don't go away Andy. Fight. You've got to send some kind of message here... He's disappeared at the end of matches too many times against Novak now.

[Henman Bill]

Well I make that 6 points in a row lost by the player who had a smash in the point.
Djokovic - long, wide, mishit, played it safe
Murray - played it safe, net

Admittedly I have missed the odd point, the last point in that game my 2 year old son fell off the chair at a crucial moment, so I have no idea what happened, had to wait for the add break to see that the match is all but done.

[CaledonianCraig]

Depressing if Andy gets bagelled here.

My ipad packed up at 40-30 to Murray in the first game of this set. Has Novak really upped it since or has Andy fallen apart?

Murray has lost key games. He has had game points on his serve in this set and let them slip and he is looking the more tired to me. Novak just staying up at a higher level and wearing Murray down further and leads 4-0 now.

[Danny_1982]

The Murray family will be desperately trying to get bagels off the wedding menu this week.

[CaledonianCraig]

The variety is the key and that element hasn't been there today for Andy.

[Born Slippy]

Bagel incoming then.

[CaledonianCraig]

These service games have all followed a pattern really. Too many unforced errors leaking from Murray's racquet and his movement looking laboured now. Djokovic looks set to complete the coup des grace.

[Henman Bill]

One for stats fans: the margin by which Djokovic won the last set in his last 3 matches against Murray
6-3
6-0
6-2

[Danny_1982]

I think it's just the choices and belief in the big moments Craig. Of course the third set is fitness, but Novak is a freak so I can handle that.

But mentally, in that first set, he cracked when it mattered.

[Henman Bill]

Bit of a shame the last set, I thought the match was going up a level with the last few points of the 2nd set and first couple of a third.

[CaledonianCraig]

I think it's just the choices and belief in the big moments Craig. Of course the third set is fitness, but Novak is a freak so I can handle that.

But mentally, in that first set, he cracked when it mattered.

Oh yes Andy will feel he gifted that first set away.

[laverfan]

Good stuff from Djokovic to keep pressure. He is willing to keep the ball in play as long as it takes to grind Murray down. Fantastic exhibition of attrition tennis, that too on a HC.

Djokovic has delivered four bagels this year.

[CaledonianCraig]

Congrats Novak. He is just unstoppable at the moment. Better performance from Andy but still lacking at the sharp end of the match.

[Henman Bill]

Djokovic must be way ahead in the race to year end no 1, 2015.

[Danny_1982]

Mauresmo has got Andy back close to his best, since surgery. But he's not doing it in the very biggest moments... It's a bit like the pre-Lendl state of play.

Hopefully, he can do ok on the clay and the green grass of home will see him a bit more steely in the big moments.

[Born Slippy]

Good stuff from Djokovic to keep pressure. He is willing to keep the ball in play as long as it takes to grind Murray down. Fantastic exhibition of attrition tennis, that too on a HC.

Djokovic has delivered four bagels this year.

Got to be more than 4 - three this tournament plus Berdy in IW and Murray in Oz?

[CaledonianCraig]

The pluses for Andy to take from this is that at least he was much more competitive against Novak plus he moves back to No.3 in the rankings. However, that really big win still alludes him.

As for Novak well there is no stopping him at the moment.

[temporary21]

Soo Novaks only lost twice soo far this year? Karlovic, and Fed on a fast custom court...

Andys playing some nice stuff now, but Novaks too much for anybody for now. For the sake of a competitive tour let us hope Rafa find his FHDTL again

[HM Murdock]

Commiserations to the Murray fans on here. I can imagine how frustrating this little period is for you.

The problem is not Andy's level. He showed again today how much he can trouble Novak. I don't know if the problem is mental or physical but the way Andy falls away against Novak is very odd.

I felt for him a bit during his speech. He seemed a little emotional.

As for Novak, since 2011:

Australian Open - 4 out of 5
Indian Wells - 3 out of 5
Miami - 4 out of 5

Also, the first player to do the IW/Miami double three times.

His record on slow hard courts is becoming seriously impressive.

Today was also the 8th 6-0 set he's served this year. I think that is as much a reflection of the tour as it is of Novak but impressive nonetheless.

[Born Slippy]

8 bagels matches Ferrer's total last year (which was the most on tour). Strong chance he will pass Fed's record of 16 (2006).

[Danny_1982]

Murdoch - it's mental and physical. He is inferior to Novak in both areas. No great shame of course, Novak is unbelievable in those areas.

But after W 2013 I would have said an Andy v Novak match was pretty close to 50-50. Novak has gone up a notch or two since then and Andy is still just short of how good he was then.

It's actually stopping me enjoying their matches. It's the 3rd time in recent times I've watched the vast majority of the match with nothing between them in terms of quality, followed by a swift capitulation. I'm waiting for it now, even during the good bits!

Congrats to your man btw. He looks tremendous. I think this is his year for the French.

[Jahu]

Disaster for the Tennis world.

Congrats to HMM & Socal

[CaledonianCraig]

It is definitely about belief (or lack of it) at key times for Andy. It must nag at the back of his mind how he has never beaten Novak from a set behind so as hard as he battles the belief is not really there yet for me in this match-up. And to be honest I cammot see the trend being reversed until he gets his consistency a tad higher and gets off to a quicker start in these matches.

[HM Murdock]

But after W 2013 I would have said an Andy v Novak match was pretty close to 50-50. Novak has gone up a notch or two since then and Andy is still just short of how good he was then.

In that period of Olympics through to W13, I thought Andy was edging the mental battle in that match up. The matches were close but Andy was winning the big moments. He had 'swagger' about him.

I suspect that if Andy feels like his endurance and fitness is not what it used to be (since the surgery), that is going to open a whole lot of doubts during a match.

I don't know what he needs to do to change that. Is it simply a case of trying to get fitter and stronger? Or will a big win perhaps liberate him?

Do you think the Lendl-era level is still in him?

[Josiah Maiestas]

Sorry, but Novak can't win the FO if he plays Nadal. Has to be someone to do the work for him but hey he's winning the mickey mouse tournaments again

[Danny_1982]

Murdoch - tennis wise, definitely. He was terrific right through the AO right up to the last 30-40 mins. As consistent as any slam before. He's almost there now.

But will he toughen up mentally? Win enough of those big points like he did under Ivan in that golden year? I genuinely have no idea.

I have hope for Wimbledon. I think he's very tough to beat on grass, aside from a very odd day v Dimitrov. That's where I think he has his best opportunity to swing the balance back against Novak.

[CaledonianCraig]

Of course there is another possibility for the nature of Djokovic's run of success. He has elevated himself onto a new level that others just can't reach or replicate for any stretch of time to compete with him.

[Danny_1982]

He could try and get fitter, but he can't go down the muscle route again. He's only moving well again because he lost a few kilos in the winter. Before that his back was creaking carrying the cargo.

As for Novak can't win Paris JM, he totally can. He's never been this far ahead of Rafa. Obviously we'll have to see where they both are come Paris, but he's only been fractions away in the past against a red hot Rafa. Novak looks stronger now, and I question if Rafa will get close to his clay best in time.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Spin it any way you want Murray is B level tennis player. Folds away mentally and can't beat the 3 above this has nothing to do with his back he has reached his peak in 2012/13 and is now not on a downward curve.

Novak can't hit strong enugh on the paris clay against Nadal, we know how that well end just like Nadal/Fed.

[Sponsored content]