Miami

by Guest82 Tue 22 Mar 2016, 2:04 pm

First topic message reminder :

Draw is out. Projected quarter finals are
Djokovic v Berdych
Federer v Ferrer
Wawrinka v Nadal
Murray v Nishikori

Del Potro playing Pella in the first round...if he wins that then it is Federer.
Kyle Edmund playing Vesely....if he wins that then it is Djokovic.

by HM Murdock Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:10 pm

Haddie-nuff wrote:
It Must Be Love wrote:Didn't Djokovic struggle for focus a bit when he had kids in the summer of 2014 ?

Yes I think he did.. its different strokes for different folks. Andy looked genuinely like he had one another grand slam after his baby was born.
For some men it can be overwhelming. He will settle you see

But I agree here too.

The fact having a child boosted Novak doesn't mean it will have the same effect on someone else. Different personalities will react in different ways.

by It Must Be Love Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:10 pm

HM Murdock wrote:
It Must Be Love wrote:Didn't Djokovic struggle for focus a bit when he had kids in the summer of 2014 ?
No.

His son was born in October of that year and that ended up being the starting point of his hot streak.

Ah, thanks.
So what was disturbing him in the summer of '14? I remember thinking to myself there's a clear reason Djokovic had but I've forgotten it now.

by CaledonianCraig Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:24 pm

Calder106 wrote:Only saw the last three or four games of the match last night and on a pretty poor connection. It looked though that Dimitrov wan't having to do very much, apart from keeping the ball in court, to win the points. After a few shots in the rallies Murray was either hitting into the net or going long.

His concentration seems to be all over the place at the moment. Needs to focus on family, tennis and how to make it work rather than getting involved in the Sharapova and Womens Tennis issues. Otherwise it is going to be very difficult for him on court.

Yes concentration was rotten but wouldn't put that down to remarks about Sharapova or women's tennis issues as these are stuff he has responded to when asked in the press conferences all players have to do.

by HM Murdock Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:30 pm

It Must Be Love wrote:
HM Murdock wrote:
It Must Be Love wrote:Didn't Djokovic struggle for focus a bit when he had kids in the summer of 2014 ?
No.

His son was born in October of that year and that ended up being the starting point of his hot streak.

Ah, thanks.
So what was disturbing him in the summer of '14? I remember thinking to myself there's a clear reason Djokovic had but I've forgotten it now.

He got married then.

Whether that disturbed his form, I don't know.

I seem to recall Boris saying he thought the emotion of getting over the line at Wimbledon (first slam win in 18 months) and getting married about a week later took a lot out of Novak, but who knows? Could have just been bad form.

by Tennisfan Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:43 pm

I think Murray is finding it hard to get motivated. He's number 2 in the world and yet has virtually no chance of ever reaching number1 - Djokovic is simply too far ahead. I think this is why he's committed to DC this year - maybe a goal that he can fire himself up for.

by Calder106 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:51 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:
Calder106 wrote:Only saw the last three or four games of the match last night and on a pretty poor connection. It looked though that Dimitrov wan't having to do very much, apart from keeping the ball in court, to win the points. After a few shots in the rallies Murray was either hitting into the net or going long.

His concentration seems to be all over the place at the moment. Needs to focus on family, tennis and how to make it work rather than getting involved in the Sharapova and Womens Tennis issues. Otherwise it is going to be very difficult for him on court.

Yes concentration was rotten but wouldn't put that down to remarks about Sharapova or women's tennis issues as these are stuff he has responded to when asked in the press conferences all players have to do.

Yes I understand that but he could be a bit more bland in his replies and not appear to be on some crusade. From what I have read there were 'clear the air' communications with Djokovic and then there was the stupid Twitter spat with Stakhovsky. He has enough going on just now off court without getting heavily involved in these matters.

by HM Murdock Tue 29 Mar 2016, 12:58 pm

Andy has a mother, a wife, a daughter and a female coach.

He's entirely content without all these tennis matches he has to keep playing.

by CaledonianCraig Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:00 pm

Calder106 wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:
Calder106 wrote:Only saw the last three or four games of the match last night and on a pretty poor connection. It looked though that Dimitrov wan't having to do very much, apart from keeping the ball in court, to win the points. After a few shots in the rallies Murray was either hitting into the net or going long.

His concentration seems to be all over the place at the moment. Needs to focus on family, tennis and how to make it work rather than getting involved in the Sharapova and Womens Tennis issues. Otherwise it is going to be very difficult for him on court.

Yes concentration was rotten but wouldn't put that down to remarks about Sharapova or women's tennis issues as these are stuff he has responded to when asked in the press conferences all players have to do.

Yes I understand that but he could be a bit more bland in his replies and not appear to be on some crusade. From what I have read there were 'clear the air' communications with Djokovic and then there was the stupid Twitter spat with Stakhovsky. He has enough going on just now off court without getting heavily involved in these matters.

He has always spoken his mind without it encroaching onto court so I'd read little into his other tennis-related comments. I am more concerned by a seeming lack of drive/hunger and consistency. That has to be addressed or else this year will pass him by without any singles titles of note.

by Jahu Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:16 pm

HM Murdock wrote:Andy has a mother, a wife, a daughter and a female coach.

He's entirely content without all these tennis matches he has to keep playing.

Yes, I always said he is overrun by Ladies, and is feeling like a puppy between the Lionesses.

Only Lendl could man him up and he did a couple of years.

by HM Murdock Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:19 pm

Jahu wrote:
HM Murdock wrote:Andy has a mother, a wife, a daughter and a female coach.

He's entirely content without all these tennis matches he has to keep playing.

Yes, I always said he is overrun by Ladies, and is feeling like a puppy between the Lionesses.

Only Lendl could man him up and he did a couple of years.

Jamie and his annoying Y chromosome is the fly in the ointment.

He at least has a unisex name though.

by Born Slippy Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:19 pm

I'm relatively unconcerned about Andy. Seems to me that he probably hasn't focussed a huge amount on these events. He always comes across as less driven than the other top guys and the baby has no doubt been his main focus.

I don't expect him to be making 4 errors per game by the time RG rolls around. He was comedy bad last night though!

by Jahu Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:24 pm

HM Murdock wrote:
Jahu wrote:
HM Murdock wrote:Andy has a mother, a wife, a daughter and a female coach.

He's entirely content without all these tennis matches he has to keep playing.

Yes, I always said he is overrun by Ladies, and is feeling like a puppy between the Lionesses.

Only Lendl could man him up and he did a couple of years.

Jamie and his annoying Y chromosome is the fly in the ointment.

He at least has a unisex name though.

Yeah Jamie even when he comments Live on Studio and chats, seems much more mature.

Anyway Andy's mom said on an interview that Andy has been always spoiled, at least he is richer than Jamie Wink

by Haddie-nuff Tue 29 Mar 2016, 1:25 pm

HM Murdock wrote:
Haddie-nuff wrote:
It Must Be Love wrote:Didn't Djokovic struggle for focus a bit when he had kids in the summer of 2014 ?

Yes I think he did.. its different strokes for different folks. Andy looked genuinely like he had one another grand slam after his baby was born.
For some men it can be overwhelming. He will settle you see
But I agree here too.

The fact having a child boosted Novak doesn't mean it will have the same effect on someone else. Different personalities will react in different ways.

The point I would make that if he was in a different profession he would have had paternity leave.. this is given for a reason if not only for the purpose of adjustment.
Some men do not need it my own husband didn't.. but my eldest son was totally overwhelmed by the birth of his baby daughter and needed that time to adjust to his responsibilities. So it may have boosted Novak.. obviously, and it didn't harm Roger on both occasions.. but Andy is naturally an emotional person. Not an excuse.. but certainly worth consideration

by Danny_1982 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 3:14 pm

Andy looks in trouble mentally right now. He doesn't look that motivated to me, and his chuntering to his box is worse than pre-Lendl right now.

It used to be he would strain every sinue to win a match like that, now he doesn't seem to bothered. Yes, he's a new father and I know myself that's a time where it's difficult to focus. But still it doesn't explain his form, his frustration and his occasional disinterest.

There were reports of issues with Mauresmo, which Murray denied in the post match press conference, but somethings not right. He needs to be at his best to challenge Novak and he's miles off. I question how hungry he is for it nowadays.

by HM Murdock Tue 29 Mar 2016, 3:36 pm

Danny_1982 wrote: chuntering

I only ever hear this word in connection with Andy.

But it's a perfect word for what he does!

by CaledonianCraig Tue 29 Mar 2016, 3:46 pm

Danny_1982 wrote:Andy looks in trouble mentally right now. He doesn't look that motivated to me, and his chuntering to his box is worse than pre-Lendl right now.

It used to be he would strain every sinue to win a match like that, now he doesn't seem to bothered. Yes, he's a new father and I know myself that's a time where it's difficult to focus. But still it doesn't explain his form, his frustration and his occasional disinterest.

There were reports of issues with Mauresmo, which Murray denied in the post match press conference, but somethings not right. He needs to be at his best to challenge Novak and he's miles off. I question how hungry he is for it nowadays.

Absolutely agree. thumbsup

by sportslover Tue 29 Mar 2016, 4:26 pm

Haddie-nuff wrote:
HM Murdock wrote:
Haddie-nuff wrote:
It Must Be Love wrote:Didn't Djokovic struggle for focus a bit when he had kids in the summer of 2014 ?

Yes I think he did.. its different strokes for different folks. Andy looked genuinely like he had one another grand slam after his baby was born.
For some men it can be overwhelming. He will settle you see
But I agree here too.

The fact having a child boosted Novak doesn't mean it will have the same effect on someone else. Different personalities will react in different ways.

The point I would make that if he was in a different profession he would have had paternity leave.. this is given for a reason if not only for the purpose of adjustment.
Some men do not need it my own husband didn't.. but my eldest son was totally overwhelmed by the birth of his baby daughter and needed that time to adjust to his responsibilities. So it may have boosted Novak.. obviously, and it didn't harm Roger on both occasions.. but Andy is naturally an emotional person. Not an excuse.. but certainly worth consideration

Spot on - give the guy a break after all he is only human unlike Novak Wink

I'm sure he will soon get back his form along with Rafa who has also going through a bad time.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 5:17 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35919682

Croft echoes this sentiment. I dont think Andys all there for tennis right now. It probably explains a lot of his tiredness and chuntering

This is all of course brilliant news for Novak. If Federer is impeded in any way by his knee or any rustiness, and Stan continues to look not that bothered, theres almost nothing stopping him.

by Guest82 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 5:18 pm

He's probably lost a bit of motivation and is a bit distracted by the birth of his child.

As said above, I am pretty sure he'll be back to something like his best for RG.

Prior to last year he hadn't performed brilliantly at Masters for a while (someone may pull me on this with facts) but was concentrating on slams.

Dimitrov has looked a bit better this year too. Not back to his best, but much improved on last year.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 5:21 pm

I think we might also need to bear in mind its his first kid, and hes not as old (no insult intended) as some of our resident parents.

TBF he really might need 6 months, theres a reason that Roger has 7 nannies or so, and before that a top player with children was simply unheard of.

by Haddie-nuff Tue 29 Mar 2016, 6:53 pm

CC I address this comment to you... you would be the first to be in defence of Andy if unnecessary criticism was aimed at him... give him a little time to adjust.. he is still No 2 and there are many of us who wish we could be saying the same about the man we support.
He will be back.. let him enjoy his baby

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 9:36 pm

A heads up, Djokovic Thiem is coming up very soon

by bogbrush Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:04 pm

temporary21 wrote:I think we might also need to bear in mind its his first kid, and hes not as old (no insult intended) as some of our resident parents.

TBF he really might need 6 months, theres a reason that Roger has 7 nannies or so, and before that a top player with children was simply unheard of.

Some of your resident parents had their first children when younger than Andy and bounced through it.

Honestly, he's had a kid, not a leg off. Anyone would think this is anything unusual.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:06 pm

I think you're in the minority nowadays. Most people don't see their first kid as no big deal. Also bear in mind he's a professional tennis player. That's a much harder profession to have kids in than most

by Haddie-nuff Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:23 pm

Totally agree

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:24 pm

Theim has paid for a slow start, a break behind but he's quite competitive on the baseline. Would have broken back not for s miracle novak get

by bogbrush Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:24 pm

temporary21 wrote:I think you're in the minority nowadays. Most people don't see their first kid as no big deal. Also bear in mind he's a professional tennis player. That's a much harder profession to have kids in than most

I didn't say no big deal, I said not unusual.

It's no reason, months on, for a professional sportsman to be lagging behind. People have turned out and performed after hearing of the death of a parent or child, this is nothing.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:25 pm

There's no right or wrong here. However I think bb is way more old fashioned, a way that doesn't really exist anymore. Andys started the rest of his life this year, I think we can cut some slack for him not being all there

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:27 pm

Well I wasn't brought up like that. I don't think it should be considered weak to be affected by that in this day and age. That's just normal reaction

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:30 pm

Theim really looks right in this you know. He's had a bunch of break back points, and he looks powerful from the baseline. A kind of guy who could make this years 02

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:43 pm

Oh! Their had the break back. Novak sits down and challenges. AND ITS OUT. late challenge maube key

by bogbrush Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:44 pm

temporary21 wrote:There's no right or wrong here. However I think bb is way more old fashioned, a way that doesn't really exist anymore. Andys started the rest of his life this year, I think we can cut some slack for him not being all there

If it's 'old fashioned' to have enough fortitude to get on with things then great, I think it is a bit feeble to be unable to perform months after a happy event. As it happens I think this will be more new fashioned in times to come.

by LuvSports! Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:46 pm

What a set. Gutted for Thiem.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:48 pm

Like I said, no right or wrong. But responding to the modern way with just man up, doesn't cut it. Murray is anything but feeble

It is first set novak after a dramatic last game

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:49 pm

Ok theim, let's go for s third set. Arguably the best match of the tournament this far

by YvonneT Tue 29 Mar 2016, 10:55 pm

Fun set from Thiem. Would rather see him competing at the O2 than Raonic anyway.

On Murray, I'm sure he & Kim have got to work out how & when travelling with the baby will suit them but why jump to conclusion that it affected him in this match. It's not like he never lost a match unexpectedly before being a dad. Sometimes he just fails to perform his best.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:02 pm

That's a ridiculous game. 141 serve and does nothing

by bogbrush Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:09 pm

temporary21 wrote:Like I said, no right or wrong. But responding to the modern way with just man up, doesn't cut it. Murray is anything but feeble

It is first set novak after a dramatic last game

If you say so. In practise 'man up' has a lot of advantages over folding.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:12 pm

You don't need to pretend to be "macho" and think nothing bothers you to be strong, or a good parent. The most sensitive of people can be brilliant fathers

Theim hangs in there

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:17 pm

Yes! Finally he breaks back! Let's go Dom!

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:20 pm

Sh@t...

by LuvSports! Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:29 pm

Such a fan of Thiem. He can be a real threat this year.

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:34 pm

Even though he's going down here. It's all positive. He looks like he belongs agsinst novak

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:41 pm

What a game this is

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:44 pm

What a great match. A young gun has just forced novak to play at his maximum. That bodes very well

by temporary21 Tue 29 Mar 2016, 11:46 pm

1/14 on break points the diffetence. But that's not a problem. It's inly a problem if you can't get any, more experience and he could be a proper star

by bogbrush Wed 30 Mar 2016, 7:07 am

temporary21 wrote:You don't need to pretend to be "macho" and think nothing bothers you to be strong, or a good parent. The most sensitive of people can be brilliant fathers

Theim hangs in there

It's nothing to do with pretending, it's about having balance in your mind so you can enjoy one thing while still taking care of responsibilities. Like a grown-up.

by Haddie-nuff Wed 30 Mar 2016, 7:14 am

My father thought just like you and thank God my son doesn't..I know which was the better father

by bogbrush Wed 30 Mar 2016, 7:50 am

Oh look.

Control issues cited as Murrays main issue.

A bizarre week in Miami continued on Monday night with Andy Murray’s latest bad-tempered defeat – this one at the hands of Grigor Dimitrov. But while the result was surprising, especially in the light of Murray’s previous consistency at this event, it was not as peculiar as the absence of his coach, Amélie Mauresmo, from his player’s box.
Mauresmo was sitting in the public area instead – a move that Murray later described as an attempt to improve his own focus. It did not seem to work. Instead of barking angrily at her, he barked angrily towards the other members of his support team – assistant coach Jamie Delgado, fitness trainer Matt Little and physio Shane Annun. His wife, Kim, and father-in-law, Nigel Sears, were also in the player’s box but presumably were not targets for his wrath.
Murray’s lack of sharpness is understandable, given that he took off February to be with Kim and daughter Sophia. His continuing inability to control his emotions is not. It seems bizarre that when his opponent sends down a perfect ace, he so often chunters at his team. Whatever the detail of the comment, the underlying message is: “You should have told me that he was going to serve down the ‘T’.”
This has become a culture of blame, and it is unedifying to watch. On Monday, the fans began to treat the whole thing as a circus, jeering when Murray repeatedly smashed his racket into his bag . In his defence , this is not the person he is off court. He is known for his consideration towards the tour’s foot soldiers and his lack of ego in the locker room. Yet the act of walking on court turns him from Dr Jekyll into Mr Hyde, and the issue has only become worse recently.
Just think of Murray’s final match at the O2 Arena in November, when his whole team opted against sitting courtside. All that happened was that Murray spied his old friend Ross Hutchins and set about barracking him instead.
During the Australian Open in January, Murray acknowledged that “my behaviour on the court has not been impeccable ”. But he attributed this to the stress of being away from Kim during her late pregnancy, plus the extra tension caused by Sears’s frightening collapse during the tournament.
Two months later, Murray has returned to the tour in an equally antsy frame of mind. His “friendly fire” habit has become so ingrained that it might even be beyond the reach of his former coach, Ivan Lendl, the one man who has previously cowed him into moderating his behaviour.
These are all issues that both Mauresmo and Delgado, who joined the Murray camp this month – need to consider carefully as he prepares for Monte Carlo next month.
“It’s important to get the next couple of weeks spot on,” said Murray, “because clay has been a surface that I’ve struggled on a bit in the past .” Yet, while technical adjustments are always essential to a successful switch of surfaces, it is the mind games that Murray has been losing of late.

by bogbrush Wed 30 Mar 2016, 7:55 am

Haddie-nuff wrote:My father thought just like you and thank God my son doesn't..I know which was the better father

Your problems with your father are not my concern. I have 4 wonderful, balanced, successful kids who are emotionally secure and healthy. All done with huge love without spilling my guts all over the place and neglecting my duties. Indeed I'm proud to have demonstrated maturity to them.

I'm sure Andy Murray loves his new baby as he should. It's also clear that his emotions are not always as positive as they could be. Just because that's the currency of daytime TV and soap opera doesn't make it grown up.

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