To ja też wtrącę swoje trzy grosze. :mrgreen:
Nie będę was katować osiągnięciami (bo ich nie było) ani wiadomymi faktami (bo to nuda).
Zawodnik, który lubi wzbudzać emocje u kibiców, niestety najcześciej te negatywne. A szkoda, bo to świetny gracz, który nie gra schematycznie lubi bajerować i używać sztuczek na korcie, a ostatnio poczynia sobie coraz lepiej. :D
Przyznaję się bez bicia, uwielbiam go. :mrgreen:
Pierwszy (od czasów Rogera), który był w stanie wzbudzić u mnie takie emocje, jakie towarzyszą mi przy meczach RF. :)
Bartek się zbierał z założeniem tego wątku, ale został uprzedzony - dobrze mu tak :D
Ja się muszę w tym temacie pokajać. Sądziłem, ze Andy to taki przereklamowany Królik Murray.
Już teraz mogę rzec, ze myliłem się. Zeszłoroczna kontuzja o dziwo dobrze mu zrobiła, odpoczął, nabrał tężyzny fizycznej, nieprawdopodobnie poprawił się na polu wytrzymałościowym i przede wszystkim czyni rozwój swego tenisa w tym samym, zamierzonym kierunku, czego efekty już widać, a w przyszłości mogą być jeszcze bardziej wyraziste.
Wygrany Masters w Cincy, zwycięstwo w Us Open Series ma swoją wymowę - naprawdę z tego chłopaka na Wyspach będą mieć pociechę. Kto wie, czy to właśnie nie ten człowiek przypadkiem zbawi Wyspiarzy i nie będzie pierwszym Brytyjczykiem od 1936 roku, który zatriumfuje na swojej, wimbledońskiej ziemi.
Brawo Andy , tak trzymaj, niemniej takich 5-setówek z Melzerami lepiej unikaj ;)
Na samym początku nie potrafiłam go znieść, bo wydawał mi się wredny (no bo jest wredny!), bo jakiś taki niedorobiony (no bo jest niedorobiony!), ale po cichu mu się zaczęłam przyglądać...
Ujął mnie jego przepiękny tenis, jego niesamowity hart ducha...
Jest z lekka podobny do niegrającego już niestety, Marcelo Riosa, ale nie w sensie gry, tylko w tym że też jest kontrowersyjny...
Z czasem przyznałam przed samą sobą, że polubiłam go niesamowicie...:D
I jeszcze ta tagedia z dzieciństwa....:*
Andy tego lata poczynił bardzo duże postępy i zabukował sobie po finale USO 4 miejsce w rankingu - szybko nie spadnie, może pójdzie wyżej. Życzę mu tego, bo tenis bardzo przyjemny dla oka. Obawiam się tylko Jego zdrowie, bo wczorajszy uraz kolana to nie najlepszy znak. Do tego ta straszna chimeryczność.
Będzie dobrze, dasz rade ;)
Jeszcze rok temu Andy by padł w nastepnym meczu po 5setówce z Melzerem. Pod względem przygotowania fizycznego poczynił ogromne postepy , jeszcze nie tak wielkie, żeby po 2-óch dniach grania z Nadalem móc postraszyć Rogera, czy kogokolwiek innego, ale myśle, że to kwestia czasu. Byle nie dopadł go kryzys po tym USO, wynik rewelacyjny, ale żeby tego czasem nie odchorował.
A co do kontuzji to fakt, jest szczególnie poddatny. Ale jak sie będzie szanował to może będa go unikać. Lepsze to niz hipochondria Djokovica :mrgreen:
Oby kariera Andy'ego potoczyło się teraz we właściwym kierunki, mam tylko nadzieję że nie odchoruje tego występu w Nowym Jorku i jesień w jego wykonaniu będzie równie imponująca co lato. Napewno do poprawy jest cały czas wytrzymałość, jestem niezwykle ciekaw jak będzie wyglądało jego gra w sezonie ziemnym, kto wie może przy sprzyjającej drabince sięgnie nawet 1/4 RG.
Andy na pewno musi poprawić grę na mączce, bo panująca TOP 3 gra świetnie na każdej nawierzchni ( no może Nole na trawie nie jest strasznie regularny :P ). Na pewno kartofla już z niego Alex nie zrobi, ale na lepsze wyniki na clay'u na pewno go stać.
Ten sezon w jego wykonaniu bardzo przypomina mi Novaka z 2007 roku.
Novak zaczął sezon od zwycięstwa w Adelajdzie, Murray od triumfu w Doha.
Serb wygrał pierwszego w karierze Mastersa w Miami ( jak się okazało nie ostatniego w tym samym sezonie), Szkot również tego dokonał wygrywając w Cincinnati.
Djokovic zaliczył na koniec sezonu finał US Open i zadebiutował w turnieju Mistrzów, Murray.. to samo ;)
kto wie, może w Australii w 2009 roku to Andy okaże się najlepszy?
Andy kojarzył mi się z zawodnikiem, który zawodzi na dużych imprezach. Jednak w tym roku grał w półfinale wielkiego szlema (US OPEN), a to nie byle jaka sprawa. Mam nadzieję, że zagości na dłużej w czubie światowej czołówki.
Radosławie, Murray gral w finale US Open ;)
Bizon napisał:
Radosławie, Murray gral w finale US Open ;)
Święta racja :) Chyba to do mnie jeszcze nie dotarło.
Andy ma ogromny potencjał i nie mniejszy talent. Jeśli to w pełni wykorzysta, kto wie, czy nie zagości na fotelu lidera rankingu. Tylko jedno małe ale, wyniki w tym roku może i dobre, zwłaszcza ostatnie miesiące, ale patrząc na okoliczności w jakich zastały osiągnięte, mam pewne wątpliwości, bo moim zdaniem musi je potwierdzic w czasie, kiedy zawodnicy z czołówki nie będą mieli zadyszki. Wszystko przed nami.
Mój ulubiony zawodnik :) Wyróżniający się styl gry, bardzo przyjemny dla oka + niesamowita osobowość (bardzo kontrowersyjny zawodnik). Myślę że jeśli Andy będzie rozwijał się w takim tempie i nie będą dotykały go kontuzje to szybko możemy w jego rękach zobaczyć trofea wielkoszlemowe :) A co do osobowości - myślę że ATP przyda się taki jeden "niedobry" wśród aniołów (Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Davydenko). Oczywiście wielu ludzi drażni jego zachowanie ale nie ma co ukrywać że to również przyciąga tłumy na trybuny :)
http://www.andymurray.com/
Oficjalna strona Andy'ego ;)
Fed-Expresso napisał:
mam tylko nadzieję że nie odchoruje tego występu w Nowym Jorku i jesień w jego wykonaniu będzie równie imponująca co lato.
Niestety Andy wystąpi tylko w Madrycie i Paryżu więc zbyt "obfita" ta jesień nie będzie. Z drugiej strony może zamiast wielkiej ilości będzie wielka jakość (oj gdyby tak wygrał Madryt+Paryż+YEC :))
Niepokorna to dusza :) Ale też żywot tego czlowieka to potwierdzenie tezy iż genialnych ludzi lepią anioly do spółki z demonami . krzykliwy , niesforny , czasem butny i arogancki , to te ryski na portrecie Maryja , ryski które absolutnie bledną przy opiniach expertów , którzy głoszą że Szkot to największy naturalny talent od wczesnych czasów Federerwoskich , w co zresztą chcąć nie chcąc wierzę , bo nawet laik w kilka minut zorinetowałby się że Andy smykałkę do tego sportu ma taką jak Zizou do futbolu i Tiger do golfa .
Każdy obiecujący tenisista gra jako malolat taki mecz , po którym można domniemywać że wkrótce czuby rankingów będa jego , Szkot taki występ zaliczył jako 19 - latek podczas Wimbledonu 2005 , w 2 rn ze Stepankiem 6-4 6-4 6-4 , jak dzis pamiętam że komantujący tamto spotkanie Krzysztof Wanio nie mogąc wyjść z podziwu dla gry Maryja rzekł : No patrzę i widzę Federera :)
I własnie to jest pytanie czy Andy zostanie drugim Federerem , jak juz powiedzielem jestem na to przygotowany , bo o ile jeszcze rok , czy dwa lata wstecz Murray miewał wystepy w których irytował anemicznym klepaniem baloników , o tyle ostatnimi czasy jego uderzenia nabrały mocy , co go łączy narazie z Fedem oprócz niewątpliwych wrodzonych predyspozycji ? , mnie bynajmniej udało się zauwazyć że obaj dzięki jakimś magicznym zdolnością biegają dużo mniej niz wszyscy inni .
Na pewno Andy'ego i Rogera łączy świetna technika . Tylko że styl Rogera jest bardziej "arogancki" (xD) tzn. taki od niechcenia... Andy natomiast ma sporo ze stylu Rogera ale jednak gra bardziej nowoczesny tenis. Fajnie że Szkot wyraźnie pracuje nad słabymi elementami. Kondycja, serwis, siła - to wszystko Andy poprawił w ciągu ostatniego roku niesamowicie. Oczywiście czeka go jeszcze wielki wysiłek ale z jego ogromnym talentem i solidną pracą wyniki prędzej czy później przyjść muszą. :) Myślę że rok 2009 może przynieść pierwsze zwycięstwo wielkoszlemowe. Brytyjczycy chyba by go ukoronowali gdyby wygrał Wimbledon :rock:
Bartosh napisał:
Brytyjczycy chyba by go ukoronowali gdyby wygrał Wimbledon :rock:
I właśnie dlatego ta jego narodowość może okazać się przekleństwem.
Już sobie wyobrażam jakiej presji ten chłopak będzie rokrocznie poddawany podczas Wimbledonu.
Książę Tim coś o tym wie.
Andy Murray wygrał dziś turniej z serii Masters rozgrywany Madrycie, pokonując w finale Gillesa Simona, półfinałowego pogromcę numeru jeden na świecie, Hiszpana Rafaela Nadala. Szkot wygrał 6-4, 7-6.
Dzień wcześniej Andy pokonał po długim dramatycznym meczu Rogera Federera, biorąc tym samym odwet za wysoka przegraną w finale US Open. Mecz był wyrównany i stał na bardzo wysokim poziomie. Szkot przetrzymał początkowy napór Szwajcara, znakomicie serwował i ostatecznie wygrał 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Wygrana w Madrycie to drugie zwycięstwo Murray'a w turnieju tej rangi.
Rozwój Murraya w tym sezonie jest niesamowity.Trafił z formą i co ważne potrafi ją utrzymać.Z wielką przyjemnością patrzę na jego grę i myślę, że jeszcze wiele sukcesów przed nim.Ciekawe jak zaprezentuje się w Masters Cupie, bo debiut nigdy łatwy nie jest, jednak patrząc na to jak gra myślę, że może osiągnąć półfinał.W porównaniu z poprzednimi sezonami Szkot jest niezwykle regularny.Mam nadzieję, że długo utrzyma się w czołówce ;) .
ZDOBYCZE BY ANDY M
2006
San Jose
1r Murray def Fish 6-2, 6-2
2r Murray def Wang 6-4, 6-2
QF Murray def Soderling 4-6, 7-5,6-4
SF Murray def Roddick 7-5, 7-5
F Murray def Hewitt 2-6, 6-1, 7-6
2007
San Jose
1r Murray def Kim 6-3,6-1
2r Murray def Pless 6-0, 6-7, 6-4
QF Murray def Lee 4-6,6-3, 7-6
SF Murray def Roddick 7-6,6-4
F Murray def Karlovic 6-7,6-4,7-6
St Petersburg
1r Murray def Mirnyi 6-2,6-2
2r Murray def Dlouchy 6-2, 6-4
QF Murray def Tursunov 3-6,7-6,6-4
SF Murray def Youzhny 6-2,5-7,7-6
F Murray def Verdasco 6-2,6-3
2008
Doha,
1r Murray def Rochus 6-0 6-2
2r Murray def Schuettler 1-6,6-0,6-1
QF Murray def T.Johansson 7-6, 6-0
SF Murray def Davydenko 6-4,6-3
F Murray def Wawrinka 6-4,4-6,6-2
Marsylia,
1r Murray def Huta Galung 6-4,6-4
2r Murray def Wawrinka 3-6,7-6,6-1
QF Murray def Mahut 7-5,7-6
SFMurray def Mathieu 6-2,6-2
F Murray def Ancic 6-3,6-4
xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
TMS Cincinati,
1r Murray def bye
2r Murray def Querrey 7-6,6-1
3r Murray def Tursunov 6-3,6-3
QF Murray def Moya 2-6,6-3,6-1
SF Murray def Karlovic 6-4,6-4
F Murray def Djokovic 7-6,7-6
TMS Madryt,
1r Murray def bye
2r Murray def Bolleli 6-0, 2-1 ret
3r Murray def Cilic 7-5,7-6
QF Murray def Monfils 6-2,6-2
SF Murray def Federer 3-6, 7-6,7-5
F Murray def Simon 6-4,7-6
St Petersburg,
1r Murray def Troicki 6-3,6-3
2r MUrray def Gulbis 6-4,6-2
QF Murray def Tipsarevic 7-6,7-5
SF Murray def Verdasco 6-0,6-3
F Murray def Golubev 6-1,6-1
Jedziesz Andy z tymi pucharami xD Za tydzien mam nadzieje pojawi sie zdjecie z Bercy ;)
http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/deuce/nov … murray.asp
Czytajcie dzieci, czytajcie. xD
#9) Doha 2009
R32 - Montanes 6-2 6-4
R16 - Petzschner 6-2 6-4
QF - Stakhovsky 6-4 6-2
SF - Federer 6-7 6-2 6-2
F - Roddick 6-4 6-2
Szkot Andy Murray zainkasował 185 470 dolarów za zwycięstwo w turnieju ATP Tour w Dausze (z pulą nagród 1,110 mln dol.) i zdecydowanie prowadzi na liście najlepiej zarabiających tenisistów w tym sezonie.
Drugi jest jego finałowy rywal Amerykanin Andy Roddick - 96 250 dol.
Trzecie miejsce, z dorobkiem 78 250 dol., zajmuje Czech Radek Stepanek, triumfator mniejszej imprezy rangi ATP Tour w Brisbane.
Czołówka najlepiej zarabiających tenisistów w 2009 roku:
1. Andy Murray (W. Brytania) 185 470 dol.
2. Andy Roddick (USA) 96 250
3. Radek Stepanek (Czechy) 78 250
4. Marin Cilić (Chorwacja) 73 000
5. Rafael Nadal (Hiszpan) 57 150
6. Roger Federer (Szwajcaria) 50 900
7. Gael Monfils (Francja) 50 900
8. Fernando Verdasco (Hiszpania) 46 850
9. Somdev Devvarman (Indie) 37 975
10. Victor Hanescu (Rumunia) 36 350
Tenisowy.com
#10) Rotterdam 2009
R32 Ljubicić 6-3 6-2
R16 Seppi 7-5 7-6
1/4 Gicquel 7-6 4-6 3-0 ret.
1/2 Ancić 6-1 6-2
F Nadal 6-3 4-6 6-0
No to mamy jubileusz - pierwsza "dycha" Szkotowi pękła - graty Andy :)
Odświeżam.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 811232.ece
Ten tajemniczy wirus, jaki dopadł Murraya (wycofanie z Dubaju, znak zapytania nad występem w PD) to łagodna forma mononukleozy.
Boże, jakaś zaraz czy co ? :/
Wszystko zależy, czy to taka forma mononukleozy, jak u Federera - czyli 'jestem chory a nie widać', czy taka jak Ancicia - długa przerwa w grze.
Oby ta pierwsza.
Kolosalne znaczenie będzie miał też organizm gracza. U Federera bardzo skutecznie zwalczał objawy mono, u Ancicia czy innych sportowców już niekoniecznie. Swoją drogą nie wiem czy rozsądne jest granie w takim stanie. Roger chorował w grudniu, a wtedy była przerwa między sezonami. A Andy ponoć zmaga się z tym już od AO.
Mononukleotyków ci u nas dostatek, ale i tego przyjmiemy jak swego. :D
"Obviously, I'm very disappointed that I won't be playing in Glasgow this week, but the doctor has told me that I need complete rest for at least seven days, and I have to respect that.
"I hoped that pulling out of Dubai when I did would give me enough time to recover, but this virus has hit me harder than any illness I've had before and I still feel terrible.
"Missing out on a home tie is tough for me, but more than anything I'm sorry for all the people making the journey who had hoped to see me play in the team. The support we get is always amazing, and I know people have to make sacrifices to give us that.
"But Davis Cup is a team game, and the fans still have a massive role to play.
"John has picked a young squad who all fought hard in the play-offs and proved how much they want to represent their country. If they can take that form and desire onto the match court in Braehead - in front of an amazing crowd - we have a good chance of winning the tie."
Jest to oświadczenie Murray'a o wycofaniu się z DC.
Źródło: www.andymurray.com
Jakieś tłumaczenie? :D
Takie normalne gadanie, że jest mu przykro, że nie zagra u siebie w kraju, ale po wycofaniu się z Dubaju nie zdążył wyzdrowieć. Wciąż czuje się okropnie, a lekarz zalecił mu co najmniej 7 dni odpoczynku.
Później przeprasza kibiców, że nie zagra, bo wie, jak było to dla nich ważne i jak bardzo chcieli zobaczyć go wśród zawodników reprezentacji. No ale PD to wciąż sport drużynowy i rola fanów tym wszystkim jest bardzo istotna.
Następnie pisze o kolegach z drużyny, że są młodzi i utalentowani oraz, że skoro zostali powołani do reprezentacji to na to zasługują. Jak zaprezentują dobrą formę, to przy wsparciu widownii, mają szansę na końcowe zwycięstwo.
Murray wciąż jest bardzo słaby
Czwarty zawodnik rankingu ATP, Brytyjczyk Andy Murray, wciąż nie może dojść do siebie po infekcji wirusowej, jakiej nabawił się podczas pobytu w Dubaju. Szkot opuści rozpoczynające się piątek zmagania w Pucharze Davisa, a pod olbrzymim znakiem zapytania stanął jego występ w turnieju Master Series w Indian Wells.
- Andy wciąż czuje się bardzo słabo, ma objawy podobne do przeziębienia - powiedziała matka Murraya w wywiadzie udzielonym szkockiej prasie. - Ma nadzieję, że wszystko minie w ciągu najbliższych dni i będzie mógł rozpocząć lekki trening. Jednak otrzymał zalecenie od lekarza, aby całkowicie porzucić wszelką aktywność i w pełni wypocząć. Od wizyty w Dubaju siedzi cały czas w domu i nie robi nic, choroba całkowicie powaliła go na sześć dni - dodała.
Stąd też obawa, że brytyjskiej rakiety numer jeden zabraknie w rozpoczynającym się 12 marca turnieju ATP Master Series w Indian Wells (z pulą nagród 4,500 mln dol.)
- Syn ciągle latał i zmieniał strefy czasowe od początku roku. Był w Australii, gdzie upał był niemiłosierny. Następnie wrócił do Londynu, gdzie padał śnieg i panowała temperatura minus trzech stopni. Później w Rotterdamie było zimno, a w Dubaju gorąco. Jeśli dobrze radzisz sobie w turniejach, to nie masz praktycznie czasu na jakikolwiek odpoczynek - wytłumaczyła pani Murray.
Szkot w tym sezonie zdążył wygrać dwa turnieje ATP - w Dausze i Rotterdamie. Ponadto dotarł do czwartej rundy Australian Open.
(onet.pl)
Niech się wycofuje z mastersów marcowych i kuruje się przed cegłą. Nie żeby mi jakoś wadził :P, po prostu rok temu można było się przekonać czym skutkuje taki granie, świeżo po mono, bez żadnego solidnego okresu przygotowawczego. W zasadzie sezon w plecy. Andy nie musi bronić #1 jak Roger rok temu, do tego za dużo nie broni, więc według mnie nie powinien już ruszać się z Europy i spokojnie dojść do siebie - zarówno fizycznie, jak i tenisowo.
Jak widać, ten wirus to nie żarty.
Chyba jednak żarty, koledzy z innego forum pozdrawiają Cię Dawidzie, i przesyłają link o optymistycznych wieściach z obozu Szkota.
edit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7924497.stm - ten link.
Murray cleared of glandular fever
Results of blood tests carried out on Thursday have revealed that Andy Murray is not suffering from glandular fever, but the Scot continues to feel unwell.
The 21-year-old world number four was forced to withdraw from Great Britain's Davis Cup tie against Ukraine in Glasgow because of a viral complaint.
And it is still unclear what is causing the problem, despite Thursday's tests.
Is unclear whether he will play in the season's first Masters series event, which begins in California on 9 March.
Murray fell ill at the Dubai Open, having reached the quarter-finals.
Nieciekawie to wyglada. :]
Ano właśnie, zwykły katar to to nie jest. Wszędzie przewija się słowo "wirus", a jak na dodatek lekarze nie potrafią tego zdiagnozować to jest to, co najmniej, niepokojące.
Obawiam się, że lwia część sezonu znowu w plecy. Andy nie dochodzi do siebie w takim tempie jak Federer (lata świetności to był zazwyczaj powrót po kontuzji od razu okraszony efektownym tytułem) czy Nadal (2006 - 1/2 w Marsylii, 2 tygodnie później ogranie Federera w Dubaju). Szkot w 2007 roku kontuzję nadgarstka leczył miesiąc, później nie potrafił dojść do siebie po rehabilitacji. Najpierw opóźniał powrót na kort, tłumacząc się słabą forma, po czym kilka miesięcy miesiące moczył błahe mecze.
Teraz niestety może być podobnie. 3mam kciuki, zdrowiej Andy!
Murray: Virus has hit my fitness
Briton Andy Murray does not expect to be at his best when he returns from illness to play at Indian Wells this weekend.
The world number four has won two titles this year but has not played since contracting a virus in Dubai last month.
The Scot begins his campaign against Spaniard Albert Montanes on Saturday and while he has beaten world number one Rafael Nadal and number two Roger Federer this year, he was quick to play down expectations.
"I am not putting too much pressure on myself to play well this week because I took 10 full days off," Murray said.
"Obviously, because of that I lost a little bit of fitness and (I am) not hitting the ball as well as I was before I was sick, but hopefully if I can get through a couple of matches I can start to work myself into the tournament."
Murray, who lost in the fourth round last year, could close the gap on world number three Novak Djokovic with a good performance at Indian Wells and the 21-year-old said experience was helping him cope with any illness or injury setbacks.
"There's no point in me coming in here and saying I'm feeling perfect and I've had the best preparation possible," said Murray, who went out in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
"Like before Australia, I felt really good going in there. In Rotterdam, I didn't feel my best going in but I found a way to win the tournament and I played better as week went on.
"But as you get older, you start to understand that you're not going to feel perfect every week and you try and find a way to get through the first couple of matches."
(eurosport)
#11) Miami 2009
R128 Bye
R64 Monaco 46 63 62
R32 Massu 64 64
R16 Troicki 61 60
1/4 Verdasco 61 62
1/2 Del Potro 61 57 62
F Djokovic 62 75
http://www.murraysworld.com/forum/
Międzynarodowe Forum fanów ryżego Szkota :)
David Beckham, Andy Murray and Denise Lewis back new charity Malaria No More UK
Today, Monday 20 April 2009, three of the UK’s sporting heroes; David Beckham, Andy Murray and Denise Lewis, will visit No. 10 Downing Street to mark the launch of Malaria No More UK – a not-for-profit organisation committed to ending suffering and death caused by malaria.
Malaria is the world’s most serious, preventable health crisis. Malaria threatens half the world’s population and those most vulnerable are pregnant women and children. In Africa, malaria kills one child every 30 seconds; it kills more children under five than any other single disease.
But malaria is preventable and treatable. One of the most effective means of stopping suffering and death from malaria is to invest in preventative measures now. Blanketing Africa with mosquito nets is one of the most simple and effective ways to help prevent the spread of malaria and yields life-saving results. In recent years countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia and Eritrea have successfully used bed nets, insecticides and medicines to cut malaria deaths by over 50%.
Beckham, Murray and Lewis have been named as members of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council. These three sporting heroes will campaign to raise awareness about malaria. They start with the simple message that for just £5 a bed net can be bought, transported and delivered to an African family protecting a mother and child or brother and sister against malaria for up to five years.
As part of the launch, Malaria No More UK will be visiting No.10 Downing Street. Last year the Prime Minister pledged the UK would deliver 20 million bed nets to Africa by 2010. Today the prime minister has confirmed the UK has already delivered almost half this total (9.7 million nets) and a further 1.9 million nets are on order. The charity wants to ensure the UK delivers the remainder of this pledge and encourages the EU and G8 governments to deliver their bed net promises totaling 100 million bed nets by 2010; and that global leaders deliver $3 billion committed to tackling malaria in September 2008 at the UN high level event on the Millennium Development Goals.
“It’s truly incredible to think we can stop this killer disease forever and it’s such a simple thing to do” says David Beckham, “for less than the cost of a football you can protect a family from dying. I urge the UK public to get behind the Malaria No More UK campaign to save a life and make malaria no more.”
Andy Murray says, “This is the first global charity I’ve been involved with in this capacity and it was an easy decision. Malaria is completely preventable and stoppable but yet it still kills more children in Africa than any other single disease. We can radically change this, it is a huge opportunity and I’m urging the UK public to help save a life and get behind Malaria No More UK, a truly world-changing and life-saving initiative.”
Denise Lewis, says, “As a mother of three, finding out that pregnant women are four times more likely to contract malaria than other adults, well that really hits home. Here in the UK, malaria is not something an expecting mother needs to worry about. It shouldn’t be in Africa either, especially since malaria is a preventable disease. It’s so easy for us to make a massive difference. Buying a £5 bed net will protect a mother and her child for up to five years. The time has come for us to work together to make malaria no more”.
Malaria No More UK Executive Director Sarah Kline says: “Malaria No More UK is launching a mass campaign to help stop the suffering and death caused by malaria. Our first mission is to help reach the UN target of getting everyone at risk in Africa under a bed net by the end of 2010. We are delighted the Prime Minister has announced today that the UK is has already delivered 9.3 million nets of the 20 million pledged and look forward to seeing the rest delivered on time. We are calling on him to press other EU and G8 governments to deliver their share of the 100 million bed nets they promised last year.
“I have seen mothers nursing their children, gravely sick with malaria. But I have also visited communities protecting themselves from malaria using bed nets and shared their joy, as they talk of no longer losing children to this terrible disease. We are part of an international effort to make malaria no more and we kick-start that in the UK today”.
http://www.malarianomore.org.uk/
To tak apropo życia Andy'ego, poza kortem ;-)
11.05.2009 - Andy Murray #3 światowego tenisa. W dzisiejszym notowaniu rankingu ATP wyprzedził Serba Novaka Djokovicia, który zajmował tę pozycję nieprzerwanie przez ponad 1,5 roku.
Andy, Gratulacje :)
Murray za 4 dni skończy 22 lata, miły prezent na urodziny sobie sprawił :)
Brawo Andy :) Mam jednak nadzieję, że Novak po Wimbledonie wróci na nr 3 ;)
Graty Andy :D
Ale lepiej niech na trzeciej pozycji zatrzyma :P
Spóźnione Wszystkiego Najlepszego Andy :)
15-05-2009 - Wczoraj Andy Murray skończył 22 lata. Pozwolę sobie na przedstawienie Jego osiągnięć w tymże wieku (dniu):
Ranking: 3 (najwyżej w karierze)
Wygrane turnieje: 11
Przegrane Finały: 6
Turnieje WS: 0/1
Mastersy: 3/1
Zarobki: $7,216,716
Niezłe wyniki, ale jak się okaże za tydzień, jego najgroźniejszy rówieśnik bije go w osiągnięciach na głowę.
Wszystkiego Dobrego Andy.
#12 Queens Club
R56 Bye
R32 A.Seppi(ITA) 6/1 6/4
R16 G.Garcia-Lopez(ESP) 6/4 6/4
QF M.Fish(USA) 7/5 6/3
SF J.C.Ferrero(ESP) 6/2 6/4
W J.Blake(USA) 7/5 6/4
Graty Andy
Andy Murray evokes spirit of Fred Perry as Wimbledon campaign begins
In the centenary year of the birth of Fred Perry, Andy Murray, the world No 3, unveils the kit he will wear at Wimbledon
The Union Jacks have been dusted off and the face paint bought, all ready for the big day. With Wimbledon less than a week away, Britain is preparing for its annual fortnight of hope, anticipation and shattered dreams — or could this year be different?
It may be tweaking the nose of fate to suggest that a British man can win Wimbledon for the first time since Fred Perry in 1936, but Andy Murray raised expectations by appearing yesterday in a monogrammed cable-knit jumper of the kind worn by Perry, proclaiming that he feels ready to step into the champion’s shoes.
The jumper is part of a top-to-toe outfit designed by the Fred Perry sportswear company to mark the centenary of the former champion’s birth and the first credible Wimbledon challenge by Murray. There are also shorts — shorter than shorts have been for many a year — collared shirts and a bag, all bearing the Fred Perry laurel wreath that has been the company’s logo since 1952, and Murray’s initials.
Celebrity friends of Perry, such as John F. Kennedy and Groucho Marx, were also given monogrammed Perry apparel but the company has not issued shirts with initials since the mid-1970s. While former Wimbledon champions, such as John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King, wore Fred Perry on Centre Court, the company has been a fading presence among the leading players. Instead, it has been a fashion choice for urban subculture groups such as mods and skinheads. The company hopes Murray can help it to regain a toehold in the sportswear market.
Times Archive, 1934: Perry the new champion
A fine career was crowned on the Centre Court at Wimbledon yesterday when F. J. Perry became virtually the champion of the world
Murray and his brother Jamie, a former mixed-doubles champion, will wear the kit exclusively this year although replicas will be available. A standard Perry polo shirt sells for £45; the centenary special is £60.
As the world No 3, Murray is the highest-ranked British man to enter Wimbledon since the last of Perry’s three wins (even “Tiger” Tim Henman got no higher than No 4). “I am proud to be wearing an outfit inspired one of my sporting heroes,” Murray said. “I hope one day to follow in Fred Perry’s footsteps and repeat his success.”
Perry once said: “Bloody-mindedness was one of my specialities.” Some would argue that the same is true of Murray, which is why he may have a chance of becoming the champion.
As a smoker, Perry originally wanted to use a pipe as the company’s logo but Tibby Wegner, his manager, said he “didn’t think the girls would go for it” so Perry agreed to go with the Wimbledon laurel wreath instead.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 504583.ece
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Brytyjczycy rozpoczynają "Murray manię" :)
Wimbledon - Royal approval for Murray
Queen Elizabeth sent a message of congratulations to Britain's Andy Murray for winning the Queen's tournament and she just happens to have no official engagements on the day of next week's Wimbledon final.
The monarch last visited Wimbledon in 1977 to present the trophy to Virginia Wade after the Briton won the women's singles title in the Queen's Jubilee year.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that Queen Elizabeth sent a message to Murray congratulating him earlier this month for becoming the first Briton to win the Queen's grass court tournament in London since Bunny Austin in 1938.
On his twitter feed, the 22-year-old Scotsman said: "Got a nice letter from the Queen saying well done for winning Queen's. Put it in its own pile away from the bills."
Officials said Queen Elizabeth had no official engagements on July 5, the date of the men's final, but declined to comment on whether she might attend.
Murray is bidding to become the first British player since Fred Perry in 1936 to land the men's Wimbledon singles title.
Reuters
www.eurosport.yahoo.com
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Taaa a po np meczu 4 rundy wyśle mu w prezencie swoją ulubioną filiżanke do herbaty :]
Lena napisał:
Taaa a po np meczu 4 rundy wyśle mu w prezencie swoją ulubioną filiżanke do herbaty :]
Na finał ma się osobiście pofatygować. :P
Wimbledon - Stefanki: Murray must change tactics
Andy Murray must ditch his defensive approach if he is to reach the top of the game, according to Larry Stefanki, the coach who helped mastermind Andy Roddick's semi-final defeat of the Briton at Wimbledon.
More StoriesJamie follows Andy out of Wimbledon
Murray: I'll come back stronger
Murray's brilliant movement and counterpunching style have lifted him to third in the world and to last year's U.S. Open final, but Stefanki said more aggression and offensive tactics were required to take him to the next level in the game.
"His record is great and he is a very strong-minded kid, and I like that, but he needs to recognise when to play offence," the 51-year-old, a former coach to John McEnroe, Marcelo Rios and Tim Henman, told Radio Wimbledon.
"Besides Roger Federer he is the best mover in the game. He has the best footwork and he is technically very sound. He has to change his mentality of the way he wants to play this game at the very top level."
Murray was strongly favoured to beat big-serving Roddick in their semi-final at the All England Club, but the American attacked the Scot's second serve and ran out a winner in four sets.
"I think the difference was that Murray's second serve was very attackable. That was the plan, to move in and club some second-serve returns," Stefanki, who has been coaching Roddick since December, said.
"He is going to have a great future if he gets to the point of recognising balls to attack and to come into the forecourt and play there rather than 15 feet behind the baseline."
Stefanki turned down the chance to coach Murray three years ago, but still believes the 22-year-old can be a big player in the majors.
"I like Andy Murray a lot and I respect his game. He plays it very smart but I still believe the game is played in the forecourt and at the net in order to win some big titles.
"He will win some big titles. He will win a lot of Slams, he is that good a mover."
Z cyklu ośmiu wspanialych , czyli najbardziej barwni tenisisći świata
Andy Murray (nr 4)
Na korcie jest zimny jak szkocka whisky single malt z lodem. Być może to wynik traumatycznych przeżyć z dzieciństwa. 13 czerwca 1996 r. do szkoły w Dunblane, gdzie uczył się dziewięcioletni Murray, wszedł bezrobotny Thomas Watt Hamilton i zastrzelił 16 dzieci, nauczyciela i w końcu siebie. Mały Andy skrył się pod ławką. Do ścisłej elity ATP Szkot dostał się dzięki najsłynniejszemu tenisowemu coachowi – Bradowi Gilbertowi. Jego związek wydał na niespełna roczną pensję trenera pół miliona funtów. Murray był jednak niezadowolony z tej współpracy. Doszło do kłótni, podczas której miał powiedzieć swojemu coachowi: „Nic mi nie dajesz!". Morał z tej historii potwierdzają słowa Andre Agassiego, który napisał: „Wielkość trenera objawia się tym, że potrafi doprowadzić zawodnika do takiego momentu, w którym gracz już więcej go nie potrzebuje. Gilbert jest takim trenerem”.
wprost.pl
Murray Will Come Back Strong Next Year, says Borg
Five-time Wimbledon Champion Bjorn Borg has spoken out in praise of Andy Murray this week, predicting that the British Number One will be one of the main contenders for the title at the All England Club in 2010, and will ultimately top the World Rankings.
“I believe he is going to come back to Wimbledon next year and be even more ready,” said Borg, who is set to play at the ATP Champions Tour event in Chengdu this November alongside his longstanding rival and fellow Wimbledon Champion, John McEnroe. Borg admitted that Murray had been his pick to win the title before the 2009 Championships began, and that despite his surprise loss to Andy Roddick at the semi final stage, he still believes the Scot had a successful tournament considering the strain he was under throughout the fortnight.
“Before Wimbledon this year I had picked Murray to win,” he said. “That match against Roddick could have gone either way so he was a little bit unlucky there and I actually thought he played a great Wimbledon with all the pressure he had.”
With Murray currently at Number Three in the World, Borg even believes that the 22-year-old may already be the holder of a Grand Slam title by June 2010.
“He’s a definite player that can win Grand Slam tournaments and if he’s not going to do it this year I think he has a very good chance next year to win Grand Slam titles. He’s going to be up there fighting with (Rafael) Nadal and (Roger) Federer from now on and one day I think he might be the number one player in the World.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis … ction.html
Andy Murray fighting fit as tennis returns to action
The post-Wimbledon lull has not been much of a lull at all, with a summer of cocaine, groupies, babies, knee injuries and driving tests.
Then there was the news that writer James Lever, who is on the Man Booker Prize long-list for Me Cheeta, a spoof Hollywood memoir by a chimp, has been working on a novella about Bjorn Borg’s mental state after taking early retirement, which will be “rather like Ulysses, with the story of his sexual life compressed into an afternoon”.
Tennis has gone all soap-opera on us.The coming days, though, should see most leading players hitting tennis balls in public again. A number return to the match courts next week, with Andy Murray back from a mid-season break to play on the cement of Montreal.
It will be his first professional tennis since he lost to Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon semi-finals five weeks ago. But Murray is unlikely to excite the wider tennis world as much as the appearance of Richard Gasquet.
On Thursday, the International Tennis Federation appealed against the ruling by an independent anti-doping tribunal that allowed Gasquet, who tested positive for cocaine at a tournament in Miami in March, to return to the tour.
The tribunal panel of three lawyers concluded last month that “it is more likely than not” that the cocaine entered Gasquet’s system when he kissed “a girl called Pamela” in a nightclub the night before, after accepting his evidence that he had kissed 'Pamela’ at least seven times that evening.
The tribunal ruled that, because of those French kisses, Gasquet had inadvertently consumed no more than “a grain of salt” of cocaine. Gasquet could have been suspended from tennis for two years, but he was instead given a ban of two and a half months.
The ITF have confirmed that, “jointly with the World Anti-Doping Agency”, they have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the tribunal’s decision.
Gasquet’s tennis life could also be complicated by legal action from 'Pamela’. A lawyer claiming to represent 'Pamela’ has been quoted as saying that Gasquet defamed her with his evidence at the hearing.
“My client has been dragged through the mud,” the lawyer has been quoted as saying. “She has become an alibi.”
Back in Montreal, the Association of Tennis Professionals expect Roger Federer to compete in the Canadian tournament, a Masters-level event, even though he became a father of two just a couple of weeks ago when the Wimbledon champion and world No 1’s wife, Mirka, gave birth to twin girls.
It was always Murray’s intention to have a month or so off, but he has not been idle. The world No 3 has passed his driving test – “so stay off the road, guys” – he played for the North of Scotland at a county competition in Eastbourne, and has spent the past fortnight at a mid-season training camp in Miami with his regular coach, Miles Maclagan, and coaching consultant Alex Corretja.
This has been an opportunity to top up his fitness levels, knowing that this summer’s tournaments in North America will be key to Murray’s year – and he has plenty of ranking points to defend.
Last summer he reached the semi-finals of the Masters event in Canada, which was played in Toronto, won his first career Masters title by beating Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati final, and then appeared in his first grand slam final, finishing as US Open runner-up to Federer.
Come September in New York, Murray could become the first British man to win a grand slam singles title since Fred Perry was the 1936 US Open champion – yes, even on the other side of the Atlantic, Murray won’t be able to get away from talk of Perry, 1936 and all that.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ … 69/1/.html
Tennis: Murray ready to challenge for number two ranking
MONTREAL : Scotsman Andy Murray is prepared to challenge Rafael Nadal's world number two ranking, but it will take particular circumstances for the third seed to see his dream come true.
Murray pondered the possibilities Sunday at the ATP Montreal Masters, where he opens after a bye against either Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun or Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
Should holder Nadal - testing his knee tendinitis after two and a half months out of the game - fail to win more than a round or two, a Murray semi-final showing could send the 22-year-old Briton to the highest ranking of his career ahead of his title defence at the Cincinnati Masters the following week.
"My (2008 Canadian semi-final) points have dropped off the computer," said Murray, returning to the game after five weeks off following Wimbledon.
"I only have my US Open points to defend."
Murray, who lost to Roger Federer in last year's US Open final, has not allowed the possibilities to affect his game.
"It really doesn't feel any different to me but I'm in a good position to challenge for the number two ranking," he said.
"I'll have to play well. I have a tricky draw but I would love to get the ranking. There is still a lot of tennis to be played before I could get there.
Murray also warned: "If you get caught up in the rankings, you start to lose matches and start hoping that other guys lose.
"If I win my own matches, the rankings will take care of themselves."
#13) Montreal 2009
R64 BYE
R32 Chardy 64 62
R16 Ferrero 61 63
1/4 Davydenko 62 64
1/2 Tsonga 64 76
F Del Potro 67 76 61
17.08.2009 Andy Murray zostaje wiceliderem światowego rankingu. Zastąpił on na tej pozycji Rafaela Nadala.
Andy Murray to pierwszy brytyjski zwycięzca Rogers Cup w historii :)
21.08.2009 - Andy Murray zakwalifikował się do ATP World Tour Finals w Londynie.
Murray eyes fight for number one spot
Briton Andy Murray believes November's end-of-season World Tour Finals in London could become a straight fight for the world number one spot.
Andy Murray, from Great Britain, hits a backhand against Nicolas Almagro, from Spain, at the Cincinnati Masters AP - 0
Murray, who has now been confirmed by the ATP as a qualifier for the event featuring the world's top eight players, rose to number two in the rankings on Monday after claiming his fifth title of the year at the Masters event in Montreal.
World number one Roger Federer, aiming for a sixth consecutive US Open title later this month, and Spain's Rafael Nadal, ranked third in the world, have already qualified for tour finale which is being held in London for the first time.
"I think there could be a battle to be number one in the world," Murray, who could face Federer in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters this week, said.
"That's what everybody hopes for. This year the Tour is very tough and it's tight at the top.
Hopefully that's what we'll get to see. It's great to qualify. Obviously with it being in the UK this year, it's big for me."
Murray's victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the Montreal final meant that he ended Swiss Federer and Nadal's four-year domination of the top two places in the rankings.
Federer, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, leads the rankings with 11,040 points to Murray's 9,250 with Nadal, who has just returned from a knee injury, on 8,665.
An early defeat for Federer at Flushing Meadows, and a long run for Murray, could see his top spot come under threat from the in-form Scot.
Reuters
US Open - Murray: I can win at Flushing Meadows
Briton Andy Murray has been building momentum all year and hopes he can cap it off by winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
"I believe that if I play well, I can obviously win the tournament," world number two Murray, last year's runner-up to Roger Federer, said.
"You need to be able to last physically and I think I am able to do that now. Coming into this US Open, it's probably the best I've felt."
Murray said fitness was a top priority for him and that he was pleased with his training. The Scotsman has added former Spanish professional Alex Corretja to his support team headed by coach Miles Maclagan - and the move has already paid dividends.
Having spent several weeks after Wimbledon undergoing intensive training in Miami, the Briton marked his return to the tour by triumphing at the Montreal Masters earlier this month and reaching the last four in Cincinnati.
Aiming to become the first Briton since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand Slam tournament, Murray was in New York to show off his new Fred Perry tennis kit for the championships which begin on Monday at Flushing Meadows.
Despite carrying the hopes of British fans starved for success, Murray said he did not feel outside pressure to end the drought in the Slams.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to do it," he said. "At 22, I feel like I've achieved quite a lot for my age.
"I got to my highest ranking at two, won a lot of the second tier tournaments.
"This year I equalled my best result in Australia (last 16), did two rounds better than I ever did at the French (quarter-finals) and got further than I have done at Wimbledon (semi-finals).
"So now the Slam is the last thing I need to do. I believe that I can do it."
Murray, who has won five titles this year, looked over the skyscrapers framing the roof-top court in midtown where he had just enjoyed a hit-up, and spoke about his affection for the Big Apple and the season's final Grand Slam.
"That's what I love about the US Open, the atmosphere," said Murray, who won the US Open junior title in 2004.
"The tennis is great. It's very different from the other Slams, the night sessions and the centre court - I think it's the best court in tennis. It's massive."
Murray said he felt right at home on the fast hardcourts in New York and took away positive memories from the 2008 Open. "Last year, it was great," he said, despite some unlucky scheduling and rain that interrupted his semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
"It was the first time I played in a Slam final.
"I love it, I've loved playing there since I was young. I really enjoy New York City. There's so much energy there. Hopefully, I'll play well."
Who are Team Murray?
When Andy Murray split with Brad Gilbert at the back end of 2007, his decision to assemble a team of little-known coaches was greeted with a mixture of surprise and criticism.
But less than two years down the line and the move could hardly have paid off more handsomely.
Murray is up to number two in the world, has won 13 tour titles and, having become the first British man since Tim Henman in 2002 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, goes into the US Open as many an expert's tip to triumph.
And the 22-year-old Scot credits much of his recent success to the the influence of Miles Maclagan, Matt Little, Jez Green and Andy Ireland.
Ross Hutchins - Britain's number one doubles player and Murray's best friend - gave BBC Sport the lowdown on Team Murray.
"Andy knows exactly what he wants and he won't let anything stop him"- Hutchins on Murray
MILES MACLAGAN - tennis coach
Age: 35
Background: Born in Zambia to Scottish parents, Maclagan grew up in Zimbabwe but left in 1988 to pursue tennis in the UK. He reached number 172 in the world in singles and 200 in doubles. Took Boris Becker to five sets at Wimbledon 1999. Maclagan featured in three Davis Cup ties for Great Britain, making his debut against Slovakia in 1995 and came out of retirement to partner Tim Henman to victory against Thailand in 2002. Coached Wayne Black and Kevin Ulyett to the Australian Open doubles title in 2005.
Responsibilities: Maclagan is essentially charged with ensuring Murray fulfils his potential on the court. He arranges practice sessions, organises Murray's schedules and deals with all logistical arrangements. The pair discuss and analyse matches together and hit together on the practice courts.
Hutchins on Maclagan:
"Miles is a superb coach - very disciplined, very organised and a genuinely good guy whose intensity is hugely impressive. He's a coach who believes in repetition, who wants people to learn the basics well and then build from there. Miles has helped Andy enormously and, although he is the only member of the team who is with him all the time, they get on great. On top of that, he hits the ball unbelievably himself which makes him the ideal practice partner. He doesn't say as much as the other guys but he definitely gets stuck in with the banter."
MATT LITTLE - strength and conditioning coach
Age:33
Background: BTEC Diploma in Leisure Management followed by BSc Degree in Leisure Management. Gained fitness instructor qualification while working at a local tennis centre. Worked as Lawn Tennis Association's strength and conditioning coach for 12-16-year-olds.
Responsibilities: To oversee the British number one's fitness training. Two of Little's key roles are working on injury prevention and Murray's stretching routines. He'll give Murray massages and ensure he follows a strict recovery routine - which usually involves the dreaded ice bath - after practice and matches. Nutrition also comes under Little's remit. Murray aims to eat 6,000 calories a day during the season - ensured through six meals a day. He eats a mixture of lean proteins and complex carbohydrates, while processed food and sugar are banned. Murray does not drink alcohol and takes in at least six litres of water a day.
Hutchins on Little:
"Treacle is the joker in the pack. He's the bubbly guy who's constantly making jokes and providing the most laughter. Things are always very lighthearted when he's around and that keeps a smile on on everyone's face. That said, he's also an extremely good fitness trainer so it's crucial to have him around for both reasons."
JEZ GREEN - physical conditioner
Age:37
Background: Sports science degree and various LTA coaching awards. Started off professionally in 1997 as assistant coach and fitness trainer to the LTA training squad headed by Dave Sammel in Manchester. Became the LTA's senior national trainer a year later and then assumed freelance role training players in Miami and the UK in 2002. Appointed head conditioner at LTA academy in Leeds in 2004 and has worked individually with a host of top players from all over the world. Was in charge of physical conditioning at the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy and also involved with MCTA group.
Responsibilities: Green is the mastermind behind Murray's infamous fitness programme. Outside of competition time it involves a month-long boot camp in tropical temperatures where Murray embarks upon gruelling cardiovascular and weight training regimes. Murray also undertakes 90-minute Bikram yoga sessions in 40 degree heat. During the season it is all about gym sessions and on-court practice. Green and Little work together in a bid to turn Murray into the fittest tennis player on earth.
Hutchins on Green:
"Jez is probably the most serious in the group. He's tough, works people hard and when something needs to get done fitness-wise he's onto people to make sure it happens. Jez and Miles are pretty similar. They're pretty disciplined and very determined. Jez gets very involved in all the banter and the forfeits but he's probably the quietest out of everyone. He's a superb fitness trainer with a lot of knowledge and background."
ANDY IRELAND - physiotherapist
Age:38
Background: Graduated from Teesside University in 1993 with a BSc distinction in Physiotherapy. Worked in the NHS for the next seven years and has worked for Surrey Physio since its formation in May 2000. Provided resident physio cover for the Sutton Junior Tennis Academy, international tennis tournaments in the UK including Wimbledon, the LTA and Queen's Club. Now member of the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and when not travelling with Team Murray, works at National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
Responsibilities: Ireland works with Little and Green to maximise Murray's physical performance. With top-level tennis players putting their bodies under huge strain they can develop muscle imbalances, inflexibilities and weaknesses. By correcting these underlying problems, Ireland helps Murray to remain as injury-free as is possible. When injuries do occur it is Ireland's role to minimise Murray's recovery time and maximise his healing rates. Recovery techniques following a match or a training session are an integral part of his work. His nickname - Needles - stems from his acupuncture skills.
Hutchins on Ireland:
"Andy Ireland is the greatest physio in the world bar none. He has an unbelievable understanding of Andy's body. He is so relaxed and a joy to be around. He'll never say a bad word about anyone - you won't find a nicer guy."
And finally...
Hutchins on Murray: "I've know Andy since our junior days, when we played together for Great Britain in the Winter Cup, and we've been close ever since. He's always been a feisty kind of guy - a fighter who hates to lose. Even at a young age it was always clear he was dying to be the best tennis player in the world. He wanted that and he wouldn't let anything get in his way. He knows exactly what he wants and he won't let anything stop him. He wants to be number one in the world, he wants to be a Grand Slam champion and he will get there.
"But away from the court Andy is very relaxed and loves to mess around. His life is all about competition and, unfortunately for me, he is very good at most things he does. At table football he crushes me, at pool we're pretty similar and at computer games, especially Mario Kart on the Wii, he usually wins.
"People have criticised his demeanour but it's totally up to Andy how he wants to act in a press room or on the court. Not everyone may see it but he's a really lighthearted guy who enjoys life and is very, very happy. If he's winning matches and playing for his country then why should he care about whether he's smiling or not?"
Bardzo ładnie wszystko rozplanowane. Murrayowi udało się znaleźć właściwych ludzi - z wiedzą, kompetentnych i pracowitych. McLagen powiedział kiedyś, że to są wybitni specjaliście bez wielkich nazwisk. Patrząc na progres w grze Szkota (na wielu płaszczyznach) można śmiało stwierdzić, że ten osławiony "Murray Team" zdaje egzamin.
Jestem gotowy, żeby wygrać US Open
Andy Murray przez cały sezon prezentuje bardzo wysoką i równą formę. Brytyjczyk jest przekonany, że w tym sezonie jest znakomicie przygotowany przed ostatnim wielkoszlemowym turniejem i liczy na swój pierwszy triumf w tych prestiżowych rozgrywkach.
„ Wierzę , że jeśli zagram na swoim najwyższym poziomie, to mogę sięgnąć po tytuł w Nowym Yorku. Żeby wygrać ten turniej trzeba być znakomicie przygotowanym pod względem mentalnym i fizycznym. Obecnie czuję się w znakomitej formie, sądzę że jestem w stanie tego dokonać” – powiedział na konferencji prasowej Andy Murray.
Murray podkreślił, że w ostatnim czasie bardzo dużo uwagi poświęcał na optymalne przygotowanie pod względem fizycznym. Po Wimbledonie Murray nie startował w zawodowych turniejach, ten czas poświęcił na solidny trening. Jego strategia przyniosła oczekiwanie rezultaty. Murray wrócił na korty w sierpniu i od razu sięgnął po tytuł w Montrealu. Brytyjczyk świetnie zaprezentował się również w Cincinnati, gdzie dotarł do półfinału.
Murray ma nadzieję zostać pierwszym Brytyjczykiem od 1936 roku, który sięgnie po wielkoszlemowy tytuł. W latach trzydziestych ta sztuka udała się Fredowi Perry. Murray zdaje sobie sprawę, że w Wielkiej Brytanii wszyscy kibice liczą na jego sukces. Mimo wszystko sam zawodnik stara się nie myśleć o tym.
„ Stawiam sobie wysoko poprzeczkę, zamierzam walczyć o tytuł w US Open. Obecnie zajmuję najwyższe miejsce w rankingu ATP w mojej karierze. W tym roku zagrałem swój najlepszy turniej w Paryżu i Wimbledonie, dlatego wiem, że stać mnie na zwycięstwo w Nowym Yorku” – powiedział Murray.
Brytyjczyk dodał również, że na pewno wyciągnie wnioski z nieudanego zeszłorocznego finału US Open. Murray dodał, że pierwszy finał w Wielkim Szlemie jest bardzo trudny i dlatego jest zadowolony, że ma to już za sobą.
„ Od początku mojej kariery zawodniczej kochałem grać w Nowym Yorku. Atmosfera na trybunach jest wyjątkowa, liczę że zagram na wysokim poziomie i powalczę o swój pierwszy tytuł w Wielkim Szlemie” – dodał Murray.
Jakimś cudem nie zostało to tutaj wrzucone, tak więc w ramach dopełnienia wszelkich formalności:
Andy Murray zagra w Masters Cup
Szkot Andy Murray jest trzecim tenisistą, który zakwalifikował się do kończącego sezon turnieju ATP World Tour Finals, zaplanowanym w dniach 22-29 listopada. Rywalizacja będzie się toczyć w nowoczesnej hali O2 w Londynie. Przed nim prawo gry w tej imprezie zapewnili sobie: Szwajcar Roger Federer i Hiszpan Rafael Nadal.
- Udział w mastersie zawsze jest głównym celem tenisistów z czołówki, ale dla mnie ten turniej będzie szczególny, bo po raz pierwszy zostanie rozegrany w Wielkiej Brytanii - powiedział 22-letni Szkot, który w poniedziałek po raz pierwszy w karierze został wiceliderem rankingu ATP World Tour.
Murray po raz drugi z rzędu znalazł się w elitarnym gronie ośmiu najlepszych tenisistów sezonu, a zadebiutował w Masters Cup w ubiegłym roku, dochodząc w Szanghaju do półfinału.
- Myślę, że właśnie w Londynie może dojść do bezpośredniej walki o pozycję lidera rankingu ATP na koniec roku. Wszyscy mamy nadzieję, że tak się stanie, bo ten sezon jest wyjątkowo trudny, a stawka zawodników bardzo wyrównana - dodał.
Pochodzący z Dunblane tenisista jako pierwszy wygrał w obecnym sezonie 50 meczów, a zdobył dotychczas pięć tytułów: triumfował kolejno w Dausze, Rotterdamie, Miami, londyńskim Queen's Club oraz przed tygodniem w Montrealu. W Wielkim Szlemie dotarł do ćwierćfinału Roland Garros i półfinału Wimbledonu.
Wreszcie coś pewnego, a nie tylko spekulacje na temat siły ryżego tenisa :)
Najgorzej dla Murray'a byłoby odpaść w Londynie przed półfinałem,bo zamiast walczyć o pozycję lidera,straciłby trochę punktów,trzeba dodac że Fed odpadł w RR przed rokiem i w Londynie nie ma zbytnio do bronienia :),duzo stracic Andy może tez w USO,jeśli odpadnie wczesnie w turnieju(broni finału)
O Maryju oczywiscie najdluzszy artykul, wiec tylko link :]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … t=0&page=1
Art napisał:
O Maryju oczywiscie najdluzszy artykul, wiec tylko link :]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … t=0&page=1
‘You’ll never see me smile on the court. It’s a serious business’, says Andy Murray
W takim razie nie chce patrzeć na Jego wielkie triumfy :P :D
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009 … el-living/
For The Moment | Andy Murray On Hotel Living
Our guest blogger during the two weeks of the U.S. Open is Andy Murray, the world’s No. 2 ranked tennis player and a finalist in last year’s event. The 22-year-old Murray comes into the tournament as one of the favorites, having won five titles this year, including three on hard courts. Murray, a native Scotsman, is a Twitterholic and the face of Fred Perry, and he’ll be posting the day after his matches.
Hey, again
As I mentioned in my first post, the only time I really get to enjoy whatever city I’m in is just before a tournament begins and on the days of the early rounds. But once the tournament gets going it’s really more about the grind — practicing, playing and resting — so today is as good an opportunity as any to talk about life on the road and hotel living.
The tennis season is the longest of any sport that I can think of. The first tournament of the year starts around January 5 and the last tournament finishes around the end of November so I’d say that I’m traveling a good six months of the year — at least.
I live in London, which I really like, but I can’t really train there because the weather is so bad, so even on my downtime I end up being away from home. (I usually practice in Florida.)
During Wimbledon I get to crash at home, but for the rest of the year, as much as I occasionally like to rent an apartment — it’s sometimes nice to make your own breakfast and not be woken up by a maid — I mostly stay in hotels because it’s just easier.
Unlike a lot of the players, I am not superstitious about where I stay. Come to think of it, I’ve changed hotels every year that I’ve come to New York.
I’m not a particularly fussy person, but when you travel as much as I do some things become very important when choosing a hotel, like being around good late-night restaurants because if you finish late you wanna be able to throw on some clothes and just pop out to grab a bite. For obvious reasons I prefer a hotel that’s not too noisy. And a good gym helps. We try to work out a little bit during a tournament, but if you decide to work out at the courts on a day of a match or a long practice session you can sometimes end up being there from, say, midday until 7pm, so it’s nice to do your practice at the stadium and then go back to the hotel and hit the gym there.
DESCRIPTIONJustin Lane/EPA Murray letting off steam on court. Don’t get him started on overly complicated hotel design.
There are some hotels, like the Four Seasons in Doha, which are so unbelievably luxurious that they have to be experienced to be believed, but nothing beats sleeping in your bed, and I’ll take living in a house or an apartment over a hotel any day. I’d be lying, though, if I said there are no advantages to hotel living. I never grow tired of having my bed made for me. And when you’re often getting in late and tired, there’s a lot to be said for room service. Then there are the mini-bar temptations. I know I shouldn’t use them because they’re ridiculously overpriced, and I try to stay away from chocolate, but I’m partial to the odd fizzy drink.
At this stage of the tournament it’s really important to be able to unwind in your room. One good thing is that you have free Internet in most good hotels and I spend a lot of time online. I use Skype a lot, and I’m always on instant messenger or one of the social networking sites.
I also like that a lot of hotels have tons of sports channels. As a Brit I’m obviously a football fan — soccer, to you guys — but I’m also a huge basketball fan and I watch a bit of baseball. I kinda know what’s going on with baseball, but I find it tough to sit down and watch a whole game whereas basketball I could watch all the time.
I also like relaxing by listening to music so I prefer hotels with Ipod docking stations so I don’t have to travel with speakers. (I already carry enough junk.) I get asked a lot about what music I listen to, but it’s basically whatever is good on the charts — I quite like Lady Gaga at the moment — nothing too extreme.
It’s the same with hotel design, which I often find overly complicated, especially when it comes lighting. A lot of the hotels now have about five buttons for different moods. Give me a plain switch any day — I just want a light on or off. I’ve found myself calling down to the front desk for help on more than one occasion, but it’s more annoying than embarrassing.
Speaking of hotels, I better get back to mine.
Andy
No excuses as Andy Murray vows to learn from mistakes
Andy Murray has never been a person to hide behind an excuse. Some of his peers the US Open might have mentioned the problem he had been experiencing in his left wrist and cited it as a reason for his most lacklustre performance at a Grand Slam since losing to Rafal Nadal at Wimbledon 14 months ago. But not Murray … and rightly so.
The tournament’s second seed and pick for the title of such luminaries as John McEnroe and Andre Agassi, revealed he had been experiencing discomfort for a week. Yet his performance in the previous round against the colossal serving of Taylor Dent, and particularly his returning, was nothing short of exemplary. And never let it be forgotten that not once did he call for attention of the ATP trainer in his four matches on the cement of Flushing Meadow’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Admittedly there were few of those signature double-fisted backhands down the line as Marin Cilic, the giant Croatian who has threatened to be a top flight player for some time without actually making the breakthrough, showed exactly what he can produce. There was little evidence of the normally crisp returning that has seen him hailed as currently the best in the business. Indeed Murray worked his way to seven break points in the opening two sets of his 7-5,6-2,6-2 demise and could not convert any of them.
Even when he desperately tried to motivate himself, bouncing up and down, smacking his sides and raising the noise levels deep in the third set as Cilic’s nerves seem to tighten with victory in sight, there was nothing concerted in his exuberance. A couple more crashing forehands from the 16th seed and Murray was back down in the dumps again and nothing it seemed could drag him out.
Certainly it is true that Murray was due a disappointing performance this early in a major tournament. When he lost at the same stage in Australia, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco was in ruthless form and the Scot was suffering the onset of the virus which was to become a serious problem a couple of weeks later. At the French Open, he played the best clay court tennis of his life until running into Fernando Gonzalez who has the potential on any given day to be as overwhelmingly powerful opponent as there is on the men’s tour. And at Wimbledon, Andy Roddick took his game and his tactical planning to levels nobody dreamed possible.
Take nothing away from Cilic’s performance. He was superb, serving twice as many aces as Murray and unleashing 35 clean winners compared to the 13 from his higher ranked opponent. The problem for those convinced Murray was a true contender for the title was that after two set points went to waste in the tenth game of the match, it was abundantly clear who was going to be the winner.
And that is most certainly not the way Murray matches usually evolve because since he has moved into the select band at the very top of the men’s game, he has mastered that art of still being able to win when not playing particularly well.
What this defeat reinforced is that Murray has still to learn the art of peaking for the big tournament. Ask Roger Federer what really matters, the build up tournaments or the Grand Slam events themselves, and it’s obvious what the answer would be. The same could be said of Pete Sampras, Agassi, McEnroe and Borg. The build up tournaments don’t really figure in importance compared to the main events.
This year there certainly has been something of a pattern forming. In early January Murray was in scintillating form, first beating his big rivals Federer and Rafael Nadal in the lucrative exhibition event in Abu Dhabi before winning the following week’s title just across the Arabian Gulf in Doha. Yet after some early promise in the Australian Open, he fell in the fourth round.
Before Wimbledon he became the first British player to win the Queen’s Club title since Bunny Austin in 1938. Then he ended up just a couple of steps short in the big one when the British public were beginning to think the long wait for a home-grown men’s champion was coming to an end.
Finally in North America, Murray produced sufficient evidence to suggest he would go one better than his place as beaten finalist at the US Open a year ago. He won the Masters 1000 series title in Montreal and then reached the semis in Cincinnati. Yet once again the major competition has ended in disappointment.
Murray is insistent he learns from his mistakes and 2010’s four majors will hopefully see him a more complete and wiser contender. But rumours are already flying that he intends to play the ATP World Tour event in Sydney the week before next January’s Aussie Open. Will he once again allow his form to peak too soon?
Questions aplenty as Andy Murray is left searching for answers
Everyone had a pet theory about Andy Murray and why he only nibbled at the Big Apple.
He was too stressed, he had worked himself too hard, he peaked at the wrong times, he is too stubborn, the expectations are too enormous, his schedule is too taxing, the relationship with his coaching and fitness group is too cosy, the press is too demanding. Amateur psychologists abounded.
The climax of Murray’s grand-slam tournament campaign in 2009 was anticlimactic, a weary and abject straight-sets defeat by Marin Cilic, of Croatia, in the fourth round of the US Open, a performance not in keeping with the motto of the city, for the 22-year-old had sleepwalked his way to defeat and that’s not the way it is done here. Even his Twitter page was Twitter-less yesterday.
What happened to the 2008 US Open runner-up? Was he hurt? This mysterious wrist injury, when did that come about? Is he equipped to win a grand-slam tournament, the bottom line by which greatness is ultimately judged? One will do but where and when will it come — next year, five years, ten? Roger Federer will get fed up soon, won’t he? Rafael Nadal’s knees won’t be able to stand up for much longer, will they? Then it will be Murray’s turn.
But his four defeats in the grand-slam tournaments this year have been to players of lower rank, in some cases a good deal lower. Fernando Verdasco worked him over in Australia, although the Scot was debilitated by a viral infection; Fernando González was too physical in Paris, Andy Roddick too shrewd at Wimbledon, Cilic too secure on Tuesday. These are not the kind of failings that fill one with confidence when assessing Murray’s prospects.
“I don’t think there is anything huge [wrong with my game],” he said after losing to Cilic. “My strokes are well and I move good. I have to make sure I play my best tennis when I need to at the slams. I have to keep finding my way back into matches because I was not able to do that today. I missed out a lot of things. Everyone in all walks of life has a day when nothing works.”
The phrase “a way back” is worrying as well. Murray has made a habit of being able to win matches from adverse situations but he has the armoury to strike first more often rather than wait around and presume that he will wear down his opponent. A quote from John McEnroe in these pages on the eve of the Open bears repetition. “Murray has the game to be more assertive and he should use it,” he said. “It’s not easy being a back-seat driver out there.”
The world No 2 will spend the next few days relaxing and pondering. “I will have to discuss what I will do and which tournaments I will play,” he said. “I have to see what my goals are for the rest of the year. Rankings-wise, I got to my highest this year. But the next step is to win a slam and, unfortunately, there are no more left. I will go and work on my game, not worry too much about my results and make sure I am ready to win one next year.”
Brad Gilbert, who was Murray’s coach for 16 months before the pair parted company in November 2007 and is now the resident sideline reporter for ESPN, the sports network, said: “Obviously, the tendency in these matches is for Cilic to keep pressing. In the previous matches, including once when I was his coach, Cilic kept trying to force the issue at the net and Andy would find a creative way to win the points. Tactically, I thought Cilic played a great match.
“I was a little surprised he [Murray] wasn’t able to adjust. Every once in a while as a tennis player you have one of those flat days. You kept expecting Andy to take over. I feel bad for him. He won’t get to play another major until the middle of January. He gets an A for the ATP [season], but he went 0 for finals in a major. Those are what you’re judged on.”
For all that there remains much for Murray to look forward to this year, not least the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in southeast London in November for which he has qualified.
There is a Davis Cup tie against Poland in Liverpool next week and an October swing in Asia, but it is how Murray responds to this enormous setback that will help to answer the many questions floating around Flushing Meadows yesterday.
Brytyjska prasa po porażce Szkota bardzo oszczędna w opiniach :P A Simon Reed chyba nie może przeboleć porażki Panicza Andrew :D
Team Murray - The Forfeits Go Too Far
There are reports coming out today of a serious rift within the famed Team Murray. Rumour has it that the much-publicised "forfeit system" that has seen team members variously walking around with strange headgear, doing funny dances and eating maggots whilst whistling the theme to "The Rockford Files", has been taken just one step too far.
According to sources, a specialist training session at Murray's temporary base was in full flow. Miles was serving tennis balls into the service box at a rate of more than one in every two while Andy watched to see how it was done. In a strict routine every two minutes Matt Little and Jez Green took it in turns to walk up behind Andy and punch him in the head "to toughen the scrawny little fella up". This was followed by racquet punching practice and finally a half hour session of "not looking too bothered about stuff" practice.
At this point the team went for a light-hearted warm-down prior to Andy going off to practice saying "I hope I do well in my next tournament" in as outrageously an arrogant and provocative way as possible. The game du jour was headstand-tiddlywinks, which nobody seemed to know the rules to, but looked quite painful. As is the norm, it was decided to inject some excitement and danger into matters by allowing the winner to pick a forfeit for the loser. This is where things turned nasty.
Showing surprising deftness of touch, Treacle executed a double-flipping wink to seal victory over his boss. Much jeering ensued and then a hush as Andy and his team awaited the punishingly embarrassing forfeit that Murray was to endure.
Treacle stroked his chin contemplatively.
"Hmmm. You know boss, when sometimes we go somewhere on a big plane. And Andy has to do that hitting thing more often than when like he normally does? You know, they seem to go on for a fortnight and then that square-headed bloke gets a big shiny thing?"
Miles - "I think he means the Grand Slam tournaments Andy".
Treacle - "Yurr. That's it a granslam. Right you Mr Murray sir. You have to go and bring back one of them shiny fings as your forefinger."
A stunned silence fell.
Andy Ireland - "You're kidding mate. That's just INHUMAN!!"
Jez Green - "Treacle you're bang out of order son. This is just a bit of fun."
Murray starts sobbing quietly into a towel.
Miles - "Ok guys. I think we need a timeout here this is only meant to be a bit of fun. I think it's got a bit out of hand. Let's all go have some lunch and calm down. Then perhaps Matt can think of something a bit more REASONABLE... to pick for the forfeit. Yeah? OK. That's lunch."
Apparently when Judy heard about it she sacked them all.
Murray 'will come back stronger'
British number one Andy Murray insists he will use his surprise defeat by Marin Cilic at the US Open to improve his Grand Slam challenge next year.
"The way the match went makes it disappointing but I believe I will come back better from it," Murray said after his 7-5 6-2 6-2 fourth-round defeat.
"I will learn from this week like I have most weeks when I've lost and I will come back better and stronger.
"I think I will be a better player next year than this year."
Murray had two set points in the 10th game of the match but could not convert and 16th seed Cilic dominated from then on.
The Croat hit a total of 35 winners compared to just 13 by Murray, who failed to convert any of seven break points.
I have to work on my game a lot so when I go into the Slams at the start of next year that I'm ready to win one
Andy Murray
Asked if it was the biggest disappointment of his career, the 22-year-old Scot said: "My tennis career, yeah. I mean, worse things have happened to me, that's for sure."
He added: "I'm very disappointed I didn't win, but I played badly and didn't deserve to. I started the match well but when I lost the first set and went behind, I started making a lot of silly mistakes.
"That was one of the most disappointing things, that I couldn't come back when I'm usually able to find a way back in."
And Murray defended himself from the suggestion that he let the match slip away after dropping the first set.
"I think mentally I'm very strong," he said. "Today I could have been better in every part of the game.
"When the match started to get away from me, I couldn't get into enough return games and couldn't find a way to get back into it. He played at a high tempo and never let me have a chance.
606: DEBATE
Yet again Murray has been demolished in a Grand Slam by an in-form power player
Eboues_Stand_Up_Comedy
"From the first set to the third, he started to strike the ball better and I wasn't up to scratch. I just didn't play well enough."
Murray reached the final at Flushing Meadows last year, losing to Roger Federer, and he has risen to second in the world rankings this year.
But his wait for a Grand Slam title goes on after defeats in the fourth round of the Australian Open, the quarter-finals of the French Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2009.
"Compared to the other Slams this year I played bad tennis," said Murray.
"I thought I lost to guys playing great tennis to beat me at the other Slams but that wasn't the case today. I just didn't play well."
Murray has won five titles this year, including two at the elite Masters 1000 level in Miami and Montreal, and has already qualified for the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals in London.
"It has been a good season, could have been better in the Slams but the rest of the season has gone well," he said.
"I have to work on my game a lot so when I go into the Slams at the start of next year that I'm ready to win one."
The next date for Murray is Great Britain's crucial Davis Cup tie against Poland in Liverpool, starting on 18 September, but he is a doubt with a wrist injury.
"I've had a problem for a few days," he said. "I will try to get it better in time for the Davis Cup."
Czekam z niecierpliwością na felieton Reeda, mam nadzieję, że nie zawiedzie mnie i napisze coś w stylu" Federer can feel lucky, because he won US Open thanks to Murray's crash out".
Murray slips to third in rankings
Britain's Andy Murray has fallen one place in the world rankings to third after being overtaken by Rafael Nadal following the results at the US Open.
Murray was beaten by Marin Cilic in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, while Nadal reached the semi-finals.
The Spaniard was knocked out by Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who went on to win his first Grand Slam.
But Nadal's performance ensured he regained his world number two spot, behind beaten finalist Roger Federer.
Del Potro moved up one place to fifth in the rankings after his victory against Federer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8257354.stm
Murray wins but aggravates injury
Andy Murray put Great Britain 1-0 up in their Davis Cup tie against Poland but aggravated a wrist injury that may rule him out of Saturday's doubles.
He beat Michal Przysiezny 6-4 6-2 6-4 before Dan Evans lost to Jerzy Janowicz in the second rubber of their Europe/Africa Group I relegation play-off.
And Murray revealed he may need a break, saying: "I need to take some time off and let it try and recover.
"I can't make it worse every single day and then by Sunday be struggling."
The world number three added: "I don't want to sacrifice the lot to play in the tie and end up hurting myself so badly that I can't play for a few months.
"Every time I play on it, it's making it worse. You never know how much damage you can do to yourself, you just hope it doesn't get so bad you can't play.
"Four or five days [rest] isn't enough."
Murray, who was out for three months when he injured his right wrist in 2007, admitted he is unsure how long it will take to heal but will see a specialist before deciding whether to play on or not.
"If it takes four months to get better, it takes four months. If it takes a week, then it'll take a week," he added.
"I'll go back up to London, I'll go see the specialist I saw when I hurt my right wrist and make a decision on what I'm going to do next."
And Murray hinted that criticism he received for missing previous Davis Cup matches was one of the reasons he decided to risk the injury against Poland.
Asked whether he came close to missing the tie, he said: "I thought about it but last time something like that happened I spent the next three months answering questions like, 'Are you dedicated enough to play for your country? Does Davis Cup mean anything to you? Is it important enough? Do you feel like you let your country down?'
"It's pathetic. I play hard and I've always enjoyed playing for my country. I came up here on Sunday with the rest of guys, I practised hard.
"I love being around a team atmosphere and every time I feel fit enough to play Davis Cup, I'll play. If I'm not feeling well or I'm hurt, then I can't."
Murray playing through pain barrier
GB captain John Lloyd revealed Colin Fleming will partner Ross Hutchins in Saturday's doubles if Murray is unable to play.
"I would love Murray to play but he's a professional athlete and he knows his body a lot better than I do," said Lloyd.
"He'll go as far as he can but if he can't play three matches, he can't play three matches. I don't know what he's going to say.
"You would think the logic would be to give him another 24 hours rest, give it more chance so that he'd be OK for the singles.
"But then obviously in doubles it does lessen our chance if he is not in and we are taking the risk on it going into the fifth match.
"That could have happened anyway even with Andy playing with Ross, you would still, on paper, make the Poles favourites in the doubles."
The crowd at Liverpool's Echo Arena gave Murray an enthusiastic welcome as he made his first appearance since losing to Marin Cilic in the last 16 at Flushing Meadows.
The 22-year-old capitalised on a couple of sloppy errors from Przysiezny to break in the third game, but was matched the rest of the way in opener.
After Przysiezny clung grimly to his serve in a protracted opening game of the second, Murray accelerated away with breaks in the third and fifth to move into a 2-0 lead.
The third game again proved crucial in the third set as Murray edged ahead and, after a brief wobble as he was taken to break point in the eighth, it proved enough for victory.
Evans, 19, endured a difficult Davis Cup debut as he was comfortably beaten 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5) by fellow teenager Janowicz in the day's second match.
Illnesses to both James Ward and Josh Goodhall, who could have been expected to play the second singles match, handed the Birmingham-born player a starring role.
Evans recovered from a break in the opening game of the match, but the world number 302 promptly slipped behind again in the seventh.
A double fault at 5-3 down offered Evans' big-serving opponent three set points, the Pole taking the last courtesy of a double fault.
A mishit shot just clipped the tramline to give Janowicz a crucial break in the sixth game of the second set.
The 18-year-old then clambered back from 0-40 down in the ninth to seal the set with five consecutive points.
Although Evans battled on stubbornly the third set was eventually wrenched from the UK number five as Janowicz powered through to level the tie.
Depending on whether he opts to rest his wrist, Murray may return to action alongside Ross Hutchins in Saturday's doubles match against Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski.
And Lloyd declared himself satisfied with how the first day had panned out.
"On paper it's turned out the way it was supposed to," he said.
"Obviously I didn't think there was any way Andy was going to lose.
"(The second singles) would have been a nice one to win but Janowicz showed the sort of ability he has and I thought Dan overall played pretty well but just couldn't quite hold him close enough."
On Sunday, the reverse singles match-ups bring the contest to a close.
The winner of the Europe/Africa Zone play-off will hold on to their Group I status while the losers will be relegated to Group II.
COA napisał:
Andy Murray put Great Britain 1-0 up in their Davis Cup tie against Poland but aggravated a wrist injury that may rule him out of Saturday's doubles.
Nie wygląda to dobrze. Przez nadgarstek stracił już połowę sezonu 2007. Myślę, że nie ma sensu się napinać na azjatyckie imprezy, zwłaszcza, że sam Andy twierdzi:
"Four or five days [rest] isn't enough."
:]
Fed-Expresso napisał:
Czekam z niecierpliwością na felieton Reeda, mam nadzieję, że nie zawiedzie mnie i napisze coś w stylu" Federer can feel lucky, because he won US Open thanks to Murray's crash out".
Póki co Pan Reed nie mówi nic. Pisze natomaist Neil Harman i to całkiem mądrze.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 835990.ece
Tokyo: Andy withdraws
Unfortunately, Andy has to withdraw from the ATP Tokyo Tournament.
Andy is disappointed not to be competing in Japan, but on the basis of medical advice, he has decided to give his left wrist further time to recover.
His injury is improving on a daily basis and Andy is very close to resuming full-training. The wrist will be assessed again this weekend.
Andy wydał swój kalendarz na 2010 rok. Więcej:
http://www.andymurray.com/news/article/852
http://www.tennisnews.com/exclusive.php?pID=29545
As expected Andy Murray’s problems with inflamed tendons in his left wrist have forced the world no.3 to pull out of next week’s Rakuten Japan Tennis Championships in Tokyo and the Scot’s participation in the upcoming Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 the following week remains uncertain.
Although MRI scans have shown 22 year-old Murray is suffering no long-term damage to his non-racket arm, he is determined not to endanger his chances of contesting either the calendar ending ATP World Tour Championships at London’s 02 Arena or next January’s Australian Open where he is determined to mount a concerted campaign to win his first major title.
Znowu nadgarstek. To bardzo przewlekła sprawa, jeżeli chodzi o AM. 2 lata temu stracił przez to pół roku. Moim zdaniem nie powinien za szybko wracać do gry, bo narobi sobie dużo większej biedy. Występ w Szanghaju niepewny.
Murray ma papiery na bycie nr 1 potrafi ogrywać Federera i Nadala jednak żeby być wielkim tenisistą nie wystarczy tylko wygrywać turnieje Masters trzeba też coś pokazywać w Szlemach,a Andy w nich (oprócz finału USO 08) tylko zawodzi
Out of Shanghai
07 October, 2009 | 23:10
Due to medical advice Andy will not be travelling to China. He has decided to give his wrist extra time to recover and is likely to return for the Valencia Open.
No to po Federerze następna gwiazda której nie zobaczymy w Szanghaju :(
Pioline o Murrayu: Andy czuje wielką presję podczas turniejów WS.
On Andy Murray: I think he is feeling the pressure of a Slam. Everybody is saying – and they are right – that he is a real potential winner. He is feeling the pressure. But it is going to be difficult. The French Open on clay will definitely be his worse surface and at Wimbledon there is a lot of pressure because everyone is expecting him to win the tournament. And then you’re just left with two other tournaments. Before the US Open, I thought he was the closest of the non-Grand Slam winners to winning one next. Then Del Potro did it. When you look at him over the past three years, each year he is improving. He is very consistent – except maybe in the Slams. He has to improve that.
http://www.danilo.com/Celeb_SportPerson … ndy_Murray
Patrze na te foty z kalendarza 2010 AM (screen okładki na poprzedniej stronie tego tematu) i się zastanawiam czy to model czy tenisista :P
Może chce poczekać, aż będzie okazja, by jakiś konkretny puchar pokazać :P
Interview: Andy Murray talks about his childhood hero, Andre Agassi
Andy Murray says that he will remember Andre Agassi for what he did on the tennis court, not the revelations about drug-taking and lying to the ATP over a failed drugs test.
The world No.4 is in Valencia chasing a sixth title of the year after six weeks off the tour because of the left wrist injury he aggravated on Davis Cup duty in September when, despite two wins, he was unable to stop Britain from being relegated to the third tier of the competition.
Murray is the top seed in Valencia but yesterday he turned his attention to the revelations of Agassi that have emerged from extracts from his forthcoming book: Open – An Autobiography. In it, the American admits that he took crystal meth and failed a drugs test in 1997, only to then lie to the ATP about how the drug got into his system to (successfully) avoid a ban.
In the latest extracts from the book, revealed at the weekend, Agassi says he believes he was fed “speed” by his father in the early stages of his career, believing the pills to have been caffeine.
As a child learning the game, Murray idolised Agassi and yesterday he said he judged him only as a tennis player. “I loved Andre, met him numerous times and he was unbelievably nice to me,” said Murray, who begins his title bid here tomorrow. “I practised with him quite a lot. I guess it’s something he has to deal with himself, he’s entitled to say whatever he wants and I wish him the best.
“I don’t really want to get into it. I don’t think any of the players expected it, but you’ve just got to move on. I judge him as a tennis player; he was great, a great player, one of the best of all time. From the experiences I have had with him, he’s been nice to me. No-one wants drugs in sport but everyone makes mistakes.”
Murray said he could not compare the way the ATP, which runs the men’s tour, dealt with drugs when Agassi failed his test, with how they do it now, but said he did not believe tennis was rife with drug-taking.
“I didn’t play in those times so I don’t know what it was like,” he said. “There’s even cases now where guys get off, you know, with failed tests and contaminations, mistakes with the [Richard] Gasquet case. [Gasquet tested positive for cocaine but saw his ban reduced after convincing an independent panel that the substance had entered his system through a kiss with a waitress].
“Sometimes things like that happen and people get away with it. But I just don’t think drugs in tennis is a big problem, like it is in other sports.”
Czwarty obecnie tenisista świata, Szkot Andy Murray podpisał lukratywny i długoterminowy kontrakt z jednym z największych producentów odzieży sportowej, firmą Adidas. Umowa będzie obowiązywać od przyszłego roku.
Strony nie podały szczegółów finansowych kontraktu, ale brytyjska prasa spekuluje, że wartość tej współpracy mogła przekroczyć sumę dziesięciu milionów euro rocznie.
Dotychczas Murray pojawiał się na korcie w strojach niewielkiej brytyjskiej firmy założonej ponad pół wieku temu przez Freda Perry'ego, ostatniego Brytyjczyka jaki triumfował w turniejach zaliczanych do Wielkiego Szlema (w połowie lat 30.).
sport.pl
Zwlekał i zwlekał ze zmianą sponsora i chyba wreszcie się opłaciło...
Świetnie, będą jakieś specjalne kolekcje pod AM :D
# 14 Valencia 2009 :wygrana:
R1 Gimeno-Traver 6-3 6-1
R2 Mayer 6-3 3-6 6-3
QF Montanes 6-4 6-2
SF Verdasco 6-3 2-6 6-3
F Youzhny 6-3 6-2
Z tego co wiem to Montanesa 6-4 6-2 ogral
Racja, źle popatrzyłem. To Montanes wygrał poprzez w.o z Ferrerem. Poprawione. ;)
Wymiata. To już 6 tytuł w tym roku Szkota. W Szlemach bieda, ale te "mniejsze" turnieje to Jego prawdziwe Królestwo.
Dlaczego wynik finału z Valencji jest 6-3 5-2 ?
Misza chyba dograł finał do końca ;)
Ten puchar maryja wygląda jakby był plastikowy :D bardzo ładny za to Nole dostał za Basel. :D
Yannick napisał:
Dlaczego wynik finału z Valencji jest 6-3 5-2 ?
Misza chyba dograł finał do końca ;)
Ależ jesteście drobiazgowi. :P
Reszta jest chyba już dobrze.
Udany powrót Szkota to idealny moment, by Reed wyszedł z nory. Simon napisał, że Murray to obecnie najlepszy grajek świata i Jego zdaniem, wygra Masters Cup w Londynie. Gdzie byłeś po 4 rundzie USO, Simon ? :P
Że ktoś jeszcze zaprząta Nim sobie głowę... ;)
jaccol55 napisał:
Że ktoś jeszcze zaprząta Nim sobie głowę... ;)
Trudno tak przejść obok :P Jak kiedyś Panicz podniesie Puchar za turniej WS to wtedy będziemy mieli podwójną koronację: Reeda na dziennikarza tenisowego wszech czasów :D
Kolejny świetny artykuł pana Reeda..
Murray the best in the world
It was great to see Andy Murray make a winning comeback in Valencia and I still believe he is the best tennis player in the world, that's not to say he's going to win a Grand Slam.
To come back in Valencia and win after all that time out is amazing, but until he wins a Grand Slam you have to regard him as being on a lesser level than the likes of Federer and Nadal.
I don't think Federer is the player he was, Nadal is not the player he was. Djokovic seems to be coming back and there are others coming up, Cilic is one, but I think they are all pretty level and you can't pick a number one.
But if you press me to pick a number one, you look at who has been the most consistent outside of slams and it is Andy Murray.
He has won six times now, but for us to truly believe he needs to win a Slam; I am sure that will come.
Heading to London fresh will help him and it will help him next year for the Australian Open.
Right now if you ask me who is going to win in London I would have to say Murray. He is the favourite for me.
Federer is not playing well, for Djokovic to beat him in Basel is a great result for Djokovic and Nadal is not quite there either after all his problems.
I see Andy Murray as the favourite to win in London, but not in Australia. He has to prove he can win a Grand Slam first.
London will be a great occasion and Murray will go there being lightly raced and then on to Australia. Australia is his ideal surface and it is a great chance for him - but as I say, he needs to prove he can do it on the big occasion.
eurosport
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 911611.ece
Andy Murray says he is 'under no pressure'
They were measuring up the best players in the men’s game yesterday for the outfits — the details of which are secret — that they will be wearing when unveiled in London next week as the pride of their sport.
Andy Murray’s second experience of this elevated status comes as he contemplates a year in which he filled out as a high-class performer. Of course, nothing would give him greater pleasure than to win the eight-man Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in southeast London, starting a week on Sunday. Although he said that “there’s no pressure, no expectations”, his approach to the roundrobin match he did not have to win against Roger Federer in the equivalent finale in Shanghai last year suggests that such colourless appraisal should be treated with a pinch of salt.
The fourth-day card for the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris today renders what happened on the first three largely window dressing. Federer, Murray, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro take to the quickened floor of the Palais Omnisports to fine-tune their games with 13 days of the tour to go. There is a sense of wanting to get on with it while waiting for the year to end.
Federer and Murray are the best rested, Nadal’s eagerness requires a cork to contain it, Djokovic is characteristically on edge and Del Potro is looking to justify his breakthrough success at the US Open two months ago.
It was asked of the British No 1 whether he used any part of the six weeks he has spent resting his injured wrist to evaluate where he was with his game. The motives for the line of inquiry were entirely positive.
“From my point of view and from the guys I’ve worked with, everyone tries to find something wrong with my game or why I haven’t won a grand slam or haven’t been No 1 in the world or whatever it is that I need to do to prove I’m a great player,” Murray, who won his comeback event in Valencia on Sunday, said.
“I don’t know what that is, but I got to No 2 this year, which I think is good; I improved my results at Wimbledon and at the French Open; won more tournaments [six] than last year. It’s been a good year and I don’t feel there’s a whole lot I need to change in my game, regardless of what some people think, and I think I’m close to winning a grand slam and I’ll give it my best shot to do that next year.
“I don’t think there’s a huge amount that I need to work on. You become better the more matches you play, the physically fitter you get — I feel like I’m a lot better player now even than I was at the beginning of this year, just from playing matches, getting used to winning more and having that consistency week in, week out.
“Throughout the whole season, there’s not been one part of it that I could say, ‘That was a big letdown; I didn’t play well there; I had a couple of bad months there.’ It’s been pretty solid the whole way through, so no complaints.”
We had none. He has a minimum of four matches left to play this year — one here and three in the round-robin at the O2 — and it would not be a surprise if he stars in at least twice that number. He beat James Blake, whom he plays in the second round in Paris today, in the final of the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club in June, but knows that since teaming up with Kelly Jones, the American’s first change of coach since he was a junior, Blake has found some late-season zest.
The thought of missing out on the London gravy train is affecting players in different ways. Nikolay Davydenko, of Russia, in seventh spot, lost three games in his second-round match with Benjamin Becker, of Germany, and looks unstoppable, but Fernando Verdasco, the Spaniard in eighth, was a bundle of nerves in edging Andreas Seppi, of Italy, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.
There was a rumour last night that Andy Roddick, invalided out of the Shanghai Masters last month with a knee injury, may have to withdraw from London, but the tournament organisers insisted that the Wimbledon runner-up will definitely travel.
To sightsee? We shall see.
Andre Agassi: Andy Murray can make winning a habit
The word drogué was scrawled under Andre Agassi’s name in the walk of champions into the players’ lounge at the Palais Omnisports yesterday.
It had been wiped off within a couple of minutes, but, clearly, the man who said that his career was transformed in this city has left another mark on it that will not be so hastily expunged.
Drogué is French for a drug addict. Last night those players who numbered Agassi as an ally and idol not that long ago met here to debate how much the former world No 1’s revelations have torn at the heart of their sport. Obviously, one of their number is in a particularly unforgiving mood.
Of those pointing the men’s game towards a more wholesome, clean future, Andy Murray, fresh from winning the Valencia Open on Sunday, is prominent and has earned a telling accolade from the former champion.
The American believes that the Scot, who begins his challenge in the BNP Paribas Masters with a second-round match against James Blake tomorrow, will win a grand-slam tournament and that it will pave the way to “a multitude of them”.
Agassi said: “Murray has a selfinflicting tortured spirit about him when he’s on the court. [In] the last 18 months, he’s learnt how to use it.
“He needs to stay with it. I know he was on the verge in a couple of grand slams, with the hopes of doing it, and once he wins one, he’ll keep going. He’s proved that he’s a strong person. My advice? To keep getting better. Every day’s an opportunity to get one day better. He shouldn’t get hung up on results. Results are a by-product of your commitment and work ethic and not cutting a corner.”
It was ten years ago that Agassi completed his set of grand-slam tournaments by winning the French Open — “it gave me my career back, it gave me hope again,” he said on 60 Minutes, broadcast by CBS on Sunday evening in the United States — and followed that six months later by lifting this prestigious Masters title, for which the crème de la crème compete again this week.
The fallout from the 39-year-old’s revelation that he took crystal meth and lied to an independent doping tribunal in a successful attempt to cover up his misdemeanours is not about to go away. Agassi told 60 Minutes that he was in a fog at the time of his drug-taking, that he could not remember how many times he took the drug, “but it was way more than it should have been. There was a sadness followed by a chemically induced reconnection to life. But it was a life I did not want to be in.”
Now, with no hint of irony, Agassi is happy to applaud the stringency of the present drug-testing procedures. “This [his case] was in the pre-era of sensationalising drugs in sport and, as a result of tennis pushing itself forward to protect its integrity, we reached out to Wada [the World Anti-Doping Agency] and they’ve been a fabulous partner who’ve done a tremendous job in protecting that integrity of keeping drug cheaters out of the sport,” he said.
“They’ve tested me specifically 150 times. Our sport should be proud of how we’ve moved forward through this day and age.”
Andy Murray happy with progress despite defeat by wily Stepanek
Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent, Paris
Another £29.2 million fell into the lap of the British game yesterday and it had nothing to do with someone landing a lucky dip at the local Tesco. The enduring success of Wimbledon offered another of the windfalls that challenge the LTA, year after year, to enhance a sporting landscape that remains frustratingly fallow.
Starting on Sunday week, the staging of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in southeast London before a succession of full-house crowds will present another paradox: the country’s ability to host leading tennis events with a sure touch and yet fail to produce players of a credible international standard.
Andy Murray apart, of course. The British No 1 departed the BNP Paribas Masters here at the hands of Radek Stepanek, of the Czech Republic, in the third round yesterday in a curate’s egg of a performance, but he did not appear as crestfallen as one might imagine. London awaits, the niggles are almost out of his system, he is getting nicely grooved, there are ten more days to rest and be ready for when the O2 flag falls and every match is against the seven “best of the rest” in 2009.
Near the end of his 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Stepanek you were not sure whether Murray was lashing the ball with the intent of ending the rallies for the ultimate purpose of winning the match. That has always been this tournament’s problem — that not everyone wants to win it with similar passion. It makes it vulnerable to those intent on preying on the sport to the extent that more and more matches — it has been alleged — are being referred to its integrity unit because they involve strange patterns of play and betting.
Not that Murray is the type of player ever to get involved in anything like that, but after the first set here, who would have wagered a bundle on Stepanek? Not this correspondent. Murray breezed through with ease and the set’s final shot, a burst forward to run down a drop shot and a beautiful cross-court flick, prompted the world No 4 to turn to his corner with a look of “how about that?”
Then, a non-professional cameraman started to take photographs during points and Murray, disturbed, was 3-0 down in the second set. He was never quite in control from that moment on as Stepanek’s craftiness and judicious use of the drop shot kept bearing fruit. From 5-2 down in the final set, Murray clawed back to 5-4 but Stepanek served four first-service beauties from the five he required.
Rafael Nadal also found the going tough, breaking Tommy Robredo to stay in the match before beating his Spanish compatriot 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Though he has only just returned after six weeks spent resting his left wrist and immediately won a tournament in Valencia, Murray believes that he has played enough with the banquet in his back yard to come.
“My goal after coming back was to get in good enough shape to compete well in London and I think that has been achieved,” he said. “What I’ve done in the last couple of weeks has been absolutely perfect.”
The Scot apart, there is one male, Alex Bogdanovic (No 176), in the top 200 in singles, with two women, Katie O’Brien (No 88) and Elena Baltacha (No 89) inside the leading 100 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Success at doubles is regarded as a justification for the governing body to pat itself on the back so it should be noted that there are four men and one woman in their respective top hundreds. This has to be why a host of coaches were in Jersey this week to watch an ATP Challenger event in which no British male got beyond the second round.
All will appear rosy when the curtain goes up at the O2 and a seventh qualifier was confirmed yesterday. Despite his 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 defeat by Robin Söderling, of Sweden, Nikolay Davydenko cannot be caught by any of the four players, including Söderling, who now have a single place to play for in the last three days of this championship.
Murray has a week to prepare in peace for London wrap-up
Andy Murray will rest and train for the November 22 start of the World Tour Finals in London after going out a tired loser to Czech Radek Stepanek at the Paris Masters.
Murray admitted that his previous match finish at nearly 2 a.m. that morning did not help his preparation against the tough Czech. "It was gonna be difficult to come back and feel 100 percent. It's obviously a limited recovery after a long match.
"In the first set, I didn't feel like I played great. I won a lot of points with my serve. That was the case throughout the match. That was keeping me in the match. We got into long rallies, and I was making mistakes," said the fourth seed with six titles this season after winning Valencia at the weekend.
But the world No. 4 is more than pleased with his preparation for his final engagement of the season after winning a sixth title of 2009 in Valencia last weekend.
"I wanted to try and play as many matches as possible. I would have signed up for playing seven matches and winning six of them before, these couple of tournaments. It was just what I needed before London. I get ten days' rest to get rid of all the niggles and stiffness.
"I'll be feeling good going in there, I'm sure; a lot better than I would have been if I had gone out early both weeks."
Andy Murray given difficult draw in ATP World Tour Finals
Andy Murray has been drawn in the same group as Roger Federer, the world No 1, for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
The Briton will also face US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, in Group A at the 02 Arena in London. Group B features Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling.
Soderling initially failed to qualify for the prestigious eight-man event but was handed a place when Andy Roddick pulled out through injury. The competition runs from November 22-28.
Murray lekceważy Masters: Pamięta się szlemy
- Na koniec kariery rozlicza się z wielkich szlemów - punktuje Andy Murray przed startem kończącej sezon imprezy World Tour Finals. Na otwarcie zawodów Szkot zagra w niedzielę z Juanem Martinem Del Potro. Motywem przewodnim finałów jak zwykle będzie rywalizacja Rogera Federera i Rafaela Nadala.
Rozstawiony z trójką Szkot zagra w Mastersie po raz drugi w karierze. Przed rokiem w Szanghaju dotarł do półfinału, ulegając Nikołajowi Dawidience 5:7, 2:6.
Andy Murray podobnie jak większa część środowiska z przymrużeniem oka traktuje tę imprezę. - Po zakończeniu kariery będziesz pamiętany z wielkich szlemów - stwierdził szkocki tenisista, nawiązując do rangi World Tour Finals. - Ale wygranie takiej imprezy, gdzie w pięciu kolejnych meczach musisz pokonać pięciu rywali, to duża sprawa - dodał.
W grupie A poza Del Potro Szkot ma jeszcze Rogera Federera i Fernando Verdasco. - Federer jest najlepszy na świecie, del Potro wygrał US Open, a Verdasco ma za sobą najlepszy sezon - mówi o rywalach Andy Murray. - Żeby wygrać w Londynie, trzeba ograć Federera albo Nadala dwa razy, dlatego to bardzo ciężkie zadanie - dodaje.
Murray to faworyt brytyjskiej publiczności, ale wydarzeniem imprezy będzie rywalizacja pierwszego na światowych listach Rogera Federera z Rafaelem Nadalem, który na to miejsce znów ma chrapkę. Nadal kryzys ma za sobą, a zwycięstwem w Londynie mógłby strącić Federera z piedestału. Na początek ma do rozegrania w grupie B mecze z Robinem Soederlingiem, Novakiem Djokoviciem i Nikołajem Dawidienką.
- Na koniec kariery rozlicza się z wielkich szlemów - punktuje Andy Murray przed startem kończącej sezon imprezy World Tour Finals.
To akurat jest oczywiste. Przez ostatnie lata miliony razy przewijał się rekord Samprasa, a o wyczynie Connorsa słyszymy tylko przy okazji tematów statystycznych ;)
Andy Murray faces tough path to success in ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 922339.ece
Murray Ready To Take Giant Stride
With an ATP World Tour-best six titles this year, British favourite Andy Murray has taken a big step forward over the past 12 months but how big the next stride becomes remains to be seen.
It's been a strange year for Andy Murray. As he prepares for his second appearance in a year-end final at the newly styled Barclays ATP World Finals at London's O2 arena, the young Scot will know that his performance amongst the world's elite will determine whether his year will end up being one of minor frustration or major celebration.
A title winning performance in London will, of course, confirm everything his admirers have been saying for so long – namely that he is a multi-Grand Slam winner in the making.
But anything less will provide more ammunition than is reasonable from critics who were on his back almost as soon as he stepped onto the pro circuit. It began after he was struck by cramps during his first ever appearance on Wimbledon's Centre Court against David Nalbandian in 2005. Preferring to concentrate on his apparent physical frailty rather than applaud the way he had outplayed the former Wimbledon finalist for two sets, his detractors suggested his was unfit and lazy.
Quick fast forward to the US Open last year when, after more than two hours of hard-fought tennis in suffocating heat, it was the match-hardened Jurgen Melzer who needed treatment for cramps while Murray wandered around impatiently twiddling his racket.
MurrayHours of rigorous work in the gym and on the court with his team headed by Miles Maclagan and his fitness trainer Jez Green had taken care of the physical problems, which were nothing more than growing pains. And any suggestions of laziness have been wiped away amidst the sweat and hard labour of those off-season training sessions in Miami.
But the impatience amongst his critics is still evident. After winning ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles [at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters] in Cincinnati and [the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open in] Madrid last year, 2009 was ear-marked as the year for Murray to land his first Grand Slam. As we know, it hasn't happened, although two more ATP World Tour Masters 1000 victories [at the Sony Ericsson Open] in Miami and [the Rogers Cup in] Montreal offered proof of further improvement. However, no one needs to remind Murray that the road to the top is not getting any easier with the huge improvement evident in Juan Martin del Potro's game and the way Novak Djokovic has re-discovered his form and confidence.
But let's put a time line on this and see where Murray stands when compared to the best, i.e. Roger Federer. The Swiss did not win his first Grand Slam championship until the age of 22 years and 11 months. Should Murray win the Australian Open in January, he will still only be 22 years and eight months. Of course there have been many younger first time Grand Slam winners than Federer with the 17-year-old Boris Becker at Wimbledon and another 17 year old, Michael Chang, at Roland Garros coming to mind.
But neither of them can rival Federer's record. The argument here is not that Murray will go on to emulate everything Roger has achieved but simply that Andy is not behind schedule in attempting to do so. Everyone develops at their own pace and, to take Chang as an example, winning at a very early age does not guarantee a career laden with Grand Slam titles. After Roland Garros, Chang never won another one.
So the impatience is something that Murray finds slightly irksome although, such is his growing maturity, he does not make much of it. Only when pushed in conversations with reporters he knows does he let his feelings show.
"Those people who are still asking questions about my game – I'm not sure how to answer them," he says. "What is it I need to do to prove that I can become a great player? I don't know what that is. In my view, it's been a good year. I improved my previous best in three of the Slams; I won six tournaments; I got my ranking up to No. 2 [in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings]. And, generally, I feel I am playing a lot better now than I ever did. I was searching for consistency last year and now I feel I have that. I don't feel that there have been any weeks where I felt my performance was a big let down."
MurrayCertainly his return to the circuit after a six-week lay-off to allow a wrist injury to heal was impressive. He won the Valencia Open 500 to claim his sixth ATP title of the year – more than anyone on the tour. Losing in three sets to Radek Stepanek on a tiny No. 2 court at the Bercy Palais Omnisports in the BNP Paribas Masters was certainly not a great way to end the regular season but there were mitigating circumstances. It was 1:45 a.m. by the time he had battled his way past James Blake in the early hours of Thursday morning and he did not get to sleep until 4:00 a.m. By six o'clock the following evening he had to be back on court. Surprisingly he cruised through the first set 6-1 but the obdurate Czech clawed his way back to grab an unlikely victory.
"It's difficult to come back after finishing so late and feel 100 per cent," Murray admitted. "You know, it's obviously limited recovery after a long match. But you still come out and try to give it your best shot. [It] wasn't good enough."
Interestingly, the tournament director, Jean-Francois Caujolle, a former Davis Cup player who knows what players go through, admitted later that the scheduling had been unfair to Murray. "Sincerely, I believe he would not have lost that match if he had played on Court Central and if he could have finished earlier on Wednesday," said Caujolle. "I believe Murray was the victim of our scheduling problems. Having said that, he was extremely decent and said nothing to us about it. He just said the other player was better than he was."
Again, his critics, who were quick to fault him for those on-court outbursts during his days with Brad Gilbert, might find it hard to believe that, behind the scenes, Murray acts with such professionalism. It is simply in his nature to do so. He is an intelligent young man who knows where is going and, increasingly, is realising what it takes to get there. His year has been a big step forward.
Removing the Stepanek defeat from his mind was the first thing to do and he was immediately putting a positive spin on it. "After the wrist injury I would have signed up for playing seven matches and winning six of them," he said. "That is just the kind of preparation I needed for London. Now I have 10 days to get rid of all the niggles and stiffness."
Prior to his appearance in Valencia, his actual practise sessions at The Queen's Club had not been as restricted as would normally be the case with an injured player - as the injury was to the left wrist. "So it was only the two-handed backhand that I had not been able to hit," he explained. "It gave me the chance to practise some one-handed sliced backhands and even hit a few more volleys, too!"
MurrayBack in London these past few days, everything has been progressing as Murray would have wished. "They have laid two court at Queen's which, hopefully, will be identical to the one we will be playing on at The 02 so that has been great," he told me after descending from the London Eye, where he had been ensconced in a pod with ATP Executive Chairman & President Adam Helfant and a camera crew while he helped make the draw for the round robin stages of the Barclays ATP World Finals.
"That was an interesting experience," he said with a hint of his dry Scottish humour.
"We might have picked a less windy day. It was blowing a gale up there but we seemed to survive."
With that he picked up his racquet bag in the lobby of the opulent County Hall Marriott, which sits across the River Thames from Big Ben, and headed off for another practise sesion at The Queen's Club. All familiar territory for this young man who has taken a significant step forward with his career this year. How big the next stride becomes remains to be seen.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … urray.aspx
Andrew w magazynie DEUCE.
Andy Murray serves up song debut
Andy Murray is to make his debut in the music charts after becoming an unlikely rapper on a new record.
The Dunblane-born tennis star has recorded a segment for Autograph by Bob and Mike Bryan, the American Grand Slam-winning doubles players, which is just out on iTunes.
However, the 22-year-old’s vocal efforts got a cool reception from people in the music industry, who rate the song’s chances of becoming a hit as high as the odds of US rapper Jay-Z winning Wimbledon.
The music-loving Bryan brothers convinced Murray and Novak Djokovic to lend their “talents” to the song during this year’s US Open.
The track is about the attention famous sportsmen receive from autograph hunters.
Murray, in his distinctive Scottish monotone voice, raps the lines: “During Wimbledon it really gets crazy. My hand cramps up and my mind gets hazy. I sign and sign but the line doesn’t end. Wake me up tomorrow and let’s do it again. Autograph.”
Ronnie Gurr, the Edinburgh-based music industry manager who has worked with Stereophonics and Culture Club, said: “Murray spectacularly fails to grasp the concept that rapping must have a rhythmic dynamic. What this amounts to is nothing more than reading aloud a bad lyric about the plight of celebrities being asked to sign their names for adoring fans. Never has the maxim, never give up your day job, been more apt.”
Despite his musical faux pas, Murray has revealed that he has learned to avoid gaffes with the media by becoming as boring as his friend Tim Henman, who he said had avoided bad publicity by being dull.
“Throughout Tim’s career people said he was boring but he was being sensible,” said Murray. “I had to absorb the lesson that talking to guys from the media wasn’t like talking to my friends, that there could be problems with speaking too freely, without holding anything back. It’s so much less hassle to answer things in a straightforward way.”
In the updated version of his autobiography, published earlier this month, Murray said that he had learnt to become media-savvy.
“I’m much more composed now about my media responsibilities,” he explains. “If I feel people are being rude to me I won’t talk to them but in the day-to-day operation of player-media relations I’m willing to take part. But I’m careful, like Tim, so don’t expect me to be controversial.”
Murray attracted notoriety early in his career for a number of unguarded comments.
In 2006, he was booed by spectators at the Heineken Open in Auckland after saying he and his opponent had “played like women” following a poor performance.
Later that year he became a hate figure among some English supporters during the World Cup when he said would be supporting “whoever England are playing against” after being teased about Scotland’s absence from the tournament.
In 2007 he again landed himself in hot water when he told a BBC reporter investigating match-fixing in tennis that “everyone knows it goes on”.
Murray later said that he had been quoted out of context and that he was referring to the fact that it was well known that players were offered money to throw matches. The dispute led to him briefly refusing to do any interviews with the BBC.
Despite reaching four Wimbledon semi-finals, Henman attracted criticism for his lack of charisma. Critics said the former British No 1 showed little emotion on or off court and he was often described as the most boring man in the game.
“I was smart enough to know that there was a right answer and there was an honest answer, and I was probably guilty, if that’s the right word, of giving the right answer,” he said in a recent interview.
“That was my defence mechanism. That was me trying to deflect attention. Then you are called a boring t***, but it was never a popularity contest.”
Murray recently engaged the services of 19 Management, whose clients also include David and Victoria Beckham. Before he signed up, Murray told Simon Fuller, the head of the company, that he was not interested in celebrity but wanted to be appreciated as a tennis player.
He is competing in the ATP World Tour Finals at London’s 02 Arena this week. Murray plays his opening match today against the US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the end-of-season tournament involving the world’s top-eight players.
Panicz raperem :D :D :D
Tennis star Murray records a rap
The Scot star agreed to add his vocal talents to a song by former Wimbledon doubles champs Bob and Mike Bryan.
But his first venture into music is unlikely to be a smash after industry buffs branded it a right racket, The Sun reports.
Collaborators ... Bob and Mike BryanBob and Mike convinced Murray, of Dunblane, Perthshire, and fellow star Novak Djokovic to lend their voices to the song - released on album Let It Rip, only available on iTunes.
But Edinburgh-based music industry boss Ronnie Gurr - who has worked with top bands like Stereophonics and Culture Club - said: "Murray spectacularly fails to grasp the concept that rapping must have a rhythmic dynamic.
Udało się nawet dotrzeć do próbki możliwości panów, nie wiedziałem tylko, że znają polski :zdziwiony: ; ponoć utwór dedykowany Andre Agassiemu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE2rNlY0X6I
Konferencja prasowa Murray'a po meczu z Federerem:
Andy Murray presser Nov. 24, 2009
Read Andy Murray press conference transcript after his round robin loss to Roger Federer.
Q. Was the first serve the big problem for you tonight?
ANDY Murray: Yeah, serve in general. You know, it was a great effort to win a set serving like that. The first serve went in, I obviously won a lot of free points. It was probably the most double‑faults I served in a match maybe this year. You know, so, yeah, didn't serve well.
And if you, you know, miss, I don't know, I guess it was probably around 35%, 40% first serves against Roger then, you know, it's easy to dictate points and dictate play. Whereas, you know, in the first set, at least when I was behind in games, I was coming up with big serves, being able to dictate, you know, the points. But, you know, after that I served pants.
Q. What was the exchange you had with the umpire around 5‑2 in the second set?
ANDY Murray: I just asked him not to stop me, you know, before I served. That was it.
Q. Asked him?
ANDY Murray: Asked him to, you know, like, probably about 50% of the time when you play in front of big crowds, there's always a little bit of noise just before you step up to serve. If the players are ready to serve, and the players want to serve, then, you know, they normally go ahead and serve. And then it's quiet by the time the return's in play. You know, just like four or five service games in a row, he stopped me.
I just asked him if he could just let me serve. That was it. Nothing stressful.
Q. How do you read your situation now qualification‑wise for the weekend?
ANDY Murray: I just win against Verdasco. I think that's pretty much what I have to do. If I win in straight sets, then I think, well, a great chance that I go through.
Q. This is a low‑bouncing court. Does that suit you? You were making more errors than you usually do at the end.
ANDY Murray: No, I didn't play well. It happens sometimes. I didn't play well and I made mistakes. You know, like I say, it's difficult against him, if you miss so many first serves, then, you know, you put yourself under a lot of pressure. Maybe I made more mistakes than normal, but, you know, I just didn't play well.
Q. Your thoughts on your next match? You have a decent record against him, haven't you?
ANDY Murray: Yeah, I mean, against all the guys in the group I've got a good record. If I play well, a good chance I win. If I don't, then there's a good chance I lose.
So try and play better than I did this evening. You know, rest up and hopefully feel good.
Q. Was that one of the best Roger's played against you, last couple sets?
ANDY Murray: No. I mean, I don't know. It's difficult. I mean, you know, the US Open final, I thought he played very, very well. But, you know, tonight, you know, I just didn't feel like I played well. So it's difficult.
Not been off the court that long. But if you give someone opportunity to dictate, you know, not only on his own service games, but on yours, it's very difficult to win. I served so poorly that, you know, anyone would have looked good against me tonight because you get a chance pretty much every single point.
In the first set, when he was missing first serves, I was dominating all the points on his second serve. That's what happened in the second and third sets, because I served badly.
Q. Were you aware of the crowd out there tonight? Did the atmosphere feel different to your first‑round match?
ANDY Murray: Yeah, I thought the atmosphere was great. You know, obviously to play in front of a crowd like that's awesome. You know, I think you can't really see the crowd. I think it was pretty much packed. But, no, you know, get a good adrenaline rush when you were out there.
Q. Were you surprised how even‑handed they were?
ANDY Murray: No, not really. I mean, you know, obviously Roger's record at Wimbledon, what he's done in tennis, you know, he deserves support everywhere he goes.
Q. How much do you think your lack of matches affected the way you played today, the six‑week layoff?
ANDY Murray: I mean, the one thing that's been a problem for me since I came back was, you know, I played, you know, well‑ish first set of the matches. Then when the adrenaline wears off, I don't know, there's not quite the same spark, you know, in the legs that there was at the start of the year.
I've had letdowns in a lot of matches. I've let guys back in the match straightaway, early in the second set. And that's something that I was doing really, really well, you know, when I was playing a lot, you know, at the beginning of the year. When I was getting ahead, I was not giving guys chances to come back into the matches. That's something that, you know, these last few tournaments of the years I've not done so well.
Q. Now the match with Verdasco becomes more important. This is the round robin. Last year you won the three matches. It's not a defeat like in another kind of tournament.
ANDY Murray: No. The only important thing is to try and qualify from the group. Whether you win one match, three matches, two matches. Last year I won three, lost in the semis. This year I could potentially lose two matches and win the tournament.
So you just never know. I mean, the match against Verdasco, obviously I'll try and win. You know, if I do that, good chance I go through.
Q. This is a new venue for the ATP World Finals. Do you hope it gets a new audience for tennis in Britain?
ANDY Murray: Yeah, well, I hope so. I mean, the more people watching, you know, playing tennis, I guess enjoying tennis, the better. You know, I know just from speaking to friends, you know, people that I meet that, you know, they tend to start playing a lot, you know, during the summer, during the Wimbledon time, and then after that, you know, it can be sort of 10, 11 months before they start playing again.
Hopefully with a competition like this, you know, maybe you can try and get one at the start of the year as well. It just makes it a little bit easier for people to sort of keep in contact with the sport.
Q. Did you have a back injury of some description?
ANDY Murray: No. My back's been fine. I had a problem with my groin for, I don't know, three, four weeks since I started playing again. It's just a bit sore. But I'm pretty sure all of the players have got something a little bit stiff or sore. You know, obviously at this stage of the season.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-spor … -21848342/
Andy Murray effect gets 200,000 playing tennis and adds £400million to economy
No wonder Gordon Brown invited Andy Murray to 10 Downing Street for a cup of tea earlier this year.
Murray's success has helped to turn tennis into an industry worth £400million to the British economy in 2009 alone, according to research out today.
The Barclays Net Gains report, which measures the social and financial impact of tennis in Britain, believes Murray's rise to world No.4 has encouraged more than 200,000 people to take up the sport this year.
This is a powerful antidote to the latest revelation from the shopfloor of British tennis, where it emerged yesterday that two of our brightest young prospects had been sent home in disgrace from a Spanish training camp.
Murray's six titles this year and the advent of the ATP Tour Finals at the O2 arena for the next five years have helped tennis close the gap on golf as the third-biggest earner in British sport behind football and racing.
Liverpool University professor Tom Cannon said: "We estimate that a combination of the 'Murray Effect', the Barclays ATP World Tour finals, the redevelopments at Wimbledon and the impact of stars like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who transcend sport, could add £400m to the economy.
"That's a huge impact, given the recession, but a sport which has traditionally peaked during a fortnight in summer - and is then largely forgotten until the following year - is now a yearround attraction.
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"In effect, tennis now has two of the biggest individual events in the UK until the Olympics come to London in 2012. Wimbledon and the ATP Tour Finals will together attract more than 750,000 fans each year.
"Individually, they are bigger than any football match, Test or rugby international and as the highestranked British player ever, Murray has all the elements to boost British tennis."
Where the value of tennis to Britain's economy was once measured in punnets of strawberries or jugs of Pimms, Professor Cannon says the Murray Effect alone can be estimated in the region of £145m.
Increased sales of tennis kit, increased club membership and court bookings, advertising and sponsorship are all on the rise thanks to His Andyship. At £10 a programme and £3.50 for a bag of sweets, the tills have been groaning under the weight of London's disposable income - but it remains to be seen whether any of the generation following Murray will ever enjoy the benefits of this boom.
Teenagers Jack Carpenter and George Morgan, two of our likeliest lads, had their collars felt by police called to a disturbance at the block of flats where they were staying in Barcelona.
They were ordered to apologise to neighbours after allegations that apple cores were being thrown from a balcony.
The Lawn Tennis Association has banned Carpenter and Morgan from attending a tournament in Mexico ahead of the Orange Bowl - widely regarded as the junior world championships - in Florida.
It is a major embarrassment for the LTA, which pumps £29m-a-year into British tennis and expects more for that return than mollycoddled young under-achievers behaving badly.
Andy Murray out of ATP World Tour Finals despite win over Fernando Verdasco
To scenes of utter chaos last night, Juan Martín del Potro qualified for the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals by virtue of a single-game advantage over Andy Murray, only to be told during his on-court interview that the officials were not sure he had made it.
Talk about killing a guy’s big moment. He looked suicidal. The next minute, he was through again and started to play tennis with Carlos Tévez, the Argentina footballer. So ended another extraordinary day.
Somewhere in London, Murray learnt that he had suffered the unkindest cut of all because Roger Federer could not force himself to win one more game in his final round-robin match. At 11.15 pm, a quarter of an hour after the match ended, Murray sent a message on his Twitter page: “Anyone know what’s going on? I think I’m audi [sic] but the rules aren’t worded too well.”Federer, Del Potro and Murray all finished with 2-1 match records and 5-4 in sets, so it came down to the percentage of games won. Del Potro’s score was 45-43; Murray 44-43.So the tournament is deprived of British interest with three days to go.
For most of yesterday, small groups gathered around pieces of paper with lots of numbers and tables on them, wearing the puzzled looks of people trying to fathom a tax return. The round robin is just as complex, though you do not get a visit from the Inland Revenue if you cannot work it out. But late last night, when clarity was needed from the sport to determine what was happening at a championship paying more than $5million in prize money, the place was in a state of moribund confusion.
Had Murray defeated Fernando Verdasco in straight sets in the afternoon, observers would have been spared this mental anguish but, as is his wont, a mid-match lapse was designed to set the entire nation’s teeth on edge.
Before, during and after his 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 victory, the rules were being rewritten every few minutes, to the extent that at 3pm, it was suggested that a Federer loss to the Argentinian in straight sets would guarantee that the Swiss qualified for another semi-final; but if he was beaten in three, the outcome would be determined between the number of games won by the three left in.
That had changed by 5pm, to the extent that, mid-match, Murray sought clarification from Gerry Armstrong, the referee. “I didn’t know if it [qualifying] was the amount of games won, or the percentage, so that’s what I asked him,” Murray said.The minimum required by Murray was victory and he kept his end of the bargain. He discovered later that had he won the final set 6-4 rather than 7-6, he would have qualified, not Del Potro. At the outset of the evening match, Del Potro had picked up against Federer where he left off in the US Open final in September, breaking the first serve and repeating the dose in the fifth game when Federer double-faulted it away.
A flukey net cord deprived Del Potro of a break in the first game of the second set, which moved inexorably to a tie-break in which he led 5-4, with two serves to come. Federer’s season was over, surely, but a blocked backhand return on the first of those points caused Del Potro to fumble a backhand — and did the same on the next. A forehand volley winner on the next point and Federer’s reaction was salmon-like.
A new set of calculations began. There were two games between Del Potro and Murray heading into the final set, so Del Potro winning by three would be enough. Lo and behold, having survived three break points in the seventh game, the third with a 112mph second serve, Del Potro pounced — or should one say Federer floundered? Did he know what the situation was? A couple of relatively weak backhand returns went unpunished, he served a double and flashed a backhand cross-court wide. Del Potro’s nerve held, with assurance.
The crux of the defining tie-break in Murray’s match came when Verdasco, trailing 3-2 with two serves to come, double-faulted on the first, missed a first serve on the second and was always struggling in the rally that he then sacrificed, attempting to play a forehand volley down by his bootstraps.
It might have been a lot easier, crucially in Murray’s case, for Verdasco saved 12 of 13 break points — which led to a debate about whether the Briton played poorly on the kind of points where he so often excels, or that the Spaniard produced his best with his back to the wall. On this day of unparalleled confusion, we did not really want to go there.
The percentage game
This is the ATP ruling to calculate the final group standings in the event of a tie
•Greatest number of wins
•Greatest number of matches played
•Head-to-head results if only two players are tied
•If three players are tied, then the player advancing to the single elimination competition is the one with the highest percentage of sets won; or the highest percentage of games won
•If the above produces one superior player (first place), or one inferior player (third place), and the two remaining players are tied, the tie between those two players shall be broken by head-to-head record
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 936719.ece
Andy Murray i Kim Sears rozstali się po 4 latach związku. Kim Sears nie była obecna w boksie Szkota podczas turnieju WTF w Londynie.
Także dziewczyny, Panicz znowu jest wolny!
Szkoda, bo Kim była upiekszeniem meczów Panicza
Murray stracił dziewczynę przez... konsolę
Obsesyjna gra na konsoli do gier pierwszej rakiety Wielkiej Brytanii, Andy'ego Murray'a, była główna przyczyną rozpadu jego związku z Kim Sears - tak twierdzą przyjaciele byłej już pary.
21-letnia Sears nie mogła znieść, że jej ukochany większość czasu wolnego spędza przed telewizorem grając w gry na konsoli Playstation 3 (najczęściej w Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 oraz wirtualny tenis).
- Andy siedział przyklejony do konsoli kilka godzin dziennie - wyjawia anonimowe źródło gazety "The Sun". - Kim postanowiła odejść. Oczekiwała od Andy'ego dużo więcej zaangażowaniu w związek. Było kilka przyczyn ich rozstania, a gry video to jedne z głównych - dodał przyjaciel pary.
Sears wyprowadziła się już z posiadłości Murray'a i wróciła do domu rodziców w Sussex. Była partnerka 22-letniego zawodnika nie jest jedyną osobą z otoczenia Szkota, której przeszkadzało zamiłowanie Murray'a do gier wideo. Wcześniej skarżył się na nie były trener tenisisty Brad Gilbert.
No to teraz wreszcie wiemy, gdzie Maryś wygrywa te wszystkie Szlemy których jest etatowym faworytem - na Playstation 3. :D
hahaha
Bardzo dobrze ta decyzja świadczy o Kim - szacun :good:
Robertinho napisał:
No to teraz wreszcie wiemy, gdzie Maryś wygrywa te wszystkie Szlemy których jest etatowym faworytem - na Playstation 3. :D
:D
Ciekawe jakie miał staty w Top Spinie 2.
Ale frajer :hahaha: dobrze Kim zrobiła
Więcej w The Sun (dla mniej ogarniętych, brytyjskim fakcie). Macie się czym podniecać.
COA napisał:
Więcej w The Sun (dla mniej ogarniętych, brytyjskim fakcie). Macie się czym podniecać.
100/100
Po drugie, to nie nasza sprawa.
Po trzecie, komentowanie czyjegoś życia osobistego, zwłaszcza na podstawie doniesień brukowców to ............ .
Rozumiem, że ta wrażliwość nie dotyczy życia osobistego rodziny Nadalów, zwłaszcza kiedy ma ono rzekomy wpływ na formę tenisową jednego z jej członków. Jak któryś gracz zmienia partnerkę życiową, mamy o tym nie pisać? Przecież to może mieć zasadniczy wpływ na jego formę! Jak Murray gdzieś przegra, już widzę dywagacje poważnych dziennikarzy i fanów Panicza, czy to wina traumy po rozstaniu z dziewczyną. :D
Spoko, do rozpoczecia sezonu juz bedzie glosno o nowej dziewczynie Murraya ;)
Robertinho napisał:
Rozumiem, że ta wrażliwość nie dotyczy życia osobistego rodziny Nadalów, zwłaszcza kiedy ma ono rzekomy wpływ na formę tenisową jednego z jej członków. Jak któryś gracz zmienia partnerkę życiową, mamy o tym nie pisać? Przecież to może mieć zasadniczy wpływ na jego formę! Jak Murray gdzieś przegra, już widze dywagacje poważnych dziennikarzy i fanów Panicza, czy to wina trumy po rozstaniu z dziewczyną. :D
To, że mamy inną wrażliwość to pewne. :P
Stwierdzenie faktu ( rozwód rodziców Nadala), różni się od komentarza typu "frajer", lub "dobrze zrobiła" i tego dotyczyła moja uwaga.
No poza stwierdzeniem faktu są też wnioski własne. :P Ja tam zresztą koncetruje się ściśle na wątku konsolowym, perypetie sercowe Szkota są dla mnie obojętne, więc w sumie chyba nie do mnie się zracałaś :P ; ale że tak lubię z Tobą polemizować, a ostatnio niestety nie było żadnej okazji, po prostu nie mogłem się powstrzymać przed odpowiedzią. :D
Murray cancels Christmas in pursuit of first Slam
GLASGOW (AFP) - Tennis star Andy Murray will train on Christmas Day as he tries to make sure 2010 is the year when he wins his first grand slam title.
Not since Fred Perry won the last of his eight slams in 1936 has a British man triumphed at one of tennis's four premier events - the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Murray 22, reached this year's Wimbledon semi-finals and became the first Briton to win the grass court slam warm-up event at London's Queen's Club since 1938.
The Scot also spent several weeks at number two in the world rankings and he believes he's still to reach his peak.
"I always felt I could start playing my best tennis between 23 and 26 so I'm hoping next year is going to be a good year," Murray said at a sponsor's event here on Thursday.
"I got to number two in the world this year, which is the highest I've ever been in the rankings.
"I won more tournaments than I did last year and my consistency was way better.
"The difference in the rankings is winning a grand slam, which is easier said than done, but I think I've got a chance of doing it next year.
"Within tennis, it's important for me to do it. But there are a lot more things for me to worry about than just a grand slam.
"I'm going to work as hard as I can and dedicate as much of my time to it as possible. If it happens, it happens.
"If it doesn't, I'll feel like I'm giving it my best shot by working as hard as I can. If I'm good enough to win one, then I'll do it. If not, I won't. But I'm going to try my best."
Part of that process involves training with coach Miles Maclagan on Christmas Day.
"I'll obviously try to do better next year and that's one of the reasons why I'm spending Christmas over in the States and going over to Australia; it's to make sure I'm in the best shape possible going into the grand slams.
"I'm only going to be with my coach on Christmas Day and he's a little bit of a Scrooge so I'm not sure I'll be getting too many presents!"
Sezon 2009 w liczbach
Ranking: 4
Tytuły: 6 (Doha, Rotterdam, Miami, Queens, Montreal, Valencia)
Finały: 1 ( Indian Wells)
Bilans spotkań: 66-11
Zarobki: $4,021,057
AO - 4 Runda
RG - 1/4 finału
WM - 1/2 finału
US - 4 Runda
Murray wierzy w sukcesy w 2010 roku
Czwarta rakieta świata, Szkot Andy Murray uznał zakończony niedawno sezon za udany i ma nadzieje, że w 2010 roku również zdobędzie kilka cennych trofeów.
22-letni zawodnik został pierwszym Brytyjczykiem, który triumfował w turnieju rozgrywanym na kortach Queens Clubu od czasu zwycięstwa Henry'ego Austina (1938 rok - przyp. ASInfo). Wygrał dwie imprezy rangi Masters - w Miami i Montrealu. Dotarł także do półfinału Wimbledonu i wciąż ma nadzieje, że najlepszy czas dopiero przed nim.
- Zawsze uważałem, że mój najlepszy tenis przyjdzie między 23. a 26. rokiem życia. Dlatego też myślę, że przyszły rok będzie bardzo udany - stwierdził Murray.
W 2009 roku najlepszy tenisista Wielkiej Brytanii był już na drugim miejscu w rankingu ATP, ale sezon zakończył na miejscu czwartym. W nadchodzącym sezonie będzie chciał poprawić tą lokatę, a ułatwić ma to zdobycie tytułu wielkoszlemowego.
- Prawdziwą różnicę w rankingu robi wygranie Wielkiego Szlema. Z takim tytułem na koncie awans jest łatwiejszy i dlatego zamierzam zwyciężyć w którymś z turniejów wielkoszlemowych. Będę pracował na to z całych sił - wyjaśnił Szkot.
Pierwszym tytułem wilkoszlemowym do zdobycia w 2010 roku będzie Australian Open. Częścią przygotowań Murraya do tej imprezy będzie występ w Pucharze Hofmana, gdzie zagra w parze z Laurą Robson.
- Myślę, że będzie to dobra zabawa, ale jednocześnie bardzo dobre przygotowanie do występów w Australii. Postaramy się o dobry wynik w tych rozgrywkach. Święta spędzę w Stanach i zaraz po nich wyjeżdżam do Australii. Chcę być w jak najlepszej formie, aby z powodzeniem walczyć o Wielkie Szlemy - zakończył Murray.
Maryś pykał sobie w nóżkę :)
a w przeciwnej drużynie widzę sam Tim Henman :)
Henman i Murray postanowili rozstrzygnąć który jest najlepszy z Brytyjczyków na trawie. :D
Bohaterowie sezonu: Andy Murray
Andy Murray wchodzi na szczyt tenisowego świata. Najpierw był finał US Open, a w roku 2009 pozycja wicelidera rankingu i miano zwycięzcy największej liczby turniejów wysokiego szczebla.
Jeżeli to był najlepszy sezon w jego karierze, to sam odczuł tę wyjątkowość przede wszystkim w czerwcu. W Wimbledonie lokalna gawiedź czeka na swojego mistrza od 1936 roku, a na finalistę ledwie dwa lata krócej. Tim Henman nie podołał oczekiwaniom, no to jest Murray.
Londyńskie dzienniki zdobiły pierwszą stronę obliczem swojej rakiety numer jeden (jest nią od grubo ponad trzech lat), wciąż nakręcając i tak wyjątkową atmosferę. Paryska L'Équipe prowadziła w czasie Wimbledonu rubrykę Murraymania. sam Andy padał z wysiłku, gdy jego mecze wyznaczano na wieczór, a deszcz sprawił, że trzeba było grać w straszliwym zaduchu pod dachem kortu centralnego.
Półfinał Wielkiego Szlema na obiekcie klubu All England i tak jest wynikiem
historycznym dla przedstawiciela gospodarzy. Murray (paradował w koszulce z napisem Perry, który był ostatnim brytyjskim mistrzem Wimbledonu) pewnie kiedyś wygra najstarszy turniej świata
, bo widząc jego rozwój, trudno nie zgodzić się z tym, że jest predestynowany do największych sukcesów.
Młodszy o rok Juan del Potro już ma koncie
triumf w US Open, a równolatek Novak Đoković - w Melbourne. Murray ma przy sobie sztab ludzi (pod kierownictwem Milesa Maclagana i z Àlexem Corretją jako doradcą), którzy mają zadbać właśnie o to, co się tak naprawdę w poważnym tenisie liczy: tytuł w Wielkim Szlemie.
W minionym sezonie 22-letni Szkot dołożył do kolekcji dwa zwycięstwa w imprezach serii mistrzowskiej: w Miami i Montrealu. Uczynił serwis jeszcze groźniejszą bronią, pokonał Rafaela Nadala i dwukrotnie Rogera Federera. Sam czuje, że w końcu doczekał się w grze
stabilizacji, o czym nie może powiedzieć w kwestii osobistej - zostawiła go mająca dość jego zabawy
z PlayStation dziewczyna.
W ojczyźnie wciąż pytają go co musi zrobić, by zostać naprawdę wielkim zawodnikiem. Bo myśląc Murray, trudno skojarzyć go z jednym konkretnym wynikiem. Jest regularny, ale bez spektakularnego sukcesu nie okrywa się sławą nazwiska, nie zostaje się numerem jeden. Mistrzowie nie dają się wyeliminować z Masters (znowu Londyn), pobici przez matematyczne kruczki w regulaminie.
Brytyjski tenis męski to dziś tylko Murray. Lider zrobił swoje w meczu barażowym o utrzymanie w pierwszej lidze Pucharu Davisa. Jego koledzy (sam został zaangażowany do gry podwójnej) nie dali jednak w Liverpoolu rady Polakom i ojczyzna białego sportu została zdegradowana. W przyszłym sezonie zagra w grupie z Macedonią, Monako i Egiptem.
Andy tymczasem rozpoczyna kolejną próbę sięgnięcia po triumf w Wielkim Szlemie. Borisowi Beckerowi udało się za czwartym podejściem, Nadalowi za szóstym, a Pete'owi Samprasowi za ósmym. Federer wygrał dopiero w swoim siedemnastym występie. Do tej samej liczby Murray dobije w najbliższym Australian Open.
Murray's new Ferrari comes with $160,000 insurance bill
Andy Murray's early Christmas present to himself of a used one-owner red Ferrari F430 may end up costing much more than its $160,000 pricetag when the 22-year-old multi-millionaire goes to get the beast insured.
British tabloid media showed the world No. 4 with his newest toy but inquired with motoring experts as exactly how much of a bargain the insurance will costs.
Best guesses say that annual insurance for an unmarried 22-year-old driving one of the fastest cars on the planet would easily cost the entire purchase price - per annum.
Statistically Murray, who only earned his driving licence at mid-year, fulfills almost every category for high-risk young drivers. And it doesn't help being celebrity in case of a prang, with any victim sure to try and milk that aspect for a bigger insurance payout.
Murray bought the Ferrari only weeks after splitting with long-time girlfriend Kim Sears, daughter of a tennis coach.
Też bym chciał mieć takie cudo jak Murray :P
Ale wieśniak :P
Panna go rzuciła ale Ferrari ma :D
Nie chciałbym być złośliwy, ale to idealne cacko na podróż samochodową z Perth do Melbourne :D
Wystarczy popatrzeć i widać że to ulepszony model Trabanta :D :D :D
http://www.andymurray.com/news/article/895
Raport z treningów Panicza w Miami.
Murray has huge task trying to match home hero Henman
Murray has huge task trying to match home hero Henman Andy Murray has the perfect chance to start polishing his reputation for the British public when he partners junior Wimbledon winner Laura Robson at the Hopman Cup starting at the weekend.
Despite achieving a No. 4 ranking, Scotland's Murray has yet to earn the sporting love of home fans, with supporters lukewarm at best.
With Britain playing at the eight-nation Hopman event in Perth, Western Australia, for the first time in decades, Murray might be able to lift this image with a week of good performances at the
men's and women's mixed event.
All during his career, the 22-year-old Murray has been trying to replace former hero Tim Henman in public admiration. But there is a major cultural difference between the young gruff Scot and the
Oxford-born blueblood Henman, whose family tennis pedigree goes back two generations.
But Henman, now retired, is a strong defender of Murray, saying that his failure to get on with the country's tabloid media is no shortcoming. "No wonder he has put the barriers up," Henman told
Scottish media. "The press want more of your personality. They can be a distraction, and I didn't want any distractions.
Henman, now a BBC commentator, admits he ignored the press as much as possible during his career, an option not really open to Murray with Britain still looking for a Wimbledon men's champion three-quarters of a century after Fred Perry last did it.
Henman called media attention - especially during Wimbledon - "just an absolute circus."
"When I was the center of attention, I never read the newspapers, I wouldn't listen to the commentators. Some of the stuff you read inthe papers is rubbish, just off the charts. It's mind-boggling."
Tennis star Murray believes his time has come
AFP - Scotland's Andy Murray believes he enters 2010 primed to make the quantum leap from contender to champion and finally end Britain's 74-year drought in Grand Slam singles tennis.
The world No.4 has fine-tuned his schedule and preparation to give himself every chance of success in the Grand Slams, starting with the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old has controversially opted out of Davis Cup duties for Great Britain, worked on his net game and put in the hard yards on the training track in Miami during the brief off-season so that he can fill the one gap in a resume that includes 14 ATP singles titles.
Speaking in Perth on Sunday as he prepared to represent Great Britain at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, Murray said he was ready to become the first British male player to win a Grand Slam singles title since Fred Perry's 1936 success at the US Open.
"I've been working really hard for the last two or three years physically to make sure that I am strong enough," he said.
"Tennis-wise, I just need to play my best at the slams.
"Last year I thought did well, but a few things I could have done a bit better.
"This year is all about getting prepared for the slams, and making sure I am in the best shape going into them.
"If I feel good going into the tournaments, especially on the hard courts and the grass, I have got a pretty good chance of beating any of the guys and winning the tournament, so I believe I can do well this year."
Murray is aware of criticism that he doesn't attack the net enough, but said he was continuing to work on his serve-and-volley game and noted that the challenge was to hone his tactics in a very unforgiving environment.
"I practice playing at the net a lot and have done for the last few years, it is more understanding when to come to the net and making sure you pick the right moments to come forward," he said.
"It's very difficult now, because guys pass so well, move so well and hit the ball so hard that you really have to pick the right moments.
"That is a tactical thing I have had to work on with my coach and hopefully it will pay off."
Murray has altered his preparation for the Australian Open, where he was pre-tournament favourite last year but bowed out to Fernando Verdasco in five sets in the fourth round.
This year, he has opted for the Hopman Cup in Australia rather than trying for a third successive title at the season-opening ATP event in Doha.
He said he wanted to arrive in Australia earlier than in previous years to give himself more time to acclimatise to the local conditions.
"I wanted to get out here a little bit earlier to get used to the heat, to get over the jet lag and get used to the courts, because the surface is a lot different than the one in Doha."
Murray believes the Plexicushion courts in Melbourne suit his game and said he was also considering playing at Melbourne's Kooyong Classic next week.
He defended his decision to sit out Great Britain's Davis Cup Europe-Africa Zone Group II tie against Lithuania in March, saying it was time for younger British players to be given the chance to pick up the baton.
"I've played a lot of Davis Cup matches the last few years and enjoyed playing in them, but when I play and we lose I don't feel like it benefits the other (British) players that much," he said.
"I think it is a bit unfair to single me out for that (missing the tie), (Roger) Federer has missed Davis Cup matches, Raf (Nadal) has missed Davis Cup matches, (Novak) Djokovic has missed Davis Cup matches, (Pete) Sampras, (Andre) Agassi.
"A lot better players than me have missed Davis Cup matches.
"I am not abandoning Great Britain, I am representing them here as well."
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Murray nie chce grać w reprezentacji Wielkiej Brytanii
Andy Murray, czwarta rakieta świata, nie zagra w dniach 5-7 marca w meczu Litwa - Wielka Brytania w I rundzie Grupy II Strefy Euroafrykańskiej rozgrywek o Puchar Davisa.
22-letniemu liderowi Brytyjczyków nie uśmiecha się gra w drugiej lidze europejskiej. We wrześniu ojcowie tenisa przegrali w barażach z Polską i spadli do strefy z Macedonią, Monako i Egiptem. Murray wygrał swój singlowy pojedynek z Michałem Przysiężnym, ale pogorszył stan kontuzji nadgarstka.
Pochodzący ze Szkocji zawodnik tłumaczy swoją decyzję, wskazując na podobne przypadki innych czołowych tenisistów świata: Rogera Federera, Rafaela Nadala i Novaka Đokovicia. - To niesprawiedliwe, by mnie krytykować, bo wielu zawodników lepszych ode mnie opuszczało mecze Puchar Davisa - mówi.
W poniedziałek w parze z nastolatką Laurą Robson wystartuje w barwach Wielkiej Brytanii w rozgrywkach o Puchar Hopmana. Z Pucharu Davisa zupełnie nie rezygnuje, ale twierdzi, że to dobry czas, by dać tam szansę młodym zawodnikom.
Decyzję Murraya wspiera federacja. Dyrektor wykonawczy LTA powiedział, że będzie szczęśliwy, gdy Szkot opuści kolejne mecze Pucharu Davisa, by dobrze przygotować się do zwycięstwa w Wielkim Szlemie. Na to ostatnie Brytyjczycy czekają od 1936 roku.
Murray defends decision to skip Davis Cup tie
Andy Murray will follow the example of Roger Federer, with the Scot deciding not to participate in Britain's Davis Cup zonal tie in March against fellow tennis minnow Lithuania.
The No. 4 Scot based part of his decision on the timing of the contest, which falls the weekend before the start in California of the first Masters 1000 event of the season at Indian Wells.
Murray lost the final in the desert to Rafael Nadal. "You have to do what is right for your game," said Murray, playing to start his 2010 at the Hopman Cup in Perth. "It's unfair to say I'm abandoning Britain. Much better players than me have all missed Davis Cup ties."
Federer has decided not to front Switzerland in Spain for their World Group first-round tie March 5-7; Nadal's participation is still unknown.
"I enjoy Davis Cup. But the timing of the tie is bad for me, coming just before big events in Indian Wells and Miami. I have lots of points to defend," said the Miami champion.
Murray has said he will decided on a tie-by-tie basis whether to play Davis Cup. "I'm happy to step aside for this match and will take decisions on future ties with the LTA. It's important we get back up the groups in the Davis Cup over the next few years."
I po polsku:
Murray rezygnuje z występu w Pucharze Davisa
Brytyjski tenisista Andy Murray zrezygnował z występu w marcowym meczu Pucharu Davisa. Czwarty zawodnik światowego rankingu stwierdził, że chce zrobić miejsce dla mniej utytułowanych graczy.
Wielkie Brytania w Pucharze Davisa startuje w tym roku w słabej II grupie Strefy Euroafrykańskiej. W zeszłym sezonie Brytyjczykom nie udało się utrzymać w wyżej klasie rozgrywkowej mimo pomocy Murraya. Słynny Szkot zagrał w meczu barażowym przeciwko Polsce, wygrał oba singlowe mecze, ale jego drużyna przegrała 2:3. Decydujący punkt zdobył Michał Przysiężny, a wcześniej po "cegiełce" dołożyli Jerzy Janowicz oraz debliści Mariusz Fyrstenberg i Marcin Matkowski.
W tym roku Wielka Brytania będzie więc musiała walczyć o powrót do Grupy I. W marcu czeka ją starcie z Litwą. Murray zapowiedział, że nie wystąpi w tym meczu, bo będzie przygotowywał się do turniejów w Indian Wells i Miami. - Mam tam sporo punktów do obrony. Występ na kortach ziemnych na Litwie mógłby zburzyć mój okres przygotowawczy. Myślę, że podjąłem dobrą decyzję - powiedział 22-letni Szkot.
Na usprawiedliwienie przypomniał, że z występów w Pucharze Davisa rezygnowali także inni czołowi tenisiści, w tym Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, a wcześniej Pete Sampras czy Andre Agassi.
Pod nieobecność Murraya o miejsce w składzie reprezentacji Wielkiej Brytanii będą walczyli Daniel Evans, James Ward i Jamie Baker.
Tymczasem Polska w meczu 1. rundy I grupy Strefy Euroafrykańskiej zmierzy się w marcu (najprawdopodobniej w Sopocie) z Finlandią.
Andy Murray eyes Australian Open glory
WORLD No.4 Andy Murray has declared himself on track for Australian Open success after leading Great Britain into the final of the Hopman Cup in Perth.
Murray, who is yet to win a grand slam, was at his brutal best as he destroyed world No.35 Igor Andreev 6-1 6-0 in just 48 minutes on Friday.
The 22-year-old also played a starring role in Great Britain's 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (10-6) mixed doubles victory, ensuring a 2-1 tie win over Russia and safe passage into the final against Spain.
Murray has spent less than three hours on court in his three singles wins in Perth and said he was feeling in top shape ahead of his quest for grand slam glory.
"If I can play like that then I can win Australia for sure," Murray said.
"But I need to make sure I do it in a couple of weeks and play like that from the start of the tournament until the end.
"I've always started the years pretty well. I've won Doha two years in a row so I always started playing pretty well going into Australia.
"In terms of the way I was striking the ball and moving and playing well up at the net and taking chances, that was probably the best I've played at the start of a year.
"Sometimes you play two, three matches like that a year and fortunately one of them was today but hopefully I've got a couple more in the Aussie Open."
Andy Murray has armoury to lift first grand slam, and he’s doing it with a smile
Murray unleashes a whipped forehand during his destruction of Andreev in the Hopman Cup in Perth
At the change of ends when Andy Murray led 6-1, 5-0 against Igor Andreev, of Russia, yesterday, he glanced up to Miles Maclagan, his coach, and Jez Green, his fitness trainer, and the widest grin lit up his face. One was reminded of Tim Henman’s comment a couple of years back that Murray was a “bit of a miserable sod”. Not a misery any more, just miserly.
The message Murray was dispatching to his associates was: “Look at this, see how well I’m playing — this is special.”
Their response was that they knew that he could do it and now here he was doing it. How right it all felt. For the third year in succession Murray is into the final of his first tournament of the year, although this time there is something markedly different about the process.
Had he beaten five players on the way to a third consecutive Doha tournament title, it would have been lauded as the perfect portent for the Australian Open, inspiring a spate of reckless suggestions that the world No 4 — whose quarter-final appearance in 2009 is his best to date at Melbourne Park — ought to be regarded as the tournament favourite. Last year, quite rightly, the top three players, notably Roger Federer, took umbrage when the local bookmakers issued their odds.
Overnight, Murray and Laura Robson became the first Great Britain pair to compete in the final of the Hopman Cup, against Tommy Robredo and María José Martínez Sánchez, of Spain. “I want to win this tournament,” Murray said after their third consecutive group success, against the Russia pair of Andreev and Elena Dementieva, the world No 5. Expect the Scot to have moved Heaven and Earth to do so.
From the moment he arrived a week ago, Murray has wooed the locals with how he has taken 15-year-old Robson under his wing, with his words of inspiration on court and witty backchat during their interviews together. But most significantly the West Australians have had their first serious view of what a talent he is and have been wowed by him.
Watching him practise, seeing him around the courts, witnessing the levels of his game, one cannot help but be impressed. Perhaps we will not be hearing of the old, passive Murray for much longer, for he has come out here swinging away, everything done with a real purpose, a genuine bite to his cross-court forehand, a significant ratcheting up in service speed, allied to the other elements that make him such a force — his movement, his return of serve, his brilliant backhand down the line.
Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, said that Murray’s performance against Andreev was “as good as it could possibly be for any player”. The first game took 60 seconds. He moved forward into a leaping volley behind his serve on the first point, packed a punch on his second and third serves and aced Andreev with the fourth. What a marker of intent. Only those curmudgeons who appear not to like Murray because he is Scottish, rather than look at him through the prism of greatness, might have been able to find fault in it.
There are those who raised an eyebrow when Murray announced that he would eschew the pursuit of ranking points in the first week of the year and play the Hyundai Hopman Cup instead. Although no male champion here has gone on to win the Australian Open three weeks down the road, Novak Djokovic in 2008 and Marat Safin three years earlier believed that the court time and the different elements required to play decent mixed doubles — anticipation, guile and improvisation — helped enormously in their successful tilts at the grand-slam tournament.
Murray has knocked off his first three singles opponents with disdain; the best of them, Andreev, for the loss of a single game. “I didn’t make a bad decision,” Murray said. “I wasn’t overplaying, it was just really, really good tennis and if I play like that, I can win the Australian Open for sure, but I need to make sure I do it for a couple of weeks, from the start of the tournament until the end. That was probably the best I’ve played at the start of a year.”
Murray knows that the challenges ahead will be many and varied. The Australian Open is a test of body management, game management, attitude management and especially heat management. It can wear you down and tear you apart. Only the fittest survive. But Murray is exceedingly fit; his game is sound and secure, his attitude upbeat. It is going to take a very fine player to stop him.
Andy Murray content that his game is ready for Australian Open
For the next seven days, the analysis will intensify and attitudes harden. Is Andy Murray the man? Which way should he play? Is he susceptible and to what? Has his time finally come? The Scot will spend the week ironing out the kinks, play one exhibition match to stir the competitive juices and then set out on another journey of relentless examination.
Crossing Australia’s vastness from west to southeast yesterday, Murray had time to ponder on his work at the Hyundai Hopman Cup where, in tandem with the irrepressible Laura Robson, he ought to have delivered British tennis its first two diamond-encrusted platinum orbs of the year. Instead, they lost 2-1 to Spain in the final, Robson having beaten María José Martínez Sánchez, the world No 26, 6-1, 7-6 in her singles match, a victory of profound meaning.
As the glasses clinked at the end-of-tournament gathering here, the Australian sages were locked in intense debate about whether Murray can prevail at their Open championship.
Fred Stolle, the former French and US singles champion, said his respect for the Scot had grown but worried about his lack of a relentlessly potent second serve; Neale Fraser, the former Wimbledon and US singles champion, felt that Murray was vulnerable to periods of wandering concentration, the like of which allowed Tommy Robredo to recover from a first-set hammering in what should have been a decisive singles victory for Great Britain. Instead, he lost 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Such periods would mean catastrophe in a grand-slam tournament.
Murray has heard before the calls to adopt a more dynamic tone, to tear into the opposition like a trigger-happy gunslinger. “It doesn’t get me angry, just a bit annoyed because there are so many questions about it,” he said. “People forget I’ve done pretty well with the game I have and it is too easy to sit back and say ‘he needs to come in on that shot, he needs to be more aggressive on that point, he needs to hit the ball harder’.
“In Tim’s [Henman] playing days, you could come forward more because the opponents didn’t necessarily answer pace that well, they would have a weaker shot from the back of the court and may not have returned serve that well. The guys now return incredibly and pass great on both sides and they play with so much spin it’s not as easy as it sounds.
“I was saying that to Pat Cash [the 1987 Wimbledon champion] when we had a chat here. Look at Tommy [Robredo] today, especially in the mixed, he was finding brilliant angles from different positions and that makes it tough to come forward. The thing is I know I can do it and you have to choose the right times, and that’s what I’ve been working on in the close season with Miles [Maclagan, his coach] and Alex [Corretja, his consultant]. I hardly got passed at all this week and that gives me confidence.”
What was very evident is that Murray was willing to open his shoulders more on his cross-court forehand, a stroke that has been regarded as a defensive option, a rally extender, rather than a rally ender. “It was one of my best shots growing up,” he said. “Then the backhand down the line improved and I started to hit that more often. It is practice and confidence.
“I believe I can hit the forehand harder than most players and flatter, I can get the ball to go through the court. I don’t have physical problems to worry about, like when I came back from the wrist injury in 2007 and I was scared to tee off on my backhand.”
To the end of playing with a greater intent, Murray has altered the weight dispersal in his racket, with more towards the head, and he is stringing them a bit tighter. “When I first came on the tour my racket weighed a ton but I reduced it bit by bit and then I wanted to add more weight to the head. It feels good.”
As does he, regardless of being pipped at the post in the mixed tournament, losing 7-6, 7-5 in the deciding doubles. He played eight matches, won three of four singles and three of four mixed. His physiotherapist, Andy Ireland, lands in Melbourne today to make sure all the parts are working properly.
“I’m not going to get any fitter or stronger between now and the Open,” Murray, who drops one place to world No 5 today after not defending his title in Doha last week, said. “I need to make sure that I have all the energy I need because it’s going to stay pretty hot for the next couple of weeks.
“There’s not one thing I think I need to work on rather than anything else. This is the best I’ve felt at the start of a year. The Australian Open is easier than other grand-slams in a lot of ways because you have a good idea what the weather’s going to be like, you know what time you can practise, it’s a relaxed place, it’s easy to get around and across the road from the site. There’s the Australian Institute of Sport, which has a great ice bath and a first-class gym.
“I feel ready. I’m well prepared, I’ve trained hard, I’ve put in all the effort I could. If I play my best, I have a good chance to win the tournament. I can’t worry about anyone else and what they are doing with their games. The fact I’m going to be No 5 seed isn’t something I worry about, I would have to beat the best in the the world to win it anyway and if it means one tougher match than there might have been, that’s the way it is.”
Murray support draining away among punters
Andy Murray's punting support seems to be waning with just a few days to go before the start of the Australian Open.
Despite being short-listed as a potential favorite at the major which starts Monday, the Scot has swooned with the public. The world No. 5 has slid to 6-1 from 4-1. Roger Federer's bid for a fourth Melbourne title takes center stage as the Swiss starts an 11/4 favorite.
British bookmakers Ladbrokes also list Rafael Nadal at 3/1.
“The patriotic punt on the British ace has failed to materialize," said a spokesman. "As things stand, we could be in the unusual position of cheering him on as he takes to the court.”
Other men's odds include Juan Del Potro (9/2), 2008 winner Novak Djokovic (6/1), Nikolay Davydenko (8/1) and Brisbane winner Andy Roddick (20/1).
Przed AO - Wywiad z Andym Murrayem.
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
Q. You changed your preparations this year. How do you feel coming into this Open that change has worked for you?
ANDY MURRAY: Obviously, I have to see once I start playing. In terms of being acclimatized and whatnot, I feel a lot better in that respect.
You know, got good practice over in Melbourne. Played eight matches, practiced outdoors there on all the days off. You know, it was nice and hot, so I feel a lot better in that respect.
My game feels good.
Q. By dropping out of the top four, it's created more challenging setups for you. Big quarterfinal against Rafa. How does that tie into your preparation mentally?
ANDY MURRAY: It makes no difference unless I get to the quarters, so I try and take care of the results before then. You know, if I have to play Rafa, then, you know, it's obviously a very, very tough match, but one that I feel like I could win.
But I need to focus on the matches before then. I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing, as well.
Q. Do you like this court surface and how different do you play compared to other surfaces?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I always liked hard courts. I grew up playing on them. They're a little bit different to US Open hard courts. They bounce a bit higher. US Open courts are a little bit faster.
But, uhm, you know, with the conditions here, it obviously can get very hot. When it's hot, the court plays quick. So I do like it. I feel like I can play well on these courts.
Q. You've been described as a great counter‑puncher, which you don't seem to like. Looks like you have been focusing on other areas of your game. Can you speak to that a little?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I like it. I like being a counter‑puncher. I never said that. Just everyone tells me I shouldn't play like that so (smiling). I always played that way since I was growing up. It's a little bit different than a way a lot of the other guys at the top of the game play.
You know, it's given me a lot of success. But there's obviously things I still need to work on, practice, keep adding to my game. I did that in December and the first tournament I played at the Hopman Cup.
Q. Seems you were coming to the net a lot more. Have you been working on your net game?
ANDY MURRAY: Not so much the actual net game, the volleys when I get there. It's more the times to come to the net, making sure you pick the right shots and coming in, you know, off the correct balls 'cause the guys are so quick now and pass so well, guys return so well, you can't just charge forward nowadays and expect to get away with it.
Q. How do you see the level of the other top 10 players at the moment and who do you think is in the best shape for this tournament now?
ANDY MURRAY: You never know the first big tournament of the year. You don't know if guys have had problems in December when they were training or whatever. But, you know, the guys I'm sure will be in pretty good shape, you know, when the tournament starts.
But, you know, this is one tournament where there's always a few surprises. You know, you never know quite what to expect. But I'm sure everyone will be feeling fine when the tournament starts.
Q. Do you think Del Potro or Davydenko can make it a little bit different for the rest, due to the last few months with their levels?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, both of them are great players. Davydenko has been in the top five, six players in the world for the last four or five years at least. But, you know, he's had a couple good wins over Federer. Del Potro has beaten Federer as well the last couple times he played in big tournaments. So there's no reason why those two can't have great tournaments.
Q. You were in Miami Christmas Day, right?
ANDY MURRAY: No.
Q. You weren't?
ANDY MURRAY: No.
Q. Where were you?
ANDY MURRAY: Landed actually in London on Christmas Day.
Q. So you were just at home in Surrey, were you?
ANDY MURRAY: I was planning on staying out the whole time in Miami. Then, like a few days beforehand, decided I was going to do some physical tests. Because obviously last year when I came over here, and Dubai at the start of the year, I had a few different illnesses that I picked up probably from traveling. I just wanted to make sure, you know, after a training block, I was going to be a bit tired, that there was no problem, there wasn't going to be a problem this time. So I did a lot of physical tests, blood tests and stuff. That was why I went back.
Q. So you went back to Miami, then on to Oz, did you?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I stayed in London till Christmas Day and then stayed four days in London and then went back.
Q. What do you take from last year's tournament here?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I felt like I was playing well, you know, coming to the tournament. You know, I had a good start in Doha and then played well ‑‑ felt like I played pretty well the first three matches. Didn't lose a set. Against Verdasco, I had a lot of chances to win and didn't take them. So a few things from that match that I improved on throughout the rest of the year.
You know, I feel like I learned a lot from what happened last year, you know, and I'll try and play better and go deeper in the tournament than I have done in previous years ‑ that's getting past the fourth round. That will be my first goal.
Q. What is the difference between the US and Australian Open for you?
ANDY MURRAY: The bounce on the court is different. And also the balls get quicker as they get older at the US Open, whereas here they slow down a lot. And also obviously the conditions here can change like hugely during matches almost. You know, it can change sort of 10, 15 degrees in the space of 20 minutes, and that obviously changes the way the ball plays and stuff. So there's a few more things you have to deal with on the court here.
Q. So can you say which of the two conditions you prefer?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I play more tennis over in the States, as all the guys do. So going into the US Open I guess you're a little more used to the conditions.
But this year I've been over for a couple of weeks before the tournament for the first time and I feel like I'm a lot more used to the conditions than I have been going in in the past.
Q. You obviously play a qualifier. The Irish guy that has just qualified said he was at Barcelona for a little while at the same time as you. Do you remember him at all?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know if he was in the same academy as me. I actually remember him more from when I was a lot younger, like at tournaments at Solihull and stuff, which I was like 11, 12 years old. He was one of the better ones in those tournaments.
But I didn't see him. Could be right. I think he went over to the States. I might be wrong.
Q. He said he remembers hitting with you a couple times in Barcelona.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't remember. Sorry (smiling).
Q. You said a few moments ago this is the most unexpected the of the majors, you don't know what people have been doing in the off‑season, had a good training in the off‑season. When you go on the court, do you have to be more concerned of maybe something that somebody has added to their game or is it unrealistic that someone can make a significant change in the offseason?
ANDY MURRAY: Guys can definitely make changes in their game. It's something that I've tried to do in December and stuff. You know, spoke to Pat Cash a little bit in the Hopman Cup, '87 Wimbledon champion, about coming to the net, coming forward, because he was obviously commentating there, and watched a few of the matches. It's just interesting speaking to those sort of guys about, you know, what it was like back then and now.
I feel like it's a lot harder to make those sort of big adjustments. Guys can improve little things, but it's so much harder to serve and volley now and come to the net now.
You know, but guys are always looking just to add small things. It's not like you're going to be, I guess on the court, hugely surprised when you play against them. But guys might have improved a few bits and pieces.
Q. But you never think, I've never seen him hit that shot before, where did that come from?
ANDY MURRAY: Last year when I played against Verdasco, I played him a lot of times in the past, you know, he was always, you know, so talented. But, you know, he went from being sort of very talented and erratic to, you know, very consistent and hitting the ball huge off both sides.
He obviously worked hard on his fitness, which makes you stronger and more stable. That was a little bit surprising that he was able to maintain that level for such a long time.
But it's not like, you know, you see one shot and guys have improved it through the roof. Maybe it happens a bit more with young guys that have got maybe physically stronger, whatever, but not the guys at the top.
Q. The big stat about Britain waiting for its men's Grand Slam champion for 74 years. You've played under this weight of expectation for a few years now. Is this something that you even think about anymore?
ANDY MURRAY: I obviously get asked about it a lot in the buildup to all of the slams. But, I mean, it's so irrelevant to the way I play or approach my matches. You know when I'm on the court, it's the last thing I'm thinking about. I'm not thinking how many years it's been since a Brit won a Grand Slam. You know, I'm just thinking about how I'm going to win the match, how I'm going to win the next point.
But, you know, obviously I'd like to try and end that sooner rather than later. But, you know, if I think about it all the time, put more pressure on myself by thinking about it, that's not gonna help.
Q. Talking about pressure, you've been written up in one of the local papers as one of the favorites. Is that a big pressure to take into a tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, I think it's a good thing, you know. I feel like I'm playing well enough to win the tournament. It would be different, you know, if I felt like I was playing rubbish and then was expected to do well.
But I feel like I started the year well and physically I feel good. I just need to make sure I play my best tennis. If I do that, I got a good chance.
Konferencja po meczu I r.
Q. You must be very satisfied with that.
ANDY MURRAY: It was a good start. You know, he's a tough player. You know, he beat Djokovic before in Miami. He's won a tour event. So knew it wasn't going to be ‑‑ I wasn't expecting it to be easy.
I just got off to a good start, which helped. Broke him straightaway. That always makes a big difference.
Q. You played under the roof at Wimbledon with phenomenal noise. Was it very different under the roof here?
ANDY MURRAY: Not really. It's just, you know, you create your own atmosphere on the court, I guess.
But the conditions are similar to Wimbledon with the roof. It actually slows the court down. You know, it gets quite humid in there, whereas it's pretty dry heat normally, and it's just quite heavy.
It slows the court down a bit, so that was a bit different.
Q. Did the Hopman Cup experience help you under the dome, as well, mixing it around with the mixed doubles as well?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I think it helped to get me ready for the tournament, yeah. I mean, I played eight matches in about five, six days. You know, so it was perfect to kind of get the body back used to playing again.
Uhm, and, yeah, maybe because that event was indoors, maybe I adjusted to the conditions a little bit quicker. But it's good to get the match out of the way today 'cause, uhm, it's a long day for a lot of the players because of the weather outside. Obviously good to get finished quickly.
Q. How much Bikram Yoga did you during your off‑season?
ANDY MURRAY: Only went once. Used to do a little bit more beforehand, but it's difficult to fit in 'cause you get very dehydrated doing it. You know, you can't really dehydrate yourself that much and then go and play. So you tend to do it at the end of the days.
And because the off‑season was a bit shorter, that wasn't one of the main priorities. So only once this time.
Q. Do you have a preference if it's closed or not? How much difference does it make to you whether you're going to play indoors or outdoors here?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it definitely makes a difference. I mean, obviously, you know, it's pretty cool in there. It was cool outside today, as well. You know, but I guess today it's maybe a little bit easier to play indoors, because you know once you get on the court you're going to finish. You're not getting stopped.
And also I've watched, you know, some points of some of the matches on the outside courts, and it's pretty windy out there, too. Pretty tough conditions to play in.
Indoors, obviously it's a lot easier.
Q. Can you run us through your next opponents?
ANDY MURRAY: They're both good players. Gicquel I played once before. Not sure if he retired. I played him in Rotterdam last year. It was close. It went to three sets. I think he might have stopped at like 3‑Love in the third. He's a tough player, a lot of experience, pretty quick.
Bolelli is very talented. Can hit the ball huge from the back of the court. But I played really well against him the last couple times.
I don't know, expect a pretty close match, I think.
Q. Having changed your buildup to this Open, starting with a new sponsor, does it feel different this year in any particular way?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, a lot of things have changed, you know, especially in the buildup to the event. Obviously I got here a lot earlier. Today was the first, you know, match on the tour, I guess, after quite a long break.
So that changes things a little bit, whereas I've come in the last years having played a lot of matches in Doha. Obviously, play with new clothes and changed the weight and stuff of my racquet a little bit at the end of the year. Less people with me this year. So changed quite a few things up.
Making an impression
It is not easy being a top tennis player. Not only is a chap supposed to devote his every waking hour to the pursuit of his sport, not only is he supposed to sacrifice everything in order to be at the peak of fitness for 11 months of the year (he is allowed the odd mince pie at Christmas, but not much more) and not only is he supposed to eat, drink and sleep tennis, but he is also supposed to be a quotable expert on all matters of international import. No, it ain’t easy at all.
So there was Andy Murray, putting the finishing touches to his Australian Open preparations, when up popped a local television news crew. “Could they ask a few questions?” Of course they could. “What, then, did Mr Murray think of the reported death of the Loch Ness monster?” Cue much blustering, puffing out of cheeks and back-pedaling. Murray may be the fifth-best player in the world and one of the favourites to lift the silverware at Melbourne Park, but not even he can be expected to up to speed on the life cycle of a mythical creature from Inverness.
Fortunately, the first hurdle in his path to his first Grand Slam title – one Kevin Anderson – was much easier to negotiate. Anderson, all 203cm of him, had come through the qualifying competition – and done so without dropping his serve once. He was accustomed to the conditions, he was match-tight and he had nothing to lose but against Murray, but that was nowhere near enough as the Scot raced into the second round with a 6-1 6-1 6-2 result.
Ranked 147 in the world, the tall and pencil-thin Anderson looked completely out of his depth under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena. Within a matter of minutes, Murray had skipped to a 5-0 lead and looked as if he did not have a care in the world.
Taking on such a tall man, Scotland’s finest resorted to the obvious tactic: he made Anderson bend and lunge and dig the ball out from his shoelaces. Murray sliced and diced, and then sliced some more, until poor Anderson was almost on his knees as he tried to get down to the ball. More often than not – and particularly on the backhand side – he was lucky just to scuff the ball into the base of the net. Murray was in complete control.
By the second set, Murray was now fully into his stride and decided to change things up a little. He started leathering his forehand and picking his spots with the backhand, a strategy that frequently left Anderson flapping his racquet at thin air. Only in the third set did the South African gain any sort of revenge, breaking Murray in the fifth game, but by then he was already a break down himself. And Murray simply broke straight back and accelerated to the finish line.
“It was a good start,” Murray said, simply. “He's a tough player – he beat (Novak) Djokovic before in Miami, he's won a tour event, so I wasn't expecting it to be easy. I just got off to a good start, which helped. Broke him straight away. That always makes a big difference.”
What has also made a big difference is Murray’s build up to the first major of the year. Instead of making his way slowly to the southern hemisphere, stopping off in Doha on his way down from Britain and landing in Melbourne with only a few days to spare before business begins in earnest, Murray has been in Australia for a couple of weeks already.
He trained his socks off – as usual – in the warmth of Miami just before Christmas and then spent a couple of days in London before flying to Perth for the Hopman Cup. That event gave him eight matches in the space of a week and provided him with enough court time to fine tune his timing and his match play. It also gave him plenty of time to shake off the jet lag and adjust to the heat of the Australian summer in good time for his first match at the Open. And even if Day One at the Open was chilly by Melbourne standards, it was still warm compared to January in Scotland.
All things considered, Murray could not have asked for a better start to his 17th Grand Slam campaign. And provided no one asks him to unravel the mystery of the sphinx or locate the nearest herd of unicorns, the No. 5 seed looks to be ready for his best Australian Open yet.
Konferencja prasowa po 2 rundzie AO.
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andy, please.
Q. Could you give us a sense of how tricky it was out there this evening; the wind, the conditions.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, the wind was the hardest part. Obviously, it was quite a good atmosphere, quite a lot of noise, a lot of flags, people moving around and stuff.
I think I did well to keep my concentration from that. But the wind was, you know, the trickiest part because it's kind of like a bowl, the court kind of gets trapped in there and swirls around. Sometimes you think the ball is going one direction, and the wind is going one direction and then in the middle of the point it can change pretty quickly. That was tough.
But I was happy with the way I played.
Q. Was it a routine second‑round match? How would you describe your performance?
ANDY MURRAY: . First set was good and then it was tough after that. You know, I came through a couple of tough moments early in the second set. Down Love‑40 on my serve and managed to hold there. You know, he started to play better at that stage and came through that well. The third set, obviously got broken back, won a long game the following game to break back.
You know, it was a good performance, solid match, under difficult conditions, so I was happy.
Q. How well do you think you're serving at the moment? Took you to deuce a couple of times.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, how terrible. (Smiling)
I mean, this is the highest level of the sport. That's gonna happen. But I played two matches and got broken twice, you know, once in each match. So reasonably happy with that.
Served better today than I did the first day. I'm sure I'll serve better in the next round than I did today.
Q. When you needed to get your first serves in, you seemed to make them today.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, that's when it's important to make them, you know, on the big points, when you're behind. Maybe it's just a little bit of extra focus, why I served better on the big points so far in the tournament.
Obviously, I want to, you know, serve well, you know, in all of the points and give each point as much attention as possible. That's something I'll try and do better the next round.
Q. Dropshots in those conditions, a tough shot to play. But in the wind... You did it very well tonight.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, when you're dropshotting into the wind, it's a good play. You know, if you're dropshotting when you have the wind, you know, you can't really get any backspin on the ball, so the ball tends to shoot through. It's a lot easier for the opponent to get through. Dropshotted well especially at the start of the match, came forward well, volleyed pretty solid, so it was good.
Q. Your next opponent, Florent Serra. You haven't played him much. Know much about him?
ANDY MURRAY: He's been around the 50 mark for quite a long time. He's a solid player. He's had two very long matches so far. Saved a couple of match points today. So, you know, he's gonna go for it. Have to make sure I'm on my game.
Wywiad po meczu III r. AO
Q. When you went down with the back problem, has there been a problem, when you twisted the back?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, it just hurts. Sometimes it happens on these courts. They're just really sticky. It just gets a little bit stiff.
But it was fine.
Q. Obviously very pleased with your returns.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't think my serve is an issue at all. Everyone is panicking about my serve. I'm happy with how it's gone. It's got better in each match, like I thought it would.
When the important moments have come, I've served well. That's the most important thing.
And return‑wise, I mean, broke serve a lot so far this tournament against, you know, guys that have, you know, good serves. You know, Kevin Anderson is a good server. I returned well against him. I'm going to need that in the next match.
Q. You've not gone beyond three sets. Would you have wanted to be more tested by now?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I'm happy to have won in three sets in all of the matches. I was just saying that it's important to have tight situations in matches like the first set today where, you know, it got quite close at points. Against Gicquel, like in the third set, you know, it got close. Came through all the sort of tough moments in the match, as well.
But I'm happy to save as much energy as possible. Today was hot. So it was nice to get off the court quickly.
Q. You've broken your opponent's serve the first game the first three games. Is that important? Usually is that what you're trying to do?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, when you start the matches, you want to try and, you know, get off to a good start. Pretty sure everyone tries to, you know, break serve as early as possible and then get ahead in the match.
I started well in all the matches so far. I put them under a lot of pressure by making all of my returns. Try and keep that up.
Q. Do you sometimes watch Speedway on Sky Sports every Monday night?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I've never watched Speedway.
Q. You're not into extreme sports, like watching them?
ANDY MURRAY: I like Formula One. Is that extreme enough (smiling)? I like Formula One. I've actually never been to watch any of the Grand Prix live, but.
Q. No chance to get an invitation by Jenson Button?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I've not tried to get one from him. I don't know. Maybe.
Q. You said before the tournament you want to at least get to the fourth round. Can you start to afford yourself thoughts of a Nadal quarterfinal?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I want to try and get through the next match. You know, Isner is playing really well. Won the tournament last week. The guy is 6'9", has if not the best serve on the tour... Both guys in the next round are going to be really tough. Got to try to take care of that one first.
Rafa's got some tough matches to play, as well. I'm sure he won't be focusing on playing me yet either.
ao.com
Wywiad po meczu 4 rundy AO10:
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You've never played him before. What kind of experience is that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's good. Obviously certain things are similar to playing Karlovic, who I've played a few times. John doesn't really serve and volley much. Plays a bit more from the baseline. He's got more variety on his serve, I think.
He can put a lot of spin on the second serve. You know, he really varies it really well. He's got a big forehand from the back of the court. Actually makes a lot of balls, so it's tricky.
Q. It's the first time you got to a Grand Slam quarterfinal without dropping a set. How do you explain your consistency?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, well, I mean, I've played it through to the fourth round a few times, actually here, without dropping a set. I don't know. Just played well today. You know, concentrated well in all of my matches.
That's really it. Not a whole lot in my game's changed. I guess it's a maturity thing. You learn to, I don't know, deal with the tight situations better and your focus holds for longer.
Q. You played Rafa a few years ago. Obviously, should he win, do you watch videos of recent games? Do you have a style you know can beat him?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it changes every time. You know, you have to kind of adjust to the match. Obviously, surfaces, I've played him indoors, hard courts, clay courts, and grass. Each time obviously it's a bit different.
Played him some really good matches on hard courts. I think I've got some tactics that work well against him.
Q. Do you remember that last game well here?
ANDY MURRAY: Here? I don't remember it that well, no. It was quite a long time ago. But it was a great match. You know, it was the first time I had, you know, played a top‑two player in the world in a Grand Slam. It was a great experience.
Q. Don't know if you've had a chance to look at your stat sheet, but 75% first serve, eight unforced errors in three sets against a guy like that. Taking all those things into account, how did you feel you played today?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I thought it was a really good performance. I had ‑‑ out of those unforced errors, probably three of them were in the 6‑5 game in the first set, and a couple early in one of my service games in maybe the second set.
So it was really good. I focused well, concentrated hard, and served well. Everything was good.
Q. What do you do differently when you know you have to face such a serve in order to prepare for the match?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I always get my coach to serve at me in the practice from the service line. Even if he's acing you, just to get used to how the ball's bouncing up. You kind of adjust where you're standing a little bit.
You know, you might think if you're playing against someone with a big serve, you know, it's better to go further back. But they can hit the angles better, so sometimes it's important to make sure you play closer a bit up to the baseline.
Just have to do a few different things when you're on the court to try to make them think about your positioning a little bit.
Q. Do you feel like you're finding some of your best form?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I'm playing well. No question about that. Uhm, just need to play like I have been, and maybe a bit more if I want to win the tournament.
Q. Can you talk us through those two backhand winners.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. A good couple of shots. I mean, I thought maybe he should have made the pickup off the first one. But he probably wasn't expecting it to come back so low over the net.
The second one, it's tough. You just kind of react. It's just instinct. You just chase the ball down. Good contact on it. Obviously went for the winner.
Q. You were whirling dervish after you hit that last shot.
ANDY MURRAY: A what?
Q. You hit that magnificent backhand, and then you were spinning like a whirling dervish.
ANDY MURRAY: Was I?
Q. Yes.
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't realize. I was just excited. (Smiling.)
It was obviously to get the break in the third set. I'd had chances the first two service games to break him and didn't quite take them. So, yeah, happy with that.
Q. Have you met Prince William here?
ANDY MURRAY: No.
Q. Would you have liked to?
ANDY MURRAY: Sure, yeah. I would have done. But I don't think he was here for very long.
Q. What sort of feedback had you had from the rapping with the Bryan brothers?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I don't know. (Laughter.) From the people I've spoken to about it, everyone did find it amusing. I don't think it was particularly good. I don't enjoy listening to it, that's for sure.
But if it helped them out, then I'm happy.
Q. Can you give us a bit of a rendition of it.
ANDY MURRAY: No, no. (Smiling.)
Q. You were talking movies with Jim Courier. Would you consider a career in film yourself?
ANDY MURRAY: No, no. I don't think I'd be very good at that.
Q. You sound a bit like Sean Connery.
ANDY MURRAY: I am Scottish, so I sound a little bit like him.
Q. Is it a quantum leap as playing against Rafa as against the breeze that you've had in the first few rounds? In hindsight, would you have preferred to have maybe a bit more game time out there?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I'm happy to have won the matches comfortably. I know the match against Rafa is going to be difficult, but I think I can win, so...
Just need to make sure I play my best.
Q. On TV they said you were more aggressive in the difficult moments of the match than you used to be before. Do you feel the same?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, a lot of that comes with, well, experience, knowing what to do on the, you know, important points, the best way to go about, you know, playing certain opponents.
Today when I was down, you know, I hit a lot of winners, served smart, was just thinking the whole time. Sometimes in the past, you know, when I was sort of 18, 19, you know, might have been getting worked up or not thinking about, you know, what I should be doing on the next point and worrying about what happened in the past.
Now, it's just focus on each point. So you make the right decision more often.
Murray nastawia się na szachy z Nadalem
Całe Melbourne nie może się już doczekać ćwierćfinału Andy'ego Murraya z Rafaelem Nadalem! Spotkanie rozstawionego z piątką Brytyjczyka z wiceliderem światowych rankingów przez wielu nazywane jest przedwczesnym finałem. Murray spodziewa się szachów na korcie.
- Grałem z Nadalem na wszystkich możliwych kortach. Każdy z meczów był inny. Na twardych kortach miałem z nim kilka dobrych spotkań. Wydaje mi się, że mam pewną działającą na niego taktykę - zapowiedział 22-letni Brytyjczyk.
Andy Murray w Melbourne radzi sobie świetnie. W meczach z Kevinem Andersonem, Markiem Gicquelem, Florentem Serrą i Johnem Isnerem Brytyjczyk nie stracił choćby seta. Szczególnie zadowolony był z tego ostatniego pojedynku. - To był naprawdę niezły występ. Byłem odpowiednio skupiony, miałem dobrą koncentrację i dobrze serwowałem. Wszystko funkcjonowało - mówił Murray.
Niewiele gorzej od Murraya sprawuje się Hiszpan. Seta dał sobie urwać tylko Philippowi Kohlschreiberowi i dryblasowi Ivo Karloviciowi w 4. rundzie. Światowy numer dwa nie ma złudzeń, że czeka go teraz wyjątkowo ciężka przeprawa. - Zacznijmy od tego, że Murray jest bardzo dobry. Jest jednym z najbardziej utalentowanych zawodników w tej chwili. Może grać ofensywnie, może grać defensywnie. Jest w stanie zrobić dużo rzeczy w tym samym meczu - chwalił rywala.
- Nie wydaje mi się, żeby Andy musiał komuś coś udowadniać. On ma wystarczające możliwości, by wygrać turniej wielkiego szlema. Jestem pewny, że to mu się uda - uważa Rafael Nadal. Murray na razie postarał się w Melbourne o najlepszy występ w karierze. W Australian Open nigdy nie potrafił przebić się przez cztery rundy
http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/australia … tory.shtml
Przecież to wiadomo, Maryś nie umie inaczej grać.
Murray Reaches First QF In Melbourne
Andy Murray became the first British man to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals since John Lloyd in 1985 (and only the fifth in the Open Era) when he beat No. 33-seeded American John Isner, 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2, on Sunday.
"I'm playing well - no question about that," Murray said. "[i] just need to play like I have been, and maybe a bit more if I want to win the tournament."
No. 5 seed Murray, through to his fifth Grand Slam quarter-final but first in Melbourne, saved a set point in the 12th game of the opening set but thereafter seemed to have 6' 9" Isner's measure.
The 22-year-old Scot broke Isner's serve for the first time to lead 5-3 in the second set and overcame a brave challenge in the next game to serve it out and take a two-set lead.
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The highlight of the match came in the fifth game of the third set when, in subsequent points, Murray hit two amazing backhands - the first to retrieve an Isner smash (forcing an error) and the second a running backhand down the line to secure a break for 3-2.
"You just kind of react - it's just instinct," Murray said of the backhand winner. "You just chase the ball down… Good contact on it - obviously went for the winner."
Murray rode the wave of momentum to break serve one more time and serve out an emphatic victory. Isner, on the other hand, was let down by 41 unforced errors (compared to just eight for Murray), though he did hit more winners than his conqueror (43 to 32).
"I thought it was a really good performance," Murray said. "Out of those unforced errors, probably three of them were in the 6‑5 game in the first set, and a couple early in one of my service games in maybe the second set.
"So it was really good. I focused well, concentrated hard, and served well. Everything was good."
Murray now meets No. 2 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal, against whom he owns a 2-7 lifetime record. His quarter-final berth in 2010 surpasses two fourth-round finishes in 2007 and 2009.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … es-QF.aspx
Panicz właśnie skompletował ćwierćfinały we wszystkich 4 turniejach WS. ;)
Wywiad po 1/4 AO:
Q. Before the unfortunate ending to the match, how would you have assessed the level of your performance against him today?
ANDY MURRAY: I thought it was very good. You know, when the big moments came in the match, I thought I dictated what happened on the court. You know, obviously I didn't know when he hurt his knee, you know, when he started feeling it.
But, you know, I mean, from my side, I played really well and, you know, deserved to be up when the match was stopped.
Q. Were you especially pleased when he broke you your response in those circumstances were to break him straight back?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean the first time was good. The second time was a lot more important, I think. You know, that break, it's the first time, you know, I really had to do something like that. Like you know that it's coming, and then, you know, when it comes, it seems like it lasts a lot longer than seven, eight minutes.
You know, it was pretty cold on the court, as well. I tweaked my back a little bit on the first point of that game. He miss‑hit a return when I was serving and volleying. You just get a little bit stiff. It was big for me to get that break back.
Q. Is it a feeling of pleasure or is the feeling a little bit hollow?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm obviously disappointed that the match couldn't have finished as I would have liked. But, you know, with the position I was in, you know, I feel like I would have had a chance of going on to finish the match.
You know, unfortunately that happens sometimes in sport. You know, a win's a win. Yeah, I obviously would have liked to have finished it off the right way.
Q. When he shook hands with you, you were walking to your chair. You weren't looking at him. Does that mean you weren't thinking that he might retire?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it just all happened so sudden. Like, you know, there was one backhand in the following game he didn't quite run for. I didn't realize it was such a big problem. Yeah, I was very surprised 'cause, you know, I've seen Rafa play matches where, you know, he's obviously been in a lot of pain and discomfort, and he's played on.
Here last year, you know, he won back‑to‑back five‑set matches in the semis and finals. His knee is obviously sore enough that what happened last year, he had to miss Wimbledon. That's a shame, because I obviously don't know how bad his knees are. But right at the start of the year, it's not really the best start for him.
Q. The break lasted nine minutes. Did they warn you it would be that long?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, they told us before, 15 minutes before we went out, we were going to have to stop at some stage. Then we got told right before the match, you know, it would be something like eight or nine minutes. I don't know, because of TV and stuff, they could make sure they started it during a changeover so it wasn't like we had to stop in the middle of a game or anything.
It's just quite strange. You can't imagine in like a football World Cup quarterfinal or something them kind of stopping in the 60th minute and going, You got a few fireworks, just hang on. It was a bit strange. It was probably one of the only times that will ever happen during my career, I guess.
Q. He actually broke you in the game immediately after that. How hard is it to actually stop in the middle of a Grand Slam quarterfinal, sit down for 10 minutes, have to pick it up again?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, that's the thing. Your body gets used ‑‑ I don't normally go to toilet during matches really. Maybe once if it's really long. But your body, you know, when you finish a match, you finish exercising, you know, we're conditioned to play for four hours or so. But on these courts and stuff, if you did take a break for 10 minutes, your body does start to tighten up 'cause it's not like 1 hour and 45 minutes playing against Rafa is the easiest thing to do anyway.
Obviously, it wasn't ideal. But I had to get on with it. That was it.
Q. Cilic in the next round. You played him at the US Open. How much was the wrist a factor? How much can we read into the fact that he beat you in straight sets at the US Open?
ANDY MURRAY: You can read into it as much as you like. I know what the circumstances were. Obviously didn't have my best day. I played him quite a few times on the tour and had good results against him, except there.
I'll try and play like I did tonight. If I do that, I've got a good chance of winning.
Q. Rafa said, given the way you're playing, you deserve to win this title. Do you get that feeling in you, that you're at a level that it's going to take something special to stop you?
ANDY MURRAY: You know, I think even last year in the slams, it took some pretty good performances to win against me. Hopefully this year, well, I hope I don't lose this year obviously, but I'll try and keep playing like I have been. If I do, I'm going to give myself opportunities to win Grand Slams. That's what I want to do. That's why I work hard and why I play tennis: to try and win these tournaments. I think I got a good chance of doing it.
Q. Watching you practice today, you seemed very relaxed. You took three or four minutes to sign autographs. How are you staying so composed amidst all this pressure?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I don't know. You just get used to I guess playing in big matches. You know, I was really looking forward to playing Rafa today. I guess at the end of your career, they're the sort of matches that you remember. To get the chance to play against him on center court at the Australian Open is something I would have loved to have done when I was a kid growing up. You need to try and have that same sort of mentality when you start playing on the tour, in the big matches, you know, you have to remember how you felt when you were young. These matches don't come around that often. When they do, you have to make sure you enjoy them.
Obviously, I was very focused and concentrated tonight, but definitely enjoyed myself.
Q. You replaced Ross with Ricky Hatton. The team looks different. Is Ricky staying round?
ANDY MURRAY: Ross went home. He went home the day of my last match in the evening. Yeah, Ricky, he's gonna come for the next match. I think he said he was leaving on Friday to go to Sydney. He'll come watch the next match.
But that was pretty cool. I'm a huge boxing fan. Never met him before. Spoke to him for 15 or 20 minutes after the match. Really, really nice guy.
Q. Cilic has had a lot of long matches. You haven't. Is that going to be a factor?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. You know, obviously I feel fresh. I don't know how he feels. From my side, I feel good physically. That's not gonna be an issue for me in the match. I don't know how he's feeling.
Q. You looked really focused when you went out there today. Is there a feeling now with you that you feel like you belong in these big games at Grand Slams?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, I think like after the US Open in 2008, when I reached the final there, won against Rafa and Del Potro, you know, that was really when I started to feel like, you know, I could compete at the very highest level of the game. I'd worked really hard physically after I lost to Rafa at Wimbledon that year because I realized, you know, I needed to.
But, yeah, I think definitely now I'm ready to win a Grand Slam, and hopefully I can do it here.
Q. There were three crucial points where you decided to serve and volley for the first time in the match. What was the thought process? Why did you suddenly decide to serve and volley then? You were under pressure. Can you think what you were thinking at that time?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, when I played against him in the past, I have serve‑volleyed against him. It can work well. But it's important to, you know, use it as I guess more sort of as a surprise tactic when he's not really expecting it. I don't know exactly when that was. I'm not sure exactly when you're talking about. But the serve‑volley did work really well today.
Q. You talked about revenge on court. Does it bother you that you weren't able to produce your tennis that day and he was the guy on the other side of the net?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I was obviously disappointed about what happened there. I had to take a pretty long break afterwards. You know, I was feeling good going into the US Open. You know, wasn't the way I would have liked to have lost.
But, no, I mean, everyone talks about that a lot, about revenge and stuff. But, you know, you just go out there and every day's a different day in tennis. I think that I can win the match. Regardless of what happened at the US Open, if I play well, focus hard and concentrate, then there's no reason why I can't beat him again.
Q. When you talk with your team after a win like tonight, do you smile more? Do you have a voice which sounds more happy than now? Now you talk almost like you lost.
ANDY MURRAY: Have you ever sat in this seat before? I mean, last year I played 80 odd matches and we do a press conference after every single match. We do one before every tournament. More for other bits and pieces.
Q. It's very boring.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I don't know (smiling). You just get used to doing it. I don't get excited about doing them anymore.
THE MODERATOR: That's lucky because this one's over.
ao.com
Will Andy Murray win the Australian Open?
Murray_blog Frank Praverman
Andy Murray has just completed a demolition job on Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The British No 1 was leading 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 when the defending champion retired due to pain in his right knee. But make no mistake, until he was 1-0 down in the third set Nadal was moving freely and showing no signs of injury.
Murray completely overwhelmed the Spaniard, who himself was playing well. Now the Scot faces Marin Cilic in the last four.
It is plain that Murray has the talent to win his first grand slam title, but will he?
Will he be able to continue in the rich vein of form that has seen him yet to drop a set in the tournament? And if he gets past Cilic, does he have the all-round expertise to defeat Roger Federer, who is surging towards the latter stages of yet another grand slam in the other half of the draw?
The question to answer is not can Murray win the Australian Open this year, but will he? Over to you ...
Andy Murray benefits from Rafael Nadal's sad demise
Victory had a hollow feeling to it for Andy Murray as he moved through to the Australian Open semi-final. Nobody could deny the Scot outplayed Rafael Nadal for two sets and looked worthy of a place in the last four. However, the sight of the defending champion offering his surrender because of a painful right knee was the saddest sight of the tournament.
Nadal’s knee problems are of course not a secret. Tendinitis ruled him out of defending his Wimbledon title last summer and now it has also apparently played a part in the end of his reign as the master of Melbourne Park.
There were no signs of Nadal having physical problems for a couple of sets but he struggled to live with Murray who was playing in the positive, attacking mode that so many knowledgeable judges have been demanding for so long. But two games into the third set Nadal pulled up smartly after hitting a forehand and made straight for his courtside chair, ordering umpire Fergus Murphy to call for the physiotherapist.
Paul Ness was quickly at Nadal’s side and began massaging the Spaniard’s right knee that appeared to have been jarred. After a medical time out, he resumed but immediately lost his serve. Things looked bleak but there was still fight in the man from Majorca and he extended Murray to a break point.
Once again the challenge faltered, Murray held serve taking his ace count to 13 but at 3-0, instead of making for the sideline, Nadal approached the net and offered Murray both his apologies and congratulations.
“I have known Rafa since I was 13 or 14 years old,” said Murray, whose elimination of the champion will go down in the record books as 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 retired. “I have always looked up to him. He’s my favourite player and I am gutted for him.”
With former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton sitting amongst his entourage, Murray was always up for the fight. He always looked confident whereas Nadal seemed nervy from the outset and stunned the 15,000 crowd in only the second game with a bizarre call for Hawk-Eye to make judgment on a line call everyone else in Rod Laver Arena could see was a lost cause.
“I had to go for my shots and play some really big tennis,” said Murray, who is now on course for his second grand-slam final after going within one result of becoming the 2008 US Open champion. “I came through a few tough moments at the start of the match when I was possibly going for too much. But I picked the right tactics and played really well.”
It was Nadal who struck first, breaking Murray’s serve with a wide forehand but the fifth seed struck back immediately to level. A second service break was greeted with a Nadal-like "C’monawwwnn" and the momentum was in the Scot’s favour.
An 11-minute game brought the first set to a close with Murray, serve-and-volleying at chosen moments and usually keeping Nadal on the back foot, being forced to fend off three more break points but a service return flew long.
Australia Day celebrations meant a nine-minute hold-up to play as a crescendo of fireworks clattered and banged over Melbourne and it seemed Murray’s focus had been affected as Nadal broke serve straight after the resumption. Once again, Murray staged the perfect counter attack and when the second set went to a tie-break he was in command from the outset.
After going two sets down, Nadal was functioning on borrowed time but the end saddened everyone that witnessed the handshake. When his knees agonized him so much in the Rotterdam final 11 months ago, he managed to stay on court for the duration of the match without offering too much fight. But a look across to his coach Uncle Toni suggested this was much worse and so Murray was through to face his US Open assailant Marin Cilic in the semi-final.
Time on Andy Murray's side
YOUNG Croat Marin Cilic sweated and toiled for 18 hours to reach his first grand slam semi-final ... Scot Andy Murray ran through his five matches in nearly half the time.
That discrepancy in expended energy often decides who survives or succumbs in the second week of these major championships.
So it was no surprise that Cilic kept out prying eyes when he booked a closed practice session with his Melbourne-born coach Bob Brett at Melbourne Park yesterday.
Perhaps the lanky 21-year-old should have adopted the AFL recovery routine, wading through waist-deep seawater in the Bay to ease aching legs from the three five-sets marathons.
American Andy Roddick believes Cilic's prolonged Australian Open campaign will be a factor in the outcome.
"The good thing for him is that, because he stands so close to the baseline and kind of directs traffic, he rarely gets outside the sidelines. Similar to what Andre (Agassi) used to do as far as minimising his movement because he's controlling the points. That being said, five-setters are five-setters. I'm sure he'll be a little tired," Roddick said.
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Roddick was impressed how Cilic preserved emotional energy in every crisis of their prolonged quarter-final, but even the recipient of that praise believes it runs a distant second to fresh legs.
"I'm like that naturally. And definitely it helps me to think about things that I have to do on the court, not to be upset about myself or something like that. That's one positive area of my game," Cilic said.
"I think the biggest thing for me is to try to recover as much as I can and to try to be ready that I can play on my level. I mean, composure is nothing comparing to physical ability."
As if to emphasise the point, Murray said: "Obviously, I feel fresh. I don't know how he feels. From my side, I feel good physically. That's not going to be an issue for me in the match."
While Murray won the first two matches against Cilic, a straight sets loss at the US Open last September still rankles the ambitious Scot.
"You can read into it as much as you like. I know what the circumstances were. Obviously, didn't have my best day," Murray said.
"I played him quite a few times on the tour and had good results against him, except there. I was, obviously, disappointed about what happened there (New York). I had to take a pretty long break afterwards. I was feeling good going into the US Open and it wasn't the way I would have liked to have lost.
"Everyone talks about that a lot, about revenge and stuff. But you just go out there and every day's a different day in tennis. I think that I can win the match. Regardless of what happened at the US Open, if I play well, focus hard and concentrate, then there's no reason why I can't beat him again."
It was at the US Open the previous year where Murray fell to Roger Federer on his grand slam final debut that the British hope finally felt he belonged at that lofty level.
"When I reached the final there, won against Rafa (Rafael Nadal) and (Juan Martin) del Potro, that was really when I started to feel like I could compete at the very highest level of the game," Murray said.
What Andy Murray must do to win semi-final
Marin Cilic is as steady as a rock from the back of the court, so Andy Murray will have to pick and choose his moments to attack with caution. He will almost certainly slice the ball more than he did against Rafael Nadal, especially to the Cilic forehand, hoping to draw errors.
Murray’s defeat by Cilic at the US Open last year was characterised by his decision to try to soak up punishment from way behind the baseline. He must step up and seek to move Cilic out of his comfort zone, which is not to stray beyond the sidelines, much in the manner of Juan Martín del Potro.
Cilic has a brutal, kicking second serve that will seek out the Murray backhand, but the British player is so quick on his feet, he can pounce on anything that does not land deep in the service box.
Andy Murray's march rekindles memories for Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander became the first Australian Open champion on these courts at Melbourne Park in 1988. The Swede convinced himself that his body and mind were able to contend with the demands of winning a grand-slam title on a hard surface when he was thought of as a clay-court prodigy who enjoyed freak results on grass. Wilander cannot help but see the similarities between his journey 22 years ago and Andy Murray’s possibilities over the next four days.
“We all know Andy is playing the same tennis as he was when he was 16, it is just that, all of a sudden, his body can do what it couldn’t do before and so he is able to play in a way his mind has been telling him he can play,” Wilander, the three-times Australian Open champion, said. “Though I won twice on grass, it was not until 1988 that I felt I had the strength and was fast and fit enough to win on a hard court. It makes all the difference in the world.”
That year, Wilander defeated Stefan Edberg, his fellow Swede, in five sets in the semi-finals and had enough left in the tank to come from two sets to one down to hold off Pat Cash, of Australia, in one of the most memorable finals in the history of the tournament.
“Psychologically, the situation has changed this year, because Murray is now the favourite, which is rough, tough on him,” Wilander said. “But he is so calm, so concentrated. He looks like someone who is extremely confident in all he wants to do.”
That is also the viewpoint of Darren Cahill, the Australian who coached Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt at the top of their careers and is now part of the adidas group of roving consultants, as well as a much respected television analyst. Cahill said last night: “This is a great opportunity for Andy to assert himself as a contender for a major title. He’s a champion in the waiting, it’s just a matter of time.
“Against [Rafael] Nadal he had to be offensive and we saw some variations in his game. He served and volleyed, a turning point which, ultimately, is the way he will play all the time. It doesn’t quite come naturally for him just yet but you have to be patient with that sort of stuff.
“Andy has a great game to succeed against [Marin] Cilic. He has the defensive game to run down anything Cilic offers from the back of the court, but he can also spread the court, so it’s Cilic who is going to have to make more adjustments. I don’t think there’s any job you could give Andy that he wouldn’t be able to handle.”
Investment in Andy Murray’s potential is ever closer to maturity
The British No 1's progress to the semi-finals of the Australian Open is reward for both hard work and foresight
Into his third grand-slam tournament semi-final, Andy Murray is shedding the chrysalis of potential and beginning to don the cloak of definitive achievement. Lest any British tennis writer be accused of rejoicing before there is anything tangible to celebrate, the progress of the 22-year-old this month has had to be witnessed at first hand to be truly appreciated.
Yes, the British No 1 may lose to Marin Cilic, of Croatia, in tomorrow’s semi-final, but should he win, one of Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga would await on Sunday. Please do not overlook that Federer is still in the event and he has won 15 of these baubles. Murray has not yet won a grand-slam title and this job is only five-sevenths completed.
It would be remiss, though, not to consider the mature manner in which the Scot has approached this enormous challenge. The perception among those who think that he is trying to bring the best from himself is that Murray can do no more than he has done already in Australia. He is a blessedly skilful player — he always was and for that we should give enormous credit to Judy, his mother.
Accepting months ago that he was not physically developed, he worked so dutifully on that side that he is in remarkable shape and credit also must go to Jez Green and Matt Little, his physical trainers. Miles Maclagan, an understated coach, has got on with his job without singing from any rooftop. They are an excellent match.
When Murray chose to play the Hopman Cup in Perth in the first week of the year, eschewing ranking points in the Middle East, many bemused critics wondered what he was doing. Murray had made up his mind that this was the way — and any financial guarantee to play there was far less than that he would have earned from passing through Arabia — and at this point, arguments to the contrary are fruitless.
He did his bit in Perth, as Kathy Robson, mother of Laura, the 2008 Wimbledon junior champion and Murray’s Hopman Cup team-mate, was keen to emphasise as the mixed event unfolded. “What a wonderful young man Andy is,” she said. He is not often described as such. A veteran Italian writer wondered yesterday if he was happier surrounded by his “team” than in press conferences, because he did not smile that much. “Have you ever tried sitting here?” Murray replied. “I don’t get excited by this any more.”
We never knew he was excited in the first place and what is more, if he walks away with the trophy on Sunday, why should we care?
28.01.2010 - Andy Murray w finale Australian Open. Szkot zagra w finale WS po raz drugi w karierze. Dzisiejszy sukces nad Marinem Ciliciem gwarantuje Maremu 3 miejsce w rankingu Entry. W niedziele zagra o 1 Szlema i pozycję wicelidera ATP Entry Ranking.
Murray Becomes First Briton In 33 Years To Reach Final; Beats Cilic In Four Sets
Andy Murray became the first British player to reach the Australian Open final since John Lloyd in 1977 and the first British man to reach at least two Grand Slam finals in 72 years, after defeating No. 14 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
The fifth-seeded Scot will attempt to become Britain’s first Australian Open champion since Fred Perry in 1934, against either top seed and three-time former titlist Roger Federer of Switzerland or tenth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who play their semi-final on Friday night. Murray finished runner-up to Federer in the 2008 US Open final.
Cilic was understandably nervous at the start of his first Grand Slam semi-final, but dug himself out of trouble from 15/40 in the second game.
By the fifth game, Cilic had begun to manage his nerves and two forehand errors from Murray and a cross-court forehand winner gave the Croatian three break point opportunities. Serving at 0/40, Murray attacked the net and aggressive serving helped him win five points in a row. Three game points went begging before Murray hit his first ace on Cilic’s fourth break point of the match. However, a wild forehand on the fifth point proved costly.
Murray dictated play on the Cilic serve in the sixth game, but squandered a break point at 30/40 and two opportunities on two advantage points. Cilic was fortunate to save the third point, when a forehand hit the net cord and dropped into the court stone dead — giving Murray no chance to scramble it up.
Cilic kept the break of serve to 5-3, when three unforced errors by Murray — two backhands and one forehand volley into the net — gifted the 6’6” Croatian three set point opportunities. At 0/40, Murray was powerless in returning a deep crosscourt forehand and Cilic raced to his chair with the first set, having hit 12 winners, after 51 minutes of aggressive play.
Cilic kept Murray on the run all the time at the start of the second set, hitting a better length of ball into court, but a moment of brilliance sparked the fifth seed from Dunblane into life.
In the fifth game, Murray created one break point opportunity at 30/40. Finding himself at the net, Murray appeared to be stranded when a short volley landed mid-court. Cilic decided to lob Murray, but the Scot chased it down; spun around and struck a forehand winner down the line for a 3-2 lead.
Spectators in Rod Laver Arena rose to their feet, Murray punched the air in celebration and after the change of ends he returned to the court a different player. Finding extra power on his serve, Murray started to rush Cilic into errors and was able to hold his own from the baseline.
At 2-4, Cilic served at 30/40 but responded to the danger with a forehand crosscourt winner on approach to the net. Murray had three further opportunities for the game, but Cilic hit unreturned serves — twice down the middle and once out wide — before clinching the game.
Murray highlighted his variety of shots when serving for the match at 5-4. A drop shot winner at the net at 30-0, in particular, was warmly applauded by 15,000 spectators as it brought him three set point opportunities. Murray won the 48-minute second set and at one set apiece both players had hit 25 winners overall, but Cilic had committed 26 unforced errors to Murray’s 17.
Controlling play from the baseline in the third set, Murray converted the first of two break point opportunities at 15/40 in the third game, with a deep return to Cilic’s feet. But a loss of concentration in the next game, gave Cilic hope. Cilic struck a forehand crosscourt winner on his third break point opportunity, when Murray was approaching the net, for 2-2.
In the seventh game, Cilic hit two forehands mid-court and paid the price as Murray put away successive winners for two break point opportunities. At 15/40, Cilic was forced to scramble to return a Murray forehand service return. Recovering his position in the centre of the court, Cilic opted to hit a backhand drop shot that hit the top of the net and bounced back onto his side.
Murray confirmed the service break — dropping one point — for a 5-3 lead. On the Cilic serve, Murray worked his way to the net for volleys winners on successive points to create two set point opportunities at 15/40. Clever service placement handed Cilic two easy volleys and eventually a service hold, leaving Murray to close out the 45-minute third set.
Having looked secure on serve early in the fourth set, Cilic began to tire. With 18-and-a-half hours of play in his legs, from five previous matches, the Croatian gifted Murray the third game with a double fault having led 40/15. Murray’s fitness and athleticism, fuelled by three weeks of training in Miami, Florida, in December, was evident in the next game, when he covered half the court to flick a backhand winner down the line past Cilic in a love service hold for 3-1.
In the fifth game, a deep forehand return from Murray at 30/30 saw Cilic rush a forehand response. It gave Murray a break point opportunity, which was quickly converted much to the delight of his coach Miles Maclagan, mother Judy and the Scot’s team in the players’ box.
Shortly after three hours of play, Murray served his way into a second Grand Slam championship final.
Australian Open: Drugi wielkoszlemowy finał Murraya
Andy Murray po zwycięstwie 3:6, 6:4, 6:4, 6:2 nad Marinem Čiliciem awansował do finału Australian Open. Brytyjczyk po raz drugi zagra o wielkoszlemowy tytuł. Podobnie jak w US Open 2008 jego rywalem może być Roger Federer, który w piątek gra z Jo-Wilfriedem Tsongą.
Mimo nieudanego początku Murray, numer pięć z rozstawienia (numery cztery rankingu dziś, a trzy od poniedziałku) w efektowny sposób odprawił o rok młodszego rywala, który po raz pierwszy znalazł się na tym szczeblu. Nagroda dla Čilicia to czekający go za kilka dni debiut w Top 10. - Nie spodziewałem się, że mogę tak daleko zajść. Gdybym był tylko bardziej świeży... - mówi.
Čilić miał bowiem za sobą aż trzy mecze pięciosetowe - 18 godzin na korcie! Otwierający set był natomiast pierwszym straconym przez Murraya w turnieju. Pojedynek chłopaków z roczników 1987 i 1988 zakończył się zwycięstwem faworyta, który tak jak w skróconym kreczem rywala meczu z Rafaelem Nadalem wspiął się na najwyższy poziom.
Maratonów z 1/8 i ćwierćfinału nie chce brać za wytłumaczenie porażki Čilić. - Nie mogę powiedzieć, że byłem przygotowany na sto procent, ale każdy wydeptuje własną drogę do półfinału - mówił. - Skuteczność mojego pierwszego serwisu [56%] nie była za wysoka, więc musiałem grać wiele wymian, w których nie punktowałem tak jak na początku meczu - tłumaczył.
Chorwat nie ukrywał, że zagrał kilka imponujących piłek. Ta przy serwisie na mecz Murraya (5:2 w czwartym secie), "rogalem" obok słupka, poderwała do wiwatu trybuny Rod Laver Arena. Będącemu wtedy dwie piłki od finału Murrayowi zrzedła mina: trudno było uwierzyć, że ktoś będzie w stanie dojść do jego płaskiego wyrzucającego uderzenia.
Dlaczego Murray jest tak trudnym rywalem? - Bo adaptuje się do każdego stylu, łatwo czyta grę. Jego przygotowanie fizycznie stawia go w czołówce - ocenił Čilić, który po swoim lobie nadział się na minięcie Szkota przed decydującą stratą podania na 2:3 w drugim secie. Potem nie utrzymał serwisu, oddalając się od Murraya na 3:4 w secie trzecim. Ostatnia partia (prowadząc 40-15 przy 1:1, kombinacją błędów i decydującym podwójnym serwisowym przegrał podanie) była już konsekwencją straty przez Chorwata sił.
Bo Murray (40 wygrywających uderzeń i 29 niewymuszonych błędów) nie wahał się w próbach doprowadzenia rywala (bilans 35-54) do stanu fizycznego zamęczenia. Po to zmiany kierunku wymian, po to częste skróty. - Podczas finału US Open dwa lata temu byłem nerwowy, nie da się ukryć - wspomina swój poprzedni finał turnieju wielkoszlemowego. - Wszystko wtedy zdarzyło się tak szybko, nie miałem czasu się przygotować. Ale teraz będzie inaczej - zapowiada trzeci w Erze Open brytyjski finalista Wielkiego Szlema. Ostatnim jego rodakiem, który wygrał, był w 1936 roku w Nowym Jorku Fred Perry.
Yannick napisał:
Sportowe fakty napisał:
Ta przy serwisie na mecz Murraya (5:2 w czwartym secie), "rogalem" obok słupka, poderwała do wiwatu trybuny Rod Laver Arena. Będącemu wtedy dwie piłki od finału Murrayowi zrzedła mina: trudno było uwierzyć, że ktoś będzie w stanie dojść do jego płaskiego wyrzucającego uderzenia.
Co to za ekspert pisał? Przecież było dokładnie odwrotnie, to Murray zagrał obok słupka...
Nie ma już co się wściekać na poziom artykułów na stronie es, po prostu należy z politowaniem to zaakceptować :).
To nie ES jest autorem tego tekstu, tylko Sportowe fakty. ;)
To teraz coś z poważnej gazety. ;)
Andy Murray pierwszym finalistą
Tenisista rozstawiony z numerem piątym Andy Murray został pierwszym finalistą wielkoszlemowego turnieju Australian Open (z pulą nagród 22,14 mln dol. australijskich) na twardych kortach w Melbourne Park.
W półfinale 22-letni Szkot pokonał Chorwata Marina Cilica (nr 11.) 3:6, 6:4, 6:4, 6:2.
Tylko na początku meczu Cilicowi układała się gra i przejmował inicjatywę w wymianach. Po tym, jak wygrał pierwszego seta 6:3, wyraźnie został zepchnięty na drugi plan przez coraz lepiej spisującego się Murraya.
- Trochę dzisiaj przespałem pierwsze gemy, ale później udało mi się złapać właściwy rytm gry i wszystko potoczyło się już po mojej myśli. Myślę, że jestem dobrze przygotowany; mogę tu zwyciężyć, chociaż jeśli będę musiał zagrać z Federerem, to na pewno nie będzie łatwe - powiedział 22-letni Szkot.
W czterech poprzednich występach w tym turnieju Murray dwukrotnie dochodził do 1/8 finału, a także dwukrotnie ponosił porażki w pierwszej rundzie. Tym razem uzyskał najlepszy wynik i po raz drugi w karierze osiągnął finał w Wielkim Szlemie.
Jest największą nadzieją angielskich kibiców na pierwszy od 74 lat triumf ich tenisisty w jednym z czterech najważniejszych turniejów w sezonie. Ostatnim jego rodakiem, jaki wygrał Australian Open był Fred Perry, który dwa lata później triumfował w Wimbledonie. Od tego czasu nie udało się to żadnemu Brytyjczykowi, choć w ostatnich nadzieję wzbudzał Tim Henman.
Murray bliski tego celu był we wrześniu 2008 roku, ale w nowojorskim US Open przegrał mecz o tytuł ze Szwajcarem Rogerem Federerem.
Być może w Melbourne będzie miał okazję do rewanżu, bowiem w piątek wieczorem Federer (nr 1.) zagra o finał z Francuzem Jo-Wilfriedem Tsongą (12.), finalistą tej imprezy sprzed dwóch lat. Szwajcar przegrał to decydujący pojedynek w ubiegłym roku (z Hiszpanem Rafaelem Nadalem), a w dorobku ma trzy zwycięstwa w Australian Open, odniesione w 2004 roku i w latach 2006-07.
28-letni Federer może też zdobyć 16. tytuł wielkoszlemowy, czym wyśrubuje rekord wszech czasów, bowiem sześciokrotnie był też najlepszy w Wimbledonie, pięć razy w US Open, a przed rokiem po raz pierwszy w Roland Garros. Drugi w tej klasyfikacji Amerykanin Pete Sampras zakończył karierę z dorobkiem 14 triumfów.
Andy Murray on verge of grand slam win
ANDY Murray stands on the brink of grand slam history after last night vaulting into the Australian Open final.
Murray defeated Croat Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 after initially appearing to suffer a severe case of stage fright.
On Sunday night the Scot will try to become the first British man in 74 years to win a grand slam singles title.
Fred Perry lifted the Wimbledon title in 1936.
Murray, 22, will face either world No. 1 Roger Federer or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who meet tonight.
Murray is the first Briton to appear in an Australian Open decider since Englishman John Lloyd lost in five sets to Argentine Vitas Gerulaitis on grass at Kooyong in 1977.
Beaten in the US Open final two years ago by Federer, world No. 5 Murray has long been regarded as the best player not to have won a major.
The right-hander is one of the smartest tacticians on tour and needed all of his court craft and pure ball-striking to handle Cilic, the Open's marathon man.
Under siege for the first set and a half, Murray unleashed a brilliant winner to snap Cilic's domination after running from the net to the baseline and whipping a forehand down the line to end the rally of the tournament.
As soon as the ball landed near the sideline, Murray sensed the tide had turned.
Until then the weight of history appeared to stifle Murray.The Scot gradually worked his way into the contest, imposing his will and greater variety of shots on a fatigued Cilic.
Murray had not dropped a set in winning five matches.
Cilic took just 51 minutes to change that, breaking the Scot's serve in the fifth and the ninth games to sow the seeds of doubt in his opponent's mind.
Dominant from inside the baseline, Cilic dictated with heavy drives to have Murray scurrying from side to side.
The Croat won 14 points in a row from the eighth game of the first set to the second game of the second set.
Just as it appeared Murray's grand slam title dream was in tatters, he broke Cilic's serve in the fifth game and steadily upped the ante.
Levelling the match after 100 energy-sapping minutes, Murray wrested back control.
Cilic's effort to outlast Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro and Stanilas Wawrinka in grinding five-setters began to tell.
A weary netted backhand in the third game of the third set had the Scot jogging to his chair as Cilic trudged away in disappointment.
True to a tournament crammed with counter-punches, Cilic immediately broke back - but he was soon back on the ropes.
Murray broke serve again to edge ahead 5-3.
Now Cilic was running on empty as Murray took the third set.
Andy Murray confident of making history in Melbourne
Andy Murray reached his second grand-slam final after recovering superbly from a set down against Marin Cilic to win in four sets.
It all sounds so simple. Andy Murray is one match away from lifting the cloak of despair that has covered the British men’s game for 74 years when he plays in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday morning.
Tomorrow, Murray will discover whether Roger Federer, the greatest player of them all, or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, of France, is to stand in his way. The 22-year-old reached his second grand-slam tournament final this morning, defeating Marin Cilic, of Croatia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena.
His first final, at Flushing Meadows in September 2008, ended in the rush of a straight-sets defeat by Federer. But that is the man he wants to play and, remarkably, since the 2005 French Open, the last three players to win their first grand-slam final, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro, all beat the Swiss en route to their momentous breakthrough.
Federer made 17 grand-slam appearances before he won his first title at Wimbledon in 2003. This is Murray’s 17th grand-slam event. The British No 1, who had not been beyond the fourth round here before, said: “It would be the best way ever, if you win against him, if you beat Federer in a grand-slam final it has to be an unbelievable achievement. I would love to win against him but he’s probably going to be the tougher opponent. I’m just focusing on trying to win and I can start working on the tactics tomorrow once I know who I play.
“I haven’t seen that much of Federer here but I did see some snatches of him against [Lleyton] Hewitt and he played great. It seems that he struggled a bit yesterday [against Nikolay Davydenko when Federer was a set and a break of serve down] but he came through and that’s the important thing. And he’s been winning reasonably comfortably.”
Murray confessed that nerves almost consumed him against Cilic in the semi-final, the Briton's longest and most troublesome match of the six he has played in the tournament. The memory of last year’s Wimbledon semi-final, when he was so close and yet was beaten by Andy Roddick, was in the back of his mind as well. “I had the chances to win that day,” he said. “But I don’t feel the expectation so much here.“
When the subject of Britain’s long wait for a grand-slam champion was raised by an Australian reporter, Murray said: “I don’t read the newspapers here, I haven’t been on TV that much so I can just kind of avoid it, I guess.
“I would love to do it. It’s not the only reason [breaking the 74-year duck]. I want to win for the people I work with, for my parents who did so much for me when I was growing up, then doing it for British tennis and British sport would be excellent as well. The pressure that I feel doesn’t come from the people around me. They are happy with anything I do. I want to win for them first of all.
“I would rather be in the position of having to wait for the final than what happened to me at the US Open in 2008 when I had to play on three consecutive days. In a slam, that hardly ever happens, so physically I’m going to be in good shape. This is the best I have played in a slam. I’m old enough and experienced enough to be able to deal with everything I need to.
“I love the atmosphere on the centre court here. When I played Nadal in 2006, it was the most amazing thing I had ever experienced. This is right up there as one of the best places in the world to play.”
Konferencja po 1/2 AO:
Q. How do you feel after that?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it feels good. I mean, obviously had not had that long to think about it. But it's obviously quite a long match. Pretty intense. A lot of nerves and stuff in the first set.
But, yeah, glad I got to come through, obviously.
Q. The emotional lift you got and the whole crowd got from that one shot, how important was that in your own mind?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it was really important 'cause I don't want to say the match was slipping away from me, but the momentum was definitely with him. The beginning of the match I created, I think, more of the chances I had, you know, opportunity to break right away and didn't take it. And he played some really aggressive tennis after that, you know, was putting me under a lot of pressure.
But, yeah, that shot made a big difference.
Q. You said you often practice that shot. How often do you hit it as well as that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I guess when, you know, you practice it, Miles or whoever's it's with, knows it's coming because I do practice it a lot, when it goes over my head, sometimes on the backhand side, as well.
Yeah, I mean, doesn't happen that often in matches. It's come off a few times in matches, but that's probably the most important time probably.
Q. You talked about the nerves. In the first hour, I think everyone in the stadium could sense it was nerves. Is that the semifinal‑itis?
ANDY MURRAY: It's tough, because before the match, you know, everyone is sort of thinking, Cilic, he's got to be tired. The start of the match for me, I felt like it was really important because, you know, if I could get up a set, you know, his head might drop.
He played obviously a lot of tennis, had a few chances at the start. Then, when I did get broken, had a chance to break straight back, you know, he had a net cord that just dropped over on one of the breakpoints. You know, a few things weren't quite going my way.
You know, I was obviously happy I managed to turn it around. Because, like I say, he started to dictate the match.
Q. How concerned were you early in the second set?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, there's a long way to go in the match. I've been a set down before in slams. You know, even in best‑of‑three set matches, you got a lot more time to turn it around in best‑of‑five. I mean, obviously I would have rather been a set up. But still a long way to go. You got time to work things out, change your game plan a little bit. And I managed to do that.
Q. What is the opportunity to play another Grand Slam final mean to you at this point in your career?
ANDY MURRAY: It's really important. I mean, after last year I had a few tough losses in the Grand Slams. You know, Wimbledon, I had a chance to make the final there. Lost a really, really tight match against Roddick.
It's nice. It's what you work for. It's why at the end of the season I go to train in Miami to try and give myself the opportunity to play in these slams. Obviously, I want to try and win one.
Q. How do you deal with the expectation building back home?
ANDY MURRAY: You don't really feel it that much. Wimbledon is a bit different, especially in the lead‑up to the tournament. But when you're away and stuff, don't take any notice of it. You know, there's no newspapers that I would read over here. It's not really on the TV that much.
So just kind of avoid it, I guess.
Q. Can you give us your thoughts on your prospective opponents?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, obviously Roger's record in slams speaks for itself. He had a great year last year in them making all four finals. You know, he lost the two ‑‑ the two that he lost were incredibly tough five‑setters. You know, if I'm going to play against him, it will take a special performance to win against him. But I feel like I can do that.
Tsonga, he's one of the most exciting guys to watch because of his athleticism and the way that he plays. He's obviously had great results here in the past, so...
Both obviously going to be very tough. Federer obviously has more experience than Tsonga.
Q. The TV coverage highlighted you kind of clenching at your back. Any concern there?
ANDY MURRAY: Even at the start of the tournament, my back has just been stiff. The courts, they're just really sticky. With it being only the first, second tournament of the year, you know, you expect to have little niggles. I'm sure a lot of the other players do, as well, because the season is so long, we don't have a whole lot of time off.
It's not going to be a problem in the final. It's just a little bit stiff.
Q. The buildup to this final is very different to 2008. You basically were there before you knew it because of the scheduling. Is this going to give you different problems? You have a lot of time to kill.
ANDY MURRAY: I'd rather be in this position than what happened at the US Open. I mean, you know, I played three days in a row. In a slam, that almost never happens to anyone. You know, so physically I'm gonna be in good shape, that's for sure. Just need to make sure that I practice properly the next few days, practice enough.
You know, I'm sure I'll be fine.
Q. From the experience of Roddick, did you learn things from that that you could apply today?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, not really. I mean, obviously the Roddick match was, you know, one that I definitely had chances to win it. You know, it's so different playing on the grass against someone like Roddick. It comes down to a few points each of the sets, whereas against Marin or most of the guys, you know, you can break serve more often and it's not just, you know, you feel like if you have the right tactics and the right game plan, you know, you can dictate what happens in the match.
Against such guys like Roddick or Karlovic, it just comes down to a few points. I didn't really think back or learn that much going into this one from the Roddick match.
Q. I think there's a general perception that you were extremely nervous in your first slam final. Can you describe your feelings that day?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I was obviously nervous. I mean, you know, as everyone is going to be. But, you know, it's tough. I mean, I'd had a tough run through to the final. You know, it just all came around so quick, I didn't have that much time to prepare myself for it.
Whereas this time's obviously going to be different. Hopefully I'll play better. I'm sure I will.
Q. You only lost one set so far. Could you be feeling better going into the final?
ANDY MURRAY: This is the best I've played at a slam, I think, you know. Obviously the match against Rafa was great. Tonight, the majority of the match was great, as well.
But, yeah, I feel good. Physically I'm going to be fresh for the final. You know, just comes down to who plays the better tennis on the day. It's my job to do that.
Q. Is there any extra motivation for you to know that you could be the one to break a long Grand Slam drought for Britain?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I'd obviously love to do it. It's not really the only reason, you know, that I want to win a slam. I want to win it, you know, obviously for the people that I work with, for my parents and stuff, who obviously helped me when I was growing up, then doing it for British tennis and British sport would be excellent, as well.
But, you know, the pressure that I feel doesn't come from the people that are around me. They obviously are happy with anything that I do. But, you know, I want to win for them first.
Q. And what would it mean for Scotland to you?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I think it would obviously be huge. I mean, never really been any tennis players from Scotland. You know, the support that I've had from back home has been great. You know, hopefully I can do it.
Q. So much time between now and the final, is there a danger you might play the match too many times in your mind?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know who I'm going to play until late tomorrow night, so I'm not going to be thinking that much about it until I know who I'm playing against.
It's nice. I'm happy to have days off. After, like I said, last time I played three days in a row. This way works out much better, I think.
Q. When you bring off the kind of shot you did bring off in the second set, then in the final game of the match, the crowd really is loving it, how do you feel out there?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it feels great. I mean, when it happens and you're ahead, you get obviously adrenaline rush at the end of the match, very close to finishing it off, I ‑‑ I didn't feel like I had the match won, but I felt pretty relaxed in the last game. So those moments are great.
You know, they don't happen that often, so you've got to enjoy them.
Q. You told us yesterday you like to enjoy any match you're playing no matter what the stakes are. Do you think you'll be able to enjoy the final, considering how important it is?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, the thing is, I mean, when you look back at the US Open final, you know, definitely when I look back at it, you obviously enjoy the experiences. It was a huge low if you don't win. But I can imagine the high that you feel when you win a Grand Slam is incredible.
So, you know, I'll try and enjoy it as best as I can. But I'm sure, regardless of the result, when I look back in two, three, four years' time, I definitely will have enjoyed it.
Q. Do you have a preference?
ANDY MURRAY: It's tough. Obviously, both are obviously great players. Federer's record in slams is amazing. You know, everyone knows he's one of the best players ever. So, you know, it would be incredibly tough to beat him. But if I was to win a slam against him in the final, it would make it extra special.
I guess the pressure's gonna be on whoever it's against. But it's a little bit different. If it's against Federer, I think he would be expected to win. If it was against Tsonga, I would probably be the slight favorite.
So both are going to be tricky.
Q. Is there a danger you could end up playing the occasion rather than the opponent?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it's my job to make sure that I play against the opponent and not let that get, you know, in the way of my performance. There's obviously going to be a lot of pressure out there and nerves. But I think I'm old enough now and experienced enough now to be able to deal with it well.
Q. You played in some amazing stadiums. Where does Rod Laver Arena rank against the others?
ANDY MURRAY: They all are different. The match against Nadal I played here in 2006 was the best atmosphere I played, you know, and absolutely loved it. No, it's great. I mean, all of the slams, they're all different. But the atmosphere in all of the center courts is amazing. It's definitely up there.
ao.com
Murray marches into decider
Andy Murray will appear in his second Grand Slam final following a solid come-from-behind semi-final victory against Croatia’s Marin Cilic at Australian Open 2010 on Thursday.
Murray won his first semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 in just over three hours before a packed Rod Laver Arena.
The victory helped the Scot avenge his fourth round defeat at the hands of Cilic in last year’s US Open.
After the match, Murray said he was delighted to be through to the final, describing Cilic’s effort as “great”.
“He fought really hard. I’m really happy. I knew I could go through … you just have to believe in yourself.”
The 2008 US Open finalist said he is looking forward to a break before Sunday’s final.
“I think I will probably practice tomorrow and have a hit for 30 to 45 minutes on Saturday. It’s nice to have a couple of days off and to be fresh,” he said.
Cilic, the 14th seed, started the match the stronger player as Murray lacked the accuracy that had seen him go through the tournament without dropping a set to that point.
At 2-2 in the first set, the Croatian broke Murray’s serve, and after fending off three break points in the following game, he extended his lead to 4-2. Cilic broke again at 5-3 to take the set – Murray’s first dropped set of the event to date.
Cilic carried the momentum into the second set, and after holding serve comfortably in the opening game, he had Murray at 0-30 on his own serve.
The 22-year-old fought hard to hold, and it was from that point he began to dominate. At 2-2, Murray managed an incredible forehand winner as he sprinted back to the baseline to retrieve a clever lob from Cilic in what was the rally of the match.
That point spurred the Scot on, and he broke Cilic’s serve, rounding out the set 6-4 and showing increasing confidence as his opponent started to offer up more free points.
Murray broke early in the third set to lead 2-1, but the Croatian pulled out two spectacular winners in the following game to break back to 2-2. However, the fifth seed was able to capitalise on Cilic’s errors – which included three double faults – and break again to take the set 6-4.
The fourth set always looked to be Murray’s, with Cilic showing signs of fatigue from the three five-set battles that had got him to the semi-final.
A double fault from the Croatian in the third game of the set gave Murray the break, and he eventually broke again, going on to win the set 6-2.
Murray’s performance in the latter sets was greatly improved from the error-ridden first set, and he offered frequent forehand winners on the run – including a thrilling shot at full stretch which bisected the net post and the umpire’s chair to find the corner of the baseline.
Cilic’s 54 unforced errors proved costly at key moments, in particular the six double faults which allowed Murray extra chances to build pressure on his serve.
Murray now faces the winner of Friday’s semi-final between Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.
Fast facts
- Cilic hit six double faults to Murray’s one.
- Cilic produced 54 unforced errors to Murray’s 29.
- Murray capitalised on five of 16 break point chances, while Cilic converted three of nine.
- The win was Murray’s fourth over Cilic in five meetings.
Andy hires a Hitman
TENNIS star Andy Murray is calling on boxing pal Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton to help him deliver a knock-out blow in Sunday's Australian Open final - and become the first Brit to win a Grand Slam title in more than 70 years.
Former two time world champ Hatton cheered on the Dunblane ace during his victory over Rafael Nadal earlier this week.
But the boxer missed Murray's sensational semi-final win Down Under yesterday over Marin Cilic after his fiancée Jennifer Dooley fell ill. Now fight fan Murray is desperate for the 31-year-old to take a ringside seat for his showdown with either world No1 Roger Federer or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Murray, 22, said: "I love boxing - it's my favourite sport. Ricky's actually meant to be leaving tomorrow to go to Sydney but hopefully I'll be able to persuade him to stay.
"He wasn't able to make it today because his girlfriend was sick unfortunately. I'm sure I can find a ticket for him for Sunday."
Andy's proud mum Judy, 50, also revealed how much it means to her son to have the Hitman's support.
She wrote on her blog: "Andy is a huge boxing and Hitman fan so he was loving the extra support and catching up after the match."
But she admitted the Stockport scrapper had been put off by her son's chilly post-match routine. She added: "Ricky was intrigued by Andy's ice bath recovery and went to the locker room to check it out. He came back saying he would NOT be adding it to his training regime." Last night Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the praise for Murray's Australian campaign. He said: "Andy is in the final and I hope he wins this major tournament. It would be great news. He is a great tennis player and a great guy."
And First Minister Alex Salmond told Holyrood: "The whole chamber will want to congratulate Andy Murray on reaching the Australian Open final."
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "The whole of Scotland is following Andy's incredible progress and cheering him on. There were a couple of tense moments, but he showed his class by picking himself up and playing some great tennis.
"I'm really hoping he can go all the way - 74 years is a long time to wait for a British Grand Slam winner and this young Scot is by far the best prospect we've had for a generation." Murray's thrilled grandparents, Roy and Shirley Erskine, watched the game back home and were delighted with the result.
Roy said: "I've seen him play better but, with the fact it was a semi-final and a Grand Slam, he did very well. We don't allow anyone else in the house when we're watching a match like that because it's personal - and I'm known to kick the coffee table now and then."
The dramatic win sent Murray mania into overdrive in the player's home town of Dunblane, Perthshire.
His uncle Niall Erskine, who runs an opticians in the town, said he rushed home from the school run to tune in for the game.
He added: "I think the whole town was the same - it seemed like everyone was walking faster than usual to get home and get the TV on. Obviously I was walking the fastest. Afterwards I managed to speak to my sister Judy and she was having a ball."
Proud Niall added: "Andy looks at the likes of Roger Federer, and he's at the point in his career when he can confidently say 'I'm as good as them and I deserve to be here.'
"It would be great if he could win this match. It's quite something to be Britain's No1, but to win a Grand Slam is what he's always wanted.
"We're just so lucky to have such a talent in the family, and he makes us proud every day. I just hope I can sleep on Saturday night, before Sunday's big match - I know I'll be shaking like a leaf."
Dunblane butcher Graham Fleming said the town was "buzzing with anticipation" ahead of this weekend's final.
The 45-year-old said: "It's just wonderful to see a local lad do himself and his country proud - we knew he could do it."
And roofer Davy O'Hare, 41, who was working in the town, said: "You get a real sense of pride when you hear of a Scottish athlete or sportsman doing well. Over the last few years, he's really matured as an athlete. He can handle the pressure, so this could well be his year."
Dunblane Hotel owner Tom McLean has got a special licence so people can watch the Sunday morning showdown. He said: "We will be open from 8am to watch Andy. Everyone is looking forward to it."
And at the Dunblane Centre, a crowd also gathered to watch the semi-final. Volunteer Bill Stewart said: "Everybody was really fired up and are now looking forward to the game on Sunday."
Wywiad przed finałem AO10:
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Can you tell us what you've been doing since the semifinal win.
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, yeah, not a whole lot. I mean, obviously finished pretty late on Thursday. Came in to practice about 2:00 yesterday. Practiced for about an hour or so. Pretty much slept quite a lot yesterday 'cause got to bed about 2:00 on Thursday night/Friday morning. So, yeah, sleeping a lot, practicing, seeing the physio, making sure everything is good, just resting.
Q. What do you need to do differently in this match than you did in New York in the last final?
ANDY MURRAY: Just play better. I mean, physically I'm going to be a lot fresher. And, yeah, just play better. I have a game that can cause Roger problems. I need to play my best tennis for five sets to beat him.
Q. He's a heck of a frontrunner. Is the start crucial?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, against Del Potro at the US Open last year, he was up a set and serving for the set, and Del Potro came back. You know, guys have come back against him in the past.
Obviously, it would be nice to start well, but I don't think it's the end of the match if the start doesn't go my way. Five‑set matches, so much can happen. A lot can change in just a few points, like my match the other night against Cilic. It's not the end of the world if the start doesn't go to plan.
Q. You only played him once in a Grand Slam, but do you get a sense that he's a different proposition in a Grand Slam than any of the tour events?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I mean, his record in slams is incredible. You know, I think in three sets some guys ‑‑ you know, you can play great for a set and a half, and the match can be done. Like, you know, when Davydenko was playing the other day, if that was in a regular tour event, you know, maybe because he was closer to the finish line, he might have closed the match out, whereas in the Grand Slams it takes a bit longer, which makes it tougher.
But his record in Grand Slams is great. This is pretty much the same in other tournaments, as well. He's had the few odd upsets here and there, but his consistency is what has been so amazing the last seven, eight years.
Q. How hard has it been dealing with the long wait to get through to Sunday night?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it's been fine. I mean, you know, you can prepare exactly how you want to, get as much rest as you need. You can sleep when you want. So, no, that's been good. You know, a lot better than when I played at the US Open, played three days in a row. I'd much rather have two days off in between and be physically fresh going into the match.
Q. Have you had much correspondence from Britain at all?
ANDY MURRAY: I've had a lot of good luck messages from friends and family from back home. Just trying to stay focused for another couple of days, not think about everything that's going on back home. Then I'll have some time to take it all in after the tournament's finished.
Q. Feel like 150,000 years?
ANDY MURRAY: I've only been alive for 22 and a little bit, so... But, yeah, it's been a long time. But, you know, it's gonna be tough.
Q. What did you make of his performance last night? Why do you think you are a better player than when you met him at the US Open?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, obviously last night was very good for him. A quick match. Not many long points. You know, obviously got ahead early. Played well afterwards. Tsonga would have been understandably a bit tired going into the match. He played back‑to‑back five‑setters. Once he got ahead, it was going to be tough for him to come back.
Well, I was only 20. I mean, 20 was pretty young when I played my first slam final. It was a year and a half, two years later, I just feel physically more mature, mentally more mature. You know, just a lot more experience in these sort of situations now.
Q. Mentally how do you prepare for a big match like this?
ANDY MURRAY: You have to try and ‑‑ it's not like any other match because obviously there's different pressure, you know, being a Grand Slam final. It doesn't happen every day of the week. So, you know, there's a few things that you do, you know, a little bit differently in your preparation to make sure, you know, you stay focused.
Because you have a couple of days, you don't want to be overthinking the match, playing it over too many times in your head. You just need to try and not think about it, if that's possible, get away from it.
Been watching some movies, some DVDs, some comedy DVDs to get your mind off of it.
Q. What sort of titles?
ANDY MURRAY: I actually don't know the name of the movie. It was on after the tennis last night. Then I've been watching Gavin & Stacy, a British comedy series I've been watching from back home.
Q. How would you describe your relationship with Roger?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I get on fine with him. I speak to him in the locker room when we see each other and chat. We've obviously had ‑‑ we played I think 10 times now on the tour. I've known him for four and a half, five years. No, we get on well.
Q. You've beaten him six times. Is there any one of those in particular you take real heart from tomorrow? The win in Shanghai, perhaps?
ANDY MURRAY: All of them. I mean, anytime you win against him is great, you know. If it's one win somewhere, if it was one win against nine losses, it would be a little bit different. But that's not the case.
I'm gonna need to play my best match ever. I'm totally aware of that going into the match tomorrow. That's what I plan on doing. I'll try and play my best. If I do, I've got a good chance of winning.
Q. What does it mean to you to have your mother here? Does she have an influence on you at all?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, I don't see her that much during the tournament. You know, I see her a little bit after all of my matches. You know, she does some commentary, loves watching, you know, the other matches as well. You know, I like having her here to watch. She obviously enjoys watching. I see her a lot throughout the rest of the year.
This week's business, you know, work. Just try and stick with the guys that I work with, not have any sort of distractions outside of the guys I work with.
Q. You mentioned Del Potro last year at the US Open. Have you studied that match and maybe some of Federer's other big losses as to how he can be taken down?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I played him a lot of times, so I know, you know, the way you need to play against him. Yeah, I've watched so many of his matches that I know how he plays. It's not going to be too many surprises on the court tomorrow.
But, you know, I've watched pretty much all of his Grand Slam finals, you know, bits of them at least. So, you know, I know what to expect. I know how he's gonna play. It's up to me, like I said, to play my best.
Q. What did you make of the Tsonga/Federer match?
ANDY MURRAY: It was quick. Roger played very well. I didn't think Tsonga played his best. Looked physically a little bit tired. You know, once Roger got ahead, looked like Tsonga's head went down a little bit. But Roger obviously played very well.
Q. Really stepped it up, didn't he? Takes it to a new level sometimes.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he played great. I'm sure he's gonna play great again tomorrow, yeah. Obviously, he plays very, very well. He's probably the best tennis player ever. So you would expect him to play well in those situations.
Q. Can you beat him if he plays his best?
ANDY MURRAY: Have to wait and see, you know. I think, you know, if I play my best, I think I got a good chance against anyone. And then, you know, at the top of any sport, it can come down to, you know, a few points here or there, sometimes a little bit of luck. You have to wait and see.
But if I play my best, I think I got a chance against anyone.
Andy Murray – wrażliwa dusza
Brytyjczycy wierzą, że 17. start Andy’ego Murraya w turnieju wielkoszlemowym będzie zwycięski. Posiłkują się statystyką Rogera Federera, który nie wygrał w pierwszych 16 startach i dopiero za 17. razem zdobył tytuł
Sam Murray chyba mniej wierzy w liczby, a bardziej w kompetentnych ludzi. Otoczył się wybitnymi fachowcami, ale przede wszystkim przyjaciółmi.
Andy szanuje rywali, lecz jest jednym z niewielu tenisistów, którzy potrafią zapomnieć o rywalizacji, jeśli życie tego wymaga. Gdy wiosną ubiegłego roku rodzice Nadala podjęli decyzję o separacji, Andy był pierwszym, który wyciągnął pomocną dłoń do Hiszpana, choć Rafael pokonał go gładko w trzech setach podczas Wimbledonu 2007.
– Obaj dżentelmeni umówili się z dala od zgiełku i zaczęli rozmawiać jak dwójka dobrych kumpli – opowiada Neil Harman, brytyjski dziennikarz podróżujący za Murrayem po światowych turniejach.
Andy miał 12 lat, kiedy jego mama Judy, trenerka tenisa, i tata William, pracujący w handlu detalicznym, postanowili się rozwieść. Rafaela nieszczęście to spotkało w wieku 22 lat, więc teoretycznie powinien sobie łatwiej poradzić z sytuacją. – Nadal przedkłada rodzinny spokój ponad wszystko, więc ciężko mu było się pozbierać – twierdzi Harman.
W niedzielny wieczór w Melbourne Murray wystąpi po raz drugi w finale Wielkiego Szlema. W 2008 roku w Nowym Jorku nie miał czasu na odpoczynek przed decydującym starciem, gdyż jego półfinał z Nadalem rozgrywano na raty na skutek opadów deszczu. – Federer będzie faworytem w finale. Nie odczuwam presji ze strony rodziny czy najbliższych przyjaciół. Oni są szczęśliwi bez względu na moje rezultaty. Presja wynika z gigantycznych oczekiwań Brytyjczyków – przyznał Szkot po zwycięskim półfinale z Marinem Ciliciem.
Murray przyleciał na antypody pod koniec ubiegłego roku, aby wystąpić w Pucharze Hopmana. – Przeanalizowałem z moim sztabem wszystkie możliwe opcje przygotowań. Nie było sensu grać w Dausze, skoro z Perth jest znacznie bliżej do Melbourne. Upały panujące w zachodniej Australii przekonały nas o konieczności wyboru wariantu z Perth. Pomyślałem, że jeśli wytrzymam trudy spotkań w skwarze podczas Pucharu Hopmana, Melbourne nie będzie mi straszne – wyjaśnia Andy, który w Australian Open stracił tylko seta.
Z Murrayem pracuje jeden z najspokojniejszych trenerów w męskim tenisie Miles McLagan, zwany przez swego podopiecznego Claggs. Przed laty prowadził parę deblową Ullyett – Hanley, a choć jest Szkotem tak jak Andy, ma afrykańskie korzenie z racji dziadków urodzonych w Zambii.
– To wszystko wyjaśnia – mówi Harman. – Andy potrzebował kogoś, kto ciszą przekaże więcej wiedzy, aniżeli krzykiem przekazywał ktoś taki jak Brad Gilbert. Miles wytłumaczył Andy’emu, aby nie używał problematycznych stwierdzeń, w stylu: „Grałem dziś jak kobieta”, za co swego czasu upomniano go w Auckland. Poza tym ma anielską cierpliwość, gdy patrzy, jak Andy zjada 40 kawałków sushi podczas jednego posiłku – śmieje się Harman.
Murray po pokonaniu Nadala wyjątkowo spieszył się do hotelu. – Mój syn potrafi wymienić jednym tchem nazwiska kubańskich pięściarzy, o których świat już zapomniał, a w naszym hotelu nocował sławny bokser Ricky Hatton. Gdy tylko Andy się o tym dowiedział, nie sposób było go zatrzymać – opowiada mama Murraya. Hatton jest fanem tenisa, ale nigdy wcześniej nie oglądał meczu z tzw. player’s box.
– Andy to klasa gość. Załatwił wejściówkę, przeżyłem wspaniałe emocje, będę dopingował go w finale. Współczuję mu, bo dźwiga oczekiwania całych Wysp Brytyjskich – mówił bokser.
Boks to niejedyny sport, który fascynuje Murraya. Jest też miłośnikiem Formuły 1. – Nigdy nie byłem na torze Silverstone, nie prosiłem Jensona Buttona, aby załatwił mi wejściówkę na paddock, ale bardzo chciałbym kiedyś obejrzeć wyścig na żywo – mówi.
Nie będzie więcej rapował, choć uczynił wyjątek dla braci Bryanów. – Nikt nie zmusi mnie do prezentowania moich umiejętności wokalnych. Tysiąc razy powtarzałem, że mam najnudniejszy głos spośród mieszkańców Wysp Brytyjskich – zarzeka się Murray. – Proszę spytać go o to po zwycięstwie w finale Wielkiego Szlema. Ręczę, że zaśpiewa przynajmniej jedną zwrotkę – mruga okiem mama Judy.
Ona wie, że jej syn jest wrażliwym chłopakiem, a ci nie stronią od muzyki.
Andy Murray: give me Roger Federer in Australian Open final
Andy Murray reached his second grand-slam final after recovering superbly from a set down against Marin Cilic to win in four sets
One match. It all sounds so simple. Andy Murray is one match away from lifting the cloak of despair that has settled over British men’s tennis for 74 years when he plays the final of the Australian Open on Sunday morning.
Today he will discover whether Roger Federer, the greatest player of them all, or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the on-fire Frenchman, is to stand in the way of the first British grand-slam victory since Fred Perry’s triumph at the US Open in 1936.
The 22-year-old from Dunblane reached his second grand-slam tournament final yesterday, defeating Marin Cilic, the No 14 seed from Croatia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, on Rod Laver Arena. Murray’s first final, in the US Open at Flushing Meadows in September 2008, ended in the rush of a straight-sets defeat by Federer.
But that is the man he wants to play and, remarkably, since the 2005 French Open, the past three players to win their first grand-slam final, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro, all beat the Swiss en route to their momentous breakthrough.
It took Federer 17 grand-slam appearances to win his first such title, at Wimbledon in 2003. This is Murray’s seventeenth.
The British No 1, who had not been beyond the fourth round here before, said: “It would be the best way ever if you win against him. If you beat Federer in a slam final, it has to be an unbelievable achievement so I would obviously love to win against him, but he’s probably going to be the tougher opponent. I can start working on the tactics tomorrow once I know who I play.
“I haven’t seen that much of Federer here, but I did see some snatches of him against [Lleyton] Hewitt and he played great. It seems that he struggled a bit yesterday [against Nikolay Davydenko, when Federer was a set and a break of serve down] but he came through and that’s the important thing. And he’s been winning reasonably comfortably.”
Murray confessed that nerves almost consumed him against Cilic in yesterday’s semi-final, the longest and most troublesome match of the six that he has played in this championship. The memory of last year’s Wimbledon semi-final, when he was so close and yet was beaten by Andy Roddick, the American, was in the back of his mind as well — “because I definitely had the chances to win that day,” he said. “But I don’t feel the expectation so much here.”
When the subject of Britain’s long wait for a grand-slam champion was raised by an Australian reporter, he said: “I would obviously love to do it. [Breaking the 74-year duck] is not the only reason. I want to win for the people I work with, for my parents, who did so much for me when I was growing up, then doing it for British tennis and British sport would be excellent as well. The pressure I feel doesn’t come from the people around me. They are happy with anything I do.”
Murray will have a two-day break before the final and is confident that he will be refreshed. “I would rather be in the position of having to wait for the final than what happened to me at the US Open in 2008 when I had to play on three consecutive days,” he said. “In a slam, that hardly ever happens, so physically I’m going to be in good shape. This is the best I have played in a slam — against Rafa [Nadal] it was great and the majority of the match tonight was great as well.
“It is going to come down to who plays better on the day and it’s going to be my job to do that. I think that I’m old enough and experienced enough to be able to deal with everything I need to deal with.”
bAndy Murray: beating Roger Federer in Australian Open final would be a dream
One match. It all sounds so simple. Andy Murray is one match away from lifting the cloak of despair that has settled over British men’s tennis for 74 years when he plays the final of the Australian Open on Sunday morning.
Roger Federer, the greatest player of them all, stands in the way of the first British grand-slam victory since Fred Perry’s triumph at the US Open in 1936.
The 22-year-old from Dunblane reached his second grand-slam tournament final yesterday, defeating Marin Cilic, the No 14 seed from Croatia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, on Rod Laver Arena. Murray’s first final, in the US Open at Flushing Meadows in September 2008, ended in the rush of a straight-sets defeat by Federer.
But that is the man he wanted to play and he now has his wish. Remarkably, since the 2005 French Open, the past three players to win their first grand-slam final, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro, all beat the Swiss en route to their momentous breakthrough.
It took Federer 17 grand-slam appearances to win his first such title, at Wimbledon in 2003. This is Murray’s seventeenth.
The British No 1, who had not been beyond the fourth round here before, said: “It would be the best way ever if you win against him. If you beat Federer in a slam final, it has to be an unbelievable achievement so I would obviously love to win against him, but he’s probably going to be the tougher opponent. I can start working on the tactics tomorrow once I know who I play.
“I haven’t seen that much of Federer here, but I did see some snatches of him against [Lleyton] Hewitt and he played great. It seems that he struggled a bit yesterday [against Nikolay Davydenko, when Federer was a set and a break of serve down] but he came through and that’s the important thing. And he’s been winning reasonably comfortably.”
Murray confessed that nerves almost consumed him against Cilic in yesterday’s semi-final, the longest and most troublesome match of the six that he has played in this championship. The memory of last year’s Wimbledon semi-final, when he was so close and yet was beaten by Andy Roddick, the American, was in the back of his mind as well — “because I definitely had the chances to win that day,” he said. “But I don’t feel the expectation so much here.”
When the subject of Britain’s long wait for a grand-slam champion was raised by an Australian reporter, he said: “I would obviously love to do it. [Breaking the 74-year duck] is not the only reason. I want to win for the people I work with, for my parents, who did so much for me when I was growing up, then doing it for British tennis and British sport would be excellent as well. The pressure I feel doesn’t come from the people around me. They are happy with anything I do.”
Murray will have a two-day break before the final and is confident that he will be refreshed. “I would rather be in the position of having to wait for the final than what happened to me at the US Open in 2008 when I had to play on three consecutive days,” he said. “In a slam, that hardly ever happens, so physically I’m going to be in good shape. This is the best I have played in a slam — against Rafa [Nadal] it was great and the majority of the match tonight was great as well.
“It is going to come down to who plays better on the day and it’s going to be my job to do that. I think that I’m old enough and experienced enough to be able to deal with everything I need to deal with.”
Tension in home town of Dunblane as Andy Murray prepares for final
Sunday mornings in the genteel Perthshire town of Dunblane are usually reserved for a visit to the local kirk. Tomorrow, however, residents are making an exception as Andy Murray, the town’s most famous son, has booked a place in the final of the Australian Open. For once, tennis comes first.
Pubs have obtained licences to open early, the community centre is throwing a party, and families are gathering around their television sets.
Tom McLean, owner of the Dunblane Hotel, is opening his doors three hours earlier than usual at 8am. “We’re opening early to see a good match and a Murray victory,” Mr McLean said. “We’ve got champagne going on ice and, if Andy wins, there will be free champagne all round.”
Mr McLean said that he expects a tense atmosphere in the bar as Murray meets his nemesis, Roger Federer, especially after the Swiss player joked yesterday that Murray wanted to be the first British winner in 150,000 years. “I think he is trying to turn up the pressure,” said Mr McLean. “I hope Andy shuts him up.”
At the Dunblane Centre, a youth and sports facility built after the massacre of 16 primary schoolchildren and their teacher in 1996, preparations are under way to entertain up to 100 fans.
Murray had tennis lessons there, while his mother Judy recently helped the facility to celebrate its birthday. “I think people associate this place with the Murrays,” said Lesley Shaw, the centre manager. “There is going to be real Murraymania and we hope to get everyone involved.”
Relatives of the tennis star who still live in the town intend to keep a low profile. Roy and Shirley Erskine, Murray’s grandparents, are watching the game at a friend’s house.
Murray’s uncle, Niall Erskine, will be watching at home after postponing plans to see a film.
He had planned to take his children to see The Wizard of Oz. Mr Erskine said: “It is a sweet irony, because of it being the Australian Open.”
Andy Murray ready for his date with destiny
"It is just something I have always wanted to do.” Since he was knee-high to a thistle, Andy Murray had it in him to become a force in tennis, even if he did not know it then. Tomorrow, for the second time, and these days as strong and sturdy as a caber, he plays in a grand-slam tournament final and, on this occasion, he is absolutely and utterly prepared.
That is not to say that he will win. Those of us long enough in the tooth to have chatted with Fred Perry about his career, and what he hoped might happen when his successor was crowned, remember that he achieved his triumphs by not giving a fig for convention, by knowing his own mind and by honing the skills that made him a player to be feared.
Perry was 24 when he broke through at the 1933 US Championship. Five months later he won the Australian Championships, which were played in Sydney that year. Thus, Melbourne has never been conquered by a Briton.
At that time, adding more than a touch of spice to his life, Perry was dating Marlene Dietrich, the film star, while also teaching her the rudiments of the game. According to Dietrich’s daughter, Maria Riva: “Fred taught my mother to play tennis with great patience and lots of little passionate hugs, punctuated with rapid kissing between flying balls.” Those were most certainly the days.
When the tennis was for real, Perry used to antagonise the life out of his opponents by walking into the locker room and declaring at the top of his booming voice: “Thank God I’m not playing me today.”
It would take a very brave man to say that to anyone today. Imagine the affront. But the way that Murray has performed in these championships, such a sentiment may be forming in his head.
Thinking of age, Murray is not 23 until May, still a novice in traditional terms. It is not a defence mechanism he uses, for he feels that he is ready, he has served his apprenticeship, he has picked the bones out of the information from everyone he knows and now is the time for him to produce where it really matters, on the grand-slam stage. We await the final with a level of fascination and optimism never before generated by a British player.
The image of Murray with his mouth as wide as the Yarra River, after he had played “The Shot” that changed his semi-final against Marin Cilic, was the one that resonated here yesterday.
It was played over and again on television, which probably embarrassed the heck out of Murray, who is not, by nature, a demonstrative character. He finally came to terms with his nerves against Cilic to play superbly in the last three sets, but admits that his stomach will be butterfly-ridden when he steps out against Roger Federer tomorrow.
“I know that if I do it [win the Australian Open], it will be a huge weight off my shoulders and I’ll play better tennis after I do it,” Murray said. “I will be trying my best to do it this time. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll try to do it again.
“But I will stay the same person regardless. Just in tennis terms I will be a lot more relaxed when I’m on the court. As a person, I don’t think I’ve changed that much; as a player I’m obviously a lot more experienced. My game has got better, I’ve got stronger. But not a whole lot has really changed.
“There are certain things I’ve worked on so that I have the ability to do it in matches, but I think I’ll always have the same sort of game style. I just want to add little bits and pieces that make my play a bit more unpredictable.”
This unpredictability has been the cornerstone of Murray’s career. His style is a thing of beauty — he has long possessed all the shots — but it has been a matter of transferring them on to court and of not being afraid to come out of the shell into which he has often disappeared.
He has always had a great sense for the ball. He and Federer are throwbacks to an earlier age, with the variety — in a classic, languorous style — that makes them such a joy to watch.
And yet, of course, Murray has to deal with what Todd Martin, the American who has been brought in to help Novak Djokovic to cope with the changes in his game and that of others, calls the “fishbowl syndrome”. Martin was very close to Tim Henman in their days on the tour and saw how much time he spent swimming around in that bowl. Murray, he believes, has learnt how to cope effectively with the situation.
“All due credit to everyone in his team, especially to Miles [Maclagan], his coach, because, as fit as Andy is, they have gotten into his head that in order to compete at the level he was always capable of competing at, they had to straighten his head out,” Martin said. “They had to make him believe in what they wanted him to do, and now he clearly does believe.”
Imagine the hysteria if Murray wins tomorrow. Would British tennis cope? Does it have the infrastructure, the talent base, the coaching depth, the motivational powers, to ride on the back of something none of us alive and writing about the sport has seen? It will serve only to intensify the pressure on the LTA to deliver on its targets, which often bear little resemblance to reality-thinking.
Perry did not have any time for officialdom. He did things his way. After defeating Jack Crawford, the Australian, 6-3, 11-13, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 to win the US Championship in New York in 1933, he turned a cartwheel and hurdled the net to show the four-times winner of the Australian title how little the match had taken out of him. When his opponent played a shot he could not retrieve, Perry would say “very clevah” in a sarcastic tone. Early in the knock-up he would call out to his opponent, “Any time you’re ready”, indicating that he needed scarcely a minute’s practice.
Will we see any hurdling of the net at Melbourne Park tomorrow? Murray’s reaction to his six victories here this year has been as calm and as matter-of-fact as you like. As he said, winning a grand-slam tournament has been something he has always wanted to do. As for writing about it, we feel the same way.
Changes in fitness regime and personal life bring Andy Murray to the brink
The beautiful girlfriend has gone, replaced by an exhausting fitness regime and plain pasta cooked by his coach. Andy Murray might have shed the glamour in his young life but he is leaving nothing to chance in the final hours before he faces the task of casting off one of the longest-running hoodoos in British sport.
Murray will have the whole of Britain urging him to end the agonising 74-year wait since a British man won a grand-slam tournament by emerging triumphant from the Australian Open final on Sunday morning.
Murray has come close to grand-slam glory once before, in the 2008 US Open, when he was crushed by a ruthless Roger Federer. The Scot said his nerves hampered him throughout that match, and he is expected to have to face Federer, the world No 1, again in Melbourne.
But this time Murray is prepared and playing a brand of thrilling tennis that has the experts drooling and the marketing men rubbing their hands. Victory in Melbourne would turn him into one of Britain’s highest-earning sportsmen, on target for £50 million a year, with Simon Fuller, the pop music guru and chief executive of the 19 Entertainment agency that has helped David and Victoria Beckham to a fortune, lining up deals around the world.
“Let’s face it, he will be unique,” Nigel Currie, a director at Brand Rapport, said. “We have had Formula One champions and boxing champions but not a credible tennis champion in generations.”
Nobody — not even Murray — seems to know whether the recent radical changes in his life have made him more focused, but the 22-year-old appears to have emerged from a pre-Christmas boot camp in Florida like a superhero.
First, he lost his fear of driving and passed his test, at the first time of asking, last summer. But then he lost Kim Sears, his girlfriend of four years. Sears, with her long hair and ready smile, was an ever-present face in the grandstand at all of his matches until last November when she left the £5 million home the couple shared in Surrey. She had done all the driving to and from tournaments up until then.
Murray’s answer was to plunge himself into a schedule of fitness training that would break most sportsmen, but he is reaping the rewards on the court in Melbourne, where he has lost just a single set in the entire tournament.
But Murray has one more significant factor in his favour as he prepares for Sunday’s final: he is not playing on home soil. As he battled through Wimbledon last year, Murray seemed overwhelmed by the expectations loaded on to his broad shoulders when he was beaten in the semi-finals by Andy Roddick, the American, puncturing a hugely successful tournament driven by Murraymania, with tickets changing hands for thousands of pounds on the black market.
In Melbourne, Murray is 10,000 miles from the growing clamour as millions crept away from their desks at work yesterday to watch him win his semi-final against Marin Cilic, the 6ft 6in Croat, in four sets.
Regulars in the pubs in his home town of Dunblane, Perthshire, are already planning to line up the celebratory drinks early on Sunday, with the Dunblane Hotel granted a licence to open from 8am, just a few minutes before Murray will walk on to court. Families are planning parties, gathering around televisions to follow the action, although Roy and Shirley Erskine, his grandparents, are going to visit friends so they can watch in peace. “We don’t allow anyone else in the house when we’re watching a match like that, because it is a very personal thing,” Roy said after yesterday’s semi-final.
The only female company in Murray’s life now is Judy, his mother, while his relaxation is watching his boxed set of Gavin and Stacey, the comedy series, in the Melbourne apartment he is sharing with Miles Maclagan, his coach, who has been assigned the cooking duties with Sears no longer around. Maclagan cooked the night before the semi-final and Murray says that he will have to cook again tomorrow night in case it is a lucky charm.
Murray told his followers on Twitter: “Miles cooked dinner for us but so far we feel OK.” Clearly OK enough to win his semi-final convincingly. Now Britain is hoping that Maclagan has the recipe to inspire the first victory for a British man in a grand-slam tournament in what seems like a sporting eternity.
The Melbourne identity
The final of the Australian Open is not until Sunday night Down Under, so how could Andy Murray, or his travelling fans, keep himself busy in Australia’s culture capital?
• Phar Lap, one of the greatest racehorses, was stuffed after his death in 1932 and put on display. You can see him now at the Melbourne Museum, as well as Sam the koala, below, who was famously photographed drinking from a fireman’s water bottle during Victoria’s bushfires last year. Phar Lap’s heart was twice the size of most other horses: an inspiration for Murray?
• The Old Melbourne Gaol, where you can see the death mask of Ned Kelly, the outlaw. The prison is said to be haunted by the first woman to be hanged there, one Elizabeth Scott. Can our own Scot give Roger Federer (if it is he) nightmares?
• Midsumma, Melbourne’s gay festival, is running until February 7, a highlight being a series of artwork featuring dogs playing pool while wearing bondage gear. The exhibition is called Wooftas. Subtle.
• If you want a reminder of home, there is the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club. They don’t appear to have a gig this week, but you could buy their latest CD, Gates of Gold.
• There is also the Scots’ Church on Collins Street if you need divine inspiration. It was built by the father of Dame Nellie Melba, the opera singer, if you want to crack a joke about Murray’s chances not being over until the fat lady sings.
Words by Patrick Kidd
My perfect weekend: Andy Murray in Melbourne
I am writing these words at Heathrow airport, so forgive me if they are a little disjointed and angst-ridden. My perfect weekend would, obviously enough, be to arrive (a) safely and (b) on time. It seems unfair to ask any more of life.
But, of course, one always does. The boarding pass says Melbourne. I am bound there to see if one of the most perfect sporting weekends it is possible to think about will come to pass. If it doesn’t, then I expect The Times will tell me to pay my own fare back.
I am going to Melbourne to watch the final of the Australian Open. In the men’s singles, Andy Murray against Roger Federer, the best player who ever drew breath. By Sunday lunch, your time, Murray will be the greatest living British human or a Scottish choker.
This adventure gets better and better. Murray continues to tease and tantalise: greatness seems sometimes within his grasp, sometimes as far away as, well, Melbourne. We all have too much emotional investment to make clear judgments.
Every setback shows that he hasn’t got it, whatever that “it” might be, while every decent victory shows that “it” is his defining characteristic and always has been.
He reached the final of the US Open two years ago, and a grand-slam final is one better than Tim Henman managed.
He got there after an epic semi-final against Rafael Nadal; he left his final on the concrete floor of the Arthur Ashe Stadium as the semi-final ended. But this time, after a curiously underwhelming semi-final against Marin Cilic, he comes in as fresh physically and emotionally as it is possible to be after two weeks of mad, intense tennis.
He could do it, you see. He really could. And the time to start winning the big prizes, the grand-slam tournaments, is while you’re young, before you have acquired the habit of being rich and comfortable and content to be forever just a fag-paper away from greatness.
Murray is not a man who does contentment much — not now, not yet, perhaps not ever. The demented drive to succeed is there in the jaw-breaking Murray roar. There are four grand-slam tournaments a year; how many years are you at your peak? How many times can you give a grand-slam tournament your best? Six years? Twenty-four chances?
You can feel them ticking away, even at the age of 22. Murray is in a rage to succeed, not so much to quieten the fires as to stoke them. But you have to start somewhere, and to be a champion for the first time is the biggest step that any sporting performer of any kind can be asked to take.
Murray doesn’t court affection. He doesn’t seek to be loveable. He doesn’t seek to be a role model. The fact that there hasn’t been a male British grand-slam singles winner since before the Second World War doesn’t really bother him, either.
He wants to win because winning is what matters to him, not you and me. No victory is ever satisfying to him, either. It leads only to another challenge.
There is glory in that. You can keep your loveable losers — Murray is quite happy to be an unloveable winner. But to get there he must take that final step. He has been brilliant so far. His reward for all that brilliance is to be asked to do the hardest thing he has ever done in his life. He wouldn’t have it any other way. For Murray — win or lose, heaven or hell at the end of it — this is his perfect weekend. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, would he?
Andy Murray: how the experts rate his chances
Greg Rusedski, US Open finalist in 1997, now a Eurosport pundit
I remember Andy from an exhibition game when he was 17, playing John McEnroe. There was Hawk-Eye and he called it on McEnroe on the second point. That was his attitude even then. That’s why he’s different from [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga. He believes he can beat [Roger] Federer, he believes he can beat [Rafael] Nadal, he believes he can beat the very best. And that’s why he’s going to win a grand-slam. Tomorrow? It’s 50-50, or 49-51, but he’ll win a slam one day.
Tracy Austin, twice a US Open champion
His game is bigger, stronger, and thus he is more confident. It is like he belongs, it is not as if it is just OK for him to be in the final. I picked him last year because I felt he was going to get there, but it took him a while longer. To my mind he is 20 per cent better in everything he does from a year ago. He is so much fitter.
Fred Stolle, the Australian who won French Open and US Open titles
What has impressed me most is the way he has not taken his foot off the pedal, which he had a tendency to do before. He has finished every job he has started. He has talked about the serve and volley, and that’s a great asset. He doesn’t have to do it all the time because he’s one of the best returners in the business and volleying is about picking the moment. I backed him to win before the event and it’s going to be so much better for him when he gets to Wimbledon if he can get the monkey off his back here.
Mats Wilander, winner of seven grand-slam singles titles
He has confidence in both his physical and mental strength now. He is so calm and that is a sign of someone who is extremely confident. If it happens, it happens. If not, he will continue to work at it until it does, which is the best attitude anyone can have. I think he is playing great, the best player in the draw, for sure. I love the way he is playing.
Sven Groeneveld, former coach who now mentors the adidas group of players, which includes Murray
He knows the court so well. His anticipation is excellent, as is his reading of the game. He does not have huge weapons so he compensates by maximising all the elements he has and so often puts his opponents in checkmate. The extra day’s rest will help as well. His routines are very strong.
Michael Stich, Wimbledon champion in 1991, now a Eurosport pundit
Andy has to go on court saying: “I’m going to win.” Not “I can win”. There’s a big difference. I’m sure he’ll be saying that in the locker room with Miles [Maclagan], his coach. If he has that attitude, if he has that self-belief, then it’s an open match against Federer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khlex0kJ … re=related
Murray odbył podczas WTF godzinny trening tenisowy, będący nagrodą dla zwycięzcy jakiegoś tam konkursu organizowanego przez HEAD-a :)
Świetna sprawa :)
Can Andy Murray rise from upstart to champion?
They were known as the Revival Pride. The dominant males were Creedence and Clearwater; the ethologist who named them was a Sixties man. One dark night, on the Busanga Plain in Zambia, I saw one of their number, Mia, kill a lechwe, a kind of antelope.
Clearwater at once took the carcass for himself. The two males were not related; Clearwater was a good deal younger, sleek, strong, in his prime. Creedence had lost most of his teeth, most of his power. He was living on borrowed time. The two males argued about the dead lechwe, and the old boy rolled on to his back in elaborate submission. Clearwater was chuffed to bits with himself.
And then in a sudden, dramatic shift, the old boy simply stole the kill from beneath the body of the young male and dared him to do something about it. And you know what? The younger, stronger, fitter animal could only sulk. He just didn’t have it in his heart to assume the No 1 role.
It was the classic drama of the upstart and the champion. The upstart was good enough and big enough and capable enough — he just couldn’t take that final step. Was the champion just a little too strong mentally? Or was the upstart just that tiny bit too diffident, too respectful?
The power of history, the habit of dominance and the habit of subservience were all too strong to break. Creedence sucked gummily on the succulent antelope, no doubt humming Bad Moon Rising to himself.
What lions do for blood humans do for sport. The sporting world is full of upstarts, and they always outnumber the champions. Every upstart is full of swaggering confidence until he comes to the realisation that the final step is the hardest of them all. It takes a huge outpouring of will to become a challenger, but even at this elevated position, you are only one third of the way there. The final great effort, to overthrow the old champion and to become a champion yourself, is twice as hard as everything you have already achieved.
And some people — individual athletes and entire teams — never get over this. Some continue challenging but never prevail; others are quite content with the role of the nearly-but-not-quiter. The rare ones, the very, very rare ones, become champions.
Which brings us to Manchester City, which brings us to Andy Murray, which brings us to England, or at least, to the teams that represent England in the leading sports.
Manchester is a city noted for its functional qualities, for its drabness, if you must. Over the past week, it has become a focus of hysterical expectations, hopes, defiances and rivalries as Manchester City dared to challenge Manchester United. And on Wednesday night, United beat City just as Creedence beat Clearwater: out of sheer habit.
Not that Manchester United are old and toothless just yet, though Sir Alex Ferguson’s frenzied mastication of the morsel he never devours is reminiscent of Creedence gumming at a chunk of lechwe. Rather, City were, ultimately, a little bit awed. Not necessarily in awe of United: perhaps just in awe of becoming the local champions.
Murray is in the same position. He can beat any of the top players, but he has yet to do it with a grand-slam title at stake. He reached the final of the US Open in 2008, but got shredded by Roger Federer; he made the semis at Wimbledon last year and was beaten by an inspired Andy Roddick. Yesterday he gave a workmanlike performance to beat Marin Cilic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. He has a first grand-slam title within his reach. Again. Is he now old enough? Is he ready to shake off the Clearwater within?
It is a hard thing to be a champion. Many contenders don’t really want it, no matter how often they tell us — and themselves — otherwise. This is particularly true in team games. Why bother to stand out from your team-mates? Why trouble to be excellent? It is more comfortable to settle for being really good and one of the lads as well.
It also seems like a prevailing English vice, but perhaps it is a prevailing human vice: to be content with the place that’s just a rank or two below the top. In team games, many get to play for England and think that is the great achievement. Very few are prepared to take the next step: to drive the team on and to make England champions.
Kevin Pietersen has that desire in cricket. Andrew Flintoff played the part to the full throughout the summer of 2005; subsequently he has done it only in fits and starts. He was a man with greatness in him, but he lacked what it takes to be consistently great. Ultimately, he took the more comfortable route.
The last England footballer with this standout quality was Paul Gascoigne. He had it for a few weeks in 1990, when it seemed that his edge-of-control brilliance might bring England the World Cup. Would he have done so if the booking and the tears had never come? It was the chance of a generation.
David Beckham aspired to that role, and gave it everything. Was the metatarsal of 2002 responsible for his failure? Or did his desperation for the part alienate his team? Wayne Rooney actually did seize the role in a couple of matches at the European Championship of 2004, when he charged into international football like a crazy young bull. But he was metatarsaled in the quarters, and the rest is all what-might-have-been.
Rugby union traditionally provides less of a role for a single dominant individual, but certainly, England’s assumption of the role of champion — World Cup winners in 2003 — had its basis in the diffident brilliance of Jonny Wilkinson. It also needed the exceptional talents of Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson. This was a team that contained three individuals prepared to swap the role of upstart for that of champion.
Many pretenders are only pretending that they want to be champions. Many are secretly happier in a less exposed position. All elite athletes are by definition exceptional: a champion must be comfortable as an exception among the exceptional. To be, in the end, alone.
Federer has deliberately cultivated that view of himself. He seemed to take it as nothing less than his due when he won his first grand-slam tournament — Wimbledon 2003 — in the manner of a champion already tried and tested by time. Tiger Woods travelled the same road, at least until the strain of it got to him.
We don’t produce such champions very often in this country, not because England or Britain is incapable of producing them, but because they are very, very rare types no matter where you start looking. It is hard enough to be an upstart. Real champions are the rarest of people.
A year later, the dynamics of the Revival Pride changed. Creedence had to slink out into the bush to die. Clearwater was finally a champion. Nothing is for ever: not even — or especially not — for a champion.
Mother moulds a world-beater
Judy Murray’s close relationship with her son Andy has made the British No 1 the player and man he is today
IN NORMAL circumstances, no teenage boy wants his mother around. She’s embarrassing. Some fluffy commandant issuing random, stupid orders such as “button your coat up” and “get your hair cut” has no place in a largely supine, grunge-filled young adult life. But that was never the case with Andy Murray and his mum, Judy. The power of this mother-son bond remains central to the making of our tennis hero.
“I can’t remember the last time I was in an argument with her, genuinely can’t remember,” insisted Murray when we worked on his autobiography. “I never slammed a door, shouted, ‘I hate you’. My mum’s the one person who gets me, who understands me really well.”
Since Murray and his girlfriend, Kim Sears, broke up last November, Judy has been the chief female presence in his life, a situation with which he is not and never has been uncomfortable.
There is a striking similarity between them. Not just the passionately clenched fist and gaping lion’s roar, symbols of their ultra-competitiveness, but in terms of gentler virtues such as
At Christmas in 2006, when he was 18, he gave Judy a card that painstakingly listed the mass of reasons to thank her. “For always believing in me, always supporting me, always letting me make my own decisions ... but I most want to thank you for being the Best Mum in the World.” She reached the conclusion with tears rolling down her cheeks.
He looked at her incredulously. “What are you crying for? Stupid woman.” Exhibitionism he reserves for the tennis court. Nevertheless, few 18-year-old boys can articulate gratitude so unashamedly. Then again, not many mothers shunned the looks of disapproval and romped with her two little boys down the chutes at Dundee swimming baths or in the ball ponds at indoor play areas next to signs that read: “For Under-10s only”.
She was playing tennis games with her boys when they were toddlers. Jamie, the elder, was by far the better of the two. By comparison, Andy had bad concentration, bad co-ordination and a temper.
If he lost at Monopoly, he would overturn the board and storm off. His gran and grandpa, solid citizens of Dunblane and Presbyterian rightness, would admonish him for his behaviour. His mother was more placatory. She understood the vicious promptings of the yearning to win. “Andy had this stubborn streak. It was always very difficult to tell him what to do. If you forced him to do it, he would just dig his heels in and say no,” she said.
As his first and formative tennis coach, she learnt the power of suggestion. “Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m not pushy at all. I don’t try and dominate the lives of my sons. I’ve always been a believer that if you make a decision yourself and it’s a mistake, you’re going to learn much more from it.”
She had learnt herself from trying her luck on the professional tennis tour when she left school at 17. It was a rough old time; no coach, little money, living in a tent, the rare highlight being taken out for a drink by Bjorn Borg’s old girlfriend. Poverty and homesickness soon forced her to abandon the dream.
Perhaps she sublimated those frustrations by becoming a hugely effective coach. The emphasis was always on fun, unlike the example of some other famous tennis mothers. Having said that, she hardly sits in Henmanesque calm. She describes watching Murray in tight matches as “seasickness and a heart attack” combined. The enthusiasm is pardonable when you recall what they have been through together, including Judy’s separation and divorce from the boys’ father, Willie, when Andy was 12. There followed Andy’s rocky road to the summit of the game, featuring illnesses, injuries, triumphs, defeats, splits from coaches and management companies, public rows with his brother, 17 Grand Slam tournaments, and now his second final, again against the world’s most supreme tennis player.
Perhaps the mass murder at Dunblane primary school does not belong in the list, yet it is in their mutual history. Andy and Jamie, young and oblivious pupils; Judy, a mother at the school gate waiting for word of their fate.
Through it all, the maternal workrate has been extraordinary. The younger Murray joined his brother in requiring lifts, rackets, balls and games at an early age. Judy put in long hours trying to juggle her coaching with other work, variously selling jewellery or high-class lingerie. Gran, with her famous home-baked shortbread, was often recruited as babysitter. Grandpa, a Hibernian footballer in his prime, was the disciplinarian, insisting the boys removed their hats in the house. Abby, their golden retriever, was such a favourite of Andy’s, he cut a lock of her fur as a good luck charm on his way to his junior tournaments.
Maybe the magic is still working. More probably, he inherited ambition from his mother. Few modern players have worked so furiously and repetitively on their physical improvement. We have seen him morph from a spindly, wild-mopped, grumpy teen into a genuine contender.
If Roger Federer is right and Murray represents something that only happens to Britain once every 150,000 years, then Judy Murray is more than a little responsible.
Australian Open - Murray 'getting closer' to win
Andy Murray received another tennis lesson from Roger Federer in the Australian Open final but there seemed little doubt the pupil would one day become a master.
The 22-year-old Briton had several chances to seize the initiative at Melbourne Park but Federer's experience eventually told and the world number one sealed his 16th Grand Slam title with a 6-3 6-4 7-6(11) victory.
Murray was in his second Grand Slam final. He lost in three sets to Federer at the same stage of the 2008 US Open but is now undoubtedly playing the best tennis of his life and the signs are he is only going to get better.
His court craft and impressive speed have been complemented by better stamina and a growing maturity and awareness he can compete on the same level as the world's best.
"Tonight's match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows," Murray said. "I had a chance at the beginning of the match and I had chances ... at the end of the match.
"It's just the second set that didn't go my way. Not that any of them went my way. But obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.
"I'm getting closer. My results in the Grand Slams would show that. (I've) just got to keep working hard."
Murray sparkled throughout the Australian Open, so much so that Federer and world number two Rafael Nadal predicted he would win one of the top four tournaments one day and end what is now a 74-year wait for a British male Grand Slam winner.
After three relatively easy matches, the Scot faced a tough fourth-round tie against big-serving American John Isner who was fresh off winning the Auckland Open.
Isner is ranked 28th in the world and likely to crack the top-20 this year but Murray humbled the 2.06-metre American, moving him around court with seemingly contemptuous ease.
Murray's most telling performance was his quarter-final against Nadal. The Spaniard held a 7-2 career record against the Scot, is a six-times Grand Slam champion and was defending the title he won here last year.
Nadal took an early lead but Murray, exuding self belief, fought back and was dominating when the Spaniard's troublesome knee forced him to cry 'no mas' and he retired with his opponent leading 6-3 7-6(2) 3-0.
Murray, who had not dropped a set in the tournament, trailed in his semi-final against Croat Marin Cilic but again that new-found belief manifested itself.
Previously, Murray's biggest weakness had been his ability to have one bad day at the office in a tournament and not be able to find a way to get out of it.
Against Cilic he battled through the rough patch and set up his second Grand Slam final with a four-set victory.
Against Federer, however, he could not quite get over the last hurdle.
"I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity ... so far it's not been good enough," said Murray.
"I think I'm getting closer and I'm playing better. I'm not going to be too disappointed. I've got a pretty good life. I've got a long career ahead of me and I'm going to have more opportunities ... to win them."
31.01.2010 - Andy Murray finalistą Australian Open 2010. To już 2 porażka Szkota w finale turnieju WS, jednak Andy stara się myśleć pozytywnie. Jest przekonany, że wygra jeden z 4 największych na świecie turniejów, już wkrótce. ;)
Andy Murray insists: I will win grand-slam soon
Andy Murray looks dejected after his loss to Roger Federer
Andy Murray admitted that he was sorely outplayed by Roger Federer in the Australian Open final but insisted he would soon win a grand-slam title soon.
Just as the British No 1 did in his other appearance in a major championship final, at the US Open in 2008, Murray lost in straight sets after a superlative performance by the world No 1 at the Rod Laver Arena.
By attacking Murray from the start, Federer dominated the first two sets in Melbourne Park before sealing his 16th grand-slam title and fourth Australian Open crown with a 13-11 victory in a thrilling tie-break.
"I had great support back home and I am sorry I couldn't do it for you," a tearful Murray said. "I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him. He was a lot better than me."
Murray insisted expectations from fans that he might become the first British male to win a grand-slam event in 74 years did not weigh him down. "I didn't feel it on the court," he said. "You get a lot of good luck messages, everyone wishing you well from back home and that's nice. But once you get on the court, it's not what you're thinking about at all."
Murray, the fifth seed, became the first player to lose his first two grand-slam finals in straight sets since Cedric Pioline, runner-up to Pete Sampras in the 1993 US Open and at Wimbledon in 1997.
"Tonight's match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows," Murray said. "I had a chance at the beginning of the match and I had chances at the end of the match. It's just the second set that didn't go my way.
"Not that any of them went my way. But I'm getting closer. My results in the grand slams would show that. [I've] just got to keep working hard."
After starting impressively by breaking Federer's serve at the start of the first set, however, Murray did not produce his very best until the final set when he failed convert five set points.
"I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity ... so far it's not been good enough," Murray said.
"I think I'm getting closer and I'm playing better. I'm not going to be too disappointed. I've got a pretty good life. I've got a long career ahead of me and I'm going to have more opportunities ... to win them."
Murray was playing in his 17th grand-slam event, the same number at which Federer broke through for his first title. The Swiss had some consolation for his opponent in his acceptance speech. "Andy, you played an incredible tournament," he said. "You are too good a player not to win a grand-slam, so don't worry about it."
Andy Murray's mother Judy takes Underbelly tour during time in Melbourne
HER son has the weight of a nation on his shoulders, but Andy Murray's mum Judy (right) abandoned the tennis to indulge in an Underbelly tour of Melbourne.
As Britain's first serious grand slam event contender in 74 years pushes his way into the final of the Open, Judy, who is here blogging for a British tennis website, had seemingly not missed a day's action - until Monday.
Judy Murray said the self-guided tour took about four hours, in which time she saw first-hand the locations of some of Melbourne's most notorious underworld slayings in Carlton, Fitzroy and Brunswick.
The famous tennis mum said she was given the Channel 9 drama series on DVD for Christmas and fell in love with it.
"There were a few areas I wanted to visit after watching Underbelly. . . that a mate had given me for Christmas," she said.
"I loved it, so I headed over to Carlton and Fitzroy before walking back into the city for a Starbucks stop, and along the Yarra River, past Melbourne Park and back to my hotel."
Student Murray likely to one day surpass the master
Andy Murray received another tennis lesson from Roger Federer in the Australian Open final on Sunday but there seemed little doubt the pupil would one day become a master.
The 22-year-old Briton had several chances to seize the initiative at Melbourne Park but Federer's experience eventually told and the world number one sealed his 16th grand slam title with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 victory.
Murray was in his second grand slam final. He lost in three sets to Federer at the same stage of the 2008 U.S. Open but is now undoubtedly playing the best tennis of his life and the signs are he is only going to get better.
His court craft and impressive speed have been complemented by better stamina and a growing maturity and awareness he can compete on the same level as the world's best.
"Tonight's match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows," Murray told reporters. "I had a chance at the beginning of the match and I had chances ... at the end of the match.
"It's just the second set that didn't go my way. Not that any of them went my way. But obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.
"I'm getting closer. My results in the grand slams would show that. (I've) just got to keep working hard."
Murray sparkled throughout the Australian Open, so much so that Federer and world number two Rafa Nadal predicted he would win one of the top four tournaments one day and end what is now a 74-year wait for a British male grand slam winner.
EASY MATCHES
After three relatively easy matches, the Scot faced a tough fourth-round tie against big-serving American John Isner who was fresh off winning the Auckland Open.
Isner is ranked 28th in the world and likely to crack the top-20 this year but Murray humbled the 2.06-metre American, moving him around court with seemingly contemptuous ease.
Murray's most telling performance was his quarter-final against Nadal. The Spaniard held a 7-2 career record against the Scot, is a six-times grand slam champion and was defending the title he won here last year.
Nadal took an early lead but Murray, exuding self belief, fought back and was dominating when the Spaniard's troublesome knee forced him to cry 'no mas' and he retired with his opponent leading 6-3 7-6 3-0.
Murray, who had not dropped a set in the tournament, trailed in his semi-final against Croat Marin Cilic but again that new-found belief manifested itself.
Previously, Murray's biggest weakness had been his ability to have one bad day at the office in a tournament and not be able to find a way to get out of it.
Against Cilic he battled through the rough patch and set up his second grand slam final with a four-set victory.
Against Federer, however, he could not quite get over the last hurdle.
"I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity ... so far it's not been good enough," said Murray.
"I think I'm getting closer and I'm playing better.
"I'm not going to be too disappointed. I've got a pretty good life. I've got a long career ahead of me and I'm going to have more opportunities ... to win them."
Wywiad po przegranym finale AO10:
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You had those chances in that third set.
ANDY MURRAY: I had chances in the first set as well. You know, I had a chance to go up a break. Maybe three chances to go up a break at 2‑All. You know, he started to play a lot better after that second set. Second set he deserved to win for sure.
I thought third set I had more of the chances. I thought I deserved to take it into a fourth, but it didn't happen.
Q. You've played him 11 times. Did he show you anything different?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, I think his level is a lot more consistent, you know, in the slams. You know, I don't know. Maybe, you know, in the other tournaments he tries a few more things out.
But, you know, the shots that he hits great, you know, all year round, they're still great. You know, he just makes fewer unforced errors I think than he does the rest of the year.
Q. How are you feeling now?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I don't feel great. You know, obviously worked really hard, you know, to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament. You know, I think it was more the way the end of the match finished. You know, obviously it was pretty emotional end to the match.
If it was a complete blow‑out, if I lost 3, 4, and 2, you know, it probably wouldn't have happened. But I had my chance to get back into the match. That was probably why I was upset.
Q. Was that tiebreak some of the hardest tennis you've played mentally?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, throughout the match, it didn't ‑‑ I didn't feel nervous. It's obviously against him, he puts a lot of pressure on you with the way that he plays. You know, you need to focus really hard, you know, throughout the match.
I mean, obviously, you know, I wanted to win. I probably played, you know, I don't know, maybe more important tiebreaks. I mean, he was obviously still two sets to nothing. I would have obviously liked to have taken it into a fourth set.
Q. The end of the tiebreaker you were touching your left hip. Was there a problem there or just tightness?
ANDY MURRAY: It's not really a problem. It's not really my left hip. It's quite hard to explain. It's more sort of my lower back is just stiff, like I had most of the tournament. It's just where we play ‑‑ I wear cycling shorts, and sometimes they're quite tight, so you need to ‑‑ you know, Roddick does it a lot, it's kind of what Rafa does on his other side.
I don't really know what I'm trying to say, but basically my hip is fine. It was just the cycling shorts were tight (smiling).
Q. Is there a sense as matches go by that you feel closer to him in these terms? Are you getting closer in Grand Slam terms?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, tonight's match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows. You know, like I say, I had a chance at the beginning of the match, and I had chances, you know, at the end of the match.
It's just the second set that didn't go my way. Not that any of them went my way. But obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.
Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm getting closer. I mean, my results in the Grand Slams would show that. Just got to keep working hard.
Q. Was there one set point in particular you felt you should have taken?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I would have rather served it out, you know, when I had the chance to do that. You know, obviously didn't. I don't think I had any set points in that game. But that was more of an opportunity; whereas, you know, in tiebreaks it's normally one in a row.
I had a chance. I don't even know what the score was, but I missed a forehand in the net that I probably should have taken into his backhand side.
But, I mean, on a couple of the others, you know, he served pretty well. You know, you can't really remember the points right now. Normally takes a bit of time.
Q. Everyone talked about your aggressive approach against Nadal, and others as well. How would you compare that match and your approach there with your approach tonight?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, I think the second set was not good in that respect. The third set was a lot better. I started playing closer to the baseline, taking more chances. You know, in the beginning of the match, like I said, I had chances as well.
It's a different match, you know, against Roger. You know, with Rafa, he can hit the ball short. You know, he plays a lot of topspin. Roger hits the ball a lot flatter. You know, the ball comes onto you a lot quicker, so it's harder to go for huge shots against him.
You know, whereas against, you know, like in the important points, he can come up with big first serves. And Rafa, you know, his serve is very good, but you always have opportunities, you know, when he's serving. Tonight I didn't have as many.
But, you know, I mean, I thought in terms of my game style, it was right for a lot of the match and wrong for a few parts.
Q. What did you learn about dealing with that weight of expectation from the UK?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I didn't feel it on the court. You know, you get a lot of good luck messages. You know, everyone wishing you well from back home. You know, that's obviously nice.
You know, once you get on the court, it's not what you're thinking about at all. And then obviously after the match, you know, I would have liked to have done it for everyone back home, you know, won the tournament. Obviously for myself and for the people I work with as well.
But it wasn't to be.
Q. What does this do to your mindset for the rest of the year and what's to come?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I'll take some time off now and rest and see, you know, what I want to do, you know, in terms of my game, you know, what my priorities are going to be. Uhm, you know, but obviously it's pretty quick after the match, you know, to know exactly, you know, how my game's gonna feel or what this does for me.
But obviously, you know, getting to a second slam final, you know, it's a great achievement. So I've got to be proud of that.
Q. Does getting to the second one make you hungrier?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm hungry to win one. I haven't since I was 16, 17 years old when I started playing the junior Grand Slams. You know, I realized I wanted to win one of them, you know, when I was playing.
Like I say, I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity. You know, so far it's not been good enough.
But I'm sure one day, uhm, it will be. When it comes, maybe because of the two losses, it will be even better.
Q. If you have one chance to go back again out there now, what would you do differently?
ANDY MURRAY: I probably would have gone for a bigger forehand at 2‑All with the first set when I had breakpoint. He miss‑hit a backhand; wasn't really expecting it. I hit like a high topspin forehand into his backhand and made a pretty long rally after that.
But probably would have gone for a bigger forehand at that stage. But, you know, it's a lot easier to say when you look back.
Q. Is there anything in your game that you were particularly disappointed with tonight?
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't serve well in the first set. You know, I served pretty well after that. You know, I mean, no. I thought it was a high‑standard match. You know, the second set I just wasn't particularly happy with.
But, you know, the rest was pretty good. Obviously I need to improve, you know, and try and make my game better for these situations.
Q. You've fair enough to say you probably played some of your best tennis over the last fortnight. Is it dispiriting you've not been able to win a title after playing like that the last couple weeks?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I've just come off the court. I'm obviously very disappointed. But, you know, I mean, I think I'm getting closer and I'm playing better.
I mean, you know, I just spoke with my mum just now. You know, to have the opportunity to play in these tournaments, in these matches, is pretty incredible in the grand scheme of things.
I'm not going to be too disappointed. I got a pretty good life. I've got a long career ahead of me, and I'm going to have more opportunities, you know, to win them. I hope that I will.
But if I don't, there's a lot more important things to worry about than tennis.
Q. How painful was it to be standing on the stage for two or three minutes when Roger was joking with the crowd and making his speech and told you, Don't worry, you'll win a Grand Slam one day?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it was more ‑‑ no, I was fine when he was making his speech. I mean, I was disappointed to lose the match, of course. But when he was giving his speech, it didn't make it any more painful for me at all.
You know, it's not like it sinks in that quick. But you've got sort of 10, 15 minutes before you get out there on the stage before you know kind of what's happened. Didn't make me feel any worse.
Q. Agassi won his first slam when nobody expected on grass. Do you expect you can do it on clay, which is not your favorite surface?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Last year, you know, I played a lot better on clay. But I need to get or make sure my preparation's right for the French Open to give myself a chance and make sure I have enough training weeks. Because there's still a lot of things I need to learn to play my best on clay.
But you never know. Soderling made the final last year. No one was really expecting that. So I don't know.
Nabrałem po dzisiejszym meczu większego szacunku do Szkota.Nie wściekał się po porażce,nie robił kwaśnych min,po prostu podziękował wszystkim za wsparcie.Nawet się usmiechał ;) Ma 22 lata.Niektórzy twierdzą że ten wiek to ostatni dzwonek do wygrania szlema,ale sądzę że z sezonu na sezon szanse Andy'ego na zdobycie skalpu wielkoszlemowego rosną i życzę mu by to zwycięstwo odniósł.I odniesie :) Zapewne najlepiej by to zwycięstwo na Wimblu przed brytyjską publicznością smakowało :)
Oczywiście nie po zwycięskich meczach nad Rogerem zwycięstwa wielkoszlemowe ;)
Myślę, że właśnie takie zwycięstwo najbardziej by go ucieszyło :)
Myślicie, że Andy ma szansę zwojować coś na Wimbledonie? czy kolejna realna szansa na WS to dopiero Nowy Jork?
Kubecki napisał:
Myślę, że właśnie takie zwycięstwo najbardziej by go ucieszyło :)
Myślicie, że Andy ma szansę zwojować coś na Wimbledonie? czy kolejna realna szansa na WS to dopiero Nowy Jork?
Wiesz, raczej NYC. Trudno mi na dzień dzisiejszy sobie wyobrazić, aby podołał presji i oczekiwaniom w Świątyni Tenisa.
Szczery chłopak, życzę mu Szlema, ale łatwo nie będzie.
ale mu słodzicie, a gdzie te wszystkie "TNO", " Panicz" ? :D
Kubecki napisał:
ale mu słodzicie, a gdzie te wszystkie "TNO", " Panicz" ? :D
Kilka łez i uzewnętrznienie emocji swoje robią. :D
Nie no, tak na poważnie to naprawdę Andy pokazał to czego tak często nie widzieliśmy. Zdarzały się sytuację, gdy można było twierdzić, że się obraża na cały świat za porażki, niepowodzenia, że jest nieprzyjemny. Dzisiaj uwidoczniło się to, co cechuje wielkich graczy: miłość do tenisa i to, że w grę wkłada całe swoje serce. Widać dzisiaj było w nim ten ból, że jest mu ciężko, ale z sytuacji wybrnął po mistrzowsku :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SqY2Ffbr7o
"Potrafię płakać jak Roger, szkoda że nie potrafię grać tak jak on.. " :)
Widzisz, u Federastów taki odruch Szkota budzi sympatię, szkoda, że podobne zachowanie Federera przed rokiem było obiektem drwin i żartów.
Zdaję sobie sprawę, że Federaści mogą się czuć w tym momencie trochę urażeni, ale z drugiej strony sytuacja Andy'ego wyglądała inaczej niż Szwajcara. Andy szybko się wycofał, nie rozkleił się do reszty ( na pewno dobrze pamiętając sytuację sprzed roku, a przecież sam Roger powiedział, że gdyby mógł cofnąć czas to nie dopuścił do takiej sytuacji po finale).
Zauważyliście, że gdy Roger wznosił puchar do góry, Szkot patrzył gdzieś w dal, ani razu nie spojrzał na cieszącego się rywala? Swoją drogą to trudno mu się dziwić :)
Kubecki napisał:
ale mu słodzicie, a gdzie te wszystkie "TNO", " Panicz" ? :D
Powiem Ci Kuba, że nikt nie zrobił Marysiowie takiej krzywdy, jeśli idzie o stosunek wielu osób do niego, niż jego klakierzy typu Simon Reed, o innych nie wspominając. Jak się czyta od 2 lat, że 0>12(13, 14, 15, 16), że Fed mógł sobie wygrać 3 z 4 kolejnych WS, ale Andy jest true number one i na pewno wszystkich zleje, to trudno było nie być złośliwym. ;)
Australian Open - Becker: Murray needs more help
Andy Murray needs to tap into the knowledge of some of the "icons of the game" if he is to move from Grand Slam contender to champion, according to six-times Major winner Boris Becker.
Britain's Andy Murray reacts during the men's final against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Australian Open - 0
Murray was in tears after Sunday's 6-3 6-4 7-6(11) defeat by Roger Federer in the Australian Open final, his second Grand Slam final defeat after he was swept aside by Federer in the 2008 US Open.
Sunday's loss was closer, but not much, as only in the third set did the Briton begin to show the aggression and risk-taking necessary to disturb Federer's cruise to his 16th Slam.
Becker said Murray had played the best Slam of his career in Melbourne but needs to work on his aggression.
"How assertive he was in the final was always going to be crucial. At the very start of the match he went head to head with Roger, but he then reverted to his usual defensive game, and allowed Roger to play such great tennis," Becker wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
"Even when he had set points, in the third set, he could not take the big step. He tried to attack, but a mid-court forehand let him down. It is not a shot he would usually select, and on the big points, tennis players revert to instinct.
"It was a revealing moment, and one which showed that Andy now needs to improve technically, to ingrain the killer shot so deep inside him that it becomes instinctive to play it at the right moment, like Roger. That is the next stage in his progression.
"I was looking at Andy's box during the match and there was no one up there who knows what it is like to be out in a Grand Slam final.
"Don't get me wrong, 'Team Murray' are first rate - they have made Andy the third-best player on the planet - but you cannot learn the skills you need out on the centre court from a book, or from hearsay.
"You need to talk to people like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, someone Andy would listen to and respect. For Murray, it is now about playing the right shot at the right time, not running or going to the gym."
Becker, who won Wimbledon three times, the Australian Open twice and the US Open once, ruled himself out of the job but said Murray needed someone who has achieved the ultimate in the game to be alongside him in the Slams to "talk about the five or so make-or-break shots in a match, and how best to play them".
"Andy will be among the top men's players over the next five years, but if he wants to be above them, not amid them, he needs to have someone in his corner who knows what it is like to win a Grand Slam, to climb the Mount Everest of tennis," Becker said.
"The air is thin up there, and Andy needs to surround himself with people who have been to the summit, who can describe to him how they got there, and how he can as well."
Reuters
Australian Open 2010: Andy Murray has all the advice going, now he needs a break
If Andy Murray had to check in with the rest of his luggage all the advice he has received on how to get across the grand slam line he would need a jumbo jet to get his bags home.
His problem is not unique. It is the same one beating up the rest of his generation; how to dismantle the best there is, the best there has ever been.
Only two men have beaten Roger Federer in a grand slam final, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro. Nadal is Federer's irrational fear. Del Potro was a freak event. On Murray's morning after the night before there is an argument for keeping things simple. He needs to relax and wipe away the tears. He's in tidy
In the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last year Federer sliced and diced Del Potro in one of the most one-sided victories of his career. Nine months later Del Potro landed the uppercut from outer space to beat Federer in the US Open final. No one saw that coming. Del Potro did not get better technically between January and September. He didn't discover a killer shot. He was simply wiser for the Australian experience.
Murray has progressed from the vivisection of New York 17 months ago, when Federer went through him Del Potro-style in straight sets. On Sunday Murray traded on equal terms for most of the opening set and served for the third. Only in the second did his performance falter.
No one has won 14 career titles by the age of 22, contested two grand slam finals and not progressed to win a major. Murray carried a fair wedge of the expert vote ahead of Sunday's encounter.
Former Australian Open champions of the calibre of Fred Stolle and Neale Fraser picked him to win. His form was compelling. These are the points that float to the surface when the disappointment has faded. Murray is already eyeing the Champs-Élysées in June and, more realistically, Wimbledon.
"I dropped one set going into the final and beat some really tough players on the way. So it's been great, I've enjoyed my time over here, just a shame the final didn't go my way," Murray said.
"There's obviously stuff I need to work on and get better at, but I lost to the best player of all time, so there's not too much that can get loads better in my game.
"I can improve on a few things, I'll keep working on my serve and physically I can still get better. I'd have liked to have played better further up the court in the service box. I missed a few volleys I shouldn't have done."
Technical failings are a consequence of playing under pressure. The volleys Murray referred to are slotted away easily enough when he is swinging freely. Federer made the point himself after Murray recovered the shot that he thought had won him the title.
"I hit that drop shot thinking, 'That's it, I've won it'. When Andy got it back, I was thinking, 'Hey he's just taken the trophy out of my hands'. If Andy had taken that set he would have got a huge lift and then you never know what's going to happen, so it's tough, you know. I had to be at my best to come through."
Murray will spend the days ahead refining his schedule. This will include a return to the practice courts with clay court guru and former world No 2 Alex Corretja. Victory at Roland Garros is possible but unlikely, even if Rafael Nadal is injured.
Then there is Wimbledon in World Cup year. What price a domestic double, Murray and Rooney to spray a bit of Britannic majesty a week apart in July? Sorry, getting carried away there.
"At Wimbledon he [Federer] is still going to be favourite for the next few years, while on the clay Rafa is still the best player when he's fit," said Murray. "On the hard courts Roger plays great but there are guys who can win against him if they play their best."
Murray is among that number. All he needs is a break, to meet Federer, perhaps, on a day when he is not so hot; anything to get him up and over that Swiss mountain. Belief is the key. Nothing feeds that like winning. Murray is still a young man, feeling his way around the mental landscape of elite competition.
"You get to an age when you start to enjoy it more and you get used to dealing with all the things that come with it," Murray said. "I don't feel I have to play every week, so I can spend more time at home and pick my schedule a lot better. I'm more relaxed than I was 18 months or two years ago for sure."
Ferguson o Murrayu: Będą z niego ludzie
Alex Ferguson uważa, że porażka w finale Australian Open tylko wzmocni Andy'ego Murraya. - Swoje osobiste rozczarowania zawsze łączyłem z najlepszymi momentami w życiu. Kiedy przegrywałem mecz, następnego dnia stawałem się lepszym trenerem - powiedział menedżer "Czerwonych Diabłów".
Murray w niedzielę nie spełnił pokładanych w nim nadziei całej Szkocji i przegrał z perfekcyjnym Rogerem Federerem walkę o tytuł w Melbourne. Mimo to Szkoci są pełni uznania dla 22-letniego tenisisty i wciąż go wspierają w drodze na szczyt.
Poparcie dla finalisty Australian Open wyraził też opiekun Manchesteru United. Ferguson poradził młodszemu rodakowi, żeby z porażki wyciągnął odpowiednią lekcję. - Ważne jest to, żeby utrzymał determinację - mówił sir Alex.
Menedżer "Czerwonych Diabłów" wierzy w młodego Szkota. - Czy on jest gorszy od Rogera Federera? Dajcie trochę czasu, ma do osiągnięcia niesamowity poziom. Ma tylko 22 lata, będzie z nim OK - mówi o Andym Murrayu trener Tomasza Kuszczaka.
http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/australia … tory.shtml
Skoro Alex tak mówi, to musi być prawda :D.
Przegrał finał, przestał być Anglikiem
Andy Murray zaprezentował na Antypodach tenis na najwyższym poziomie. Szkot dopiero w finale Australian Open przegrał ze Szwajcarem Rogerem Federerem. To wystarczyło, by "The Sun" wypomniał mu, że... nie jest Anglikiem.
Prasa na Wyspach od początku turnieju zachwycała się grą Murray'a, widząc w nim jednego z głównych faworytów do końcowego triumfu. Rozstawiony z numerem piątym tenisista na początku Austrialian Open przedstawiany był jako Brytyjczyk. Im bliżej było wielkiego finału, tym Szkot stawał się bardziej swój, bardziej angielski. Po porażce z Federerem, "The Sun" natychmiast poinformował, że Murray... nie jest Anglikiem tylko Szkotem.
Sam Murray, dbający o to, by mieć jak największe rzesze fanów, stale podkreśla, że jest "Szkotem, ale również Brytyjczykiem".
Szymon Turek: Geniusz, który nigdy nie zostanie Numerem 1
Brytyjska piosenkarka Bonnie Tyler śpiewała przebój "I need a hero!". - Potrzebuję bohatera. Musi być silny, musi być szybki i musi być w ogniu walki. Wszystko się zgadza, Andy Murray spełnia wszystkie te cechy. Ale wciąż mu czegoś brakuje, by spełnić marzenia brytyjskich kibiców i zdobyć tenisową nieśmiertelność.
Zwolennicy teorii liczb i wszelkiej maści matematyczni zapaleńcy zacierali ręce. Andy Murray, 22 - latek ze Szkocji, wygra Australian Open, to pewne. Przecież to jego 17. turniej wielkoszlemowy w karierze, a dokładnie tylu nieudanych prób potrzebował finałowy rywal, Roger Federer, by wreszcie zdobyć swój pierwszy tytuł. Miał wtedy 22 lata...
Teoria ocierała się o zabobon, ale miała też inną skazę. Federer jest tylko jeden, wszyscy porównują go do najlepszych w swej dziedzinie w historii, niektórzy nawet do najlepszych w sporcie, a znajdą się i tacy, którzy uparcie twierdzą, że to kosmita, który z niezrozumiałych powodów znalazł się na naszej planecie.
Murrayowi nikt jednak nie odmawia talentu, a nawet geniuszu. Trzej wielcy tego sportu mówią jednym głosem: Szkot jest wielki, to talent czystej wody. John McEnroe przed turniejem typował go na zwycięzcę. Federer zaraz po finale chwalił jego poruszanie się po korcie, znakomite umiejętności taktyczne i przekonywał, że ma wszystko co potrzeba, by wygrywać najważniejsze mecze. Pete Sampras jako ostatnią przeszkodę do zdobycia najważniejszych trofeów wskazuje wiarę w siebie: - Jest bardzo bliski wygrania czegoś wielkiego i wygra to. Musi uwierzyć, że może wygrać. Jego gra upoważnia go do tego.
Z takimi referencjami Murray może śmiało patrzeć w przyszłość. - Może jeszcze kiedyś wygram turniej Wielkiego Szlema, a jeśli nie, to nic się nie stanie. W końcu są ważniejsze rzeczy w życiu od tenisa.- mówił po finale Szkot, chyba próbując nieco zrzucić ze swoich barków oczekiwania brytyjskich kibiców na triumf rodaka. Dzięki niemu cały świat na nowo odkrył Freda Perry'ego, mistrza z lat 30-tych, ostatniego Brytyjczyka wygrywającego turniej wielkoszlemowy (Nowy Jork 1936).
Kibice w Wielkiej Brytanii są tak spragnieni sukcesu po 74 latach posuchy, że swoje nadzieje pokładają w – cóż za paradoks!- Szkocie. Tym czupurnym młodzieniaszku, który w 2006 roku przed Wimbledonem mówił, że na zbliżających się mistrzostwach świata w piłce nożnej będzie kibicował wszystkim oprócz Anglii.
Tenis Murraya różni się od gry innych zawodników z czołówki. - Moja gra jest trochę bardziej skomplikowana niż tylko zwykłe przebijanie z linii końcowej. Próbuję zmieniać rotację piłki. Nie mam tyle sił ile inni zawodnicy, dlatego muszę trochę więcej pomyśleć, by zdobywać punkty. I to zabiera trochę czasu.
I rzeczywiście, porównując jego styl z rosyjską maszynką do przebijania piłek Nikałajem Dawidienko, czy z Rafaelem Nadalem, zapędzającym swych rywali w kozi róg za pomocą nieosiągalnych dla innych topspinowych uderzeń wysoko nad siatką i bezpiecznie w korcie, nie można mieć wątpliwości. Tenis proponowany przez Szkota jest miły dla oka oglądających jego wyczyny i jednocześnie okrutny dla przeciwników, którzy nigdy nie mogą mieć pewności co też tym razem strzeli do głowy młodzieńcowi.
A jednak będącemu w życiowej formie Murrayowi znowu czegoś zabrakło do wygrania. Szwajcarski maestro w finale Australian Open w brutalny sposób pokazał całemu światu czego. Odwagi ataku w najważniejszych momentach meczu, właśnie wtedy, gdy ważą się jego losy. Bardziej aktywnej gry, nie polegającej tylko na zawierzeniu w defensywne umiejętności, które może są i olbrzymie, ale przecież nie doprowadzą nigdy na sam szczyt tenisowej chwały.
Żeby być najlepszym na świecie trzeba samemu przejąć inicjatywę. Murray to geniusz taktyczny, co do tego nikt nie ma wątpliwości. Ale geniusz powinien polegać na tym, że wybiera się zawsze najlepsze rozwiązania. Czasami można odnieść wrażenie, że tenisista z Dunblane nie chce wygrać piłki, on chce doprowadzić do sytuacji dla siebie beznadziejnej i dopiero wtedy zdobyć punkt.
Mats Wilander nie ma wątpliwości. Z taką grą Szkot nigdy nie będzie numerem jeden. Może być w czołówce, tak jak teraz, ale jeśli chce być najlepszy na planecie, nie może grać tak pasywnie, musi w końcu zaryzykować.
Czy jednak Andy Murray będzie skłonny zmienić swój styl, tak jak przemienił się z wyglądającego jeszcze niedawno na chucherko w tenisowego atletę? On sam uknuł chyba misterny plan, równie zawiły jak jego akcje na korcie. - Myślę, że jestem bliski grania swojego najlepszego tenisa. Ale wciąż uważam, że to będzie za rok lub nawet trochę dłużej. Albo wie co robi i w końcu kupi upragniony bilet do tenisowego raju, albo pozostanie geniuszem. Ale geniuszem, który nigdy nie będzie najlepszy na świecie.
Ja nie wiem, Ci ludzie mają chyba problem z dodawaniem, albo nie sięgają do właściwych źródeł przed płodzeniem artykułów. I nie mam tu na myśli Pana Turka, który z tego co czytam, zaczerpnął wiedzę z felietonów sławetnych dziennikarzy tenisowych zza granicy. Otóż Andy Murray w momencie finału AO nie był w tym samym wieku co Roger Federer. Szwajcar wygrywając Wimbledon miał 21 lat i 11 miesięcy. Murray ma obecnie 22 lata i ponad 8 miesięcy. Jeżeli oceniamy wiek to jednakową miarą, albo wiek dokładny albo "rocznikowy" a nie u jednego taki, u drugiego taki. Jak Fed miał w trakcie finału Wimbla 2003 lat 22 to Murray obecnie ma ich 23. :]
Neil Harman's Net Post: Andy Murray had a month to remember in Melbourne
It is already a week since the shutters were lowered on Melbourne Park - returning to the stadium for a chat with Roger Federer the morning after his awesome success, it was remarkable how much of the previous two weeks' treasures had been parcelled up and carried away - and yet the memories are fresh and, in many cases, indelible. Not least that of sitting next to Federer on the 16th occasion we had been whisked off on a Monday morning to celebrate the victories that will never become dull.
Federer might have been holding court at Young and Jackson on the corner opposite Flinders Street station, clenching a chilled VB, such was the matter-of-factness of the conversation. It was up to the small group of inquisitors to try to find some new way of broaching his greatness and that in itself, is not easy to do. Suffice to say we are fortunate to spend such quality time in his company. As the man from Sports Illustrated, Jon Wertheim, said as we parted company and headed to the airport: "Imagine what it's going to be like when he's gone."
Here's a sample of the best (and the rest) of the 2010 Australian Open - a random collection of high and not-so-high points from the championships.
Andy Murray's month in Australia. No doubt the British No 1 will choose a schedule for 2011 similar to the one he settled on in January. He was mocked for deciding not to play a tour event in the first week of the year and his welcome in Perth at the Hyundai Hopman Cup more than recompensed him for that decision.
He was able to train in extreme heat (we witnessed a couple of his sessions and they are brutal), hone his game, practice a few elements that he may not have felt comfortable doing in a tournament proper, build an excellent understanding with Laura Robson and relax in the company of a small media group.
The people of Western Australia took to him enormously - he is assured of a warm welcome back. His performances during the Open were nigh on exemplary - just a single set dropped on the way to the final, the first of the semi-final against Marin Cilic (this kid can win Wimbledon one day, trust me). If he got tight against Federer in the final, it is hardly a surprise. Roger wound him up a bit (just enough) but not nearly enough credit has been paid to the world No 1's excellence in the final, his backhand was a thing of beauty, he lured Murray into errors and he once again served well when he had to.
Andy Murray nie ukrywa, że Jego brak na starcie turnieju w Rotterdamie wiąże się z tym, iż Szkot chce uniknąć sytuacji sprzed roku, kiedy to wskutek zmęczenia turniejem w Holandii, został zmuszony do wycofania się z turnieju w Marsylii. W tym roku słynny Szkot postanowił pokazać się publiczności z Lazurowego Wybrzeża.
Rotterdam knows Murray has his reasons for skipping title defense
Rotterdam knows Murray has his reasons for skipping title defense There's no mystery as to Andy Murray's absence from this week's ABN-AMRO event in Rotterdam. The Scot is in fact aiming to make up last year's no-show for fans in Marseille which starts Monday.
Rotterdam tournament director Richard Krajicek has no hard feelings concerning the Scot, who beat Rafael Nadal for the indoor title in 2009.
“Andy not coming back to defend has absolutely nothing to do with money and not getting a big enough guarantee,” said the 1996 Wimbledon winner. “He and his management were always above board with us and I have absolutely nothing against him in his decision not to play. In fact. I think it shows a lot of class."
"Last year he was supposed to play both here and then go on to the next week’s tournament in Marseilles. However after winning he felt so fatigued that he had to withdraw from the Marseilles event which made him feel kind of bad."
"Knowing that playing the back to back tournaments so soon after the Australian Open was a demanding schedule, he decided only to commit to one. As he let the people in Marseilles down last year, he thought it was only fair that he should play there this time.”
Rotterdam had to deal with other late pullouts, including injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nadal, resting his injured right knee.
Gael Monfils is in the draw but perhaps a slight doubt after a knee injury last week in Johannesburg coupled with an existing shoulder problem.
Shattered Murray withdraws from Marseille
The toll of an Australian Open final defeat by Roger Federer may be weighing heavily as Andy Murray's camp announced his withdrawal as top seed from the Open 13 event in Marseille starting Monday.
The Scot is now due to make his return to the courts February 22 in Dubai.
"After playing in Australia for five weeks, Andy has taken an extra week off to recuperate and recover for the long season ahead," Murray management said in a statement.
The world No. 3 is joined as an absentee by US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro, who re-injured his wrist and will sit out for at least four weeks.
Murray went down in the Australian Open final to Federer, a soul-destroying loss for the Scot who had been hoping to end a three-quarter century draught for British men in Grand Slam singles finals.
Murray wants to bring top tennis to homeland Scotland
As he continues to recover from his Australian Open loss to Roger Federer, Andy Murray's mind has not been idle, with the Scot now thinking of trying to bring an ATP event to his chilly northern home.
Like Novak Djokovic and family, who managed to poach a bankrupt Dutch event and bring it to Belgrade - the homeboy won the inaugural edition last May - Murray has his eye on a similar move in the future "when I'm not training so much."
While Scotland was never on the tennis map prior to Murray's emergence, the world No. 3 is now determined to try to get an indoor event into a February timeslot. Britain has been harsh on indoor tennis, with the failure of an ATP event a decade ago in London after player complaints of it being held in a tent in midwinter..
But last November's successful year-end tournament in the far east of the city has breathed new life into the genre in the nation which defines the game by Wimbledon.
British media report that Murray is keen: "I've spoken to a few people about it. If you're going to do it you make sure you do it well. If I was to do something like that I would want to make sure I'm really involved in it."
Meanwhile, the Scot must concentrate on trying to win his first Grand Slam title after falling to Federer twice in trophy matches at majors.
In addition to hands-on Djokovic, Spain's David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero are responsible for the November Valencia event. "I think all the players would love to put on a tournament," Murray said. "They obviously know what the players need."
Trochę informacji odnośnie fali krytyki, jaka spadła na Marysia ze strony organizatorów turnieju Open13 w Marsylii.
Marseille seething over late Murray pull-out
Marseille seething over late Murray pull-out The ATP and Marseille organisers have move quickly to prevent an ugly boilover after the world No. 3 withdrew suddenly just before the start of this week's event.
The missing Murray - still apparently feeling the effect of his Australian Open hammering by Roger Federer - combined with the actual injury withdrawal of US Open winner Juan Del Potro left the indoor tournament struggling at the ticket office.
The ATP jumped to the defence of Murray after quotes in the British tabloid press by tournament director Jean-Francois Caujolle saying the Scot should be suspended for unprofessional behavior. The ATP said Murray's pullout was within the rules.
"We understand a situation like this can be frustrating for a tournament but, in this case, Andy followed the procedures for withdrawal and did not break any rules," read an ATP statement.
After being quoted as saying he was "really disappointed," former player Caujolle backpedalled, saying he never actually called for sanctions against Murray.
"I never said that he should be suspended, but it's true I was really disappointed because he was my top player. There is a responsibility for the credibility of all the game when it's a top player. Sometimes you have to force yourself and be responsible," he told British television.
"Last year he played in Rotterdam and was a bit injured and I understand that. He sent me an email saying next year I will play. I understand everything but the fact is it's going to affect the tournament."
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … y_pull-out
ATP broni Szkota:
http://beta.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/article107506.ece
Murray Makes Maiden Trip To Meydan Racecourse
Andy Murray, who is the third seed for the Men's Open at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships next week, enjoyed his first visit to the races in Dubai on Friday evening.
The Scot, currently No. 3 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings, visited the recently-opened spectacular Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for the ultimate horse racing experience.
Murray, aged 22, enjoyed a tour of the new venue — the new home of the Dubai World Cup — and met with jockey Kieren Fallon in the Parade Ring immediately following the third race of the evening.
Murray's Time Will Come, Say The Champions
Andy Murray may have lost out in the final of the Australian Open, but the stars of the ATP Champions Tour have predicted that his time will come. Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic and Stefan Edberg all believe that the Briton will win a Grand Slam tournament, despite losing in straight sets to Roger Federer in the final in Melbourne yesterday.
"Murray will win one - it's a question of when, not if," said Rafter, a two-time US Open champion who will play at the ATP Champions Tour event in Delray Beach, February 20-23.
"It could happen at any time. He’s comfortable on most surfaces and he’s a fantastic player. He could win Wimbledon. It’s just a matter of if he can deal with the pressure of playing in the UK. I know the Brits want him to win more than anything so it’s whether he can control those nerves and believe in himself. He’s such a great player and a great athlete. He’s just the complete package.”
Goran Ivanisevic, who dashed Tim Henman's best chance of winning a Grand Slam title when he beat the Briton in their 2001 Wimbledon semifinal, also has faith in the 22-year-old from Dunblane.
"There is a lot of pressure so it is not easy," said Ivanisevic, who will play at the BNP Paribas Zurich Open, March 9-13. "But generally, he has everything - the game, the mind, and definitely he is going to win a Grand Slam title. I don’t know which one, but he is going to win one of them."
Edberg, a six-time Grand Slam title winner, compares the situation Murray is going through to that of Ivan Lendl, who won his first Grand Slam title in his fifth final, before going on to win eight major titles in all.
"You have to 'crack it' first," said Edberg. "Getting the first one is the hard bit for someone like Andy, he just needs a bit of luck. It's like Ivan Lendl. He was in his seventh year as a professional before he finally won a Grand Slam title, and he lost in four Slam finals before he cracked it. When he finally won one, coming from behind to beat McEnroe in the French Open final 25 years ago, it was the start for him. Lendl went on to win seven more Grand Slam titles, eight in total - even more than McEnroe - and become World Number One. I think Andy Murray could do the same thing. It is now about winning one of them, and once he has done that, he will be able to win more."
Federer won his 16th Grand Slam singles title with victory over Murray in the final in Melbourne, but there are many pretenders nipping at his heels.
“Men’s tennis is so open,” said the 1988 French Open finalist, Henri Leconte. “There are eight players who can win a Grand Slam tournament at the moment and that reminds me of the era in the 80s when you used to have Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and so many other players who could win the Grand Slams.”
Murray: Fitness a priority
A healthy body and a healthy mind have become the priorities for tennis world number four Andy Murray.
"I need to make sure that I'm fresh going into all the tournaments that I play," said Murray, who is playing this week for the first time since losing to Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open on January 31.
"I don't want to be going over to Indian Wells, Miami with niggles. By the end of that month you're undoubtedly going to be hurting so you don't want to go into the tournaments already sore," Murray added.
"So I need to make sure that I take enough time after, like in Australia. I need to make sure that I'm fresh. My back was sore, my knee was hurting, my hip. After Australia you need to make sure that you got those things right.
"A lot of it is through tiredness, but the sport is such a physical one. Your body takes such a pounding and over the course of the two weeks you're hitting, playing, doing all this stuff (interviews) as well. I'm not complaining about it, but it does take away some energy.
"You need to make sure you get away from it and just refresh your mind and come back feeling right for all the tournaments," added the 22-year-old Scot.
"That's the difference, the change that I've made in my mentality over the last six months or so. I want to go into all of the slams feeling right, because last year that wasn't the case. And I don't want that to happen again."
Murray, seeded third, plays Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn in the first round on Monday, and has avoided a potential semi-final with Federer after the top seed withdrew with a lung infection.
Murray said he had his eye on the world number one ranking.
"If I can perform like I did in Australia in all of the slams there's a good chance my ranking will move up. I've been as high as number two. I would like to try to go higher than that.
"Obviously you need to be consistent the rest of the year, but you need to perform well in all of the slams because Roger and Rafa (Nadal) have been making the semis and winning slams for so long, and the points there are so huge, that you need to play well in every single slam to have a chance of doing that."
Reuters
Murray zdenerwował kolejnego dyrektora. Tym razem wściekły na Szkota jest szef imprezy w Dubaju. Głównie za wypowiedź, że porażka w ZEA "to nie koniec świata". Dyrektor wyjaśnia, że nie ma pretensji do Murraya za porażkę, ale za sposób reakcji na nią, gdzie dodatkowo Andy stwierdził, że w turniejach WS i imprezach Masters gra na zupełnie innym zaangażowaniu i inaczej taktycznie podchodzi do tego typu zawodów.
A mówią, że zawsze trzeba być szczerym hahaha
Z bardziej wiarygodnego źródła wynika, że Szkot powiedział, że ten występ w Dubaju to był trening i robił dokładnie to samo co czynił ze swoim sztabem podczas "workout session". Zważywszy na fakt, że przyjął 400 tysięcy $ startowego, chyba nie powinien być aż tak szczerzy podczas konferencji. :P Organizatorzy turnieju podkreślili jednak, że Andy będzie mile widziany podczas kolejnych edycji turnieju.
Źródło: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spor … 624929.cms
Andy Murray: Tenisiści powinni wybierać kapitana
Andy Murray uważa, że tenisiści powinni mieć głos w wyborze kapitana daviscupowej reprezentacji Wielkiej Brytanii. Obecnie funkcję tę pełni John Lloyd, ale kierownictwo związku rozgląda się za inną osobą.
Reprezentacja, pod kierunkiem Lloyda, a bez Murraya, doznała na wyjeździe kompromitującej porażki (2:3) z drużyną Litwy. Jeśli przegra jeszcze jeden mecz w Grupie II Strefy Euroafrykańskiej (z Turcją), spadnie do niższej klasy rozgrywek Pucharu Davisa.
Kontrakt Lloyda z Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) jest ważny jeszcze 18 miesięcy, ale szefowie związku już zastanawiają się na osobą jego następcy.
- Nie tylko ja tak myślę, ale także inni reprezentanci. Nie chcę być odpowiedzialnym za wszystko, co dzieje się w brytyjskim tenisie. LTA będzie musiała postanowić, czy chce, by Lloyd pozostał kapitanem. Jeśli jednak straci tę funkcję, chciałbym, by w sprawie wyboru jego następcy, zawodnicy też mieli prawo głosu - powiedział 22-letni Murray.
Były numer 1 brytyjskiego tenisa Tim Henman wykluczył siebie z grona kandydatów do funkcji kapitana daviscupowej reprezentacji, zaś zainteresowanie wyraził Greg Rusedski.
Andy Murray worry as he admits: I've fallen out of love with tennis
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis … z1I6BYqhRv
Boże Jedyny, Maryś już nie kocha tenisa. :(
Andy Murray pod opieką psychologa
Brytyjski tenisista #1 ponownie poprosił o pomoc wybitnego psychologa z angielskiej federacji tenisowej, Roberto Forzoni - tego samego, który pomagał Szkotowi w dramatycznym okresie w sezonie 2007, kiedy Maryś borykał się z przewlekłą kontuzją nadgarstka. Celem terapii jest jak najszybsze wymazanie z pamięci fatalnego okresu na kortach twardych w poprzednim miesiącu.
"Jestem tutaj dla Niego, jesteśmy w bardzo dobrych relacjach, często ze sobą rozmawiamy telefonicznie. Postaram się w najbliższym czasie porozmawiać z Andym i wtedy zobaczymy jak będę mógł mu pomóc". - powiedział Doktor.
"Muszę pokochać tenis na nowo i czerpać radość z gry tak jak na początku roku. Taką osobą znowu chcę być" - powiedział zawodnik.
Więcej informacji: http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … out_Murray
Andy zmienia plan startów na kortach ziemnych, otrzymał dziką kartę do turnieju w Monte Carlo.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8601708.stm
Murray magic wearing thin for UK betting houses
Faithful British bookmakers seem to be temporarily losing their love of Andy Murray as the Scot struggles through a bad patch in his tennis.
The William Hills house is offering offer 4/9 (1.44) odds that the world No. 4, set for a fall to fifth after failing to defend his Monte Carlo semi-final this week, will fail to win a Grand Slam in 2010.
That desperate bet is despite his appearance against Roger Federer three months ago in the title match at the Australian Open.
"Murray is having a shocker at present but the next major is some time away and punters who have backed him to win a Grand Slam in 2010 should not despair just yet," said a spokesman for the betting
house.
Still, the punters are not completely without hope, with Murray handed 13/8 (2.63) odd to win exactly one Slam this season. He is also 9/4 (3.25) for a Wimbledon semi-final and 3/1 (4.00) to win the coveted trophy at the All England club.
Artykuł Karola Stopy o Murrayu. Wklejona cała wypowiedź w temacie o rozważaniach ogólnych ATP w dziale GM.
http://blog.rp.pl/stopa/2010/04/21/rozs … adczonych/
Andy Murray must fight in lion’s den
Andy Murray does not expect anything to come easily as he attempts to plot a course through one of the more complex spells of his career.
He will certainly need a clear head and an even clearer game plan when he plays Andreas Seppi, of Italy, in front of a raucous Foro Italico crowd in his opening match of the Rome Masters tomorrow.
If Murray remains mystified as to why he has played so disjointedly and with such lack of relish in his past two tournaments, he knows only one person can put it right. The defeats by Mardy Fish in Miami and Philipp Kohlschreiber in Monte Carlo gave the amateur psychiatrists a field day and penetrated the 22-year-old’s skin.
“As soon as I had one bad tournament in Miami, it was like everyone was asking, ‘Are you OK? What’s going wrong?’ Then you start thinking, ‘What is it? Is it my tennis? Is it something going on off the court? Is it family-related?’ I don’t think there’s a problem. It’s based on a couple of matches when mentally I didn’t turn up and I think I’m allowed to do that, given as many matches as I’ve played.
Last year I played a lot of bad matches and came through them by fighting and thinking right. I’ve seen better players struggle worse than I am at the moment. It depends on what you let it do to you. For me, it’s made me want to practise harder and go to the gym more, which has been good for my mind and my tennis. Whatever anyone else says or writes doesn’t bother me.”
That final comment can be taken with a pinch of salt, for criticism hurts every bit as much as losing does. Seppi, the world No 49, is not a knock-over, although Murray defeated him in straight sets in the second round in Indian Wells just over a month ago.
But an Italian, in his backyard, fangs bared, is an altogether different foe.
Andy Murray in danger of being undercooked for French Open
Looking on the bright side, Andy Murray has had so little tennis in the past two months compared with the extremes of 2009 that he ought to be far better prepared for the onrushing grand-slam tournaments in Paris and Wimbledon and imagine staying the course longer than he managed last year. Anything better than a French Open quarter-final and a semi in SW19 would be the cause for national merry-making.
Murray’s straight-sets defeat in the third round of the BNL D’Italia Masters by David Ferrer, of Spain, yesterday meant that in his past four tournaments, he has played eight times across nine hours and 44 minutes, for an average of an hour and 18 minutes’ court time per match. If he were to lose earlier in Madrid the week after next than the quarter-final stage last year when he was beaten by Juan Martín del Potro, of Argentina, he will be seriously undercooked going to Roland Garros.
Last year, Murray reached the final in Indian Wells, California, won the title in Miami and was a semi-finalist in Monte Carlo, before his customary first-match defeat in Rome. Surely, then, he must have a surfeit of energy and resistance in the tank, which needs to be put to good use as quickly as the competitive fires have to start burning bright again.
In his 6-3, 6-4 loss to Ferrer yesterday, too many opportunities were spurned that a match-honed Murray would have taken. Although he insisted that he hit the ball an awful lot better than in either the losses in Monte Carlo to Philipp Kohlschreiber and Miami to Mardy Fish — he could hardly have struck it any worse — he will look back on this as an opportunity squandered against a player whose best ranking days are behind him.
In the first game, Murray tossed in a couple of backhand drop shots, which suggested that he wanted to make Ferrer cover more of the court than he normally does. He won both points as well, which may have lured him into a false sense of stability.
Unfortunately, his service was not firing well enough — a 41 per cent success rate on the first delivery to Ferrer’s 78 summed up the inadequacy of that particular stroke. And Murray said that he did not return well enough. It is back to basics for him on the practice courts at Roehampton next week.
He was broken first in the opening set, had three chances to recover it and even when he broke a string on his last break-back point, he managed to sustain a rally for a dozen shots before a last forehand sailed off course. In the second set, with a point to lead 4-2, he did not do enough on a return and at 3-3, 40-30 with the court at his mercy for a smash, he blocked it right back into the Spaniard’s striking zone to lose the point and any sense of momentum.
“This is a step in the right direction, after Monte Carlo,” Murray said. “I am feeling in good shape.” He ought to, as well, for the match was done and dusted in an hour and 36 minutes.
The match that preceded it, between Ernests Gulbis, of Latvia, and Filippo Volandri, the Italian who has slumped to No 152 in the world, lasted two hours and 43 minutes and Gulbis prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 to reach his first Masters quarter-final on clay.
He did not need the seven match points that it required to knock over Roger Federer in the previous round but Volandri, urged on by the locals who rushed to the front of the stands to wave encouraging fists almost in his face, made him squirm for three.
Murray determined to fight through lingering slump
Murray determined to fight through lingering slump Andy Murray remains determined to put his head down and try to plough his way through a slump which has left him with one win from three matches on clay this spring.
The world No. 5 has not been the same player since losing a heartbreak Australian Open final three months ago to Roger Federer, with a third-round loss to David Ferrer at the Rome Masters only the latest symptom of his troubles.
But the Scot says he won't go into panic mode by trying for a wild card into events set for next week in Belgrade and Estoril. Instead, it's back to the practise court.
"You've got to stick to a plan," said Murray. "This week I just felt so much better than I did in Monte Carlo (opening-round loss) because I was able to play and practice and get into shape."
"Now I have another week of hard training and hard practise. I think that will be more beneficial to go and play another tournament."
"It's a long long stretch coming up with the French Open and Wimbledon and obviously I don't want to take time off but a couple of days just to get your body right again, then you work hard again for a week to get ready for Madrid (starting May 10)."
Murray: Queen's defence will be tough
Andy Murray admitted that he faces a tough task if he is to defend his Queen's Club title at next month's AEGON Championships.
Murray became the first home winner of the pre-Wimbledon event since 1938 last year but will face seven of the world's top ten in his title defence.
But former winner Rafael Nadal, absent through injury in 2009, will return; joined by Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco and Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
"If I play my best I've got a chance of successfully defending the title and doing well at Wimbledon," said Murray.
"I know it won't be easy because they are going to have a strong field this year at Queen's, and Wimbledon always has the best players in the world.
"It's a great time of the year though and I'm really looking forward to it."
Last year Murray won the AEGON Championships title without dropping a set - beating former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semis and then easing past James Blake in the final.
He started his 2010 in style, reaching a second career Grand Slam final in Melbourne, where he was beaten by Roger Federer.
But the world number four has since struggled to match that high - losing three of his last four matches - his worst run in four years.
No panic for Murray as Grand Slam title still just a dream
Andy Murray won't give up on his Grand Slam title dream despite his heartbreak loss in Melbourne to Roger Federer three months ago.
With his clay season looming as another potential write-off and as he heads into another try at the Madrid Masters with the French Open to follow, the Scot is trying to keep his focus on the present and not the high-intensity Wimbledon summer.
Murray starts in Madrid 1-2 on clay and 5-5 overall since the Australian final. But the world No. 4 is putting on a positive spin.
"I've always said I'll win one (Grand Slam), that's why I train hard and make sacrifices," he told British media after formally entering the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen's club next month.
"It doesn't have to be this year, it doesn't have to be a rush and a panic. If you think you will never have another chance, that's not so beneficial to your mindset or how you play."
Murray said he won't be alarmed with any perceived lack of progress as he turns 23 on Saturday. "I'm trying to work as hard as I can and take my time. I don't want to be panicking. I'm 22 years old. Most of my friends haven't finished university yet so I've got a long road ahead of me and I have time on my side.
Andy Murray kończy dziś 23 lata, wszystkiego najlepszego. ;)
Wyniki w dniu 23 urodzin (wynik sprzed 12 miesięcy)
Ranking: 4 (3)
Wygrane turnieje: 14 (11)
Przegrane Finały: 7 (6)
Turnieje WS: 0/2 (0/1)
Mastersy: 4/1
Zarobki: $11,061,660 ($7,216,716)
Wszystkiego dobrego Andy :)
Murray gets clay confidence back
Andy Murray headed back to Britain on his 23 birthday determined to shake off a Madrid Masters quarter-final loss to David Ferrer.
The scampering Spanish spark plug beat the Scot for the second time in three weeks after a win in Rome.
But Murray, hoping to go past his career-best Roland Garros quarter-final of last last, remains optimistic that his game is improving in time for the Grand Slam dates starting next Sunday.
"Sometimes you lose matches when you play well," said Murray of his fall against Ferrer at the Caja Magica.
"It´s not a match that I was necessarily expected to win - it was over 2 hours for a 7-5, 6-3 match suggests it was very close; a lot of long rallies and I had my chances and he had his.
"It´s been a positive week and obviously I´m very disappointed to lose but I would have liked to have got to the semis here but it´s not to be."
But it's not looking too bad for Paris, according to the No. 4. "If I hit the ball like that I´ll beat a lot of guys and If I can just play a little bit better than I did today I think I could have won the match.
"Going into the French I definitely feel better than I did a few weeks ago. I´ve got my intensity back, my mind´s where it needs to be on the court."
Murray hopes to get in more time on the dirt
Andy Murray's confidence on clay has been renewed even in the face of a quarter-final loss in Madrid. And the Scot says he's now ready for action at Roland Garros.
"If I hit the ball like I did this week I´ll beat a lot of guys," said Murray. "Going into the French I definitely feel better than I did a few weeks ago. I've got my intensity back, my mind´s where it needs to be on the court.
"Maybe I´ll be a little bit calmer going into Paris. I´m moving good, hitting the ball well. The intensity is right - there's no reason why I can´t play well at the French. If I keep playing better, there's a good chance I'll win more matches."
While his clay campaign will end in Paris for the season, Murray says that he might consider more time on the dirt in the future - even if it involves some extra travel.
"I would love to play more on clay. It's good for your tennis. It's good for your fitness It's good for your movement. For your mentality, it's a very good surface to make you feel good about your game, if you're playing well on it.
"I'll try to fit some more clay tournaments in. But unfortunately, because of the way the tour is structured, I'd need to play over in South America, and that's after a long trip for me, training in Miami in December, going over to Australia in January.
"I'm not sure how easy it's going to be, but I'll try."
Pressure mounts on Murray as Queen set for Wimbledon
Andy Murray may find himself under even more pressure than usual if he happens to play centre court on the first Thursday of Wimbledon when the Queen makes her first visit to the event in more than three decades.
Several tennis generations have come and gone since the monarch last set foot in SW19. Her previous trip came in 1977 when Virginia Wade won the women's title.
Wimbledon is naturally all aflutter over the impending honour.
“We are delighted and honoured that the Queen has indicated that she will be attending The Championships this year and we very much look forward to welcoming Her Majesty back to Wimbledon," said club chairman Tim Phillips.
"Wimbledon has changed considerably since the Queen’s previous visit in 1977, most notably with a transformation of the infrastructure bringing new and much improved facilities, including the Centre Court roof which was unveiled last year.
"What has not changed, though, is the essential character of Wimbledon, created by the passion of players and spectators alike who want to be part of one the world’s most exhilarating sporting events. It will certainly be an exciting occasion for everyone here.”
The queen had been expected to make the drive to SW19 a year ago. But it never came to be - no thanks in part to Murray, who failed to make it into the final and therefore spoiled the royal plans after he lost a semi-final to Andy Roddick.
French Open - Wade warns Murray
Former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade has criticised Andy Murray for a series of poor decisions this season that have impacted on his form and standing in the game.
British number one Murray is going through a difficult patch since reaching the Australian Open final in January, where he lost to Roger Federer, and Wade thinks his decision-making may have contributed to that.
Murray first angered organisers in Marseille when he withdrew just three days ahead of their February tournament, despite being seeded number one.
In Dubai he chose to experiment with his game during a loss to Janko Tipsarevic, and he also angered British tennis fans when he opted not to play the Davis Cup tie against Lithuania.
Wade, who will be a Eurosport guest during the upcoming French Open, believes Murray needs to take care not to lose further goodwill within the game.
"Andy is treading water a little bit right now," Wade told the Daily Mail. "A few things blew up in his face recently, all of which were a little bit his responsibility.
"They tested him. He probably started the ball rolling by pulling out of Marseille at the last minute and really aggravating them.
"The there was Dubai, and the people who were there tell you that his message was not delivered very well. I thought people were being a little harsh on him but I heard he came across as saying 'I was messing around'.
"Then there was the Davis Cup stuff. What was the big deal if he did go and play two matches?"
Murray has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in any of his last six events since the Australian Open but will hope to make amends at the French Open starting on Sunday.
The Last Time... With Andy Murray
Scotland’s Andy Murray reveals to DEUCE the last time...
I got into hot water with a Twitter post I made?
Haven’t had any get me in trouble yet. But give me time… I’m sure I’ll say something wrong.
I queued for tickets?
I always queue for movie tickets. I haven’t queued for any concert tickets. I don’t go to concerts that much. I go to basketball and football games more.
I bought tennis balls or paid to hire a court?
My racquet company HEAD sends me Penn balls to practise with, but if for some reason we don’t have any we’ll buy them. Hiring a court? It’s been quite a while.
I lost something important
I can’t find things a lot. I’ve had the same wallet and phone for quite a while now. I don’ really lose things often but it’s common for me not to be able to find things for a couple of days. But they eventually turn up.
I cooked for myself?
I cooked for myself and a friend a couple of weeks ago. Although it wasn’t really cooking (laughing). Just some pasta and chicken and Dolmio Stir-in sauce.
I wasn’t requested for a press conference after a singles match?
That hasn’t happened once since I’ve been on the tour.
I missed a flight?
I’ve only ever missed one flight, and that was in Rome a few years ago – 2006, I think. I had to leave my passport with hotel reception when I first checked in and then they forgot to give it to me when I checked out. So I got to the airport and I didn’t have my passport with me. They sent it over in a taxi but I obviously didn’t know who the driver was and he couldn’t speak English. So I was just standing outside waving at all the taxi drivers and I ended up missing the flight.
I shared a hotel room with another player?
Not that long ago. I shared with Ross Hutchins in Cincinnati last year.
Being recognised helped me?
We got free dessert last night at a restaurant, which we weren’t expecting. Pancakes, ice cream, Crème brûlée – very nice.
I visited a country for the first time?
When I went to Shanghai in China.
I asked someone for their autograph?
Probably when I was 10 or 11 when I went to Wimbledon. I prefer photos.
I had a bad hotel experience?
I’m really not that fussy with hotels, as long as the internet is okay.
I was asked to sign something unusual?
I’m asked to sign shoes a lot. Arms. Someone in Australia asked me to sign their forehead.
I met a childhood hero?
Agassi would be the last one – a few years ago. I had the chance to go to dinner with him and practise with him. That was cool.
Murray set to shake off slightly sore knee
Andy Murray is convinced that his chronic sore knee which has flared slightly this week in the run-up to Roland Garros will come right in time for his first match at the French Open.
"I've just got a sore knee, I get it all the time. I've had it since I was a kid, so it's something that I've had to manage throughout my whole career," the Scot said during an exhibition in Paris.
"Some days are worse than others and it was a little bit sore towards the end. But I'm sure it'll be fine by the start of the tournament."
Murray is trying to recapture the form which led him into the Australian Open final four months ago, where he was humbled by Roger Federer. His clay season has been decidedly mediocre with a 3-3 record highlighted by a Madrid quarter-final.
"It's all well and good winning the Masters Series but the Slams are what is important. This year, the one slam I played, I played very, very well - the best tennis of my life," he told British media.
Murray confessed to "a little dip after that in Miami and in Monte Carlo."
"But I feel good again, I'm winning matches and this is now a very important five, six weeks ahead. I've got the French Open and Wimbledon coming up and they're the tournaments where I want to try to perform my best."
Heat and fans stand in Murray's way
What struck me most about the opening day at the French Open wasn't the quality of play, but the tremendous crowds.
It hasn't been confirmed to me yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was an all-time record at the tournament.
Considering there was no Federer or Nadal on show, the sheer numbers who flocked to Roland Garros was simply phenomenal.
The French are very patriotic, and if they're watching an exciting home player they'll go crazy for them. That's what happened yesterday with the likes of Wilfried Tsonga and Josselin Ouanna playing and it was fantastic to be a part of it.
The tennis wasn't the best ever seen, and I don't think we saw the winner of the French Open in action, but as far as atmosphere goes it was amazing.
The French love to be part of the show, especially when they see one of their own doing well, and home advantage for the French players will be important this year.
But, that said, I can't see any of the home contingent troubling the big guns for the titles on offer.
Certainly Tsonga seems to be too heavy to last the distance. He's a well-built man with extraordinary power in his shot-making, but he is too heavy to last seven matches over two weeks.
The Roland Garros crowd will have higher hopes for Gael Monfils. I think he will play his best tennis here, as he usually does, but I still don't see him as the likely winner.
- - -
Another French favourite, Richard Gasquet, features in the biggest match of the day today against Andy Murray.
What's interesting about this clash is that it is on Suzanne Lenglen. Why?
It's a Frenchman against a major seeded player - one who reached the quarter-finals last year - so why is it not on Chatrier Court?
No official reason has been given but it may be that Gasquet wanted to take the pressure off himself.
On Lenglen, the atmosphere can be good, but it's not the same as on Chatrier. Nor is the weight of expectation.
Gasquet won Nice at the weekend and I know he was anxious not to play today - he wanted an extra day off to recuperate.
Tournament organisers refused to give him that, so maybe he cut a deal with them, saying he was willing to play today, but only on Lenglen to ease the pressure a little.
I'm just speculating of course, but there has to be a reason why this one is not on the centre court.
As for the match itself, I think tiredness will be the decisive factor. But it will be close.
Many of the broadcasters and journalists I have spoken to in Paris believe Gasquet has what it takes to win, but the longer the match goes on the more I will fancy Murray.
The only thing going against Murray is the heat. If he goes on around three o'clock local time, it will be extremely hot down on court. Traditionally he doesn't play well in intense heat, but he's even stronger than he has been before and he's very fit at the moment.
And that could be telling.
Andy Murray vows to prove he's a contender after Roger Federer snub
Andy Murray insists he is back in the zone - despite being dismissed by Roger Federer as a contender for the French Open.
Murray has endured a slump in form since being beaten by Federer in the final of the Australian Open in January - and the world No.1 thinks the Scot has no chance of breaking his Grand Slam duck in Paris.
When asked who he thought could win at Roland Garros besides himself and Rafa Nadal, Federer said: "Novak [Djokovic] is one of the favourites here.
"Other than that, it is hard to pick anybody right now apart from Roger and Rafa.
"I think a lot of the Spaniards have had a great clay court season. They've dominated most of the clay court tournaments this season so far, so they obviously have a chance."
The omission of Murray's name was a clear snub to the Scot - who is the world No.4 and seeded fourth at the tournament . Murray protested: "There has been a little dip in Miami and in Monte Carlo, but now I feel good again and I'm winning matches.
"I'm excited to play. I want to try and win this tournament.
"These are the kind of tournaments that make your career. They are the ones that you are going to be remembered by.
That's why you want to play your best in them and give a good account of yourself.
"Before matches I have been getting into a routine of songs I listen to while stretching, warming up and seeing the physio.
"It's all part of getting myself into the zone and getting into match mode. Nowadays, 15 or 20 minutes before I go out on court, I'm ready. Before a Grand Slam you don't really want to be in the zone any earlier than that.
"When I was younger I might have got myself too amped up too early because I was not used to playing those long, five-set matches.
"Now, I save up all of my energy and concentration for the match."
Murray faces Richard Gasquet, the former world No.7 from France, in his first match tomorrow - and he will be inspired by the memory of their epic five-set match at Wimbledon two years ago. The Scot, who dramatically won that contest after being two sets down, said: "If I'm behind, the memory of that match will give me belief that I can come back.
"I feel like I'm in very good shape now. I am probably in better shape than I was then.
"I'm ready for a long match against Richard. But hopefully I'll get off to a better start this time."
The sight of Murray clutching his knee in a practice match last week set the alarm bells ringing - but he dismissed any suggestion it would bother him in Paris over the next fortnight.
"It's OK," he said. "I can deal with it. I was born with my kneecap in two pieces which makes it very sore to bend my knee.
"It's something I've had to deal with throughout my whole career."
Wywiad po 1 rundzie RG10
Q. Did you feel that if you could just get one set and back into the match that things would start to fall your way?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I don't think I didn't play a great first set, and, you know, I wanted to try and win the first set quite badly. Maybe that was why I put a little bit too much emphasis on winning that set.
I knew that it was going to be tough for him if I went really long. But, I mean, he was playing some great tennis. He was hitting huge balls and taking loads of chances, and the stats would suggest that both of us played a pretty high level, more winners than unforced errors.
Just managed to come back in the end by fighting hard and believing.
Q. When a match gets messy like that where somebody is really affected by illness or something, how important is it to maintain your own focus for that? Because it could get very, very strange, couldn't it, with momentum lost and huge gaps in momentum coming back again?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was tough. You know, it's important to try as much as possible not to show how you're feeling. You know, it was a four hour match for me as well, so it was long and tough and mentally pretty draining after, you know, being two sets to love down.
You know, you need to yeah, you just need to try and stay focused on your own game. You know, against someone like him it's tough, because, you know, he was just ripping balls. It's difficult when guys are playing like that. I looked up at one point, and he'd hit like 59 winners and 30 unforced errors.
You know, he's hitting a big ball. You need to chase everything down and fight hard and believe in yourself. That's it.
Q. Is there a danger when you see someone hobbling a bit like that to just let him lose the game rather than you kill him off?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I think I did a good job at that today.
You know, I started making him run a lot, but didn't give too many unforced errors. Started putting a lot more returns in court. When I saw he was struggling, yeah, just kept him moving as much as possible, and you know, had a lot of a lot of the long rallies, as the match went on I started to win more and more of them.
Yeah, I mean, I guess you could do that. You could take your eye off the ball a little bit, but I didn't today.
Q. What niggles did you have during the match, and how do you feel right now?
ANDY MURRAY: My knee is sore. A four hour match probably wasn't the best thing for it when it's been sore the last few days. You know, I just gotta do my best to try and make it better for the next round.
No, I mean, everyone has their problems. Everyone has different issues. It's very hard in an individual sport, especially one like this, you know, to play a four hour matches, five set matches in that heat. I mean, it was pretty it was very hot today.
You know, so you're probably going to be a little bit dehydrated. You just need to sort of try and manage the problems as best you can.
Q. How did you find the experience of playing in front of what was quite a partisan crowd?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. You know, I thought they were pretty fair. You know, they did get behind him, as you would expect. But, you know, I didn't feel like they were, you know, silent when I was hitting winners or playing good points. You know, they do appreciate good tennis here, which is nice.
You know, but it was really good experience for me, especially when I was quite a long way behind to come back. You know, obviously did it against him a few years ago at Wimbledon, and, you know, the crowd helps; whereas today it was pretty much only yourself that's got to get it back and get back into it.
Q. You talked about obviously managing the knee. Is it different at the moment to the way you've been managing it other parts of the year? Is it causing more pain? Requiring more icing? Is there anything different?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, yeah, it's sore. My knee hurts. But, you know, just like I say, I just got to try and manage it. It hurts at different parts of the year, you know. I can't do anything about it. It's just something I was born with, and just gonna have to deal with for my whole career.
It's a lot worse than people think. It hurts, you know, a majority of the year, but it's something that I know it's not it's a lot easier mentally than, you know, when other things are sore, because I've had it since I was 16. It's gonna be there my whole life.
It's not like I can do my knee a whole lot of damage. It's just like pretty much tendinitis in the knee. So it's just sore.
Q. After the second set, I think you complained to the umpire about the time Gasquet was taking between points.
ANDY MURRAY: No, I wasn't complaining. I was complaining about every not one service game in the first two sets did I serve when I was ready. Every time we were waiting 30 seconds, a minute, before I could serve. And, you know, it was supposedly people were up and moving around.
I just felt like, you know, it's fine a few times, but, you know, there's always people moving in the crowd at some point. You know, especially I don't know how big that stadium is, but there's always people moving around.
You know, I felt like I should have been able to have served and started the games when I wanted to, because, you know, it's just a bit frustrating. I didn't want only one time did I get to serve when I was ready to in the first two sets.
Q. Did things get better in the end then, from that point of view?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it kind of changed a little bit, because after the second set he was always serving after the breaks, and then he was serving when he was ready, not the other way around.
So it was, I guess, affecting him more than me.
Q. Can you talk about Chela? Obviously you have had a straight sets win so recently against him. But on this surface, he's dangerous, isn't he?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he's good. He's a very good player. He's obviously got a lot of experience. Yeah, I just need to make sure I recover well. If I feel good going into the match, then, you know, I'll be confident that I can win.
But, you know, he can't be underestimated with the results he's had, not only here, but on a lot of the clay courts surfaces during his career.
Q. With everything you've said about your knee and the fact that you've had a five setter today, will you prepare any differently tomorrow ahead of the Chela match to keep yourself nice and fit?
ANDY MURRAY: You know, I'm going to practice late tomorrow. I'll practice in the afternoon, so I can sleep late and eat a lot and just rest and recover.
You know, I've dealt with it, like I said, for a long, long time now. So, you know, I just need to make sure I manage it well. But I'm not gonna change I treat it pretty much the same way the whole way the whole time throughout the year.
Q. At 3 2 in the third set, did you not think the match was starting to slip away?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, it's obviously not the best position to be in. But, you know, it does help when, you know, you've come back against him in the past from a similar situation.
It was just difficult because, you know, I wasn't returning well. That was the one big change in my game, from that point onward, to start making a lot more. It's something I'm gonna need to make sure I do well the remainder of the tournament if I want to go deep.
You know, I lost my serve three, four times today in a five set match, and I hadn't broken serve for two and a half sets, which isn't great. That's what I need to do better.
Q. He made a lot of noise about wanting a Tuesday start, saying he played a Saturday final and thought it was only fair to be given a Tuesday start. Were you consulted at all about what you wanted to do, or do the supervisors, the schedulers, just tell you it's going to be Monday and that's that?
ANDY MURRAY: I like Richard a lot, but I think that's not a valid excuse at all. You know, do they move the finals of the tournaments the week before the Slams to Saturday to make it? You know, if guys have to play on a Monday, then they have to do that.
It's one of the reasons why none of the higher ranked players play the week before, because it's tough coming from one place to the next. You know, you're bound to be tired, but I don't see why I should be punished for having to play two days in a row if we move to Tuesday and we had the same match like we did today, you know, finished by the time I'm actually leaving here it's 10:00, after 10:00.
You have to come back and play the next day just because he did well the week before, you know, I don't think that's ever happened in the past where they've moved someone just because you've done well the week before. So I don't think that that's yeah, I think it's right that we played on Monday.
Q. But you weren't asked?
ANDY MURRAY: No.
Q. You talked about how important the first set was going to be, but I guess your serve percentage was obviously low and climbed, and maybe you say that your returns started badly and then improved. So is it frustrating that maybe you're feeling your way into the matches a little bit at the moment?
ANDY MURRAY: Um, well, that happened here, yeah, first match. But, you know, like I say, I would have liked to have served better, that's for sure.
But in a five set match, if I can lose serve three or four times, you know, normally bet on myself to return. So it's the return game that I would love to serve better, but, you know, it's more the return game that's more important to me.
I mean, you know try and start the next match better. But sometimes guys can play great tennis, and he was playing some pretty good tennis today at the start.
Q. You said going into this that obviously clay physically and mentally is a massive challenge, and you're going to have to run a lot of balls down. You may not want to, but you're gonna have to do it. Coming through something like today, does that just confirm to you that you are equipped to go very deep into this tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Um, well, I mean, I hope so. But, you know, you obviously you can't play that many five set matches, you know. So I hope in the next round, you know, if I play well I can come through that, you know, a bit quicker, because it's important, if you want to play well here, especially, you know, to conserve some energy.
You know, but that was a good, really good test for me today, and I was happy I managed to come through after being quite a long way back.
Murray cierpi na uraz, którego nie może wyleczyć
Szkocki tenisista Andy Murray od lat jest uznawany za tego, który pogodzi Rafaela Nadala i Rogera Federera i sam będzie triumfował w wielkoszlemowych turniejach. Jednak od urodzenia ma poważne problemy z rzepką w prawym kolanie i nie zawsze jest w stanie dać z siebie 100 procent.
Czwarty tenisista w rankingu ATP od dziecka cierpi na rzadką przypadłość - rzepka w prawym kolanie jest rozszczepiona, co powoduje duży ból. Co więcej, Murray będzie musiał sobie z tym radzić nie tylko przez całą karierę, ale również po tym jak rzuci rakietę w kąt. Po pierwszym spotkaniu w Ronald Garros, w którym przeciwnikiem zawodnika z Wysp był Francuz Richard Gasquet, Murray spędził w szatni kilkadziesiąt minut przykładając lód do obolałej nogi.
- Moje kolano bardzo boli, ale muszę to znieść. Boli zawsze w zależności od danej pory roku i nic nie mogę z tym zrobić, gdyż jest to coś, z czym się urodziłem. Ten ból będzie mi towarzyszył przez całe życie - powiedział.
- To o wiele gorsze, niż mogłoby się wydawać. Kolano boli mnie praktycznie przez cały rok, na szczęście, wiem co mi dolega, dlatego łatwiej sobie z tym poradzić. To nie jest tak, że grając bardzo obciążam kolano. To bardziej przypomina zapalenie ścięgna - wyjaśnił Murray, który w drugiej rondzie Rolanda Garrosa zmierzy się z Argentyńczykiem Juanem Ignacio Chelą.
Jednak konfrontacja z Ricahardem Gasquetem kosztowała Szkota bardzo dużo sił. W tym pięciosetowym pojedynku Murray miał duże problemy z bekhendami rywala i po raz kolejny potwierdził, że na clayu ma kłopoty z pierwszym serwisem (skuteczność zaledwie 46 procent). - Chciałbym lepiej serwować, ale ważniejsza jest dla mnie poprawa odbioru - stwierdził.
Co sądzi na temat kolejnego przeciwnika? - Chela to bardzo dobry zawodnik, ale czuję się już dobrze i jestem pewny siebie przed tym spotkaniem - zakończył 23-letni tenisista, który dwukrotnie przegrywał w finałach wielkiego szlema z Rogerem Federerem.
Simon Reed: Murray looks good but not a contender
With the exception of a slightly worrying patch at the end of the second set and the start of the third, I felt Andy Murray played very well in his second round match against Juan Ignacio Chela.
During that rough patch it almost seemed like he didn't know what he was doing but in the last 45 or 50 minutes he looked really good and showed that he has turned himself into a very good clay court player.
That was the best that Chela has ever played against Murray, but Andy came through a tricky test without too many problems.
To be honest though, I don't see Murray as a potential winner of the tournament. He got to the quarter-finals here last year and I could see him reaching that stage again, but I don't feel he would be a match for Rafael Nadal or one or two other of the Spanish players for that matter - though I do think he would fancy his chances against Roger Federer if he got that far.
His serve had been a problem in the early stages of the tournament but that was better on Thursday and his movement was unbelievably good.
There were still a couple worrying signs though. His body language again wasn't always great, with his hands on his knees, and that sore knee of his is forever going to be an issue.
He also played one or two too many drop shots for my liking but Andy is a pig-headed kind of guy so his style is unlikely to change. However, it does look as if his game is finally coming together after some indifferent form.
Ground staff wipe water off the covers on the Philippe Chatrier court as rain interrupts play at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros inAll this rain is another issue to consider though. If the schedule becomes crammed during the course of the second week then there are certain players that it will suit and others who could suffer... and Andy, with his counter-punching style, is one of the latter.
One guy who won't be fazed by the conditions will be Federer, because he makes sure these early matches don't take much out of him. A crammed schedule could put strain on Nadal's knees, but to be honest, he looks so dominant that there probably isn't any player that can make him pay.
The key is just to win your matches quickly and that is something Andy finds hard to do.
I think he will beat Marcos Baghdatis in the third round, but I also feel it could be one of the matches of the tournament.
Baghdatis has superb support out here which means that there will be a tremendous atmosphere when they play, unlike the Chela match which was strangely muted through both sessions.
Both players love making shots and are willing to fight to the end so it should be a terrific contest to watch.
RG 2010 - wywiad z Andym po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. Could you please explain what happened in the third set, the circumstances?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I didn't play a very good set. That was it. That's all that happened. I didn't play well. Made mistakes. He hit the ball well, and that was it.
I played a bad set, but I try and focus on I'll try and focus on the rest of the match, which I thought was very good.
Q. The first two sets you really came out firing. What was the key to that?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, the start of the match actually wasn't particularly great. Both of us had a lot of mistakes, pretty yeah, both of us, I don't know, were a little bit subdued, maybe. It could have been, you know, because of a few late finishes and long days. Like I said, sometimes that happens.
But once I got the break in the first set I started playing some really good tennis for a couple of sets, and finished really well at the end.
Q. Was possibly the third set something that you started to feel it in your legs what had happened the previous few days?
ANDY MURRAY: No. Legs felt fine. I just got off to a bad start and got broken a couple of times. You know, it's not like you're not trying. You know, it's just that there's a good chance that a double break down, you're a couple sets up, that you want to make sure that you're fresh right to the end of the match.
You know, I conserved a little bit of energy at the end. I went for more than normal; made a few more mistakes at the end of the set. And then once I got back in at the beginning of the fourth set, once I got the break back, I started hitting the ball a lot better. He's a difficult guy to play against because he's a great shot maker and very unpredictable. You need to be focused all the time, and I wasn't in the third set.
Q. How pleasing was it to still get off court in two and a half hours when you take into account your first match obviously the second one was over two days. Is it quite pleasing to get off court without too many dramas?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, the shortest match so far. You know, it started clouding over a few times. It was actually Jonathan Overton I don't know if he's here he told me it was meant to rain today. So I thought maybe we're gonna be in for a long day, and it didn't. (laughter.)
So I thought it got a little bit dark. But, yeah, I was glad to get off the court quickly.
Q. What do you make of your match in the fourth round?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I haven't actually played Berdych for ages. I think I might have only played him once or twice on the tour. I think I played him when I was very young in Basel, yeah. I have no idea of the other time when I played him. Where?
Q. Adelaide.
ANDY MURRAY: Oh, okay, yeah. So, yeah, I have not played him for a long time.
He's had some good results this year in Miami. He played well in Monte Carlo. He had some good ones there. He obviously beat Isner pretty comfortably today, so it's gonna be tough.
Q. You said yesterday that when you went a break down in the third, I think, that's when you kind of really got going and moved ahead. You went down a break again in the fourth. Was it the same story today?
ANDY MURRAY: It was a little bit different. You know, I was playing very well and then lost my way a little bit.
The game where I managed to break back, it was just a matter of sort of hustling, fighting, putting a lot of balls in the court. He made a few mistakes, and the match kind of swung again back in my favor.
It was a little bit different circumstances to yesterday where, you know, when I went behind, started going for my shots a bit more and just, yeah, loosened up; whereas today I had to fight a little bit more to find my rhythm.
Q. You've played three days in a row now. How are you feeling? I know you're looking forward to a break.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, it's tough sometimes. It happens in slams. You just need to deal with it. But, yeah, I'll be fine, I'm sure, for the next match. Yeah, I look forward to the day off. I'll practice for 45 minutes or so and just rest up.
Q. It's the second year you're through to the second week at Roland Garros. Can you compare how you're feeling this year to last year when you got to the quarterfinals?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I feel fine just now. It's obviously been I had a couple of long matches; whereas last year I think a only dropped one set to get to the quarters maybe. I spent more time on court.
I feel okay, and sometimes that can be a good thing. You know, from the back of the court and I'm hitting ball a lot cleaner than maybe I was last year.
But, you know, I feel good and ready to fight the next round.
Q. There have been quite a lot of people in the UK perhaps not familiar with Berdych. What are some of the main challenges in tackling him?
ANDY MURRAY: He's big guy with a big serve. He hits the ball hard and flat. He takes a lot of risk. He plays, I mean, low percentage tennis maybe. But that's how he's always played.
He doesn't feel uncomfortable going for his shots, so you don't probably have to run a lot. He's got a big serve, so he's a tough guy to break. So I need to return well, and, you know, that's kind of it. He's got a big game.
Q. Although you've said consistently that you think the French is the Grand Slam where you've got the least chance of winning, are you sort of actually quietly enjoying this championship and the ups and downs of how you've got this far and relishing the prospect of the second week here?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I enjoy it as a tournament. I always loved to play on clay when I was younger. I've said it many times it's my favorite surface to play on, even though my results haven't been as good.
You know, I feel like I can play well on clay, play very well on clay. It just takes me a bit more time to get used to the surface again. You know, I love the tournament. It's probably the hardest physically to win, you know, because obviously a lot of long rallies, long points, and long matches.
Yeah, I enjoy coming here, and it's very different to me than at the other Slams where, you know, I'm a lot more sure of myself there just because I know how to move well and how to play properly on those courts.
Q. In that sense, although the opposition is challenging, are you challenging yourself almost more on this than any other surface?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, it just is more of a challenge for me because I don't play many tournaments on the surface and hardly played on a clay court until I was 15.
So, you know, it's not something that comes naturally to me. So, you know, I obviously have to work hard on my game. I need to put hours in on the practice court. You know, I still do that on the other courts.
It's just my game style is a little bit more natural on hardcourts and grass and indoors. But I'm playing good. I played really well here last year, and I've had I think three very, very good wins against tough players.
Q. With your Michael Jackson impersonation having been on French TV, what sort of feedback have you had from your mates back home who have seen you on the Internet?
ANDY MURRAY: I actually haven't had any feedback from it at all, no, but I kind of made up my own mind what it was like. I saw the video. They replayed it after I did it, so I know what to expect.
Q. Is it something you'd maybe like to see in England? Obviously this thing happens in France every year where fans are able to see another side of players. Do you think...
ANDY MURRAY: I'd rather they didn't see that side of us, to be honest. (laughter.)
No, I mean, it's fun. Like I said yesterday, I mean, all the players, they're totally normal, cool, nice guys. It's just you know, it can be difficult, because, you know, you only really see us when we're on the court, and, you know, you're answering, you know, questions about the matches all the time.
Yeah, I think those sort of things are good for the sport, you know, good for the players to do. Yeah, if it makes it if the fans enjoy it and they like watching it, then why not?
Trochę o dolegliwości w kolanie Andy'ego M.
INSIDE VIEW ON MURRAY'S KNEE TROUBLE .
If Andy Murray is to fulfil his lifelong ambition of winning a Grand Slam title, he will have to do more than beat the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - he will have to overcome his own body.
The star of British tennis was born with a bipartite patella - or split kneecap - and revealed after his first-round victory over Richard Gasquet at this year's French Open that the condition has been causing him pain since the age of 16.
But what exactly is a bipartite patella, why is it affecting Murray now, how should it be treated and could it prove career-threatening?
BBC Sport spoke to leading sports physician Dr Andy Franklyn-Miller for an insight into the problem afflicting the world number four.
WHAT IS A BIPARTITE
In essence, it is a kneecap made up of two separate bones instead of one. During childhood, most kneecaps form as a single segment but occasionally - as seen with Murray - they form as two, fused together by fibrous tissue.
"A bipartite patella is very rare," said Dr Franklyn-Miller. "It occurs in about 1% of the population and often goes unnoticed because it is only when you exercise at the intensity of a top-level sportsman like Murray that you might see symptoms.
"It tends to be found incidentally - you would be X-raying for another reason, such as knee pain, and come across a bipartite patella - but the two bones have a very close join that normally settles down and doesn't cause any problems."
WHY , WHEN , THEN , DOES MURRAY EXPERIENCE PAIN ?
Scot Murray, 23, believes he played too much tennis while he was still growing and recalled how the stress on his split kneecap became so severe that "it got to the point where I couldn't walk".
Dr Franklin-Miller explained: "It's very unusual that pain would stem from the actual join between the two pieces of bone. It's more about how the separation affects the patella tendon, which attaches the kneecap to the lower leg.
"As our thigh and lower leg bones grow in adolescence, they put enormous force on the patella tendon. If you're involved in high-level sport, these forces are even greater.
"When your thigh muscle contracts, a regular kneecap will pull the patella tendon in one direction but a bipartite patella will pull it in different directions. This abnormal loading irritates and inflames the tendon, resulting in pain."
WHY IS HE TALKING ABOUT IT NOW ?
Murray revealed he has trouble bending beyond a certain point and that sliding is particularly unkind to his knee. So his pain may be particularly acute during the clay-court season. A gruelling five-set battle against Gasquet on the red dirt of Roland Garros may well have prompted his comments.
"At a Grand Slam tournament, you could play as many as seven five-set matches with very little rest," added Dr Franklyn-Miller. "Tennis is all about explosive movements. The longer a match, the greater the load on your knees.
"The load through the tendon is at its greatest when you come to a sudden stop. In that sense, clay should be more forgiving than hard courts because the give in the surface acts as a shock absorber.
"But then again, clay plays slower than hard courts so there's a lot more scampering into the net, stopping sharply, bending down to retrieve low balls and twisting to get back in position."
IS MURRAY'S CONDITION DEGENERATIVE ?
Not particularly. The British number one says he is experiencing the same sort of pain now as he was during his junior days at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona.
"Murray's knee shouldn't have got any worse over the years and, provided it is managed correctly, it shouldn't do so in the years ahead," stated Dr Franklyn-Miller.
"The back of our kneecaps come into contact with the joint itself and it's possible that his bipartite patella could be roughening the cartilage, which can lead to osteoarthritis.
"But most elite athletes are susceptible to an element of osteoarthritis. Although it may affect them later in life, it is unlikely to ever cause pain during a match."
SO HIS CAREER IS NOT UNDER THREAT ?
When Murray was diagnosed with his problem at the age of 16, he was forced to rest for six months. But with care and attention he can manage it through a season and it will not determine his future in the game.
"It's certainly not career threatening," insisted Dr Franklyn-Miller. "The problem with modern-day tennis is that it's a year-round sport but Murray and his team will have a routine set out for dealing with the knee and it seems to have been pretty successful so far.
"Because a bipartite patella is formed at birth, there is no cure and there is no way of predicting exactly how the condition will develop in the future.
"But Murray will have the very latest biomechanical technology available to him. That will ensure he can monitor what's going on inside the knee and treat it accordingly."
HOW WILL MURRAY BE THREATING THE PROBLEM ?
The tried and trusted Rice principal (rest, ice, compression, elevation) continues to prevail. Murray's methods include Bikram yoga, ice baths and physio, all of which keep his injury at bay.
"There are a variety of techniques designed to settle the pain - like rest and use of a leg brace. You can also go down the surgical route to alter the pull of the thigh muscles or remove the second segment of bone but these are completely inappropriate to a top athlete like Murray," concluded Dr Franklyn-Miller.
"So he will probably manage inflammation with lots of icing, leg-strengthening exercises, stretching and perhaps things like shock-wave lithotripsy and simple injections of water. He will carefully manage training but the critical focus should be on recovery after matches."The good news for Murray and the British public, with Wimbledon coming up, is that he's fit and his strength and conditioning has improved enormously over the last five or six years, which will help to support what is a pretty unique problem in his knee."
BBC By David Ornstein .
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Murray says tennis officials don't know when to stop
Andy Murray says players on court and not officials in suits should decide when conditions are too dark to play.
The Scot made his charge after crashing out in the fourth round of the French Open to Tomas Berdych.
The Scot lost in fading light at 9:30 p.m. and without a lot of enthusiasm in cold, grey wet and heavy conditions.
"The (yellow) balls were gathering a lot of clay,they are brown by the end of the match. It was just tough to see, and it was dark at the end."
Murray, who now shifts over to grass for Queen's next week, said there has been non consistency over the week as to when late matches are actually stopped. "I guess it's up to them when they stop it. It's not necessarily the players' decision. That's something that maybe needs to change.
"I don't think it should be down necessarily to a supervisor to make the call, because he's not the one playing. Some guys might find it easier to see for an extra 15 minutes than others. If one guy doesn't want to play or is finding it hard to see, then we should stop.
"You don't gain a whole lot playing an extra 10 minutes. Just let the players decide. If they can't see, then they stop."
RG 2010 - wywiad z Andym po porażce w 4 rundzie
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't really get frustrated until like the end of the second set. You know, I didn't really say much on court at all. I knew against him, you know, you need to expect him to hit a lot of winners, take a lot of chances. You need to try and be solid and stable and make sure that you just hang in there, because you'll get chances.
Then obviously I got myself back into it, and struggled when we came back out from the rain delay. But, you know, he played a good match. He hit a big ball. It was very heavy conditions, and, you know, he was striking the ball really good.
Q. How much were the conditions a factor? Were you having trouble with your footing?
ANDY MURRAY: I slipped a couple of times when we came back out. You know, when there is a lot of rain on the court we saw on the TV when we were waiting to go back out they put a lot of clay on the court around the service line and around the baseline. But the further back you go, it's still pretty slippy, because it was just damp the whole day.
I mean, it wasn't like it was slipping and sliding all over the place. It was just a couple of times after I came back out where I lost my footing a little bit.
Q. Berdych was saying the ball was a bit hard to see from early on. Did you find that?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it was just really damp. The ball was getting a lot of clay on it. The covers at the back of the court were damp, as well, so every time the ball went in there it was getting wet.
Yeah, it was just slow, wet, damp conditions. It was just heavy out there. You know, I think it was the same from the start of the day as it was to the end. It was just one of those days.
Q. As you say, Andy, you know you're fourth match on; it's a gloomy day; it's gonna be conditions like that. Do you have to sort of get yourself into a different mindset than you would if it was glorious sunshine and the ball was going to be flying through the air a little better?
ANDY MURRAY: I knew what to expect going out there. It's just that, yeah, I mean, obviously the later the day goes on, it gets it's gonna get slower and cooler and damper. Obviously there was no rain until our match, which obviously slows the court down a little bit, as well.
No, I mean, you can't make excuses about the conditions. They're exactly the same for both of us and, you know, we were both on fourth match. You know, it's just tough conditions to play in.
And he played better than me.
Q. Do you think you should have come off maybe at 2 All or 3 All in that set?
ANDY MURRAY: Which set?
Q. The third set.
ANDY MURRAY: Third set?
Q. When it was getting...
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I would have liked to have come off, you know, when it's difficult to see.
I wasn't the one that complained about it first. You know, like Tomas said, the balls were gathering a lot of clay, and it's very different to, you know if it's a nice, sunny day, the balls aren't, you know, changing color. The balls are brown by the end of the match.
Yeah, just tough to see. And it was dark at the end. You know, I know yesterday they stopped the match, the last match at five past 9:00, ten past 9:00.
You know, I guess it's up to them when they stop it. It's not necessarily the players' decision.
Q. It does seem that the officials want to get the matches through, but do you think there should be maybe a sort of light meter thing like they have in cricket? Because to my eyes, it was so dark that you couldn't make proper judgments out there.
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I just I don't want to make excuses about the match. I mean, everyone was saying it the other night when Fognini and Monfils played, and then with Rezai and Petrova. It's something that, yeah, maybe needs to change.
But I think that it shouldn't be down necessarily to a supervisor to make the call, because he's not the one playing. You know, it's tennis because it's obviously an individual sport. You know, if one player can't see the ball, not every single person's eyesight is as good.
Some guys might find it easier to see for an extra 15 minutes than others. If one guy doesn't want to play or is finding it hard to see, then we should stop. You don't gain a whole lot playing an extra 10 minutes. They didn't end the Fognini and Monfils match, and they didn't end the Rezai/Petrova match. The matches continued.
Just let the players decide if they if they can't see, then they stop. It's only a difference of 10 minutes or so. It's not a whole lot.
Q. Taking that on about the officials and the attitude this year with the pressure about weather the effect, are they pushing it too far? Are there safety issues in some situations that are arising?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I just no. There's not a safety issue. I don't think we're going to get hurt by a ball hurting us or missing the ball.
Q. Slippery court?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, it's just this I don't know. I mean, the players know more, you know, about it's easy for someone not playing. You know, you can understand if the crowd want to watch more tennis normally at an exciting part in the match, if it's 9:30 in the evening or the supervisor is wanting the matches to finish or whatever.
But, yeah, sometimes yeah, the conditions can become tricky. They have to stop at Wimbledon because of the dew on the court gets very slippery. It's not always because of the light that they stop playing.
Wimbledon they do a very good job of that. Here, I don't know. Tonight was really my first experience of it. Against Chela we stopped early ish. It wasn't just too dark when we stopped. Just both of us agreed.
Tonight was difficult to see, but I'm sure Tomas wanted to try and finish the match. And for me, I wasn't that bothered.
Q. I know every match loss is an opportunity lost, but when you got back to the locker room and saw that Youzhny was in the quarters, were you somewhat tempted to kick yourself a little?
ANDY MURRAY: No. No, Youzhny is an excellent player. You know, a match I knew it was going to be him or Tsonga. That, for me, is a 50/50 match on clay. But, no. No, I wasn't. No, I wasn't thinking or worrying about that match.
You kind of didn't it's not worth looking ahead every single time. It's not worth doing it. You've got to just try and win your own matches. It's irrelevant who won that one, because I lost comfortably today.
Q. What's next for you now in terms of your preparation for, say, Queen's?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, just go back home tomorrow and practice on the grass, get used to it again. That's it. Work hard. You know, I was very happy with the way I was hitting the ball the whole tournament. I was striking the ball very well again, you know, and feeling like I was moving good.
And come the grass courts, I'm hoping that I will play very well again.
Q. I know you said you do like clay, but are you really looking forward to getting on the grass?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I look forward to playing another tournament now. As soon as you lose, you know, when at this stage of the year, there's obviously you just gotta that's the good thing about tennis, obviously. I'm going to be very disappointed just now, but it's a different challenge in a week's time.
You know, get to spend a lot of time at home in front of home support, and, you know, look forward to the grass court season regardless of what, you know, goes on off the court.
Q. What about the prospect of returning to Queen's as defending champion?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I look forward to it. I look forward to the whole grass court stretch.
I mean, Queen's is obviously a great tournament. It's got great history. To have won that last year was awesome. But, yeah, I'll just go back there and try and win again this year and give it my best shot.
Q. You mentioned the other night that you hadn't played in that many sort of rain delayed matches and that you could have handled it better. Was that again a factor tonight?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't think so. You know, I had gotten myself back into the match. I don't necessarily think it was anything to do with the way that I handled it. You know, it was just obviously at that stage, you know, I had got myself into you know, I was hitting the ball pretty good.
You know, it, yeah, it just stops your momentum a little bit. But I still had a little chance at 5 6 I don't even know what the score was. 5 4; I had 30 All. I had a little chance there, I just couldn't take it.
QUEEN'S DEFENCE .....
After becoming the first British man since Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938 to win the title at The Queen’s Club, Andy has been handed a bye in the first round of this year's tournament and will face either Austrian Daniel Koellerer or Ivan Navarro in the second round.
Mardy Fish could be his round three opponent, with Marin Cilic in the quarters, Rafa Nadal in the semi’s and Novak Djokovic in the final.
"If i play my best I've got a chance of successfully defending the title and doing well at Wimbledon," said Andy back in May. "I know it won't be easy because they are going to have a strong field this year. It's a great time of the year and I'm really looking forward to it."
And winning again would mean making history again: no British man has defended the Queen's title since F.G Lowe in 1914.
Murray’s big test
ANDY MURRAY might need to overcome the new world No 1, Rafael Nadal, the second seed, Novak Djokovic, and world No 12, Marin Cilic, if he is to retain his Aegon Championships title this week, writes Barry Flatman.
Murray, who last year became the first British player since Henry “Bunny” Austin in 1938 to win the title at The Queen’s Club, receives a bye in the first round and will face either Austrian Daniel Koellerer or Spain’s Ivan Navarro in the second round. The talented American Mardy Fish could be his round three opponent, with Cilic in the quarters, Nadal in the semis and Djokovic in the final.
Nadal, who won the title in 2008, also enjoys a first-round bye, with Marcos Daniel of Brazil or Slovenian Blaz Kavcic waiting in round two. The Spaniard, who plans to travel direct to London from Paris on Eurostar, is seeded to meet his Spanish Davis Cup teammate Feliciano Lopez in the quarter-finals.
Britain’s Elena Baltacha won the Aegon Trophy at Nottingham with a 6-2 6-3 win over Carly Gullickson of the United States. “This gives me a lot of confidence,” said the British women’s No 1, who is ranked 62 in the world but is expected to rise when the new WTA Tour rankings are released tomorrow.
“I came here thinking I’d get about two matches and that would have been good preparation going into next week’s tournament in Birmingham but I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the grass court season.
“I’m now really looking forward to Birmingham and Eastbourne and then Wimbledon.”
Andy Murray: knee injury will not get in the way of Queen's title defence
Andy Murray insists a knee problem will not hinder his progress as he bids to defend his title at the AEGON Championship at Queen's.
Andy Murray was given a tough examination by Spaniard Ivan Navarro as the champion edged into the third round with a 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 victory.
The world No 4 was pushed all the way by Navarro's serve-and-volley tactics, particularly in a hard-fought opening set.
The 28-year-old Spaniard took every opportunity to charge to the net but Murray, sporting a strapping on his right knee, produced some wonderful shots to finally see off his opponent.
"The knee is fine," said the Scot. "It's a precaution. I ice my knee after every single match I play and after every single practice. Nothing different."
Murray will now play either American Mardy Fish or Santiago Giraldo of Colombia in the third round.
"It was a tough first match," said Murray. "He (Navarro) served very, very well in the first set. I didn't return particularly well. It was tricky play and not what you expect from a Spaniard, coming forward on every point. It was good.
"It's nice to see someone serve and volley. I haven't played a serve and volleyer this year. This is the first time, so it was tricky and he did it very well.
"But I started returning well and had some good passing shots. You know, that's what grass court tennis is like. Quick reactions, quick reflexes."
Murray clinched the title last year to become the first British winner since 1938 and he did so without losing a set.
He came close to blotting that copybook in the first-set tie-break, despite having led 4-1. Navarro fought back and earned set point with a superb low volley at 5-4, but the British number one levelled with a vicious cross-court forehand.
Murray finally clinched the opening set 10-8 thanks to a cross-court double-handed backhand on the world number 108's serve.
"I played a sort of sharp slice and he came forward," added Murray. "It was just kind of instant. He was covering the line and I got a good hit on it.
"I saw a lot of the players slipping the first couple of days in the matches I was watching. I thought I moved pretty well. It didn't feel too slippery to me. I hit the ball well from back of the court once I got into the rallies.
"Murray was followed on court by last year's Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick who took just 50 minutes to see off the challenge of Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-1.
Gael Monfils crashed out, though, beaten 6-3 6-7 6-2 by Germany's Rainer Schuettler in a rain-affected match.
Winning the previous match on centre court was Grigor Dimitrov, who won five of the seven games he played against Alex Bogdanovic in the resumption of their third set to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
France's Richard Gasquet beat American Rajeev Ram 6-3, 7-5, American Mardy Fish beat Somdev Devvarman 6-1, 6-4 and French qualifier Nicolas Mahut defeated Yen-Hsun Lu 7-6, 6-4.
Andy and Jamie Murray eased into the quarter-finals of the doubles with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Americans Scott Lipsky and Sam Querrey. It was the first time the pair had played together since 2008.
Andy Murray added: "The doubles was very good. Jamie played very well. I thought I played well."
Murray wants to cast light on darkness decisions
Adding light metres to the on-court mix might cut the confusion about when to halt matches due to bad light, according to Andy Murray.
The Scot's exit from Queen's club can partially be blamed on patchy late-evening decision-making by officials.
The Scot was burned by darkenss in his London loss to Mardy Fish and at the French Open a week earlier when he faced Tomas Berdych in poor light.
"It takes some controversy out of the sport if you have something like a light reading," said Murray, who wants to being decision on when to stop a match out of the shadows. "I think sometimes it would be good to have a light reading.
"It's just a rule that you come off if it's not light enough rather than one person making a decision."
Grand Slam officials have slammed that proposal, saying their "people" have more skills than any set of electronic circuitry.
But Murray thinks the light metre could become a part of the scoreboard as the Hawk-eye linecalling system is. "When I played my match with Berdych, I asked the supervisor. I said, it's too dark to play, and he's, like, 'Well, seems fine.'
"But it's a lot easier when you're watching to say that. I mean, when someone's serving 140 miles an hour (225 kph) 135 miles an hour, it's very difficult. I actually think people would like it, seeing how dark it's getting, how close you are to finishing, how much longer have they got left to play."
Andy Murray decides to sit out Davis Cup play-off
Andy Murray has opted out of playing in Great Britain's Davis Cup relegation play-off against Turkey next month.
With Alex Bogdanovic already missing, new captain Leon Smith will be without Britain's two highest ranked players for the tie scheduled for 9-11 July.
Defeat to Turkey in Eastbourne would relegate Britain to the bottom tier of the event, Euro-Africa Division Three.
But Murray, who is struggling to regain his form in time for Wimbledon, thinks younger players need to step up.
The British number one, who informed Smith of his decision on Monday, said: "I've given a lot of reasons for not playing and I do think that it's time for us to start winning ties, having young players getting used to winning.
"The number one from Turkey [Marsel Ilhan] is ranked around 120 in the world and he's a tough player.
"Right now it's important that the guys get used to winning and beating teams like Turkey and I think they will do."
The two players now likely to be chosen to play singles appear to be Jamie Baker and James Ward, who were given wildcards into this week's Eastbourne ATP event.
They will join the doubles team of Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming.
Murray, who also missed the match against Lithuania in March, said he would remain available for future ties but will continue to make judgements on a match-by-match basis.
"I'm not by any means retiring from Davis Cup," he added.
According to International Tennis Federation rules, Murray must play in a Davis Cup tie in the next two years to be eligible to particpate in the London Olympics.
Smith said he accepted Murray's decision not to play against Turkey.
"Obviously, I am disappointed that he is not going to be part of the team, because he is one of the best players in the world, but I accept his decision, and I believe that we still have the players available to win this tie, and to make the most of the opportunity."
Bogdanovic, who was recently stripped of funding by the LTA, has also declared himself unavailable for the Turkey tie.
Ilhan, who qualified for successive majors at the US Open and Australian Open, is Turkey's only recognisable international player.
Ergun Zorlu, 859 in the world, and Tuna Altuna, 924, are their only other players inside the world top 1000.
McEnroe doubts Murray chances at Wimbledon
Eternal television pundit John McEnroe has shifted back into commentary mode for Wimbledon, speculating that Andy Murray doesn't have the fire in his current game to win this year's edition.
Britain has not had a men's champion for almost three-quarters of a century, with Fred Perry the last in 1936.
But fourth seed Murray doesn't look to be making that big breakthrough for Britain after losing the Australian Open final to Roger Federer and winning just 11 of his last 20 matches. The Scot is still searching for a first trophy of 2010 after a 2009 when he won six.
"I would have thought he would have done a little bit more than he's done," said McEnroe, returning as a talking head for BBC Wimbledon coverage. "It didn't seem like he learned that much (from two grand Slam losses to Federer, including the 2008 US Open).
"I thought he was going to win it in Australia. I thought he'd be ready that next time but there's this x-factor, Roger, which complicates things. You have to play your A-plus game for two-and-a-half, three hours to get through."
Murray, who lost early at Queen's club last week as he defended that grass title, was playing an exhibition match near London this week before the start of Wimbledon on Monday.
Wimbledon - Murray ready for SW19 challenge
There has been an unhealthy amount of gloom hovering around Andy Murray in recent weeks but thankfully for the British number one Wimbledon provides the perfect stage for him to switch on his A game.
The Scottish world number four suffered a crushing defeat to Tomas Berdych at the French Open last month on a dank and dark Parisian evening then last week he lost to American Mardy Fish at Queen's Club in a match interrupted by fading light.
Visibility will not be a factor at Wimbledon, however, where Murray christened the new Centre Court roof and lights in spectacular fashion last year when the he beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the tournament's first late-night thriller.
Murray looked poised to reach the 2009 final before being ambushed by an inspired Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, meaning Britain's wait for a first men's winner at Wimbledon since 1936 was extended by at least another 12 months.
The 23-year-old will again arrive carrying his nation's hopes on his shoulders as one of only two British men in the draw, but worryingly he is still struggling to rediscover the form that took him to this year's Australian Open final.
Murray hopes things are about to click into place.
"I haven't been playing my best lately but the game is there," Murray, who warmed up with an exhibition match against Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Thursday, said.
"My expectations are as high as normal. Whether everybody thinks I'm going to win or thinks I'm going to lose, I'm going to try my best to win the tournament.
"I have a chance of doing it if I play very well. It's going to be difficult, so I'll put pressure on myself to perform. But normally when I put pressure on myself, I play my best tennis.
"I'd like to feel better. Hopefully come Wimbledon I'll be playing better and I'll get to spend a lot of time at home in front of home support."
Murray has been talked up as a potential grand slam champion by some of the game's great names, three-times Wimbledon champion John McEnroe chief amongst them.
However, the longer he has to wait, chances are a new crop of emerging talent will shake up the established order. This leaves Murray, who was a runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2008, knowing that he needs to convert one of his chances soon.
That creates it's own pressure, according to McEnroe.
"I can totally relate to what he's going through. And he's got more pressure in a way, because he hasn't broken through yet," McEnroe, who will be spending the next two weeks working as a BBC pundit, said.
"There is more anxiety in his case because of what goes on in Britain. Everyone wants it so bad. He has been going through this for years already. You have a legitimate contender. Each year it grows and it gets that much worse."
One good omen for Murray is that in each of his four appearances at Wimbledon he has improved.
In 2005 as a gangly teenager he made the third round, in 2006 it was the last 16 and in 2008 he was stopped in the quarter-finals by Rafael Nadal before last year Roddick tripped him up in the semis.
With a decent draw and a bit of luck, Murray has every chance of going at least one step further.
Andy Murray will miss Great Britain's Davis Cup play-off with Turkey
Andy Murray has revealed that he will not play in Great Britain's sudden-death Davis Cup tie against Turkey the week after Wimbledon. He denied, however, that he has retired from the competition.
"I spoke to [the new Great Britain captain] Leon Smith on Monday," the world No4 said, "and I'm not going to play. I'm definitely not retiring from Davis Cup. I will play in the future, that's for sure, but not right now."
He said Great Britain should be able to beat Turkey 5-0 without him and that it would benefit the team and British tennis if other players gained the experience of winning.
If Great Britain – who, without Murray, were humiliated by Lithuania's team of lowly ranked teenagers in March – do not beat Turkey in the Europe/Africa Group II play-off at Eastbourne from 9 to 11 July, they will drop into the bottom tier of the competition.
Murray confirmed that his disenchantment began under the captaincy of John Lloyd, for whom he played against Poland last year while suffering from a wrist injury.
When Murray declined to play against Lithuania, Lloyd said: "The reality is that the only way for Britain to get back to the World Group of the Davis Cup is with him in the team. Call me old-fashioned, but when is it a convenience and not a privilege to play for your country?"
Lloyd quit the captaincy and has since mended his relationship with Murray.
"When I did finish the match against Poland last year," Murray said, "I made up my mind I wanted to take a bit of time off. A lot of things went on in that tie that were very tough – tough for not only me, but the people who were there.
"But there's a match there [against Turkey] that could potentially be won 5-0 without me playing. I love playing Davis Cup. It's not a lie. I've won 10 singles matches in a row, beaten some good players and shown loads of passion when I've been on the court. And I played through a really bad injury last year.
"But it is important that we improve as a team, as a nation as well. I don't think it's necessarily the best way for us to get better by me playing and [the team] not winning matches."
Smith will be without his No 2 player, Alex Bogdanovic, who withdrew when he had his Lawn Tennis Association funding cut and was refused a wild card entry to Wimbledon for the first time in nine years.
Murray switched on for Wimbledon
By Martyn Herman, Reuters
There has been an unhealthy amount of gloom hovering around Andy Murray in recent weeks but thankfully for the British number one Wimbledon provides the perfect stage for him to switch on his A game.
The Scottish world number four suffered a crushing defeat to Tomas Berdych at the French Open last month on a dank and dark Parisian evening then last week he lost to American Mardy Fish at Queen's Club in a match interrupted by fading light.
Visibility will not be a factor at Wimbledon, however, where Murray christened the new Centre Court roof and lights in spectacular fashion last year when the he beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the tournament's first late-night thriller.
Murray looked poised to reach the 2009 final before being ambushed by an inspired Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, meaning Britain's wait for a first men's winner at Wimbledon since 1936 was extended by at least another 12 months.
The 23-year-old will again arrive carrying his nation's hopes on his shoulders as one of only two British men in the draw, but worryingly he is still struggling to rediscover the form that took him to this year's Australian Open final.
Murray hopes things are about to click into place.
"I haven't been playing my best lately but the game is there," Murray, who warmed up with an exhibition match against Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Thursday, said.
"My expectations are as high as normal. Whether everybody thinks I'm going to win or thinks I'm going to lose, I'm going to try my best to win the tournament.
"I have a chance of doing it if I play very well. It's going to be difficult, so I'll put pressure on myself to perform. But normally when I put pressure on myself, I play my best tennis.
"I'd like to feel better. Hopefully come Wimbledon I'll be playing better and I'll get to spend a lot of time at home in front of home support."
Murray has been talked up as a potential grand slam champion by some of the game's great names, three-times Wimbledon champion John McEnroe chief amongst them.
However, the longer he has to wait, chances are a new crop of emerging talent will shake up the established order. This leaves Murray, who was a runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2008, knowing that he needs to convert one of his chances soon.
That creates it's own pressure, according to McEnroe.
"I can totally relate to what he's going through. And he's got more pressure in a way, because he hasn't broken through yet," McEnroe, who will be spending the next two weeks working as a BBC pundit, said.
"There is more anxiety in his case because of what goes on in Britain. Everyone wants it so bad. He has been going through this for years already. You have a legitimate contender. Each year it grows and it gets that much worse."
One good omen for Murray is that in each of his four appearances at Wimbledon he has improved.
In 2005 as a gangly teenager he made the third round, in 2006 it was the last 16 and in 2008 he was stopped in the quarter-finals by Rafael Nadal before last year Roddick tripped him up in the semis.
With a decent draw and a bit of luck, Murray has every chance of going at least one step further.
WIMBLEDON 2010: MURRAY'S ROYAL APPOINTMENT
ANDY Murray could book a hat-trick of royal command appearances after his Wimbledon start this week was delayed for the first visit of The Queen since 1977.
Normally British No1 Murray would jump into action on the opening day of Wimbledon but that would have meant playing again on Wednesday and missing The Queen on Thursday if he disposes of Jan Hajek from the Czech Republic tomorrow.
Should he make the final, a year after losing in the semis, Murray would surely encourage Her Majesty to return to see the first British man in a Wimbledon showdown since 1938.
Victory would virtually guarantee Murray a visit to the Palace to get a medal. “It would be a great honour to play in front of The Queen,” said Murray. “I’ve never done that before, so a little bit of added pressure to play well.” Virginia Wade said: “When I heard that The Queen would be there in 1977 that was a great motivation for me to win Wimbledon – and it should be for Murray to win too.’’
Murray: semi defeat made me stronger
Twelve months on from his semi-final loss to Andy Roddick at the 2009 Championships, Andy Murray insists he has found positives to take from that defeat.
Murray, who is seeded fourth this year and who is due to begin his tournament on Tuesday against the Czech, Jan Hajek, said he drew much encouragement from the way he played throughout last year's Wimbledon. "You always have to look at tournaments as a whole. Of the six matches I played there was some very good tennis. But I also knew that I needed to improve things.
"I haven't watched the [Roddick] match or looked back at it, I don't really do that. But as a sports person you know the sort of things you need to work on after big tournaments. When you've lost close matches you know the sort of things that have let you down, things that could have been a bit better. So you go away and work on them.
"Last year was the first time I had a legitimate chance of winning, so it was good to have had that experience. When I had played here in the past there was obviously pressure to do well but not necessarily win the event. Now, that's where I feel I'm at, trying to win the tournament."
Murray said that his progress up the rankings had helped him to deal with public perceptions of him and his tennis. "You need, especially in an individual sport, to be selfish in a way, to be able to block all that out.
"When I was younger It was something that got to me a bit because you just don't know how to deal with everything. Now I'm fully aware there are people that don't like me and people that do like me. That's just the way things work. It doesn't affect what I do on court. So long as your friends and family like you, that's the most important thing."
As for his own expectations, rather than those of the public, Murray said, "To win the tournament is my goal. But you have to stay focused on every round. There's no use looking ahead in the draw. It just doesn't work. I'll be very focused for my first match. If I play well, then I've got a chance to do well here."
Murray insisted that the improvements he made to his game post-Wimbledon last year paid dividends when he reached the final of the Australian Open in January and that, despite his comparatively poor results since then, he has become a better player than he was in 2009.
"That's something that, after the Australian, I got away from a little bit." But he promised, "that's something I'll look to do better here."
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. As a whole, how close is that to a perfect start to the tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. I mean, the start of the match was tricky. I haven't seen him play that much. He started very well. But once I got back into the first set, I did start to feel a lot more comfortable. Served well and didn't give him many chances.
Definitely got better as the match went on.
Q. Is that as good as you've felt since Melbourne?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I felt I was definitely in the right frame of mind for the match. You know, I felt when I went behind, I mean, it's not the best start, but I felt calm, you know. Just, you know, found a way to get myself back into the match.
So I wouldn't say it's the best that I've felt since Melbourne, but it's a good start.
Q. You've spoken about how you haven't felt as confident in the last couple of months. Is that the kind of win that brings that kind of confidence back to you again?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, obviously coming here helps. It's obviously a great place to play. You know, I've had good results here the last few years.
You know, when you play well in a place beforehand, you tend to play well there and it makes you feel more comfortable when you come back.
So it was a good start. You know, I feel, uhm, confident.
Q. Twelve months ago you said that it was ‑‑ I think you used the term 'unacceptable' to describe the performances with so many British losses. It's even worse this year. What's your reaction to that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's not great, is it? I mean, you know, I said obviously I'd like to see more British players playing in the tournament and more British win.
Yeah, it's not ideal. You know, everybody that will be working at the LTA will be disappointed, as well. You know, a few of the girls had a chance to win. Didn't take quite them. Obviously, it was only me and Jamie that were in the boys.
Yeah, it's not a great start.
Q. Do you feel it's getting worse? The results this year are worse. Do you feel there's any progress?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know, to be honest. I mean, I don't know, you know ‑‑ I'm not around it that much. But, I mean, if you get a look at the rankings and the actual facts of, you know, where the players are and how they're doing in the bigger tournaments, the big junior tournaments, the results haven't been great.
Q. How much of that pressure that's being obviously heaped on you as the lone carrier, how much of that are you actually feeling?
ANDY MURRAY: I actually don't mind it. There's definitely pressure on me to play well. But, you know, I think that, uhm, the few months since Melbourne, it's something I needed to refocus me to make sure that I perform well. Today was a good start. Hopefully I can continue that in the next match.
Q. Given that you already have that pressure heaped on you, looking ahead to Thursday, the Queen being here, how is that going to affect you?
ANDY MURRAY: I hope it doesn't affect me in the match. You know, I think it's one of those things when you get out there, you know, you're aware of it, but then, you know, it is our job to be able to concentrate and to focus, not let things that are going on off the court distract you.
So, you know, I've been doing it for the last five, six years, getting used to playing in big stadiums with people watching and various distractions. You just need to stay focused.
Q. You've learnt to deal with the pressure. Do you feel there's things the other British players can do to learn that? Obviously, a lot of them had chances, but they didn't take them.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I don't know. It's something that I've always enjoyed playing in the big tournaments because that was why I always played tennis. I mean, obviously you want to enjoy it, but surely when you start playing a sport, you want to compete in the biggest events against the best players.
When you get there, there's definitely a pressure that comes with it, but something you should be able to enjoy as well. That's it for me. I enjoy playing the big events. If there's extra pressure, I don't think it affects the way that I play. You just got to get your head 'round it and deal with the pressure.
I don't know if it's something that you have when you're growing up or something that you can be taught. But for me, I've enjoyed playing in the big events since I was young.
Q. Did you feel more comfortable going to the net today?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I didn't get to net too often. But, yeah, when I was there, I felt good. I practiced a lot the last sort of five, six days, just hitting a lot of volleys.
You know, if you pick, you know, the right moments to go into the net on grass, you get a lot of pretty easy volleys.
You know, they're the ones that you need to make sure you're focused on so, you know, you're able to shorten points. Especially against the best players, you need to be able to do that.
Q. Thursday will probably change all this. Hitherto, who is the most famous person you've been introduced to or met?
ANDY MURRAY: I would probably say David Beckham. He's probably up there, I would have thought, yup.
Q. What has the Club said to you about Thursday?
ANDY MURRAY: I haven't actually spoken to anybody about it yet. But I think there's a good chance I'll play the first match on the Centre Court, so I'll get a chance to play in front of the Queen. Then maybe after the match I'll get the chance to meet her.
But I haven't spoken to anybody about it yet.
Q. What impact is the World Cup going to have? You said there's less pressure or attention.
ANDY MURRAY: It's not less pressure. I'm still trying to win the event. But, yeah, just, you know, less people here. There's some empty seats. Then around the practice courts, it's just a bit quieter. A few less distractions.
Q. You posted some messages on Twitter before the game. Do you think that helps you relax and take your mind off things?
ANDY MURRAY: I think it's just something nice. I mean, obviously the people that are following me, you know, are supporters. I think it's good if you can communicate with them as much as possible.
You know, yeah, I mean, I enjoy the Twittering. I think it's a good thing.
Q. Were you surprised to be on Court 1 today rather than Centre?
ANDY MURRAY: Actually, I wasn't that bothered which court I played on. I mean, I played ‑‑ I was probably due not to play on Centre Court. I played the last four or five years, since I played Stepanek, I hadn't played off Centre Court.
It was actually nice in a way. You know, I'll probably be back on Centre Court for the next round.
But, you know, it was a little bit of a surprise because I hadn't played on any other court for the last few years.
Q. You played Jarkko twice. You haven't played since '07. He's not going to turn up as a sacrificial lamb on Thursday. What are you expecting from him?
ANDY MURRAY: He has a lot of experience. He had a really good chance to beat Roddick at the French Open a few weeks ago. He's a tough player. He's obviously a lefty, which can make it tricky. You know, he's a very solid player. He doesn't hand matches to you. You have to go out and beat him. He's not going to make many mistakes.
So I have to play well.
Q. I'm from Finland. You toyed with Nieminen, playing the lines and dropshots. Are you capable of such a show here on the grass?
ANDY MURRAY: Where was that?
Q. I can't say, but it was a few years ago.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I can't remember the match. I remember playing him in Toronto quite a few years ago.
Yeah, no, he's a tough player. I hope I play well. If I do, I'll have a chance to win. If not, he's a very difficult player to beat.
Q. How important is it to conserve energy? You had a few sort of knee niggles at the French.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it's important in any tournament to try to come through the matches as quickly as possible. Yeah, today was a good start. You know, in the slams, more than the other tournaments, you want to conserve as much energy as possible.
It's definitely, definitely important.
Q. How was the knee today?
ANDY MURRAY: No, the knee is fine. I mean, it's just sore every week. But just something that I need to learn to deal with.
Q. Going back to the Queen, quite a lot made of a suggestion you might not bow to her on Thursday. Can you tell us about how you're feeling meeting her, if you will bow, and what you might say if you meet her?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know what I'll say exactly. I'll probably be a little bit nervous, understandably. I guess I don't want to mess up at all.
But, yeah, the plan was to bow to the Queen, as everybody would. It's just you wanted to get the right etiquette for what we were doing on the court. A few years back it definitely changed. Both players, when you went on Centre Court bowed, and they went out together. When they left the court, they left together, bowed again. Obviously, it's changed.
What I was trying to say, which I think was unfairly reported, was I wanted to make sure what the etiquette was before we went out on the court.
Q. You talked about coming back here kind of helping you, giving you a lift. You've gone one round further each time here. Does that similarly inspire you, give you confidence?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, you can't look into those things too much because they really don't make any difference. Every year is always going to be different. Every tournament is going to be different.
But obviously each year I have played better. I improved a lot from when I lost to Rafa, I think it was in 2008, I improved a lot since then, to the following year where last year I felt I had a chance to win the tournament. This year I feel like I have a chance again, but I'll need to play well.
Q. Any plans for tomorrow? Will you be watching the World Cup?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm practicing at 1:00. I don't know exactly when the matches are. But, yeah, I mean, I'll definitely match the 7:30 game. I was told that they banned the England match from the grounds here. So if I'm home in time, I'll watch it.
Murray's main worry is the bow factor
In the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, A. Murray of Dunblane, Scotland, did his bit for Queen and country and won his second round match at the 124th Wimbledon Championships, beating J. Nieminen of Masku, Finland 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Wey hey - the Muzz was through to the third round, by royal appointment.
The Queen had not seen a Brit win on Centre Court for 33 years but, to be fair to British tennis - not a phrase you hear often at this time of year - that was hardly the players' fault. HM is a fine judge of horseflesh and usually has around 25 race horses in training on any given year. With another 24 brood mares also producing foals on an annual basis, she is kept pretty busy with the ponies and there is not a lot of time left over for tennis. As a result, she had not been to Wimbledon since Virginia Wade and her pink cardie won the title in 1977.
The arrival of HMQ had thrown everyone into a tizzy. You know what it is like when the mother-in-law drops in for a cup of tea - hours of hoovering and dusting go into creating that spontaneously homely look - so imagine what it was like for the All England Club: petunias were polished, hydrangeas were varnished and ballboys and girls were duly scrubbed. And Andy was practising his bowing.
On such an historic day, the tennis was not really the focus of attention. What had kept Murray awake at night was working out how and when he was to bow and, more importantly, how he was going to co-ordinate the tricky manoeuvre with Nieminen. OK, outside arm across the tum, inside arm behind the back and - wait for it, wait for it - bow. Yep, that sounds like a plan.
Clearly, many practice runs had been done because as the two men appeared on court, they were performing like clockwork. Striding towards to the service line, they stopped together, turned together, put their arms in the pre-arranged order together and bowed stiffly and deeply. The first hurdle had been overcome. That was a relief.
After that, the taking on of the world No.67 ought to have been quite simple. Sure enough, Murray was in good solid form, serving well - 18 aces in all - and, from time to time, unleashing a thumping return or a clattering forehand. But - and keep this to yourselves - it was not that good a match. Murray was never threatened at all but neither man could find any real rhythm and the match never exploded into life.
Before it began, Murray had promised to be on best behaviour for the arrival of Her Maj and maybe the thought that, in the heat of battle, he might let slip a rude word or an inappropriate scowl was holding him back. But Scotland's finest was definitely a little subdued.
Up in the Royal Box, things were much livelier. The Queen chatted away merrily with Tim Phillips, the chairman of the club, who seemed to be chortling throughout. HMQ is quite a wag, by all accounts.
In the row behind, Tim Henman was sitting in between Anne Jones and Virginia Wade (who had turned up sans pink cardie) and was whispering and gossiping like a naughty schoolboy at the back of the class. After a handful of games, he made a sudden and unexpected exit. Perhaps he had been called to the BBC commentary box. Er, no. Two games later, he was back and looking much happier. It must have been a case of the royal wee.
And all the while, Murray moved closer to the third round. By the time he had got a two set lead, he managed to relax a little and whipping through the third set in just 28 minutes, he was safely through. Home and hosed, as the Queen might have put it in racing parlance.
But there was one last ordeal to go through - that bowing business again. As they walked off, again they acted in unison, dropping their bags with a heavy thud at the service line, they did the thing with the arms, bowed pretty much together and headed for the clubhouse.
Actually meeting the Queen a few minutes later appeared to be much more relaxing and as she chatted to both winner and loser, there were smiles all round. Murray had done himself and his Queen proud and he had given his mum, Judy, and grandparents Roy and Shirley, all of whom were glued to their Centre Court seats throughout, major bragging rights across Dunblane.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. What was your verdict on the match?
ANDY MURRAY: I thought it was good. You know, I got off to a good start. Uhm, you know, had a few breakpoints in the first game. And then once I managed to hold that game, I obviously got the break straightaway. That settled me down a little bit.
No, it was a good match. He's a tough player, very solid. Doesn't give you many free points. I served very well, which is good.
Q. Were there more nerves than normal?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, no, I don't think so. You know, obviously it was quite a big occasion, you know, but try and prepare for it the same as every match. And once you do get into the tournament, you do tend to have a routine you stick to. I just tried to go along with that.
Yeah, not many extra nerves.
Q. What did the Queen say to you after the match?
ANDY MURRAY: A private conversation. But, yeah, it was just a quick few minute chat. I'm sure she's very busy. So, yeah, just went and jumped in the ice bath and came over here.
Q. Would you say that's as good as you've played maybe since Australia?
ANDY MURRAY: I served well. I mean, obviously the grass definitely helps with that. But, yeah, I played well. You know, felt comfortable on the court and well focused.
It's difficult to judge. But I definitely, definitely played well today.
Q. Is there a sense that when it's as big an occasion as it was today, that focus is probably the most important thing, just keeping your mind on the match and not letting it drift to all the other things going on around you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well that's one of our jobs. You know, as a professional sports person, you've got to learn to sort of block out distractions. Obviously, playing at Wimbledon, there's pressure, you know, various things going on every time you go out on the court.
So, you know, it's something that you have to learn to deal with. Obviously playing here the last four or five years has definitely helped with that.
Q. Can you talk us through the bows? There was not one but three.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, they are a little bit different. I only saw the second one when I was warming down. I think they were sort of replaying it. It wasn't great, I don't think (laughter).
But, no, went okay. We planned it not planned it, but we talked about it on the way out to the court with Jarkko and then at the end of the match to make sure we were going to do it again, because obviously the players aren't used to doing that at the end of matches.
Q. How special was it for you to play on an occasion like that?
ANDY MURRAY: It's great. I think for all the players, it's probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us. You know, you saw by the players that were there to obviously meet her this morning that, you know, it was a big deal for everybody.
You know, I'm sure everyone thought it was a great occasion. You know, don't know whether she'll be coming in the next few years, but I definitely enjoyed it.
Q. Presumably she congratulated you on your win?
ANDY MURRAY: I was there with Jarkko. Yeah, just had a quick chat, you know. When you're nervous, it's difficult to remember exactly what was said. But, yeah, just a quick chat about the match. Yeah, that was it.
Q. Seemed to be talking about the ground conditions at one point. She said it was very dry, didn't she?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't want to get into what was said. I mean, it was a private conversation. That was why nobody didn't want cameras or anything, you know, there to pick up everything that was getting said. It was a private conversation.
Q. I was going to ask, she seemed to be taking an interest in more than just what was happening on court. She was talking about things around the tournament, wasn't she?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, obviously for her, she got shown around the grounds today as well 'cause obviously hadn't been for a long time. Sure there's been a lot of changes. Yeah, I'm sure she was taking an interest in it. It's a pretty amazing place to come to.
Q. Will that bring you a bit of luck, do you think?
ANDY MURRAY: Maybe. I got lucky on a few challenges today, yeah, a few really close calls, especially one at the start. I think it was on the first breakpoint for him in the first game. And, yeah, all of my challenges were pretty good today. So maybe a bit of extra luck.
Q. Given the Queen's presence here today, did you find yourself having to watch your reaction at all when points didn't go your way?
ANDY MURRAY: No. Like I was saying earlier, it's our job to be able to put those sort of things to the back of your mind when you're playing. Obviously, you know, you realize after you're finished, you know, the occasion that it was, you know, who was actually watching you. You know, it's obviously an honor and a privilege to play in front of the Queen.
But when you're playing, that's our job to be able to put that to the back of your mind.
Q. Can you get your head around the concept of 60 All in the fifth set? Forget the Queen. What about that match, what it's doing for tennis at the moment?
ANDY MURRAY: It's pretty amazing, yeah. Yeah, just very difficult to describe. Definitely will never, ever happen again. Yeah, that's all you can say to it. What they did last night was incredible. And I saw Isner before the match in the locker room. He looked okay. He looked fine.
I'm sure physically it would have been incredibly difficult, but mentally to concentrate for that long must be so tough. But apparently Mahut was on the treadmill warming up before the match and seemed fine. Yeah, I mean, there wasn't that many long rallies, but still amazing to have to come back and play today after what they did yesterday.
But I don't want it to be an anticlimax. I hope it keeps going.
Q. In contrast, Gilles didn't play at all today. How much of a benefit or negativity is that for him?
ANDY MURRAY: Have no idea. Everybody reacts differently to those circumstances. You know, obviously have to ask him whether he's happy with it or not.
But from my side, I was happy to play today. It was good to stay in a rhythm. Obviously winning in three sets was good.
Q. If that was you in that situation, would you prefer a rule change where there was a cutoff or tiebreak situation?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I think, I mean, that never happens like that. Like everybody has been saying, it will never happen again unless they play next year maybe (smiling).
But, no, I think the rules here are very good. They work well. You know, it was a huge, huge story for everybody yesterday and really good for the sport. So keep it as it is.
Q. Do you feel stronger than you did when you came into the tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I prepared really well. I guess what gives me the confidence is doing the work in the gym and on the court so that you know that physically you're in good shape. That removes that one doubt from your head. And if you practice a lot and you've hit loads of balls, you can remove another doubt that you're going to go and might not feel your best in your first match, but you have done your best to be ready. Happy to be in the third round as I was in the first round and try on keep getting better.
Q. You've had some good matches with Gilles in the past. What are your thoughts on playing him again?
ANDY MURRAY: It will be great. He's had a problem with his knee the last few months. He's a tough player. He's obviously in the top 10 last year. He's beaten Federer a couple of times and had some tough matches with Djokovic. He was at the top of the game before he got hurt.
You know, he's a very difficult player to play against, very unorthodox. You know, it will be a bit of a tough match if we both play well.
Q. You said your bow wasn't great. Can't be that bad because I think you got a slow motion replay of your bow.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, that's what I saw. I saw the slow motion replay. I didn't see it in, yeah, normal time I guess. I didn't see it live. Yeah, it just looked a little bit awkward.
But, like I said, I'm not used to doing it.
Q. There's a few minutes between finishing your match and meeting the Queen. Were you more nervous for that? Were there butterflies when you were going to meet the Queen?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, obviously meeting the Queen, everybody's going to get very nervous. But it just kind of adds to it when there's like so many people standing out looking up, a lot of people watching. That obviously adds to it, as well.
Yeah, there's obviously some nerves there. But, yeah, nerves before the match, as well. But I think we both went okay.
Q. Did you watch England?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I watched the last 5, 10 minutes of the first half, saw all of the second half. Yeah, it was all good. Yeah, in my opinion they played a lot better than they did the first two matches.
Wimbledon 2010 - Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie.
Q. Guess you couldn't have hoped for a better first week, could you?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it was really good. You know, didn't lose a set. Yeah, I didn't lose my serve since, you know, second service game of the first match. So it's been good.
Tonight was tough 'cause obviously getting pretty dark towards the end. You know, if I hadn't managed to close out in that third set, would have had to have gone off, waited for the roof to go on. So a little bit tentative around 3‑All, but played really well.
Q. Was there a danger of almost rushing it?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I wasn't actually rushing. It was almost like I knew I obviously wanted to finish the match, but I wasn't rushing. It does make you a little bit more, yeah, nervous. Yeah, you want to kind of get it done. But it wasn't like I was, you know, going for stupid shots. I maybe just got a little bit tentative.
But, you know, I managed to get the break in the end, I was creating a lot of chances, still on my serve wasn't giving him many opportunities, so it was good.
Q. That court that you're so successful on it, you're so dominant, how much do you think that gives you an edge, a court you like, crowd behind you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it's a great court to play on. Everybody will tell you that. Obviously, the more you play on it, you get used to the speed of the court.
You know, I've played ‑‑ all three of my matches have been at different times. You know, and it does change the way the court plays. You know, it gets ‑‑ you know, when the sun goes down, it gets a little bit slippy and it slows down obviously.
I played at 1:00 the other day. It was really quick. So it's a court that I love playing on and I've had the chance the first week to play in all different sorts of times and conditions and come through it well.
Q. Are you getting the same sort of feeling now that you did at the Australian Open, building up to what was a terrific tournament in many respects?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm not sure. Yeah, I mean, like I said, it's been a really good start. You know, the Australian Open, I played very well from the first match there. But, you know, it's tough ‑‑ it's kind of tough to compare. It's kind of different feelings going into both tournaments.
In terms of the way this week's gone, it's been great. Try and build on that next week.
Q. What are your thoughts on playing Sam on Monday?
ANDY MURRAY: It will be a tough match. He's obviously won Queen's. You know, he's a very good player. He's got a big serve, bigger than the guys that I've played so far, slightly more unpredictable game. Rallies will probably be a little bit shorter.
But, you know, I've played well against him in the past, someone I've had good success against. Hopefully I can get another good result on Monday.
Q. Isner and the Australian Open, your game plan was excellent there. I know it won't be the same game plan, but it will be a similar game plan when you play Sam?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, there are certain things that obviously against big guys you have to try and do. You want to keep them on the move as much as possible.
But, you know, Isner's serve is probably the best shot in tennis. You know, Sam's obviously got a very good serve, you know, serves a lot of aces. But Isner's serve I would say is better.
But, yeah, I mean, there's certain things you need to do against all big guys, and Monday won't be any different.
Q. That point in the seventh game of the third set when you both ended up on the floor, do you still get a thrill after all these years from moments like that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, of course. I mean, any time you play a great point ‑‑ you know, there's quite a lot of long rallies today, and that was probably the best shot that I played. And, yeah, definitely still enjoy any time you play a good point or a great shot.
Q. Do you remember playing Sam Querrey in the US Open juniors in 2004?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, I remember playing against him. I don't remember too much about the match. But, uhm, yeah, that was the first time I'd seen him play. And both of us, you know, have gone on to do very well in the senior game.
I think it was in the quarters I played him that year, had a tough match with him. So I'm sure Monday will be difficult, as well.
Q. Are you even more confident now than you were a few weeks ago that you can actually go on and win this?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, the start's been very good and something that I needed for the confidence. You know, but I did feel I wasn't too far away from playing very good tennis again. I just needed to put more work in, and I did that the week before. So that definitely helped me going into the tournament with my belief.
You know, it's obviously showed the first few matches. But I'm going to have to play better next week if I want to go all the way.
Q. There were a few famous faces out there watching you. Anyone you particularly picked out?
ANDY MURRAY: Chris Hoy, got a message from him this morning. He came to watch me in Australia, as well. He's a pretty big boy, as well. Tough to miss.
But, no, I mean, that's great for the sport when you get a lot of, you know, great sportsmen and women to come along and watch. Everybody, most stayed until the end. That was great.
Q. The football tomorrow, are you going to try to watch?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm actually practicing from 1:30 to 2:30, so probably like the last match, I'll see the second half. But, yeah, I mean, it's good that the tennis isn't going to be on tomorrow 'cause I'm sure a lot of people will be watching that.
Q. Supporting England?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I would like to see England win, but Germany did look ‑‑ I did think they looked pretty good. But you never know in the knockout. I mean, England, they've got the players to win the match, but they just need to play well.
Q. Was there any significance in the red sweat band and white sweat band?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I just wear what I was given by adidas.
Q. There were 14 members of the armed forces in the Royal Box. They got a great reception. Most of them stayed to give you a great reception. How did you feel about that?
ANDY MURRAY: That was great, obviously. The stuff that they do is way harder than anything we do as sportsmen. They put their life on the line for the country. It was awesome that they came along to watch and support, yeah. I mean, everything that they do is amazing. I'm sure everybody agrees with that.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
Q. Thoughts on that one?
ANDY MURRAY: I thought it was good. It was different to the first few matches. Uhm, I served great the first three matches. Didn't serve so well today. I was good from the back of the court. Didn't make as many mistakes. A few long rallies and had to defend well today. And I did.
Went through a bad patch at the end of the first set where I lost my focus a little bit. I did really well to win the set in the end because he had some chances.
Q. You haven't been having those wobbles. What happened when you were serving for the set?
ANDY MURRAY: It happens sometimes. You can play, you know, bad games. Not going to play my best, you know, for every minute of the tournament. And I'm not going to serve my best in every match. You know, some matches I'm not going to hit my groundstrokes as well.
You have to deal with the situations when they arise. You know, today I did a good job of getting that set 'cause, you know, if I'd won the first set comfortably 6‑3, you know, mentally for him that could have been quite difficult after having the chances and getting back into that set. So to not take it would have been tough for him.
Q. Is that part of the maturity you realized of accepting the fact you're not always going to be hitting what you want?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I think the more matches you play, you understand that, you know, some days things aren't going to be going well. You just have to learn how to deal with it. You know, today I did a lot more running today than I did in my first few matches, but I had to. Sometimes you have to accept that.
On other days you can be dictating a lot of the match. You don't have to do much running.
You need to be prepared to change your tactics or change, yeah, the way you're playing when you're out there if you want to win the big tournaments.
Q. How do you feel now that England is out of the World Cup and all the attention is swinging back to you as the sole British sporting hope at the moment?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't really pay much attention to it. I mean, you know, once the tournament starts, you just kind of get into a routine, you know, that's definitely, as I said many times since I started here, the buildup was a lot quieter, less journalists around, less photographers. You know, that was it.
Once the tournament starts, I don't really pay any attention to the press and what's going on 'cause it's just not worth it. It can only be a distraction. So better just to stay away from it.
Q. You were pretty much better on every stat today, especially your second serve, winning 63%. It's a lot harder than last year. Is that something you worked on?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's probably seven, eight miles an hour quicker. Yeah, I mean, like I say, I served well the first few matches.
Today, you know, I changed the second‑serve run pretty well, served a few aces on my second serve towards the end of the match. Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm going to need to serve better if I want to win the tournament.
But, yeah, the stats in all of the matches so far have been good. That one in particular today, it shows how well I was hitting the ball from the back of the court because normally on second serve, he's going to put the ball back in, there's going to be a lot of rallies. I won a lot of long rallies today.
Q. You're the only guy not to drop a set in the tournament, which must be quite pleasing.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, obviously nice for me. Conserves quite a lot of energy. I haven't had any long matches. It's kind of an irrelevant stat, because come the end of the tournament, you know, the guys like Federer and Nadal are going to be playing their best tennis. Whether they dropped sets early on is not going to make a difference to how they play the quarterfinal, semifinal stage.
Q. Do you feel you're in the same groove as you were at the Australian Open?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I've been asked the last three matches. I have no idea. I'm playing well. You know, a lot easier to assess that once the tournament's done. But it's been a good start. Not lost a set yet.
Yeah, I mean, I've got to be happy with the way that I'm playing. It's difficult just now to compare it to the Australian Open.
Q. With all the sun that's getting to the court, is it changing in your favor, do you think, the surface?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, well, I mean, it's definitely quick. You know, I think it can depend totally on who you're playing against, who your opponent is.
Yeah, I don't really mind the slow grass or the faster grass. There's just certain things ‑‑ certain things change. It's more important to serve well when it's quick. It's definitely harder. It's a lot less slippy. The ball is bouncing up more than it normally does. A lot of it depends on who you're playing against.
Q. Your third Wimbledon quarterfinal in a row.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's been good. The last few years I played well here. Obviously coming in I hadn't been on the best run. So it was nice to get off to a good start here. Yeah, last few years have been good.
But got to try to go further now, you know, than I did in previous years. You know, next round's gonna be a tough one, but hope I can win.
Q. How much does it help you that you have been here before, third time in a row at this stage?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, it's not just here. I mean, more playing in Grand Slams, more major tournaments does make a difference experience‑wise. Anybody will tell you that. In all sports, you just learn how to deal with the situations better.
Because you've been in that position before, it's not something completely new. You understand how to prepare better. When you're on the court, you're not as uptight or nervous. You just play the match rather than, you know, everything else that's going on.
Q. How tough will Jo‑Wilfried Tsonga be?
ANDY MURRAY: Very difficult. Got a big game. Like Sam, he plays probably better around the net. Yeah, he's a very good athlete. It's going to be a very, very tough match.
Q. Great reception from the Centre Court crowd. Can you say something about that, how important that relationship is, how it's developed?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's so important. I mean, you know, I said pretty much every time I came here that it's playing, you know, at home in all sports is just a huge, huge advantage. People talk a lot about the pressure and the expectation of playing at Wimbledon, but, you know, you have that home support, which does ‑ for me anyway ‑ it's made a huge difference to the way that I played. It makes you feel comfortable on the court.
No, I really, really enjoy it. This year the support's been great. Hopefully it will be the same in the next round.
Q. The noise, did that have an effect?
ANDY MURRAY: It just kind of sometimes happens. It's not like you're asking the crowd to do anything. It's just that at the end of that set, some long games, some long rallies, I managed to pick up a few really tough shots.
Yeah, you get into the moment. The crowd here responds very well. It's not necessarily encouragement. If you're showing positive energy towards them, they respond really, really well. Definitely there's a lot of long rallies and long games.
Q. When are you planning to shave?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I haven't really thought about it, to be honest.
Q. Seems to be working for your tennis. Might you keep it on till the end of the tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, maybe. Yeah, might keep it on till the end of the tournament. If I wake up tomorrow and feel like shaving, then I'll do it, just like I'm sure you do (smiling).
Q. What does it mean to have the two ladies in your box?
ANDY MURRAY: The two ladies?
Q. Yes.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, yeah, I like having obviously my mum around. Both my parents are here, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle are here, obviously my girlfriend. I mean, I love having my family around. I love having friends around.
Yeah, it just makes you feel more at home, more comfortable. When you're on the court, it doesn't make as much of a difference. It's more off it, just having your friends and family around. It's really nice. The rest of the year you don't really get that.
Q. Was it important to get back together with Kim?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't really want to go into that. It's been a lot longer than everybody thinks we've been back together. But I like having my girlfriend around. I like having my, yeah, family around. That's it.
Q. Tsonga likes to work the crowd. That atmosphere which could be created by the both of you, is that something you were looking forward to at this point of the tournament? You've had some great reactions in various matches.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he's very exciting to watch. You know, I'm sure there will be some great shots played in the match.
No, I like ‑‑ I mean, all the time when you play on Centre Court, obviously it does change a bit depending on what round, but the support's always great. The crowd's always into it when the British guys are playing.
I'm sure the match against Tsonga won't be any different. Hopefully I can perform well.
Q. I remember you saying before the tournament that you thought you weren't too far away from rediscovering your best tennis. Four matches in, not a set dropped, have you found it?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, I'm playing really well. You know, but you got to wait until the end of the tournament really to see how well you've been playing. You know, I need to make sure that I up my game, you know, when the matches get tougher, you know, in the tight situations. It's important that I continue to play well and not slip up.
So, you know, in the next round, I'm sure there's going to be some tough moments and important stages of the match. I have to keep going for my shots, keep serving well, and keep running. You know, if I do that, then I've got a good chance.
But, yeah, you never know how well you're playing until you're sort of done in the tournament because in an individual sport, from one day to the next, can be a huge, huge difference.
Murray eases through to Wimbledon quarter-finals with win over Querrey
There should be no more glorious place than Wimbledon’s Centre Court on a sunlit June evening when you are a British tennis player.
You know the crowd wants you to win, you want to win, even those who profess ambivalence towards you know how much winning this title means. Then there is the winning itself. It is a terribly oppressive thing to do.
Andy Murray won for all sorts of reasons yesterday to reach the quarter-finals for a third consecutive year — the most fundamental of which was that he refused to counsel defeat. That tenet of his character epitomises him more than any other. Thus, he beat big Sam Querrey, of the United States, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 and the manner of the achievement commanded utmost respect.
In essence, the match boiled down to two games. The first was the eleventh of the first set. Murray had allowed three set points to drift from his grasp in the ninth, Querrey held for 5-5 and three points went by in a blur of Murray errors and miscalculations.
It was here that the Scot’s pigheadedness kicked in. He saved the first break point with a forehand winner, the second with a regal backhand and Querrey, overanxious, took too much of a swing at a forehand, one of his finer shots, on the third. Consider that situation for a moment from Querrey’s standpoint; it is as if someone is whispering in your ear that this is not going to be your day. He promptly dropped serve and the set had gone.
The second key game was the penultimate of the match and one that was worth the £65 they charge for admission to Centre Court on the second Monday. It was 4-4, with Querrey serving and Murray in one of those on-court trances, sticking superbly in the rallies, slicing and dicing and, at 30-all, making tracks to a cross-court volley by Querrey and contriving a remarkable backhand scoop down the line. Judy, his mother, was on her feet first.
Untypically, Murray netted a routine backhand on the next point. Querrey saved a second break point when his serve split the line and he secured an easy forehand; he saved a third with a backhand volley, but Murray gave himself a fourth chance.
This time a rolled forehand was so exquisite that the American did not even move for it. Murray was 30-15 down when serving for the match, but sent down an ace, followed by a 99mph second-serve ace (he registered a 65 per cent success rate on his second serve, which is something to hold on to). Querrey sucked up more air but a laboured forehand ended the match.
Murray had every reason to be proud. We were. This was tough, really tough, a match you expect to win, yet the opponent is a free-hitting 6ft 6in plank of Californian pine who has just won a title on grass at Queen’s and clobbers winners for fun. Murray’s game is superior, but superiority is not always a guarantee of success. We thought that England’s football team were superior to Germany’s and look at the folly of that presumption.
So we reach the last eight and Murray is in the mix. Tomorrow, he plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No 10 seed from France, a fine player who has suddenly decided that he is a grass-court exponent. He spells danger but Murray ought to know how to handle him and his defeat by the Frenchman in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open, when he won the third set 6-0 and appeared to have everything going for him, remains a bruise.
Punting public back Murray to win Wimbledon
Excitement is growing with the end of Wimbledon approaching and Andy Murray still firmly in the finishing mix.
Odds that the Scot can make history by claiming the first home title for men in 74 years have been cut to 4/1 (5.00).
Sparking the flurry of interest was the fourth seed's straight-set win into the quarter-finals over American Sam Querrey, title winner on grass at Queen's just a fortnight ago. Punting emphasis has quickly shifted back to tennis from football after England crashed out of the World Cup in South Africa.
Bookmakers were quick to back the Scot. "Murray has restored hope to a nation left reeling by the England football team. Patriotic Brits have quickly moved on from South Africa and are cheering on Andy," said a Ladbrokes spokesman.
"We thought we'd be counting the cash of Fabio's flops but it's on hold for now as the Andy-wagon picks up pace. Every punting hope now rests on Murray."
So exciting was the news on Murray that the odds were changed at mid-match as the Brit surged towards victory against Querrey.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale
Q. Just how tough was it out there today?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was very difficult. I mean, obviously the first couple of the sets were very close. And, uhm, yeah, I mean, he was going for huge shots and not giving me a rhythm.
It's very difficult to know exactly how to play when someone's, you know, just going for broke on everything. Just had to hang in and, yeah, managed to win that second‑set tiebreak. I felt a lot better after that.
Q. Were you surprised you played so well in the first two sets?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, I've played him before. I've seen him play many times. You know, he can play incredible tennis. You know, when he is playing like that, he's, you know, so difficult to beat, one of the best players in the world.
No, it didn't surprise me. But the thing that you have to do is you've got to try and stay tough. It's very difficult to play at that level and that sort of high‑risk tennis for a whole match. Just managed to turn it around.
Q. What are your thoughts on the keys to playing well against Nadal?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, you need to serve well and you need to play great tennis. It's not, you know ‑‑ there's not one way to play against him. You don't want to leave the ball in the middle of the court to his forehand, because you'll do a lot of running.
But you've got to serve well and, you know, try and, you know, keep a good length and play well really, really, really well.
Q. How much have you seen of Nadal here this year and what have you made of him?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I've seen him play a little bit. Not that much. You know, we've been playing a lot of our matches ‑‑ we obviously play on the same day, and you're kind of focused on your match and obviously preparing for that.
Uhm, I saw a little bit of his match against Robin Haase and a little bit of his match against Petzschner. I followed his match with Petzschner. I saw a bit of that.
He's playing great. He's in the semifinals of a Grand Slam and he beat Soderling today, who's, well, playing the best tennis of his career. You know, he's a great player, too. So he's obviously playing very well.
Q. Do you feel different coming into this semifinal than you did last year?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not really. You know, last year I obviously played well going into the semi, and it's a completely different match.
So in that respect, you know, it's very different tennis to how you play against Roddick and how the matches against Roddick go. Not feeling any different.
Q. Do you take any sort of psychological edge after beating him in Australia?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I think, you know, he would definitely be the favorite for the match, you know, with his results here the last few years.
You know, he obviously didn't get a chance to defend his title last year, but he's played three finals in a row and now he's in the semis here.
You know, he's obviously a very tough player on any surface, but he plays great tennis here. No, I mean, psychologically I need to believe that I can win the match. That's the most important thing.
Q. Your odds are now 11‑5 to win Wimbledon, the shortest priced Brit since Fred Perry.
ANDY MURRAY: That means nothing at all ‑ at all. It's totally irrelevant, the odds. Totally irrelevant.
Q. The beard seems to be doing the trick. Will you keep it on till the end of the tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. Might shave tonight. Might shave tomorrow. Might leave it till the end of the tournament.
Q. Not affecting your aerodynamics or anything?
ANDY MURRAY: I hope not, no.
Q. Ben Stiller was in the crowd today. I know said in the past you like Will Ferrell's movies. I think Ben Still is in that genre as well.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he's very, very funny. Actually watched Dodgeball quite a few times in ‑‑ where was I? It was in Madrid this year. And actually, had extras as well. Watched the episode where he's in that quite a few times.
Yeah, he's a very, very funny guy.
Q. What would it mean to you to win this title?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it would obviously be incredible. You know, winning a Grand Slam is obviously why you play the game. You know, obviously if it was here, to win the first one would make it, you know, extra special.
But, yeah, I'm a long, long way from doing that. Six sets away, and have to beat the No. 1 in the world if I even want to have a chance of doing that. So it's a long way.
Q. The second‑set tiebreak today, at 5‑All when he left that backhand return, was that more surprise or relief on your part? Maybe you thought that was going to be your day then?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, you're not really thinking like that at that stage of the match. You're kind of focusing on trying to win the next point.
Uhm, you know, I was obviously surprised that he left it, but I did really well to get a racquet on the serve. It was a huge serve up the T, and just managed to get it back.
Uhm, yeah, it happens. People make some misjudgments sometimes. I managed to win the next point and change the match.
Q. How important was the support from the home crowd for you today?
ANDY MURRAY: It's always important. It's one of the main reasons why, you know, the British guys play ‑ well, Tim obviously played very well here ‑ and one of the reasons I played well the last few years.
Yeah, it gives you a lift. It helps, you know, when you're in tough situations, tough moments, when the crowd get behind you. Like in every other sport, having home advantage is very important.
Q. You revealed late on Monday night that you had had many messages of support and well wishes, one from David Beckham. Have you had any other notable messages?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not really. No. I've had quite a few. But no, not really.
Q. How would you describe ‑ for people who aren't from this country ‑ what the whole atmosphere is like with the history that goes back to Fred Perry since the last champion?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, it's obviously been a huge, huge wait for us, and it's still obviously going on now. I don't know how it affects the atmosphere on the court.
But the crowd, yeah, I mean, obviously would love to see a British player win Wimbledon. It's something that's kind of joked about amongst players and people within tennis about how long it's been since someone British has won at Wimbledon.
I don't know how it affects the atmosphere in the matches or not. It's something that you just, yeah, learn to deal with. It doesn't affect the way that I play. It's not something that you're thinking about when you're on the court at all.
Q. How have you learned to deal with it?
ANDY MURRAY: Just by playing here and playing in big matches, you know, how to put ‑‑ yeah, you just learn how to put, you know, everything to the back of your mind.
I think it's either something you can do or you can't. I don't think you can be taught how to do it. I think it's something that you're either able to do or you can't.
I've been lucky enough the last few years to not let that affect me.
Q. In his post‑match interview, Jo Tsonga is backing you to win the Championships. Can you talk about what he said to you at the net and what that means to you?
ANDY MURRAY: It's obviously nice to hear that from the other players. Yeah, he said it would be a pleasure to see me win the tournament. Sort of like, yeah, Good luck from me.
Yeah, I mean, you know, he's been around for quite a long time at the top of the game. He's played some big matches and had good runs in the Grand Slams, so he knows what it takes to get to the latter stages. You know, it's nice to hear that from him.
Q. What did you make of Federer's shock defeat? Given he's beaten you in your two Grand Slam finals, do you feel his exit has improved your chances?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know if it's improved my chance or not. You never know what's going to happen on any given day in this sport.
But, yeah, it was surprising. But, you know, Berdych is a great player. You know, if he plays his best tennis, he can, yeah, beat the best guys. He's won against Rafa a few times; he's obviously beaten Roger a couple of times now; and I obviously lost to him at the French Open a few weeks ago.
You know, doesn't look like such a terrible result anymore.
Q. Were you quite pleased in a way that Federer is out?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't care whether he's in and out of the tournament. Doesn't affect me unless I win the next round. So, you know, I'm playing the No. 1 player in the world in the next round, so it would be a bit silly for me to look past him in any way.
Q. Your plans for the next 24 hours? What are you going to do to stay relaxed ahead of Friday's match?
ANDY MURRAY: Just the usual: go home tonight, watch a bit of TV. Yeah, you don't do anything. It's pretty boring, but you just do the same thing. I'll come in tomorrow, practice around 1:00 for an hour, hour and a half, and that's it. Take the dog on a walk.
Just, yeah, you don't do anything special. You don't do anything different. You just have to, yeah, be as calm as possible. That's what I'll try and do.
Q. How is Maggie? We heard she's not very well.
ANDY MURRAY: She's fine now.
Q. Rafa was saying how the conditions are a bit like clay because it's so dry out there. Do you think that could be an advantage for him?
ANDY MURRAY: I definitely wouldn't describe the courts here as similar to clay. More like a hard court because the ball's bouncing. The courts are very firm, so the ball's bouncing pretty high. There's not too many bad bounces.
Yeah, I think it's a pretty fair court for both of us. And, yeah, hopefully, you know, I can play well, because when I have played him on hard courts before, I've always felt like I've had chances against him. Had some good wins against him on the hard courts. If I serve well and play like I have been, I've got a chance.
Q. You have family and friends watching you. Any more people coming down from home?
ANDY MURRAY: Not that I'm aware of. I haven't really spoken to anyone since I got off the court. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.
Q. You played so many times on Centre Court. What do you like the most about it?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, I like the atmosphere there. It's different to the US Open. I love playing there, as well. You know, the Australian Open center court is a great court, as well.
But the atmosphere here for me is a bit different because obviously the support is all with you. I think, as well, with the roof going in, a lot of the court is kind of ‑‑ a lot of the crowd is kind of covered, as well. So I think the noise stays in even better now.
But, yeah, I mean, there's not one thing in particular. I just, uhm, really like the atmosphere. And obviously having the crowd with you helps.
Q. Do you think the crowd has a strong knowledge and following of the ebbs and flows of the match? Does that in any way help you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I think the crowds at Wimbledon are, yeah, pretty knowledgeable. You know, they have watched a few of Tim's, you know, long, yeah, up‑and‑down matches over the years.
So, yeah, I'm sure they're used to supporting. I think they understand well when you need the support. Yeah, they do a good job.
Q. Would it be different for you psychologically, because obviously this time you'll be going into the semifinals as the underdog, whereas last year you were the favorite? So how different is that?
ANDY MURRAY: No, like I said, it's totally irrelevant what everybody else thinks, because on the day, yeah, you're playing against Rafa, not against ‑‑ you're not playing against the bookies' odds or anything like that. You're just playing against him. It's not going to change a whole lot.
But, I mean, yeah, I know it's going to be an incredibly difficult match to win, but one I believe I can if I play well.
Q. Have you spoken to Tim? Do you think he'll have any words of advice for a semifinal again?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I get 'good luck' texts from him all the time. I mean, I think everybody deals with those situations differently. I'm sure if I wanted advice I'd be able to call Tim, you know, as soon as I'm done here and speak to him about it. He's always been very good to me.
But I've got the guys around me that I work with that I trust a lot. You know, I'll chat to them about it, about the match, and everything that will be going on with it.
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray yearns to join ranks of champions
If Andy Murray can out-hit Rafael Nadal on Friday to become Britain's first men's finalist since Austin, the victory would bring him £500,000, and if he was then to go on to beat Novak Djokovic or Tomas Berdych on Sunday, that would make him the first home champion since Fred Perry in 1936, and he would win £1 million.
Yet Murray would happily return to those days of gift tokens and lunch vouchers, and compete at these Championships for nothing.
"The money makes no difference to me, no difference at all," he said.
In Murray's mind, he is not six sets away from a million; he is six sets away from becoming, as it says on the side of the trophy, "The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single-Handed Champion of the World".
"The funny thing is, if you ask all the people who win Wimbledon what they were thinking about when they were serving for the match, they would say the history and the prestige of winning Wimbledon and not the amount of money you could win.
"The prize-money is obviously great, but it's just so far from being the most important thing when you're out there," Murray said.
"I'm sure if you say to Roger Federer, 'You can keep your six Wimbledon titles but you have to give all the money back', he would sign up for that every day of the week."
One thing that certainly does not happen every day of the week is a British man reaching a Wimbledon final. That jump in remuneration emphasises just how long it has been; 72 years ago, when Austin lost to America's Don Budge, they were playing a different sport.
The problem for Britons has not been reaching semi-finals, the problem has been going any further into the draw, as they are on a nine-match losing sequence in the last four.
Mike Sangster lost one semi-final, Roger Taylor lost three, Tim Henman lost four and Murray has lost one, when he was beaten last summer by America's Andy Roddick.
Nadal, the world No 1 and the champion in 2008, will be hoping to take that run of British defeats into double figures. So, as significant as it would be for Murray to reach his first Wimbledon final, there is no chance that he would be satisfied with that.
Murray, who was wearing a T-shirt with the lyrics to Judgement Day by the American rapper Method Man on the back on Thursday, is not here to do anything but win Wimbledon.
"It would mean a lot to reach the final, but you want to be winning the tournament, not losing in the final. That wouldn't be the nicest feeling.
"That was my goal coming into the tournament, to try to win it, and I'm obviously a lot closer than I was 10 days ago.
"But I'm going to have to play the best tennis of my life to win the event now. I'm two matches away, six sets away, and that's what I've got to look to do," Murray said.
He has already reached two slam finals, in New York at the 2008 US Open and in Melbourne at this year's Australian Open. But a first final in south-west London would be something else entirely.
With Federer out, this is anyone's Wimbledon. If he is to win the title, Murray must first deal with a semi-final opponent who is unbeaten in 12 matches at the All England Club.
Rafael Nadal won the title in 2008 by triumphing in that fantastic final against Federer, but he could not play last year because of his cranky knees.
Murray's heaviest defeat on Centre Court was against Nadal, when they played in the quarter-finals of the 2008 Championships. Nadal swiped Murray off the grass that day, winning in straight sets.
The match went by so quickly that Murray does not have too many memories.
"I do remember being quite tired and my body being quite sore. I didn't have any chances in the match at all.
"It was a big turning point for me because I then realised that to win a grand slam, you have to be fit to play seven five-set matches, and not just one big match and then be spent after that.
"I went away and practised really hard and improved my game as well, as obviously I needed to get a lot better.
"It was a good learning experience for me because I needed to improve a lot," Murray said.
"I can't really remember that much of the match. It went by pretty quickly. I've played him many times since then and I've had some really good matches with him, so I'm hoping that it's not going to be much of a factor on Friday."
Since then, they have played twice at the grand slams, in the semi-finals of the 2008 US Open, and in the quarter-finals of this January's Australian Open, and Murray won both those matches.
"After I lost to him here in 2008, I practised hard, hitting the ball harder and spending more time in the gym, and I managed to beat him for the first time at the US Open.
"I played him at the Aussie Open this year and it's some of the best tennis I've played. There were some great rallies and great points in that one, and unfortunately he couldn't finish the match because of injury.
"My game is a lot better than it was in 2008, and I'm sure he has improved as well, so it will be a very different match."
While Murray has dropped only one set so far during this tournament, at the start of his quarter-final victory over France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nadal's matches have been more complicated.
He has twice come back from being two sets to one down, and once from a set down, and he has been fined for receiving illegal coaching from his uncle Toni, as well as having concerns about how his body is holding up.
"I don't know if Rafa has had a few physical issues," Murray said. "He seemed fine in his last couple of matches.
"I was told that Roger had a few problems. All the players have niggles and pains. You play long matches at grand slams. It's pretty brutal on the body, so everybody is a bit stiff and sore."
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray believes he can beat Rafael Nadal in semi-finals
Andy Murray has set his sights on upsetting world No 1 Rafael Nadal as he bids to reach his first Wimbledon final.
The fourth seed battled past big-hitting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 6-2 in a tense encounter on Wimbledon's Centre Court to set up a blockbuster last-four clash with the 2008 champion on Friday.
Murray can certainly take confidence from his previous grand slam encounters with Rafael Nadal, having beaten the Spaniard on his way to his previous finals at the US and Australian Opens.
The 23 year-old said: "I know it's going to be an incredibly difficult match to win, but it's one I believe I can win if I play well.
"I saw a little bit of his match against Robin Haase and a little bit of his match against Petzschner. I saw a bit of that. He's playing great. He's in the semifinals of a grand slam and he beat Soderling today, who's, well, playing the best tennis of his career. You know, he's a great player, too. So he's obviously playing very well.
For most of the first two sets against Tsonga it looked like talk of a meeting with Nadal was extremely premature as Murray struggled to deal with the raw power of his opponent.
Tsonga fired winner after winner on his forehand and snuffed out any half chances with huge serving before edging a close first-set tie-break.
Murray broke early in the second set but could not hold onto his advantage and he looked to be in real trouble when Tsonga moved 5-4 ahead in the tie-break.
The 10th seed, though, lost both his service points and it was Murray who was able to serve out the set.
The third set turned on a lengthy third game, where Murray finally broke at the sixth time of asking. That seemed to put a dent in Tsonga's belief and from then on the winner was never in doubt.
The Scot, though, knew how close he had come against an opponent who beat him in the opening round of the Australian Open two years ago.
He said: "It was very difficult. Obviously the first couple of sets were very close. He was going for huge shots and not giving me a rhythm.
"It's very difficult to know exactly how to play when someone's just going for broke on everything. I just had to hang in and I managed to win that second-set tie-break. I felt a lot better after that.
"He can play incredible tennis. When he is playing like that he's so difficult to beat, one of the best players in the world. But you've got to try to stay tough. It's very difficult to play at that level and that sort of high-risk tennis for a whole match."
Arguably the most crucial point of the match came at 5-5 in the second tie-break, when Tsonga left a Murray return thinking it was going out, only for the ball to land on the line.
"I was obviously surprised that he left it, but I did really well to get a racquet on the serve," continued the Scot. "It happens. People make misjudgements sometimes. I managed to win the next point and change the match."
Tsonga was left to rue that decision but he did not have any complaints about the outcome of the match.
"This is tennis," Tsonga said. "Sometimes you let a ball go and you lose on this ball. I played a good match, but he was better than me today."
The 10th seed has again had his injury struggles this season and he looked rusty in his first few rounds having not played since retiring during the French Open with a hip problem.
But he felt he was back to his best during the first two sets today and leaves the All England Club contented having reached a first Wimbledon quarter-final.
He said: "I'm happy because today I found a level I haven't played for a long time at the beginning of the match. Maybe if I can play like this and I'm more consistent, I will do some good things."
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray sorely needs to beat Rafael Nadal
A dreamy-eyed throng gathered around the practice session on Court 16 on Thursday, waiting for a chance to collect Rafael Nadal's autograph.
The world No 1 is firmly installed as tennis's greatest heart throb, yet he will be a heartbreaker if he ejects Andy Murray from Wimbledon on Friday afternoon.
The good news, from a British perspective, is that Rafael Nadal has had a bumpier ride through the tournament than his opponent.
After consecutive five-set matches, against Holland's Robin Haase and Germany's Philipp Petzschner, he looked ready to call for "new knees, please".
Andy Murray's best chance might have been to tackle Nadal in the fourth round, while he was still feeling the pain in his patella tendon.
Instead, the Majorcan was able to regroup, and his ludicrously whippy forehand was back to its best in the quarter-final as he despatched Robin Soderling, the gigantic Swedish slugger, in four hard-fought sets.
Friday's match is unlikely to be decided by mechanical issues, according to Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal. "His problem is not the knees, it is Murray," Toni said.
"Murray is ready to win a grand slam. He is one of the best players and the best players win tournaments like Wimbledon.
"He is a talented player, one of the most talented on the ATP Tour, and physically well prepared. He has a good serve, a good forehand, a good backhand and he can play in different ways. It will be a difficult match for Rafa."
The last time Murray and Nadal came face to face on court was in January, at the quarter-final of the Australian Open. That was one of Murray's finest performances – even if he was denied the satisfaction of finishing the job when Nadal retired, having already slipped close to defeat at 6-3, 7-6, 2-0.
Once again, the Spaniard cited his sore knees as an explanation (we can hardly call it an excuse when he spent the best part of the next two months in rest and rehabilitation).
Since then, Nadal has been a little coy about his approach to tendinitis, saying only that he has undergone a "new treatment", which has sorted out his left knee, and he wants to get the right one fixed up after Wimbledon.
Asked whether his nephew was in good spirits, Toni said: "Rafa is the world No 1, he won the French Open and is in the Wimbledon semi-final – it's natural that he is happy.
"He is feeling wonderful. Rafa had a problem against Petzschner but no difficulties against Paul-Henri Mathieu or Soderling.
"I think he will be fine to play five sets if he has to. He is physically ready, just like Murray. He isn't trying to shorten the rallies. He is trying to play the same way as he did in 2008.
"Rafa is confident but it is a 50-50 game. The key is to play very well and play the big points without mistakes. When Rafa played Murray in the Australian Open, he played OK, but he lost the big points."
British fans will hope for more of the same on Friday.
Wimbledon 2010: all roads lead to Dunblane when Andy Murray is on form
The regular media pilgrimage to Dunblane, birthplace of Andy Murray, is already under way — much to the delight of hoteliers and restaurateurs.
Locals have grown accustomed to the sight of hordes of reporters and cameramen descending on their town every time Andy Murray reaches a grand slam final.
This time the stampede has started early, with the Dunblane Hotel receiving “seven or eight calls” from media organisations on Thursday.
“We’ve already got reporters coming up to the pub to see the semi-final,” said barmaid Jackie Petrie, who will be serving customers with champagne and strawberries if Murray makes it to Sunday’s final.
“Every time Andy makes a final you’ll see reporters up and down the High Street,” she said. “It’s a big thing for the town.”
Sun screen test for big match
Plans are afoot to show Andy Murray’s semi-final on the big screen on Court No 2, in order to offer ground pass holders a less crowded alternative to Henman Hill.
With luck, the only dazzling thing on view will be Murray’s performance.
Last year the All England Club opened up the same court for Murray’s semi-final against Andy Roddick but the glare on the screen from the sun was so blinding that many hot-footed it straight back to the famous slope.
Hot work on Court 18
It is never a dull day on Court 18. After the 11-hour epic between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, and the spitting incident involving Romanian Victor Hanescu, there was more drama when a ball girl collapsed with heat exhaustion.
Murray has big personality
Anyone thinking of trying to get better odds on a Wimbledon triumph for Murray by backing him to be the BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be sorely disappointed.
The bookmakers clearly have every faith in the Scot’s performances over the next few days by installing him as the favourite to win the BBC gong, with a best price of 4-1.
Cereal offender
Spectators who availed themselves of the free cereal bars being handed out outside the All England Club were offered a stark choice on entering the grounds: “Eat it or lose it."
The free snack bars were a classic bit of ambush marketing but security officials at the All England Club were one step ahead of the ruse this year, having been invaded by tubes of Pringles last year.
Fans were given the choice of eating the bars on the spot or having them confiscated. So now we know why the bag searches are so tediously thorough.
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray holds hands up and admits Rafael Nadal was too good
A frustrated Andy Murray conceded he had lost to the better player following his straight sets defeat to Rafael Nadal in his second successive Wimbledon semi-final.
Murray had no complaints about the result and did not feel he let himself down with his own performance.
"I'm disappointed," he said. "I'm annoyed I lost this match. I wanted to reach my first final here.
"I had chances in all the sets. I haven't seen the stats but there were maybe five or six points in the match. He just played better than me.
"You're not going to be able to play every shot on your own terms against one of the best players in the world. I was dictating and it was tough, I didn't feel like I wasn't in a rhythm. I won a lot of points on my serve.
"I didn't lose my serve again until late in the match so obviously I was doing something right."
Nadal entered the match 7-3 up in clashes between the pair, though Murray had won their previous two Grand Slam encounters, including this year's Australian Open semi-final.
And despite the presence of David Beckham in the crowd, Murray could not make it a hat-trick of Slam victories against the Spaniard.
"The one thing I didn't do particularly well is return well," Murray added. "His serve is harder to return than a lot of people think.
"He does everything really well. There are certain shots you need to play to both sides to not let him get into a rhythm. I got myself in good positions but I just couldn't take them.
"He played great, he's playing very well, and obviously has got a lot of confidence now."
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray suffers straight-sets semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal
Andy Murray was dispatched in straight sets by Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4, the world No 1 reaching his fourth Wimbledon final where he will play Tomas Berdych on Sunday.
In front of a Centre Court crowd including David Beckham, Murray was outclassed by a superior opponent who kept his composure when it mattered most. Murray had set points in the second set, and looked like he might win the third after breaking early, but Nadal broke back at 4-4, held serve, and broke again, winning the match when Murray pushed a forehand drive volley inches long.
Murray, the British No 1, had trailed seven-three in their head-to-head meetings going into the match, but Murray had won their last two matches at grand slams, most recently in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January.
The importance of every point was not lost on Murray, who unleashed a “C’mon” after winning the first point of the match, yet soon the errors crept in. Serving at 4-4, the 23 year-old had served two aces down the middle. Pegged back, he chose the ‘T’ again, but Nadal read it and stole the point. Murray then steered a forehand wide to drop the game. It was another error from Murray which gave Nadal the first set.
The Spaniard was on fire, certainly – he hit just one unforced error in the first set, for example – but it was not as if Murray had no opportunities. Two break points in the second set came and went, for example, and then, in the tie-break, at just the moment when his legs must have been all a-wobble having charged down a delightful drop-shot from Nadal (only to lose the point), Nadal double faulted to give Murray a set point.
It is not often that Nadal gives his opponent an opening so cheaply, but Murray could not find a first serve. His second was too slow, the point always Nadal’s. A lucky net cord for Nadal on the next point, the ball skipping up and evading Murray’s attempt at a volley, gave him a set point. It was all he needed.
Utterly frustrated, Murray slammed his racquet into the ground, but there were more chances – even a major opening in the third set when Murray immediately broke back, and to love at that. He could not stay ahead, however, his first serve letting him down and allowing Nadal to break back to draw level at 4-4. Scenting blood, Nadal upped his level yet further, and after 2 hours and 22 minutes forced Murray into driving a forehand long on match point.
“It is an amazing victory against one of the toughest opponents in the world,” Nadal said. “He will win a Grand Slam very soon.”
Murray: Nadal jest najlepszy na świecie
Andy Murray po raz kolejny nie sprostał presji i tuż przed finałem pożegnał się z wielkoszlemowym Wimbledonem (z pulą nagród 13,725 mln funtów). W 2009 roku lepszy okazał się Andy Roddick, w 2010 Tomas Berdych. Przed turniejem Szkot mówił: "Jestem gotowy by wygrać Wimbledon". Gotowy wciąż nie jest. Ostatnim, który dał radość był Fred Perry w 1936 roku. Od tamtego czasu Wielka Brytania wciąż wypatruje nowego mistrza.
- Jestem rozczarowany. Miałem swoje szanse, w każdym secie. Nie widziałem statystyk, ale przypuszczam, że różnica leży z sześciu, siedmiu punktach - mówił po meczu Murray.
- Chciałem wygrać, ale mam świadomość jak wspaniali zawodnicy zmierzą się w finale. Ja nie grałem źle, po prostu Rafa zagrał wspaniale. Myślę, że to on będzie faworytem. Jest najlepszym zawodnikiem na świecie. Od 2007 roku nie przegrał w Londynie spotkania - ocenił.
- Oczywiście, że presja jest ogromna, ale nie mogę nikogo obwiniać. To ja przegrałem mecz. Kolejne dni spędzę na odpoczynku z dala od tenisa. Potem znów ciężka praca. Nadal wierzę, że mogę wygrać turniej wielkoszlemowy - zakończył.
Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray career highs and lows
British No 1 suffered a second successive Wimbledon semi-final defeat. Here are his career highs and lows.
2004 Junior success: Murray caps a successful junior career by winning the US Open boys' title at 17, before being named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.
2005 First Wimbledon: Stuns Radek Stepanek on his first appearance at SW19, and thrillingly goes two sets up against David Nalbandian before succumbing to cramp.
2006 First title: Beats Andy Roddick in San Jose, his first win over a top-10 player, and follows it by beating Lleyton Hewitt and claiming his a first tour title.
2007 Injury troubles: A wrist tendon injury ruins his season, keeping him out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and he fails to regain his form in the autumn.
2008 Nadal, part I at SW19: Comes back from the dead against Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon, but Rafael Nadal is a step too far in the last eight. Murray resolves to toughen up.
2008 First grand slam final: Gains revenge over Nadal at the US Open by downing him in the semis, but then runs into an imperious Federer and goes down in straight sets.
2009 Roddick's revenge: A first Wimbledon final beckons, but Roddick produces one of the matches of his life, serving brilliantly to win a tight encounter in four.
2010 Nadal defeated: Turns in a magnificent performance to deal with both Nadal’s violent hitting to beat the Australian Open defending champion 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 when the Spaniard had to retire with a knee injury, to reach the semi-finals.
2010 Federer again: Makes a better fist of his second grand slam final in Australia, but still Federer cleans up, beating a tearful Murray in three sets.
2010 Loss of form: Goes through a shocking spell, winning just four matches in two months and getting knocked out in the fourth round of the French Open.
2010 Nadal, part II at SW19: Takes advantage of a kind draw to sail through to the last four, but Nadal produces a champion's performance to beat him again on grass.
Wimbledon 2010 - wywiad po porażce w półfinale
Q. Your thoughts on that?
ANDY MURRAY: Disappointed. You know, I had chances in all of the sets. You know, I haven't seen the stats, but I would guess it was the difference of maybe five or six points in the match.
Yeah, he just played better than me. But I'm disappointed because I had chances.
Q. Did you feel you got into the rhythm of your own game during the match?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah. But, I mean, you're not going to be able to play every single point on your terms against the best player in the world, one of the best players ever. You can't.
You know, you're going to need to, you know, go through periods in the match where he can be dictating, and there's periods in the match where, you know, I was dictating.
You know, it was tough. But, yeah, I didn't feel like I wasn't in a rhythm. I won a lot of points off my serve. You know, until the end of the match, he didn't have a breakpoint until the last couple of games. Was obviously doing something right.
Q. When he hit that the double‑fault in the tiebreaker, I mean, it as a bit of a shocker. Did it throw you off?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not at all. I mean, not if you look at the next point he played. No, it didn't at all. He played a really good point. He hit a big forehand. Hit a good pass. He hit a great angle volley on the next point. Hit a let cord passing shot on the next one.
You know, there's nothing you can do about it.
Q. With all that was at stake today, how does this compare to what could have been for you in this tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm annoyed I lost this match. There's a great player in the final, and the other half has just beaten the No. 1 player ‑‑ No. 2 in the world and No. 3 in the world in back‑to‑back matches pretty convincingly, as well.
I'm disappointed I didn't win today, because I wanted to reach my first final here.
Q. What was the game plan against him?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, you know, to serve well, which I did for a majority of the match. And when you get the opportunity, to dictate the points.
You know, the one thing I didn't do particularly well today was return well. His serve is a lot harder to return than a lot of people think. A lot of slice, a lot of spin, and it's heavy.
I didn't return particularly well, but the rest of my game was good.
Q. Was it also about targeting his backhand particularly?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, his backhand is good. He has a very good backhand. You know, his backhand's good. His serve's good. His forehand's good. His movement is good. He does everything really, really well.
You know, there's certain shots that, you know, you need to play to both sides, you know, to not let him get into a rhythm.
You know, like I say, I got myself in some good positions, and just couldn't quite take it.
Q. Nadal played a stunning match. Is that any consolation now, or will it become one in the future?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I'm not coming here feeling like I played terrible. You know, I'm disappointed to have lost. You know, I didn't play a bad match at all. You know, I've had some good wins against Rafa where I played great tennis.
You know, it's not like I played badly. Yeah, he played great, and that was the difference.
Q. Is that the best he's ever played against you?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I mean, you know, a lot can depend on a few points. You know, but he's playing very, very well. He's obviously got a lot of confidence just now.
Q. Who do you pick in the final, Rafael or Berdych?
ANDY MURRAY: I think Rafa is the favorite. You know, he's the best player in the world. He hasn't lost here. He's played three finals in a row, or four finals in a row now.
But, you know, Berdych is a great player, too. If he plays well, like he has been the last couple of matches, it will be very tough.
Q. Talk about the extra weight on your shoulders because of trying to win it for the home team here.
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, there's a lot much pressure playing here. You know, it doesn't affect the outcome of the matches. It's not a valid excuse to make. I've played really well the whole tournament. I obviously want to win for myself. I want to win for the guys I work with. I want to win for, you know, the UK.
You know, a little bit more disappointing than other Grand Slams because this one is, you know, the biggest one of the year for me. And, uhm, yeah, it's tough.
Q. What are you going to do now?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I'll probably, yeah, go on holiday and stay away from the tennis court for a while.
Q. When you look back at tennis tournaments as a whole, are you pleased taking this result out of it, that you're improving, heading in the right direction?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, a few weeks ago no one would have given me much of a hope of getting to the semis because I wasn't playing well. Then, you know, I played a good tournament.
But, yeah, right now I'm very disappointed at the match today. Yeah, I'll look back at the tournament as a whole in a few weeks as a good one, just not great.
Q. Does it strengthen your result to one day come back and win a slam, or does it spur you on in moments like this?
ANDY MURRAY: I hope it does. In the past it has made me work harder. But, yeah, I'll have to wait and see. But I hope so.
Q. After the Australian you found it difficult to sort of get back into it straightaway. Are you concerned it might happen again after this result?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. You know, just because it happened to me once, whether it was to do with the loss in Australia, whether it was, you know, other things going on, you know, you never know.
But, you know, I work hard, you know, and I hope it doesn't happen again. I've normally played well in the American hard court stretch after Wimbledon. Yeah, hopefully I'll play well again now.
Q. In what ways, if any, has Nadal changed his game since you played him in Australia?
ANDY MURRAY: No, there's no huge change. I mean, you know, he obviously missed a solid chunk of the year last year and a little bit at the beginning of this year. You know, he plays ‑‑ the more matches he plays, the better he plays.
I don't know, you know, if he hasn't played a lot, you know, he makes a few more mistakes maybe. But, no. He was playing great in Australia. He's playing great here. He's one of the greatest players ever, so he's always gonna play well.
Q. Is there a frustration factor out there when you play a lot of really good tennis and somehow it just keeps coming back?
ANDY MURRAY: No, 'cause you go on the court expecting it. It's not a surprise. You know, I've always felt like, for me, it's been one of the best parts of my game is making my opponent play more balls, chasing everything down. It's just something that all of the, you know, best players tend to do. They'll make you play a lot of balls.
No, I played him, I don't know, over 10 times now, so nothing surprises me when I play against him. But I expect an incredibly tough match every time.
Q. I know you've only just come off court, but where does this one sit with your other disappointments?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I'm very disappointed just now. I'm upset, you know, which is understandable. I have no idea. Yeah, just very disappointed.
Q. You're good at opening up the court, playing far back. Is that a particularly tough strategy to pursue with him, given his skill set athletically?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, it has worked in matches I've played against him. It's worked very well. I've had some great matches with him. I've had obviously some tough losses, as well.
But, no, I mean, I think that, you know, I have my game style. I adapt to all of the guys that I play against. I'm sure the stats will say I came to the net more than I did in any of the other matches; I served and volleyed more than I did in any of the other matches; I was going for a little bit more.
That's how you have to play against him. Just didn't quite work.
Q. You again had great support today from fans who will be looking forward to you coming back next year. What will you say to them?
ANDY MURRAY: No, the support was great the whole tournament. Every year I've played here the support's been great, yeah. Yeah, I'm disappointed for them, as well. You know, I obviously gave it my best.
But like I said earlier, I want to try and win the tournament. Yeah, I couldn't quite do it. But the support I've had, you know, the whole two weeks has been great.
Q. You had a couple of conversations with the chair. Were you unhappy about the time he was taking?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I wasn't unhappy with the time he was taking. I asked him once when we were changing balls, and that was it. I didn't complain once about him taking too much time.
Q. What did Rafael say to you after the match?
ANDY MURRAY: He said, Bad luck. I just said, Good luck for the rest of the tournament. You know, that was it.
But, you know, I've said it for a few years. I love watching him play. He's my favorite player to watch. That's why I enjoy playing him so much. So I hope he wins.
Q. If you could somehow go back and change one thing about the match, what would that be?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I think the second set, you know, it's difficult to pick out one thing. I had chances in the second set. I thought I played a little bit better tennis in the second set and didn't give him many chances on my serve. I created a few on his. Obviously, in the tiebreak, yeah.
Q. Is it annoying to have to wait so long to receive serve?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't care. He can take as long as he wants on any point. I love watching the guy play. No, I don't care. He can take as long as he wants.
Q. Coming off court, Rafa said he thought you'd win a slam and win one soon. What does that mean to you when someone you respect so much has got some faith in your ability?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, yeah, it's nice. Nice obviously to hear. Uhm, doesn't make losing in one any easier.
Murray zaczyna mieć dość braku sukcesów
Andy Murray nie awansował do finału Wimbledonu przegrywając z Rafaelem Nadalem. Według "Daily Mail" najlepszy brytyjski tenisista powoli zaczyna mieć dość braku sukcesów i przymierza się do zwolnienia swojego trenera Milesa Maclagana.
Maclagan był pod presją jeszcze przed turniejem na kortach Wimbledonu. Murray do półfinału spisywał się dobrze, ale na drodze stanął mu Nadal. Następcą 35-letniego szkoleniowca może być Australijczyk Darren Cahill, który święcił sukcesy z Leytonem Hewittem i Andre Agassim.
Murray wcześniej postąpił podobnie z poprzednimi trenerami: Markiem Petchey’em i Bradem Gilbertem. – Prawa dżungli tenisowej mówią, że jeżeli nie ma wyników, wówczas najbliższa osoba z kręgu zawodnika płaci wysoką cenę – powiedziała osoba związana z Murrayem.
Kto wie, być może to krok konieczny? Nie uważam, aby trener był głównym brakiem sukcesów Szkota, ale zawsze to Jego osoba robi za kozła ofiarnego. Być może też Ryży jest podatny na syndrom "nowej miotły".
Murray to cure post-Wimbledon blues with holiday
Andy Murray was heading out of Britain to decompress after swallowing his second major disappointment of the tennis season through his straight-set Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal.
His hopes of a first Grand Slam title again denied, Murray can think of nothing more inviting than leaving the country. He said he would likely head for a holiday - likely North America - before fronting up eventually at his training base in Miami later in the month to prepare for summer hard court battle in August.
"There's a lot much pressure playing here. But that's not a valid excuse to make," said Murray. "I've played really well the whole tournament. "I obviously want to win for myself, I want to win for the guys I work with. I want to win for the UK. It's a bit more disappointing than other Grand Slams because this one is the biggest one of the year for me."
"I'll probably, yeah, go on holiday and stay away from the tennis court for a while," said the Scot, who lost the Australian Open final to Roger Federer and took months to recover form. The Wimbledon defeat will leave Britain without a men's home winner in 75 years by the time of the 2011 edition.
Murray work ethic undamaged after Wimbledon
Andy Murray is taking his latest Wimbledon disappointment to heart, with plans to get back to work at a tougher pace once he picks up his preparation for the hardcourt summer.
"I need to go away and work harder and get better," the player lashed in semi-final straight sets by eventual champion Rafael Nadal told British media. "That's all I can do."
Though the Scot lauds Wimbledon as the most prestigious event on the calendar, his heart lies with the US Open, which he has always called his favourite of the season.
The losing 2008 finalist to Roger Federer says he needs confidence heading to New York for that major from late August. "I need to believe (in a title), that's the most important thing. It hasn't happened yet and it's not going to be given to me.
"I'll need to beat one or two of the greatest players of all-time if I want to do it probably and I need to get better if I want to do that. But I hope I've still got quite a few years left at the top of the game, playing great tennis."
Murray, ranked fourth, is off on holiday in the US before resuming training at his base in Miami where he owns a flat. British reports hint that he might be considering parting with friend, coach and fellow Scot Miles MacLagan after an almost three-year-run.
Murray at crossroads
The career of a tennis pro follows much the same ups and downs as a person's normal life; you have to make the big decisions.
A pro's career is very short so the decisions have a larger impact, because it's impossible to go back in this sport.
Often a player will decide it is not his fault if he doesn't get the results he expects - he will always find a reason. But I believe professional tennis is very positive in the way it is fair to each of the players.
Rafael Nadal is the current world number one, and is re-writting the history of this sport for the following reasons: courage, devotion, personal investment, personal questioning, work ethic, love for the sport - the list could go on and on.
At only 23, Andy Murray is now at a crossroad in his career.
Over the past two years he has been at the same level and his future is looking darker than it once was.
Murray improved vey quickly up until 2008; he claimed five titles and reached the US Open final to become the world number four. And in 2009 he won six tournaments and finished the season at number two in the ATP rankings.
But now he needs to win a Major. Despite his runner-up spot in the Australian Open earlier this year, he is yet to win a singles title and seems to be struggling.
The fact is Murray is faced with quite a common dilemma.
He improved constantly for several years, never doubted himself and grew up with the belief that anything is possible. Ambition was the motive to work hard every day, until he came to 2009 and a crossroad in his career.
The Scot was sure he would win the first Grand Slam of the year until he faced Federer in the final sprint. 0He was clearly hurt after he lost to the Swiss once more in January this year.
He worked very hard but was defeated and then believed he would remain a top five player even if he didn't put in the same amount of work - he chose the wrong option and that's the difference between great players and good players.
However, I trust Andy. I'm convinced his mental strengths are huge. But he needs to be well advised as his current relationship with his coach is special.
He worked with Spain's Pato Alvarez when he was younger and had promising results but then had to split due to conflicting issues.
He then hired Brad Gilbert but again ran into a world full of conflicts, despite many successes which boosted him to a top-10 ranking.
These dramatic relationships forced him to build a team made up of 'friends'. The player then becomes the boss of his coach, his sparring-partner, his fitness trainer, and two physiotherapists.
But the Scot does possess great qualities. He has soft hands, which is unique, and excellent eyes which helps his return of serve as he can take the ball early as he wishes.
He also has great anticipation, one of the best backhand in men's tennis, a good serve, a good tactical mind and, last but not least, great fitness.
All of which allow him to have decent movement around the court and the ability to resist opponents' attack for long periods of time - which was not the case earlier in his career.
Add to this his thirst for competition, his mental strength ability to cope with pressure, and there is no reason why he could not achieve great things.
However, there are elements still missing in Andy's game.
No one in his team has so far managed to coach him on a daily basis.
All the past world number ones have a defined style of play, sequences they like to impose for winning their matches. We will always recognise the game of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer or Nadal because they have their unique style.
Andy can play many styles and that's why he is having issues with his game. The ability of having choices on a court in reality makes him play tentatively.
Some may wonder whether it's that bad since he is winning many matches by hiding his game and making his opponents play bad.
But that is precisely the key. Andy needs to select one style of play and stick to it - permanently - when playing the so called 'easy matches' against lower ranked players.
Then the 'Murray game' will be born.
More than ever, Andy needs a guide, a man full of experience and conviction.
The team he has with him clearly offers him comfort on a daily basis, which is very useful. So maybe the right formula would be to keep his team and add another key person.
Andy is still young but he must act quickly - if you stop the progressing you start to go backwards.
But he has a bright future ahead of him. He can do it - he must do it!
No hard feelings after Muzza Wimby snub of Becks
Hot-head Andy Murray may need to make some modest amends after inadvertently snubbing legend David Beckham when the footballer brought his son to centre court for Murray's eventual Wimbledon loss to Rafael Nadal.
British tabloid media report that Murray didn't bother to meet and greet Becks and his son Brooklyn after the loss, with the Scott apparently too distraught. That kind of sentiment would be nothing new to Beckham, who had concluded a role as advisor on the bench to luckless England at the World Cup in South Africa only hours earlier.
Beckham had made the trip to Wimbledon especially to catch up with Murray at the height of hysteria during the tennis fortnight. But the Scot revealed on a British football TV programme that he blew Becks off.
"David was in the crowd, but I didn't meet him. I was so upset about losing that I went off in a real huff. I had to send him a text after to apologise. I was gutted."
Insiders says that there will be no hard feelings as Murray and Beckham are in contact frequently via SMS. "Becks is a pro sportsman, knew how upset Andy was and totally understood why he needed to just get away."
Embarrassed Murray to sell his flashy Ferrari
Andy Murray has reportedly promised his concerned father that he will sell his red Ferrari F430 worth $200,000 and stick to the more sensible cars in his garage.
The world No. 4 admits that he feels embarrassed to be seen driving the Italian thoroughbred around his local neighborhood in Surrey and is planing to be rid of the machine.
Murray bought the hot car late last year after breaking up with girlfriend Kim Sears - with whom he is now apparently back together. The purchase was made just five months after Murray got his driving license.
"I was down in London got a ride in Andy's new Ferrari," father Willie Murray told Scottish media. "I didn't think he should be driving something like that when he'd just passed his test.
"I was just concerned because it's a very powerful car, it worried me. But he's made up his mind he's going to sell it. I just felt that for a young driver not long passed his test it wasn't the best car. Maybe in a few years when he's a more experienced driver, but he's being sensible."
The tennis player is expected to make do with his Range Rover and a few other smaller cars more suited to his neophyte driving abilities.
Murray said that he felt "like an idiot" when behind the wheel of his Ferrari-red monster. "I don't really feel like that's me. I was never into cars."
Andy Murray to make long-awaited return at Farmers Classic in Los Angeles
Andy Murray has confirmed that he will make his first appearance since Wimbledon at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles this week, where he will be top seed following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic for personal reasons.
The British No 1, who will receive a bye to the second round, has been training in Miami since returning from holiday after Wimbledon, in preparation for the American hard-court season.
He hopes to go one step further at the US Open than he did in 2008, when he reached the final before being beaten by Roger Federer.
Murray's Wimbledon ended at the semi-final stage when he lost to eventual winner and world No 1 Rafael Nadal, but his performances throughout the tournament, coupled with the fact that Juan Martin Del Potro might not be ready in time to defend his US Open title due to injury, leaves Murray heavily fancied at Flushing Meadows.
It will be a first appearance for Murray in LA. Although he has been track training in Florida to work on his fitness, he has decided to take a wild card into the Farmers Classic to pick up some more match time.
Joining Murray at the UCLA venue will be American holder Sam Querrey and Marcos Baghdatis.
Meanwhile, US Open junior champion Heather Watson won the biggest senior title of her career on Sunday at the Aegon GB Pro-Series tournament in Wrexham.
The 18 year-old from Guernsey secured her fifth straight-sets win of the week, beating top seed and former top-30 player Sania Mirza of India 6-2 6-4.
Mary wylał jednego ze swoich dziesięciu trenerów.
Murray sacks coach Maclagan
British number one Andy Murray has sacked his coach Miles Maclagan a little more than a month before the final grand slam event of the year.
According to Murray's management team, the Scot made the decision "following a review of his coaching needs" and he was now focused on the US hardcourt season.
"I've had a great relationship with Miles over the past two-and-a-half years and I want to thank him for his positive contribution to my career," said world number four Murray.
"We have had a lot of success and fun working together."
Murray, 23, is competing in this week's LA Open at the LA Tennis Center where he is the top seed.
Maclagan added: "It's been a privilege to work with Andy as his coach and I'm happy to have played my part in his career.
"Andy is a great player and I know he will continue to have the success his talent and hard work deserves."
Murray, who had previously been coached by Briton Mark Petchey and American Brad Gilbert, has yet to win a grand slam title despite several close calls in recent years.
In the 2008 US Open final he was taken apart by Roger Federer and he fell to the Swiss maestro again in this year's Australian Open title match.
Earlier this month, Murray was beaten 6-4 7-6 6-4 by Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal in the last four at Wimbledon.
The Scot has not played a match since losing that match in south-west London.
Former clay-court specialist Alex Corretja remains part of his backroom team.
Eurosport / Reuters
Zmiana trenera. Murray idzie w ślady Federera
Wobec dominacji Rafaela Nadala w cyklu ATP Tour czołowi tenisiści świata szukają różnych rozwiązań. Jednym z nich jest zmiana na stanowisku trenera. Najpierw taki krok ogłosił Roger Federer, który zwiąże się z Paulem Annacone. Teraz w ślady „Króla Rogera” poszedł Andy Murray.
Niepodważalna pozycja Rafaela Nadala w tym sezonie zmusiła jego rywali do podjęcia konkretnych decyzji. Były numer jeden światowego rankingu, Roger Federer zapowiedział, że jego nowym trenerem będzie Paul Annacone. Amerykanin to były szkoleniowiec Pete'a Samprasa i Tima Henmana.
Na podobny krok zdecydował się Andy Murray. 23-letni zawodnik urodzony w szkockim Dunblane postanowił zwolnić dotychczasowego szkoleniowca Miles Maclagan. 35-letni były profesjonalny tenisista prowadził Murraya przez 2,5 roku. - Miałem znakomite stosunki z Milesem przez ostatnie ponad dwa lata. Chciałbym mu podziękować za wkład w moją karierę. Odnieśliśmy wspólnie wiele sukcesów czerpiąc przy tym radość z pracy - napisał Murray na swojej stronie internetowej.
Były już opiekun Szkota nie pozostał mu dłużny. - To wielki zaszczyt pracować z Andym. To świetny zawodnik i wiem, że będzie kontynuował grę na wysokim poziomie. On na to zasługuje – powiedział Maclagan. Tymczasowym trenerem najlepszego Brytyjczyka będzie były hiszpański gwiazdor Alex Corretja.
Andy Murray jest rozstawiony z numerem pierwszym w turnieju Farmers Classic w Los Angeles. To pierwszy jego występ od półfinałowej porażki z Rafaelem Nadalem na kortach Wimbledonu. W drugiej rundzie Szkot zmierzy się z Amerykaninem Timem Smyczkiem, który przebrnął przez kwalifikacje, a następnie pokonał Teimuraza Gabashivilego 6:2, 6:3.
Team Murray in splinters as two coaches depart
Andy Murray heads to Los Angeles for this week's ATP event without a coach after the breakup of Team Murray, with both coach Miles Maclagan and Spanish advisor Alex Corretja now out of the picture after stepping down.
Murray announced on his website the changes are the result of a "review of his coaching needs."
Las Vegas-based Australian Darren Cahill is reportedly being wooed by Murray, but no decision is due to be taken until after the US Open starting in less than five weeks. That means that the 23-year-old world No. 4 will likely head to New York without a guiding hand.
Cahill, part of a corporate coaching team from Murray sponsor adidas, has an American television commentating career and a family to consider and has already turned down Roger Federer in the past.
The Murray bombshell landed a day after Federer said he would be working with Paul Annacone on a temporary basis as the former No. 1 struggles with 2010 form.
"I've had a great relationship with Miles over the past two and a half years," Murray told his website. "And I want to thank him for his positive contribution to my career. We have had a lot of success and fun working together."
MacLagan was the third coach that Murray has sacked, after Mark Petchey and American Brad Gilbert.
Murray's decision was taken in the light of a disappointing season, which began with Australian Open finals loss to Roger Federer and continued with a Roland Garros fourth-round defeat and semi-final loss to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.
Murray bloodied and bowed after LA loss
Andy Murray drew blood after punching the strings of his racket in a futile attempt to stave off a loss in the final of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.
The Scot is now without a title since last November after winning an ATP-leading six trophys in 2009.
Murray went down as holder Sam Querrey saved a match point in the second set and fought through into a third for a 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 title win, becoming the first back-to back winner at the event since Andre Agassi in 2001-2002.
"I wasn't expecting to play my best tennis, but wanted to play as many matches as possible," said No. 4 Murray, a late replacement for Novak Djokovic. "It's a lot better playing tournaments of this calibre than practising with my friends in Miami."
"I'm glad I came and I played some good tennis, and definitely it'll help me for Toronto and Cincinnati Masters 100 events later in the month."
Defeat on his first visit to the city will surely sting as much as his badly scraped knuckles for Murray. The top seed failed to close it out while serving for victory up a set and 5-4, Instead, Querrey won a tiebreaker and then finished his comeback with a third set.
"It was a pretty late decision to come here, so obviously I wanted to come and try to win this event, but you have to have realistic expectations," Murray said.
Murray was appearing in his fourth final in California. He won titles in San Jose in 2006 and 2007, and reached the final at Indian Wells in 2009.
Cahill says he's not the man to coach Murray full-time
Australian uber-coach Darren Cahill says he's not the man to take on the job of coaching Andy Murray after the Scot split with Miles Maclagan and Spain's Alex Corretja earlier this week.
Murray seems to be doing fine on his own for the moment, reaching the final of the Los Angeles event exactly six months after he played his last ATP final. That outing on the last day of January resulted in an Australian Open defeat by Roger Federer.
Speaking during the ESPN telecast of Murray's three-set semi-final victory in LA over Feliciano Lopez, Cahill ruled himself out of the Murray coach-search carousel. "Andy's one of the best player on the Tour right now, but from what I understand, he's looking for a full-time coach," said Las Vegas-based Cahill, who guided Andre Agassi and did a trial period with Federer which did not work out.
"But I've got my ESPN duties and also work with adidas on the training team for the company's' ATP and WTA players. I can't be full-time for anyone," said the Australian.
Andy Murray hopes fresh start will produce maiden grand slam win after split from coach
British No 1 Andy Murray is hoping the sacking of coach Miles Maclagan will galvanise his game and help him reach his goal of winning a grand slam and achieving the No. 1 world ranking.
Murray says he fired Maclagan after two and a half years of working together because they couldn't see eye-to-eye any longer. The surprise move also comes just four weeks before the start of the US Open.
"It obviously was a hard decision and one that wasn't the nicest thing to have to take," Murray said. "It wasn't that tough to make up my mind because we were quite far apart in what we thought."
It has been a season of mixed results for the 23-year-old Scot who is the top seed at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles. This is his first tournament since his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Rafael Nadal.
For now, Murray plans to work with former Spanish star Alex Corretja pending the appointment of a new coach.
"It wasn't necessarily something that Miles wasn't bringing," Murray said. "We had a chat when we were in Miami about how we saw things. We all saw things pretty differently.
"Between the three of us, we obviously had different ideas and different ways of seeing things - what I felt was beneficial to me and what Miles and Alex felt was beneficial to me.
"The last few years have gone very, very well. But I want to try and get to No. 1 in the world and try to win Grand Slams."
Murray is still waiting to break his Grand Slam duck and it remains to be seen if the sacking Maclagan so close to the season's final major championship pays dividends.
Murray, who is also looking for his first title of 2010, has finished runner-up in the 2010 Australian Open and 2008 US Open. Besides making it to the final of the Aussie Open, Murray reached the semis of the French Open this year.
He beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells tournament earlier this year and he beat Nadal at the Aussie Open.
"I don't think I need to make huge changes in my game. I just need to become a better player all around," he said.
"I had good results against Federer. I've beaten Nadal a couple of times in slams.
"I think it is easy to start over thinking and over analyzing things to try and find: Is there actually a problem there?
"I don't think there is a problem in my game. I need to get better. That is something that hasn't happened the last four or five months, something that hopefully by getting a new coach and a new sort of coaching team in place that will help me do that and achieve my goals."
Maclagan began working with Murray in late 2007, replacing Brad Gilbert.
Murray sees silver lining despite defeat in final
Perhaps Andy Murray should sack his coaches more often. Although his run at the Los Angeles Open eventually ended in defeat to Sam Querrey late on Sunday night, the 23-year-old Scot was still able to reflect on a week that saw him reach his first final since the Australian Open six months ago.
Considering he had just been through the emotional turmoil of parting company with Miles Maclagan, Murray could take heart from his performances at a tournament in which he had not intended to take part. The world No 4 had planned to make his post-Wimbledon reappearance at next week's Toronto Masters, but accepted a late invitation to take a wild card into Los Angeles in preference to extending his mid-season training camp in Miami.
Murray reached the final with victories over Tim Smyczek (world No 171), Alejandro Falla (No 61) and Feliciano Lopez (No 24). He had a match point against Querrey before losing 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 after two hours and 22 minutes as the world No 20 successfully defended his title.
Querrey broke in the third game but Murray levelled to 4-4 and took the first set four games later when his opponent double-faulted. The 6ft 6in Californian smashed his racket in frustration, but recovered to win a tight second set. At 4-5 and 30-40 Murray had a match point but missed a backhand down the line. Querrey won the tie-break 7-2.
The only break of serve in the decider came when Murray netted an attempted drop shot as he served at 2-3. Murray, who put 66 per cent of his first serves in court, had a brief chance when Querrey served for the match at 5-3, but at 30-40 the American hit a forehand winner and then served it out.
Although Murray had not dropped a set in his four previous meetings with Querrey, he was satisfied with his progress. "If you take the circumstances into consideration I have to be happy with getting to the final," he said. "I had a good week. I enjoyed it. Each match, I felt better physically."
Jez Green, one of Murray's physical trainers, and Andy Ireland, his physiotherapist, were with him in Los Angeles and both will travel on to Toronto. They were joined in California by Murray's friend and occasional hitting partner, Carlos Mier, who used to be his room-mate at the Sanchez-Casal academy in Barcelona.
Murray is not expected to appoint a new coach until after the US Open. Darren Cahill, who used to work with Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, has been linked with the Scot and may yet join up with him, despite comments the Australian made to ESPN, for whom he works as a part-time analyst. "I've got my ESPN duties and also work with Adidas," Cahill said. "I can't be full-time for anyone."
Murray, however, is considering a structure in which a senior figure like Cahill would take overall charge of his coaching without having to tour with him week-in and week-out.
It is now nine months since Murray won a title and he is in imminent danger of being overtaken by Robin Soderling in the world rankings. Having won in Canada last year, Murray will be defending 1,000 ranking points in Toronto next week. Soderling, who at No 5 is 470 points behind Murray, has nothing to defend in Toronto, which means that the Scot will be overtaken by the Swede if he fails to make the final on Sunday week.
Murray right to change coaches
I wasn't surprised by Andy Murray's decision to part ways with Miles Maclagan - I think he needs a little help to get things back on track.
From what I understand he was making all the decisions himself as far as tactics go.
He's at a stage in career where it's now or never and if he doesn't get the very best it will end up being never.
Murray has to get the right man and that could well be Darren Cahill, who is being tipped to replace Maclagan. And the way Murray's setting things up, it does seem like Cahill will be the man - even though the Australian says he doesn't want full-time work.
Murray doesn't want a full-time coach, he wants a man he can ring for advice. Cahill is not going to teach Andy forehands and backhands or change the structure of his shots. That's not necessary.
What is necessary is for Murray to be able to ring him on a Thursday night when he has Juan Martin Del Potro or Roger Fededer, or anyone else he's concerned about, the next day.
So what Murray needs to do is get a hitting partner to replace Miles and set someone up in the other role who he will use, who he will rely on and, most importantly, who he will listen to.
I think we're talking about a very small list of people who would fit the bill. But Murray is an intelligent guy and knows that he's at a crossroads - and this choice has to be right.
There have been a number of coaches that have come and gone, and they've been on a sliding scale of importance to him. Cahill ticks all the boxes for what he needs now.
Sam Querrey delivered a withering quote at the end of their Los Angeles final, saying that "Andy is one of those players who allows me to hit my shots". And I was very surprised the American made that comment.
I've been very supportive of Murray playing more aggressively and yet in the big matches that he's lost recently he has played more aggressively - Nadal in the Wimbledon semi-final, Federer in the Australian Open final, not so much the first Federer Grand Slam final - but in the latter two he did that and he wasn't good enough.
So where does he go from here? I think it's probably about adapting as the match evolves and planning his tactics within it, which is why Cahill would be such a good fit for him.
I was so sure that Murray needed to be more aggressive - but I'm not so sure now. I do think it's only here and there that he needs help because he doesn't play the aggressive game as naturally as his other game.
But still I don't know what happened to him in that LA final. Murray said he felt "better and better as the week went on".
What I saw on Sunday though was a guy who, midway through the second set, looked exhausted. It was more like the Murray of three or four years ago.
Querrey wasn't playing brilliantly and it seemed that Murray lost it through fatigue and fatigue alone. That's not Andy Murray.
Maybe he deliberately over-trained in Miami; he will recover more and more each day if that's the case. That's what I sensed from LA.
Nothing has really changed for Murray by losing Maclagan. I don't think the timing is that important heading into the US Open.
He's played well at Flushing Meadows in the past and, if he maintains his fitness, there is no reason why he can't do so again.
At some point during the summer, Murray started to look like he wasn't enjoying what he was doing. But I think that's over now he seems to know what he wants.
Ex-coach Miles Maclagan hints at Andy Murray tensions
Miles Maclagan has hinted that he split with Andy Murray after a disagreement over the role of Alex Corretja.
Murray parted with coach Maclagan last month. Spaniard Corretja remains in the Scot's team as a part-time consultant.
Speaking for the first time since his dismissal by the world number four, Maclagan told the BBC: "We needed to clear up who was doing what role.
"Andy employed me to give my opinions, and these ones he didn't quite agree with, so we are where we are now."
Maclagan stressed, however, that he parted with his fellow Scot after two-and-a-half years on good terms.
"We left on very amicable terms. I've heard from him a couple of times since, a couple of messages," he said.
"There's nothing to be angry about or disappointed in each other. We had a good relationship, we still have a good relationship.
"I was always aware that I'd been given a very good opportunity to work with someone like him," Maclagan added.
"I was grateful for that and appreciative for the chance to be a part of the things Andy was doing."
Maclagan's disagreement with Murray came to a head just before the start of the North American hardcourt season.
"I think in any organisation you need to be clear in the direction, so we knew if we didn't come to an agreement we could be where we are now," he said.
"I had a way that I thought it should run, who should take care of which area, and the other guys clearly weren't quite in agreement with that - which is fine.
"People have their opinions, they're not right or wrong, they're just different."
It all comes from the player. Any player has to decide whether he accepts the advice
Miles Maclagan
Maclagan teamed up with Murray in 2007 and helped him to reach two Grand Slam finals. He was sacked after a meeting in Florida two weeks ago.
The coach denied that Murray's style of play was a reason for their disagreement.
"No. It's very easy from the outside to say 'why don't you just do that'. It's a process you go through to get from A to B. It was a work in progress, I think he was improving and will continue to improve.
"Sometimes you have to have your opinion about how you're going to get there, and we've come to the stage that we don't quite agree on that."
Murray, who is not rushing to find a replacement coach, is currently in Toronto where he plays the Canada Masters 1000 event this week, part of the build-up to the US Open.
Maclagan, keen to get back into coaching as soon as possible, does not think his successor will necessarily have the magic formula to make Murray a Grand Slam champion.
"The player has to decide," he said. "It all comes from the player. Any player has to decide whether he accepts the advice.
"He has to decide whether he trusts that guy. At the end of the day, it's the player out there."
Australian Newk has unsolicited advice for Murray
Former Australian great John Newcombe has added his voice to ex-players dishing out unsolicited advice, telling Andy Murray that only a Grand Slam title will cure his current malaise.
The former No. 1 says self belief is key for the struggling Scot: "Murray has got to get his game to another level if he’s going to win Grand Slam tournaments," Newk told Australian media. "His biggest problem is that he withdraws instead of attacking when the pressure is on during big points in big matches."
“We saw that in the Wimbledon semi-final when he lost in straight sets to Rafael Nadal because he was too quick to go on the defensive."
The one-time Davis Cup coach added that Murray needs to make finding a new coach after splitting with Miles MacLagan a top priority. “Andy can win a Grand Slam tournament if he can find his self-belief and a new coach to to fine-tune his serve and his mental approach. There isn’t anything hugely wrong with other aspects of his game. But he's become too timid against Federer and Nadal.”
Murray is playing as holder this week at the Masters 1000 in Toronto after winning the event a year ago in Montreal.
#15) Toronto 2010
R64 Bye
R32 Xavier Malisse (BEL) 7-5, 6-2
R16 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
Q David Nalbandian (ARG) 6-2, 6-2
S Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-3, 6-4
W Roger Federer (SUI) 7-5, 7-5
Murray needs a mate not a coach
Andy Murray's win at the Rogers Cup in Toronto dispels any doubts people may have had as to his ability to perform without a coach in his corner.
It was the best I have seen the Brit play since the Australian Open, and he looked utterly sensational in winning the tournament and beating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal along the way.
What the victory showed quite clearly is that Murray does not require a coach in the conventional sense, but rather a mate.
If there is an outstanding coach available who the Brit feels entirely at ease with, then that is all well and good, but otherwise he should keep his friends close to him.
The last thing that Murray needs is a coach to come in with his own ideas to upset his development - he is better off keeping things just the way they are at present.
An assistant is sometimes required to provide affirmation and reassurance, but he had the perfect balance of defence and attack in Toronto and nothing drastic needs to be changed.
Murray's win over Nadal was the one which was the most impressive, and the Spaniard gave it everything but was simply not good enough to match him.
The balance of Murray's game was sublime, and he was able to up his intensity at all the key moments in the match to ensure that he remained in control.
The Brit is comfortably as good as Nadal and Federer right now and has the ability to clinch his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
Of course, the record does not lie and Murray has been unable so far in his career to beat Nadal and Federer when it really matters to break his duck.
But something has got to change and, in pure tennis terms, he has the talent and the mental strength to beat the pair and go all the way.
Perhaps it is fair to say that Federer would not have played nearly as aggressively in a Grand Slam as he did in Toronto, and maybe the focus was not there.
Murray was switched on and very focused at the Rogers Cup and, if he can take that same discipline and mental approach into the US Open then he has every chance.
On his day, Murray is every bit as threatening as Nadal and Federer and if he channels his energy correctly then I think one Grand Slam win could lead to many more.
http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/08 … ray-mania/
Andy Murray w Vogue. :D
US Open - Victorious Murray signals US intent
Andy Murray arrived in Canada without a coach and a title this season and left as a major contender for the US Open after a stunning defence of his Toronto Masters crown.
Murray capped an imperious week on the Canadian hardcourts in style with a clinical 7-5 7-5 win over Roger Federer to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Andre Agassi in 1995.
Having reached the final in Los Angeles, Murray carried his form into Toronto dropping one set en route to the title.
The Scot ended Argentine David Nalbandian's 11-match winning streak in the quarter-finals then became just the fifth player to beat world number one Rafa Nadal and Federer in the same event.
"It was one of the best weeks I've had," Murray said. "Winning a tournament is always great, but it's the first time I beat Roger and Rafa in the same tournament, which is probably the most pleasing thing.
"And I didn't drop a set against either of them.
"It's very satisfying. I mean, it doesn't happen that often for anyone."
Murray has long favoured hardcourts and all four of his victories in 12 meetings with Spaniard Nadal have come on the surface.
All of his wins over Federer have also come on hardcourts and the victory in Toronto left him with a 7-5 winning record over the Swiss master.
The numbers may give Murray hope of ending Britain's long wait for a men's grand slam champion in the lead-up to Flushing Meadows, but the Scot has enjoyed similar strong form in the past only to crash out in the high-stakes matches.
Murray roared into the final of this year's Australian Open only to be humbled in straight sets to Federer, who was also his master in the final of the 2008 US Open.
Murray was optimistic, albeit cautiously so, about his chances at Flushing Meadows.
"I know things can change in a very short space of time but obviously I feel good after this week," said Murray, who split with his long-time coach Miles Maclagan just three weeks ago.
"(The US Open has) always been a tournament I love playing, so hopefully I can do well there ... I want to win (a grand slam) ... I believe I'm good enough to but it's a very, very difficult thing to do.
"It's a tough era but it's also something that is exciting and challenging, and that's why I think if you can do it, it makes it a much, much greater achievement.
Reuters
US Open - Murray will not have coach at US Open
Britain's Andy Murray said he is enjoying life without a coach after winning the Toronto Masters with just the help of notes from his mother.
Murray sacked his long-time coach Miles Maclagan last month and then promptly beat rivals Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer in Canada last week.
"I felt good last week, it has only been a few weeks that I've been on my own," said Murray.
"I played very well last week. Whether it is to do with having a coach or not, I don't know, but I played some of my best tennis last week and definitely felt like I had improved since Wimbledon."
Murray has established himself in the top four in the world but has yet to win a Grand Slam event.
While he is in a strong position to end that wait at the US Open at the end of August, Murray said he will definitely play the year's final Grand Slam without a coach.
"I'm not going to have a coach before the US Open that's for sure and then I have got a break after that where I will sit down and think about what I want but I don't want to rush into choosing someone.
"It is a big responsibility, it's a big decision, you spend a lot of time with them, a lot of weeks with them and you want the relationship to last as long as possible. You need to think long and hard about it," he said, adding that he might use a coach for 20-25 weeks of the year rather than 30-40 weeks as in the past.
For the moment though, the 23-year-old Scot is enjoying the freedom of being entirely in charge of his own game.
"It's nice in some ways that you do have a bit more responsibility on yourself to figure things out when you are on the court and you feel that a bit more, a little bit more freedom maybe.
"It is nice in many ways after having a coach for two and a half to three years to have a few weeks on your own," he said.
In Toronto, Murray took the advice of his mother Judy although he was careful not to paint her role as any kind of substitute coach.
"I didn't speak to her before any of my matches, she watched all of the guys I was going to be playing against and sent me a message the night before of things that she had seen, just small tactics.
"She has not been spending any time on the court while I've been practicing but it's just nice having someone in your family around," he said.
Murray said there was no question of him remaining without a coach permanently however, admitting he needed a "second pair of eyes."
"I will need somebody," he said.
Reuters
Murray wilts in Ohio heat
Mardy Fish overcame Andy Murray 6-7 6-1 7-6 in a match lasting almost three hours at the quarter-final stage of the Cincinnati Masters.
World number four Murray looked exhausted in 100-degree heat after losing to the unseeded American.
Fish, ranked 36th in the world, has now beaten the Briton in three successive meetings following victories in Miami and at Queen's Club, London.
Fourth seed Murray won the opening set tiebreak despite producing his first double-fault at 5-5, but the tired Scot then struggled in a one-sided second set.
Both players held serve throughout the decider and Fish emerged victorious against a frustrated Murray who, after losing a rally on the penultimate point, thrashed the ball out of the stadium.
Murray won the Toronto Masters last week. It seemed to catch up with him against the in-form Fish.
He will have a rest of 10 days before he begins his bid to win his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in New York which begins on August 30.
Murray was disappointed that tournament organisers had given him three consecutive starts in the midday heat.
Murray, who won in Toronto last week, has played eight games in 10 days, all of them between noon and three p.m. local time. The on-court temperature on Friday was more than 38 degrees Celsius.
After Thursday's win over Latvian Ernests Gulbis, Murray asked organisers if he could be given a later slot.
"If you ask for a late match and you're put on first, that's not...that's pretty...," said Murray, hesitating and picking his words carefully. "I don't ever request really when to play. I don't make many demands at all during the tournaments."
The world number four said organisers had told him he needed to start at midday as Fish was playing in the doubles competition later on Friday.
"They said that because Fish had to play doubles they wanted us to play early. But I'm not sure, the way the tennis works, I don't think matches should be scheduled around the doubles because it's the singles that's on the TV," the Scot told reporters.
Murray left the court after the first set, which he won on a tie-break, to cool down in the locker room and received medical attention before returning and losing the second 6-1.
He said he had he considered calling it quits but had been determined to keep on till the end.
"You always try and finish matches. I think I've pulled out of maybe one match, two matches out of over 300 or something on the tour.
"It does cross your mind a little bit when you're kind of struggling like that. But the doctor and the physio did a good job with the ice and cooling me down a little bit."
Murray said he was sure he would be in peak form for the US Open.
"Physically (this week) will have been very good for me before the U.S. Open. I'm going to be fresh when I get there, but I've played three long matches, two to 7-6 in the third, and another three-setter in the first round was definitely beneficial.
"I just would have liked to have been given a better opportunity to recover."
Reuters / Eurosport
Gilbert believes Murray's new-found aggression will land him a Grand Slam
Andy Murray is on course to win a tennis major, according to his former coach Brad Gilbert. Murray begins his bid to land the US Open title at Flushing Meadows in just over a week, and Gilbert maintains he is finally playing the right type of aggressive tennis to end Britain's 74-year wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion.
Gilbert, who coached Murray for 18 months, said: "When I started coaching him almost five years ago he had this five-year plan that his game was going to blossom. He felt it was going to happen at the Australian Open [where he was beaten by Roger Federer in the final]. Everything was lined up and I think he had a hangover from that for about four or five months.
"I think now that he has changed his game he's finally over that and at 23 years old he is coming into his own and now it's just a matter of getting to the finish line, but he really believes he can do it."
Gilbert maintains that Murray, who won the Toronto Masters this month despite being still without a coach after releasing Miles Maclagan, has accepted he needs to play more aggressively. He told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "I have never seen Andy play more positive and aggressive tennis than in Toronto. He did not rely on defence and it is so much more economical to play offensive tennis.
"By nature he likes to play defensive, he can weave tangled webs and get out of it, but it's so much more enjoyable and fun to play offensive and win offensive and that's what he's doing and that's what he needs to do to win majors."
Meanwhile, Britain's Youth Olympic boys' tennis doubles gold medallist, Oliver Golding, has put his success down to his secondary career as an actor, claiming it helps when playing in front of big crowds in tennis
Golding, who won gold on Friday with his Czech partner Jiri Vesely and has appeared in the Wet End in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, said: "It certainly helps a little bit, especially when I play in front of big crowds like at Wimbledon this year. Even in the final here with a pretty big crowd it definitely helps me a lot. It definitely gives me an advantage when I play against guys who haven't done it before."
Golding and Vesely saw off Victor Baluda and Mikhail Biryukov in straight sets at Kallang Tennis Centre in Singapore. Golding made up for the disappointment of a quarter-final exit in the singles with a 6-3 6-1 triumph over the Russian duo in 53 minutes .
"I'm over the moon," he said of the victory. "A gold medal, it's what I came here to get and I've got one. Obviously it would have been nice to get another one in singles but it's an amazing feeling. Its been a great experience, and something I'll remember for the rest of my life for sure."
Golding said that he and Vesely will renew their partnership at Flushing Meadows having never played together before Singapore. "We're going to play together at the junior US Open in a couple of weeks' time so hopefully we can get a title there as well," he said.
W US Open mija 5-letni zakład na Murraya. Czy wejdzie?
Bukmacherskie zakłady ogrywają wśród kibiców ważną rolę. Można się wzbogacić, a dodatkowo podsyca się atmosferę wydarzenia. Królestwo sportowych zakładów to Wyspy Brytyjskie. Tam też jeden z graczy postawił niecodzienny zakład na Andy'ego Murraya.
W 2004 roku pan Merfyn Griffiths z Denbighshire postawił 40 funtów u Williama Hilla na to, że Andy Murray do 2010 roku wywalczy tytuł w turnieju wielkoszlemowym. Pan Griffiths postawił na Szkota, gdy ten był tenisistą występującym jeszcze w turniejach juniorskich.
Ówczesny kurs na zwycięstwo Murraya wynosił 100/1. Zatem jeśli Andy Murray zatriumfuje w US Open, Merfyn Griffiths otrzyma 4 tysiące funtów. Jest to ostatnia szansa na zainkasowanie wygranej z tego zakładu.
Andy Murray w swojej karierze dwa razy wystąpił w finale wielkoszlemowego turnieju - w tym roku w Australian Open i w 2008 w US Open. Za każdym razem wygranej pana Griffithsa gładko pozbywał Roger Federer.
William Hill obniża kurs na Murraya
Tymczasem największa firma bukmacherska świata William Hill postanowiła obniżyć kurs na szkockiego tenisistę w US Open po tym, jak jeden z graczy w kolekturze w północnym Londynie postawił na zwycięstwo Murraya 6 tysięcy funtów... Kurs spadł z 4 funtów do 3,75 za jednego postawionego.
Murray w turnieju rozstawiony jest z czwórką.
Ex-coach says Murray could break through at US Open
Ex-Andy Murray coach Miles Maglagan, sacked last month by his fellow Scot, doesn't hold a grudge as he tips his former boss to finally win his first career major at the US Open.
"He will be fine on his own for a little bit," Maclagan told Britain's Sky television. "He is driven and motivated and will have some ideas of his own that he would like to work on without someone in his ear."
Murray has been on his own over the hardcourt summer in North America, reaching the Los Angeles final, winning Toronto and going out last week in the Cincinnati quarters. He still has his physio and fitness trainer plus his mum Judy onside.
"A big part of the coach's role is to make sure that practice is at the right intensity and if he can manage that then he will be fine," said Maclagan, 35, and currently seeking fresh coaching employment.
Murray has always called the New York event his favourite Grand Slam, free from much of the immense pressure he feels annually at Wimbledon.
"He is ready to win no question," said Maclagan. "I watched him win in Toronto and he played well and is doing a lot of things right. He never wants to lose but losing early in Cincinnati could be a blessing. Last year he did well at both tournaments and was tired starting the US.
"Those extra couple of days of rest will help. He is playing well and can win it."
Murray podarował koszulkę internetowemu fanowi
Brytyjski tenisista Andy Murray podarował swą koszulkę z napisem U.S. Open kibicowi z Twittera, który zgadł, kto będzie jego przeciwnikiem w pierwszej rundzie turnieju wielkoszlemowego na kortach Flushing Meadows w Nowym Jorku.
Rozstawiony w tej imprezie z numerem cztery Szkot spotka się w 1. rundzie ze Słowakiem Lukasem Lacko.
Murray przybył do Nowego Jorku wcześniej, przed zaczynającym się 30 sierpnia turniejem, bowiem w Cincinnati przegrał z Amerykaninem Mardym Fishem. Tenisista lubi Nowy Jork, gdyż w "Wielkim Jabłku" nie doskwiera mu tak jak na Wyspach "Murraymania". Przygnieciony odpowiedzialnością za sukces na "własnych" kortach przegrał w półfinałach Wimbledonu zarówno w 2009 jak i 2010 r. Pierwszy raz, pod nieobecność Szwajcara Rogera Federera, ze swym imiennikiem z USA Andym Roddickiem, a drugi raz z Hiszpanem Rafaelem Nadalem.
W Nowym Jorku Amerykanie nie domagają się od niego sukcesów na korcie, tak jak to robi brytyjska publiczność, czekająca od lat na triumf swego rodaka w prestiżowym turnieju wimbledońskim. W tym roku Murray był w finale pierwszego turnieju wielkoszlemowego Australian Open, w którym uległ Szwajcarowi Rogerowi Federerowi 3:6, 4:6, 6:7 (11). Jeszcze jeden jego finał turnieju, zaliczanego do wielkiego szlema to przegrana w U.S. Open 2008, także z Federerem.
W Nowym Jorku chciałby wreszcie wygrać swój pierwszy turniej wielkoszlemowy i zrewanżować się Szwajcarowi za poprzednie porażki, o ile na niego trafi.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Is it very nice to finally be allowed to start this tournament Wednesday?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it is different to the other slams. I mean, I guess it's always been that way. I don't really know whether I like it or not. But, yeah, it was good to get off quickly.
Q. Because it obviously means you have a play -- to win this title -- seven in 12 days. Is that fair?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it's a lot easier to play seven matches in fourteen days. Anyone would tell you that. It's just different here with the Saturday, Sunday, semi and final is always tricky for all of the players. It's always been that way, so not a problem.
Q. How do you feel to have your first round match under your belt?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. It wasn't necessarily the best tennis, but tricky conditions out there. It was very windy on the court. It was a guy I've never played against on the tour. I haven't really seen much of him play, so took a little time to get used to his game. But I did enough to win in straight sets, and that was the most important thing.
Q. Is it just about sort of getting off the court as quickly as possible when it's that hot out there?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, you would you'd rather win as quickly as possible in any condition, whether it's cold or hot, in the slams. But the only important thing is to win the match. If it's in five sets it's not ideal, but just want to try to win.
Q. People have been falling over, and Ljubicic has been complaining about how difficult it is. Obviously Cincy a couple weeks it was hotter than this.
ANDY MURRAY: Ah, similar.
Q. Is this tougher here than Australia because it's more humid?
ANDY MURRAY: Honestly, I don't find it that bad on center today. It was hot, but the wind -- it does get a lot breezier on that court than the outside courts. When I warmed up for my match this morning it felt hotter than when I was out there. And, yeah, it's difficult conditions definitely, but I don't know. I don't know. Australia is Australia's very tough as well when you play right in the middle of the day in Australia. I've played quite a few matches on the center court there. That's really brutal. There's not a whole lot of breeze there normally either, so I don't know what I prefer.
Q. This is the benefit of the hard Miami training coming out here. Can you just talk us through what precautions and preliminaries you do to deal with it? Obviously you take in a lot of fluids.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, the night before, as well, try and drink a lot, eat as much good stuff as you can. And then I use an ice towel pretty much from the first changeover. I wore a hat today. I've hardly worn a hat for the last four or five years.And, yeah, they're the only things you can do. I put a lot of sunblock on and train hard. That's probably the biggest thing you can do to help yourself.
Q. Does that become an issue? Because if you put a lot of that stuff on, you sweat and then you become a bit of a mess.
ANDY MURRAY: A mess?
Q. Well, the sweat coming through the sunblock. My experiences on holiday.
ANDY MURRAY: If you put it on quite I put it on like 45, 50 minutes before I go out there. If you put it on right beforehand, it's not great. Gets in your eyes and stuff. But I use the sweat bands too, so that normally stops it from coming down into my hand.
Q. What do you know of Dustin Brown? Have you seen much of him?
ANDY MURRAY: Not really. But, I mean, I've heard about him. He's got a big game, serves and volleys a lot, and, yeah, is very different to a lot of players on the tour. He's a good athlete. I haven't seen him play, so another unknown opponent, really.
Q. How would you describe what this hardcourt season did for your level of confidence entering this tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it obviously helped in terms of you know, match fitness was key because of the tough conditions. That's important to have, you know, played matches in it. But, yeah, I hadn't been that consistent. Well, I played badly after Australia, and then Wimbledon was really gave me the confidence again. I wanted to do well there. You know, then I came over and practiced hard, and obviously I've had a good run in the tournaments, which definitely helps.
Q. Would you say that your level of confidence, because of what occurred in this hardcourt season, is the highest it's ever been?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I feel good, but I felt confident quite a few times in my career. You know, Toronto was a big boost for me to win against Roger and Rafa. But, you know, I don't know. I feel good. That's it.
Q. So basically you say you feel good, feel confident. Are you saying you're confident enough this tournament will give you a win? Give us an insight on how you perceive the tournament. You have Rafa and you have Federer. You say you feel confident. Do you think you feel confident enough that the game can take you over the top?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it can, yeah, but I need to play my best, and am not really thinking that much about Roger and Rafa right now because I'm only in the second round. That's disrespectful to all the other guys that you might have to play on the road to get there to think about playing against them. For me, I love playing against those guys. But a lot of tennis, you've seen someone like Berdych who has been great in the Grand Slams this year lost in straight sets today; Soderling nearly went out the other day; Djokovic nearly went out. It's so pointless thinking ahead. I say it every Grand Slam. That's how I feel.
Q. Does that mean you're very impressed by the level of talent you see here so far?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm not impressed. I've been around it for the last three, four years. That's what the tour is now. You have to be switched on from the beginning of every tournament. All of the players play very, very well. And, you know, on any given day, if they play great tennis and you're not up to, you know, up to your best standard, then you can lose matches early in tournaments. It's happened to me before. I don't want it to happen to me again.
Q. To have beaten Rafa and Roger in the same tournament, does that have any special significance to you, to beat them in the same tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was nice. Any time you beat those guys is good. But, look, beating Roger in a final for the first time was nice. You know, it's the easiest scoreline I've had against Rafa in a match, so I feel like I'm playing well. But, you know, I need to try and keep that level up if I want to win the tournament.
Q. In terms of the speed of the court and the balls, how does this compare with Toronto and Cincinnati?
ANDY MURRAY: This is way, way quicker than Toronto, and it's a bit different than Cincinnati.I just feel like it's really difficult to control the ball in Cincinnati. But here I don't think it's as tough to control the ball, but it's really, really fast out there. The balls get really small and fly, so they almost get they almost get quicker the more you play with them; whereas normally it would work the other way around.
Q. Do you prefer that?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't mind it. It's just different. It's just something to get used to.
Q. Going back to Dustin Brown, when you don't know too much about a player, how much do you try to find out, or do you just rely on getting out there and working it out for yourself?
ANDY MURRAY: Try and find out as much as possible. You know, you've got to try and get your tactics somewhat right. You do need to concentrate on your own game, as well. But it is important to know about your opponent and try and find out, you know, even if it's just little bits and pieces about them that might have helped you in the match.
Q. Did you have a chance to see Roger's shot between his legs the other night for a winner?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah.
Q. What were your thoughts about that and how he's able to come up with these shots?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I saw it. I thought the one against Djokovic last year was better. But, no, they're difficult shots. They're very difficult shots to time. And if you time them well, it's very difficult for the opponent to reach them if you get, you know, reasonable direction, because you don't see it very often. So to judge your split step, like if you see Dabul the other night when he hit it, he hit a really clean, great shot. But Dabul was charging the other direction. He had no idea when Roger was going to make contact with the ball. So it is very difficult if someone hits a clean one to get your movement right.
Q. Why do you think the one against Djokovic was better?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, because Novak was at the net. It was a bit harder. Dabul was out of position when he hit the lob. They were both great shots.
Q. Is that something that you work on at all?
ANDY MURRAY: Um, I occasionally hit it. If it happens in practice you just always try you know, if you're in a situation in a match, you always try and get back and put up a lob, you know, if you can.So you don't hit them that much. No, I practice them sometimes messing around in practice a little bit.
Q. How do you do?
ANDY MURRAY: Ah, yeah, not bad. Not bad.
Q. Would you try it in a match?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, for me, a lot of it depends on the scoreline and if purely -- if you can't get there anyway, then I would try it. My opponent today tried a sort of a similar shot, you know, not through the legs but, you know, similar shot. So if you are, you know, in a really tough position, then I'd go for it. If not, always try and stick up a lob.
Q. Novak said he'd be more concerned about damaging himself with a racquet. You wouldn't worry, too?
ANDY MURRAY: You've got to be careful, yeah. (Laughter.) I have never had any problems when I tried it.
Q. This year in Russia we are celebrating 10 successful years in tennis. Just want to know what do you think about Russian tennis in whole and about the last ten years of Russian participants in particular.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, they're definitely one of the strongest nations. On the women's side what they've done has been pretty incredible. The results on the women's side have been great. And then on the men's they've always had, you know, a lot of top guys: Kafelnikov and Safin and you know, guys like Youzhny. They've obviously won Davis Cup, as well. They're one of the toughest teams to play in Davis Cup. They've done very well.
Q. Talking about Davis Cup, are you intrigued that the next opponent would consider playing with Great Britain?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I don't mind if it's yeah, I don't mind. If it makes the team better, I guess that's a good thing. But you never know. I don't know how English or British he feels, and I think that, for me, is something that's quite important when you're playing for your country.
Q. Do you think we might see more serve and volley in the evolution of the game in the near future?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think so. You know, the players are definitely getting bigger, so I think that, yeah, with that you'll get probably more -- I don't think it's ever going to dominate the game again like it used to, but I think you'll start to see more in the next five, ten years, yeah.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. That seemed to go pretty much as well as you could have hoped.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. I started well. Didn't really give him many chances. I returned well in the second and third set. Tough conditions.
Q. He stuck with you in the beginning, but you really began to pull away. Did you find something in his game and exploit it or did you find something in your own game today?
ANDY MURRAY: No, just started to read his game a bit better. I've not really ever seen him play before. You know, has very fast service action, so it took a few games to start to read the serve a little bit. He started off very, very flashy. The first couple games, didn't have many chances. But towards the end of the set, started to, you know, have some opportunities. Had a breakpoint at 5 4; had Love 30 I think at 4 3; then I obviously got the break at the end of the set.
Q. Did you always get the sense it was just a question of him blowing himself out and it would be your opportunity to take control of the match?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I just had to, you know, focus on playing solid and making as many returns as possible. You know, when you play as high risk tennis as that, it's difficult over five sets to keep it up. So I just needed to keep making a lot of balls, keep putting returns in play. Didn't give him many chances.
Q. I think 90% points won on your first serve, of which you got 59% in. Do statistics like that please you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's just a statistic. It's winning the match that's important. You know, but I did serve well today. Served well in both matches actually. Something that will be important for the rest of the tournament.
Q. Is it a bit unnerving when you're playing someone who suddenly becomes a crowd favorite?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, not really. You know, I kind of knew what to expect coming into the match. I've been told he likes to put on a bit of a show beforehand. The crowd obviously, you know, enjoy watching that. But it went from being, you know, a great atmosphere at the end of the first set to just pretty quiet because there wasn't a whole lot going on out there.
Q. Have you ever played anyone before that never sits down at the changeover, marches out to play about 30 seconds before he has to? Does that unsettle you at all?
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't care. I mean, I just had to play. Doesn't really matter how fast he goes because I can take as much time as I want, you know, at the change of ends. I haven't played anyone that does it before. It's a little bit different, but it doesn't really affect you.
Q. Did you talk to him at all?
ANDY MURRAY: Talk to him? No, no. No, just, Good match at the end, and that was it.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about his serve. Seemed like it surprised you, his first two attempts. Took you some time to read it.
ANDY MURRAY: Probably took about three games. It's a very fast action. So, you know, the split step is what is important when you're returning. So if you don't know when they're going to make contact with the ball, makes it a little bit tough, you know, to get your split step in. But after the first few games I started to see it a little bit quicker, returned well.
Q. I know you've done it before, but you went out, had a half hour or more on the practice court. Is that because you didn't think you had enough time on court?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, no rallies. Probably two rallies in the match that went past eight, nine shots. It's very windy on the court, so I just went out and hit for 45 minutes just to get, you know, a bit of a rhythm; hit a lot of balls.
Q. Is there any truth in the rumor that he would like to play for Great Britain or the LTA are courting him?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I've just been asked about it in here, but I haven't spoken to them. I don't know him at all, and I don't really speak to anyone at the LTA. So, yeah, I have no idea.
Q. It's looking very much like Wawrinka in the next round. Can you speak about your record with him, what kind of test he's going to pose.
ANDY MURRAY: He's a very, very difficult player. Played him quite a few times in slams. You know, had a match with him at Wimbledon that was one of the best atmospheres I played in. I played him in a night match here, which was a little bit different. But, you know, yeah, he's a very tough guy to play against. He's had a lot of close matches with top players before. So I'm going to have to play very well to win that one.
Q. It's a 5-3 record. You won five of the last six. Does that tell us anything?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, again, I played him a few times early in my career. I lost to him on clay a couple of times. But, yeah, the last few times I played against him I played well, played good tennis against him. But he's a difficult guy to play.
Q. If Rafa were to win here and complete the career slam, how do you think that will change the way his record is looked at, his career is looked at, in comparison with Roger's?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I hope he doesn't win the tournament this year (smiling). But, I mean, his record is incredible. You know, for someone so young, he's won pretty much everything, you know, bar here. You know, he's made a semifinal here a couple of times. If he wins, that's obviously great for him. But, I mean, his career is pretty impressive as it is anyway. He's won on all the surfaces; he's won Olympic gold; he's won however many tournaments. I'm sure he'd love to win here, but I don't think I mean, I'm sure for him it would be incredibly nice. It wouldn't change the way I view him as a player if he wins the US Open. To me, he's one of the greatest ever right now. He's going to win more slams. He's going to get closer to however many Sampras won, however many Roger wins by the end of his career.
Q. What are your thoughts on the speed of this court versus the speed at Wimbledon and how that affects Rafa's game?
ANDY MURRAY: It's quite clear the balls are a lot faster, a little bit harder to control the balls. Guys are serving harder. But I think the court itself I think grass is definitely still quicker than here. I just think because of the warm weather and obviously the balls being they seem very light in comparison to the Slazengers, which are pretty heavy. I think it's just a little bit harder to control the ball on the return. Obviously guys serve a little bit bigger, which might make it a bit harder for Rafa to break.
Q. Did you get caught up watching the near hysteria of the hurricane coming on the news programs this morning?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I got up like 9:30, 10:00 and went to see the physio. I just had a look outside because I heard it wasn't meant to rain. But then I was told it wasn't going to come till later in the afternoon, so... Wasn't too worried about it.
Q. You beat Wawrinka in straight sets in 2008 on your way to the final here. Thinking back, can you remember what you did particularly well that day to win quite comfortably?
ANDY MURRAY: I did everything well to beat him. I think it was likes 6 1, 6 3, 6 3. Yeah, I played very well to beat the guy. I think at the time he was sort of ranked top 20 in the world, you know, had been playing good tennis. Have to do everything well against him to beat him that easily.
Q. Does he have any sort of real weapons or it more of his sort of all around solid game?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he does everything well. He serves well. He's got a solid return. You know, he can obviously play good doubles. He's won the Olympics with Roger, so, you know, he can volley well. Yeah, he plays good. Doesn't have one massive weakness, you know. So I'm just going to have to play a little bit better than him. I'm going to have to serve well, go for my shots.
Q. If the fans from Murray Mount or Henman Hill were suddenly transposed and brought here to Ashe Stadium, how do you think they'd handle the New York fans? Do you think they'd stand up?
ANDY MURRAY: Stand up?
Q. Would they be just as enthusiastic and fit into the hysteria?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it's just a very different atmosphere here. Yeah, there's always a lot of noise. You know, the big screen always adds a little something to the atmosphere. There's a few sort of distractions here; whereas at Wimbledon, yeah, it's totally different. I have no idea. It's never gonna happen. I have absolutely no idea how they'd deal with it.
Q. Do you think there will ever be a fight break out at Wimbledon like there was during the Djokovic match last night?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. No idea.
US hypocrisy over Andy Murray shows unhealthy obsession with British press
American coverage of Andy Murray's exit at the US Open raked up absurd, outdated stereotypes of UK journalists
Top of the list of things that hold no interest whatsoever for the average American sports fan is the conduct of the British tennis press, which has gathered in New York to follow the progress of Andy Murray in this year's US Open. I'm guessing readers of this blog don't care much about us either, and that is as it should be. The competition is about the competitors, right?
My apologies if all of this sounds trite but sometimes the obvious is worth stating, if only to highlight that some people wouldn't spot the obvious if it hit them on the buttock with the speed of Andy Roddick's first serve. Which brings us to Patrick McEnroe, a former professional tennis player who now plies his trade as an analyst for American television.
McEnroe was on the box the other night alongside his more famous brother, John, when the conversation turned to Murray's loss to the No16 seed Marin Cilic in the fourth round. The Croatian is a decent player but he is not a world-beater – not yet anyway – so it was hardly surprising the result was greeted by the American media as a big shock.
Ditto, the British media, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Murray had been "urged to play more aggressively" by Pat Cash. The Mirror hinted darkly that any more performances like that and Murray might come to be known as the Colin Montgomerie of tennis, while the Guardian speculated that Murray's humiliation was so abject that it may well have overshadowed his achievements during the past year.
Some people may agree with all of that. Others may not. Patrick McEnroe clearly disagreed, as he made clear when he turned to his brother and suggested, in the kind of tone people usual reserve for those occasions when they find something unpleasant on the sole of their shoe, that "our friends from the other side" (ie the British press) had already started "taking shots" at Murray.
This remark was odd for a number of reasons, not least that in analysing Murray's defeat many of the British papers had quoted these words of a prominent American television analyst. "It was a dismal performance from Murray. In the last two sets, he just went away mentally. He's proved everything in other tournaments but he's yet to prove it at the grand slam stage. This is a lot for him to have to think about now, because there are so many expectations. The guy has won five titles this year. Only Rafael Nadal has won as many. He comes in having won the most hard-court tournaments. He lost to Federer a couple of weeks ago but he'd beaten Roger four times in a row before that and then, all of a sudden, he gets here and just lays an egg, in the fourth round of the US Open."
Thus spake – you've guessed – Patrick McEnroe, who was revealed to be sneering at British press for "taking shots" at Murray (using Patrick McEnroe's words to make their point), while simultaneously sneering at Murray for "laying an egg" in the fourth round of the US Open – an existential maze at the end of which most people would feel inclined to conclude that McEnroe was (a) pandering to an absurd stereotype of British tennis press as unthinking nihilists and (b) a hypocrite.
Still, he was not alone. In the course of its press round-up, the New York Times tennis blog suggested that Murray must have felt he was "back home among the gritty tabloid press of London when he read the words that were used to describe his fourth-round performance against Marin: flat, lifeless and subdued were just a few ..."
Or maybe he felt he was simply reading the truth?
The last thing the sportblog needs is an essay straddling the disparate worlds of media studies and amateur psychology, especially on a subject as esoteric as the American media's bizarre obsession with the British media. But it's my blog, so here goes. I promise to keep it short.
Sports journalism in America has long had a very high opinion of itself. This was justified in years past, when the likes of Jim Murray, Red Smith and, latterly, Rick Reilly established themselves as the finest sportswriters in the English language. That tradition has faded in recent years, although the self-regard has not. The upshot is a refusal of some – though not all – American sports journalists to face up to their own failings, the most grating of which is abject sycophancy towards those whom they cover. Rather than address this, and other, flaws, it is much easier to address what they perceive to be the flaws of others, not least because it reinforces their own sense of misplaced superiority.
Hence, we arrive at the sneering of Patrick McEnroe and the NYT's dated references to the "gritty tabloid press" (as if the media world hasn't changed since the days of Kelvin MacKenzie).
It doesn't help that such absurd stereotypes were reinforced earlier in the week by Murray himself when asked by one of McEnroe's sidekicks during a live television interview if he was enjoying his time in New York, given that he wasn't under as much scrutiny as he was during Wimbledon. Murray demurred, pointing out that there were a dozen or so British reporters covering the US Open and that dealing with them was "tricky".
This was a bit rich coming from Murray. Admittedly, the Scot has smartened up his PR act over the 18 months, but then everything is relative. Once upon a time he was sullen, monosyllabic and immature. Now he's just, well, occasionally tricky.
The truth is the media coverage Murray gets is the media coverage he deserves, which is to say a good one. He is a fine tennis player, who has come a long way in a short space of time. So what if he hasn't quite reached the promised land of a grand slam victory; he's still young.
Yet recognition of the above does not preclude pointing out that his performance against Cilic was woeful. Indeed, less generous souls might have felt inclined to draw attention to the contrast between the Scot's capitulation and Nadal's victory over Gaël Monfils a day later. Like the Scot, the Spaniard lost the first set. Unlike the Scot, he did not let his head drop, but battled his way back into the match and eventually ground his opponent into submission. They might also have been inclined to say that Nadal showed a champion's guts, while Murray did not.
Now that would have been "tricky", although perhaps not as tricky as yesterday's revelation on the website of Sports Illustrated magazine that the father of the 17-year-old American player Melanie Oudin had filed for divorce on the grounds that her mother was having affair with her tennis coach. Peyton Place indeed.
As it turns out, SI.com's "exclusive" was based on documents that were a year old; documents that probably would have remained unnoticed by the press had Oudin not captured the public's imagination with a handful of victories over seeded players on her way to the quarter-finals. Did the teenager's freshly-minted celebrity justify the recycling of these court documents in a way guaranteed to maximise both the story's impact and her humiliation?
You decide. What is beyond question, however, is that had the revelations appeared in the Sun or the Mirror the moral guardians of the American media would have been on their high horse, decrying the conduct of the British gutter press and their heartless destruction of a young girl's psyche.
Needless to say, the story could not have come at a worse time for Oudin, who was emotionally fragile after her defeat to Caroline Wozniacki. Still, at least she has received a very quick lesson on the downside of celebrity and the hypocrisy of American media which, to paraphrase Patrick McEnroe, sure didn't wait long before their taking shots.
I to na tyle, jeżeli chodzi o Murraya w Szlemach 2010. Kolejny rok bez upragionego tytułu.
Jeszcze mały artykuł z Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis … s-out.html
US Open: Czterdzieści tysięcy zamiast miliona dla Murraya
Murray, który wygrał tegoroczne US Open Series, za trzecią rundę w Nowym Jorku odbierze czek na dodatkowe 40 tysięcy dolarów. Jeśli turniej by wygrał - byłby to okrągły milion. Na powiększenie gaży za US Open ma jeszcze szansę Roger Federer - pół miliona za wygraną i Mardy Fish - ćwierć miliona za ewentualne zwycięstwo.
http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2010/ … a-murraya/
US Open, komentarze: Zmęczony Murray szuka trenera
Cierpiałem fizycznie - powiedział Andy Murray po odpadnięciu z US Open. Brytyjska nadzieja na tytuł w Wielkim Szlemie nie zamierza na gwałt szukać trenera, bez którego pozostaje de facto po rozstaniu się z Milesem Maclaganem.
Porażka Murraya ze Stanislasem Wawrinką to sensancja na koniec pierwszego tygodnia międzynarodowych mistrzostw Stanów Zjednoczonych. - Nie zagrałem gorzej niż w II rundzie, ale Wawrinka jest znacznie lepszym zawodnikiem niż Brown - przyznał Murray. - Był po prostu lepszy ode mnie. Nie wykorzystałem szans w pierwszym i drugim secie - tłumaczył. Wawrinka o kolejnym rywalu, Samie Querreyu: - Jesteśmy na podobnym poziomie.
Od trzeciego seta Szkot miał problemy z kondycją, co zdziwiło wielu, łącznie z nim samym. - Nie czułem się tak od paru lat, ale kiedyś w końcu może zdarzyć się każdemu. Życie - przyznał. - Nie byłem przecież w strasznej dyspozycji. Jeśli McEnroe mówi, że walczyłem sam ze sobą, to ma trochę racji. Były wielkie mecze, których nie powinienem był wygrać i takie jak dziś, gdy powinienem.
Przed Murrayem w wyścigu po tytuł w Nowym Jorku miał być tylko Roger Federer. - Jest tylu dobrych zawodników w Szlemie. Trzeba pokonać ich wszystkich, nie tylko Rogera i Rafę. Andy mógł być optymistą po serii turniejów na amerykańskich kortach twardych: - Grałem tam znakomity tenis i mogę być z tego zadowolony. Ale nie z tego, co pokazałem teraz. Grałem znakomicie w Australii, potem gorzej aż do Roland Garros, bardzo dobrze w Wimbledonie i także w Ameryce Północnej.
Na trzeci wielkoszlemowy finał poczeka co najmniej do Melbourne. - Nie wiem, czy wygram turniej Wielkiego Szlema. Wiem, że w tym celu dam z siebie stop procent - zapowiedział. Teraz chce odpocząć, a potem zająć się rozwiązaniem sprawy nowego trenera: - W tej kwestii trzeba cierpliwości. Nie mogę panikować, bo przegrałem w III rundzie US Open. Nie będę zatrudniał coacha na szybko, żeby natychmiast coś w swojej grze poprawić. To, czego teraz potrzebuję to przerwa.
US Open 2010 - wywiad po porażce w 3 rundzie
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Any physical issues out there today?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, just part and parcel of playing that sort of length of match, I guess.
Q. So what was the treatment for then when the trainer came on?
ANDY MURRAY: The first time, just tightness in my quad; the second time, just getting sort of pins and needles around my right elbow.
Q. When did you first start to feel the problems?
ANDY MURRAY: Beginning of the third set probably.
Q. Did it affect you moving one side or the other or any particular shot?
ANDY MURRAY: No, no. I was still moving okay.
Q. Did fatigue play a part at all today?
ANDY MURRAY: Could have been. I don't -- I don't know. I haven't been really tired in any long matches for a long, long time.
So whether it was fatigue or not, I don't know.
Q. Could starting your tournament late then have been a factor?
ANDY MURRAY: I wouldn't have thought that was the problem today, no.
Q. So what was the problem? Was it partly Stanislas...
ANDY MURRAY: He played better than me. There's not a whole lot more to it. He had a chance to win the first set; didn't take it. I had a chance to win the second set; didn't take it. I just struggled from then on.
Q. There were various incidents, including the one in the first set in the tiebreak. Can you explain what happened where it seemed like the ball hit the net and he celebrated too early?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, the ball hit the net, and, yeah, he celebrated. I asked the umpire whether or not you're allowed to call out in the middle of the point, and he said yeah.
Q. There was another incident, said something to a ball boy. I wasn't sure who you were talking to.
ANDY MURRAY: I said something to a ball boy?
Q. I'm not sure.
ANDY MURRAY: I had a little bit of blood on my finger, and the ball boy said he couldn't use the towel if there was blood on it. So I just got a new one. But I didn't have a problem with any of the ballboys.
Q. You said he played better than you. You know Stan. You practice with him sometimes. Have you noticed any change in his game today?
ANDY MURRAY: No. He played well. He served very well when he needed to. Just played a better match.
Q. You must obviously be very, very disappointed. Could you express your feelings. What do you think you have to do to get through in a major?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I don't know. I've never won one, so, you know, I don't have the secret answer to that. I think you need to play your best tennis during the tournament, and that's it. That's the only way to win one. There's a lot of tough players out there just now. If you don't play well enough you're not going to win.
Q. John McEnroe said at one point, Andy is fighting himself as much as Wawrinka. Would that be a fair comment?
ANDY MURRAY: Maybe in the third and fourth sets. I was disappointed, you know, that I was struggling physically. You know, I tried to find a way to come back. Didn't quite do it. Yeah, I was disappointed that, you know, I've not been really in that position for a long time, so... Maybe something to do with it.
Q. First two matches you played you were in top form, and there was not sign of a performance like this coming today really.
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't think it was a terrible performance today. I don't think I played terribly. Very different playing against a guy like in my second round than playing a guy like Wawrinka. He's a much better player.
Q. The mounting frustration that came to you in that match, including punching the strings, do you find yourself impossible to get out of that frustration? Does it overwhelm you? What is it?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't think that is the reason why I lost the match today. Yeah, it's not the reason I lost the match. It hasn't been the reason I've lost any matches in a very, very long time, you know, since I was 21 years old. I think the last two, three years, it's not the reason why I've been losing matches. But, you know...
Q. Specifically to this one, Andy, I'm talking about. A huge amount of frustration in you.
ANDY MURRAY: In the third and fourth sets I said, yeah, I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that. But I haven't been in that position for a very long time. You know, maybe I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments. You know, when I was struggling physically, I got disappointed. But, I'm sorry, that happens. I think it happens to everyone in life at different points. I just, yeah, struggled in the third and fourth sets today. That's it.
Q. Any reason why? Can you put your finger on it?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I don't know. I've come off the court 20 minutes ago. I haven't really thought about why. But, uhm, I lost the match to a better player today. That's it.
Q. Is it doubly frustrating given that you've found your form again and played well in the American tournaments?
ANDY MURRAY: It's frustrating, regardless whether you're playing well or not, to lose in a slam. But, you know, that's it. I would have liked to have done better here, but I didn't.
But, you know, it's been a long, long trip for me. Been away a long time. I look forward to getting home, resting, and thinking about what I'm going to need to do to improve. But, you know, this summer overall, you know, I played some great tennis again. You know, I'm just disappointed I didn't play my greatest tennis here.
Q. This is the last major of the year. How would you assess your season through now?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I played great tennis in Australia. I played very well in Wimbledon. You know, like I said, the Masters Series this summer went very well. I was poor from the Australian Open till about the French/Wimbledon time. But I've had two very good majors and two where I haven't been so good. But I've lost to Roger, who's probably the best ever. I lost to Rafa, who I think will be the second best, if not the best, ever. You know, Berdych, who played great tennis this year. And, you know, today was a match I probably should have won. The one in the majors that I lost that I probably should have won. So I'm disappointed.
Q. When you said you haven't felt like this for a long time, are you saying that you felt as fatigued in the third and fourth sets like perhaps three or four years ago before you got super fit?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I still feel like I'm super fit. I just didn't feel great. You know, there was a lot of things that I was feeling on the court. But, yeah, I just haven't felt that way for a few years now. So I'm going to have to go look at why that was the case and try and get better.
Q. What was and wasn't working for you on the court today?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, the first two sets were very close, and the third and fourth sets he was serving better than me probably.
Q. Does it put any doubt in your mind about the future, about cracking it, getting the big one in the bag?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea of whether I'll win a Grand Slam or not. You know, I want to. But, you know, I mean, if I never win one, then what? If I give a hundred percent, try my best, physically work as hard as I can, practice as much as I can, then that's all I can do, you know.
It's something I would love to do. It's a very difficult thing. But, uhm, I don't know. I don't know if I'll win a Grand Slam or not. But I'll give it my best shot.
Q. Do you have the impression that Wawrinka was more aggressive today than usually when you played him?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, he always plays aggressive tennis. Very, very fast conditions on that court, very quick. So, you know, maybe there were more winners and more aces, a lot shorter points, because of that. But I don't know whether he's playing more aggressive or not than normal.
Q. You played Sam earlier this summer. How would you analyze the next round?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, it will be a tough match. They're both serving well. I would say Stan's probably a little bit more consistent from the back of the court, maybe moves a bit better. But Sam serves well. He's a tough guy to beat.
Q. You mentioned the coaching situation before the start of the tournament. Does this in any way accelerate the search?
ANDY MURRAY: No, no. You got to be patient. You know, I was getting asked five, six days ago, You're playing great tennis; will you think about going without a coach? It's based on one match. I'm not going to panic and hire someone to try and make things better. So, no. I'm going to take my time. I'm going to go home, have a rest - 'cause I need it - and see what I decide to do after that.
Q. Is this something then that you feel you have to sort out personally yourself, the situation, rather than something a coach could help you sort out? Is this something that needs to be sorted out with you?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't understand the question.
Q. You said dealing with the situation now, you haven't felt like this for a while; you have to work out why you're in this situation. Is that something that can only come from you, or can a third party help?
ANDY MURRAY: I'll speak to all the guys I work with and see what's gone well this year, what hasn't gone so well. You know, it's one match. I wish I'd played better. But I'm not gonna panic and start trying to analyze everything that's going on, because I've been pretty much injury-free the whole year. Physically I felt good the whole year. You know, I played some of my best tennis in two of the majors this year.
So, you know, I want to improve and get better. I'm obviously going to look for a coach and people that are gonna help me to do that. But, you know, I'm happy with the guys that I work with just now. They're all very, very good at what they do. So I'm not gonna start changing everything. I'm still looking for a coach. That's it.
Q. I know it's right after the match, but how hard is this one to take for you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I'm very disappointed, obviously. But, no, I think I've been more disappointed, you know. In other Grand Slams, when you get closer to winning the tournament, I think it becomes a lot harder to take. But, no, I'm very disappointed. You know, that's it.
Q. Stan often struggles against the top guys mentally. Do you think he changed something there?
ANDY MURRAY: No. But he played a very good match. You know, I would have liked to have been able to put a little bit more pressure towards the end of the third and fourth sets, but I didn't manage to do that.
So you need to make someone feel nervous towards the end of the match, and I wasn't able to do that.
US OPEN 2010: Andy Murray only has two years left to realise his Grand Slam dreams! Brad Gilbert's stark verdict on Britain's No 1
Tennis players can have long memories and I wonder if that was a factor in Andy Murray's US Open defeat by Stanislas Wawrinka, which left me stunned.
Only Andy himself can know the answer to this, but I suspect his two big Grand Slam defeats this year by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon respectively, may be having a lingering effect.
The final in Melbourne and semi at the All England Club were the biggest matches of Andy's life - and he ended up losing both in straight sets when he would have had high hopes of winning them.
These things can lodge in a player's psyche. I say this because, when I coached Andre Agassi, I genuinely think it took him two years, maybe three, to properly get over losing to Pete Sampras in the 1995 US Open final.
Andre came into that match on a 26 match winning streak, convinced he could beat Pete, only to lose in four sets. The blow took a massive amount out of Andre, more than he or anyone else could have known at the time.
Top players tend to be unusual people and Andy is in that category. You might say he appeared to have put the Nadal result behind him with the brilliant tennis he produced to win the Canadian Open in August, but when you turn up at a Grand Slam the whole feel is different and other memories can come crowding in.
The question Brits ask me more than any other is whether I think Andy will win a Slam or not. My updated answer to this is that yes, I still think he will, but I'm thinking it has to got to happen in the next couple of years.
He puts enormous pressure on himself and the longer he goes without a major title the harder it is going to get.
Also, you would think that in the next two or three years other hungry, younger Grand Slam contenders are going to emerge as Federer moves into his 30s.
Juan Martin Del Potro, who I thought was going to be the man for everyone to beat this season before his long-term wrist injury, will also be back soon, I am presuming.
What does Andy need to do to take the final step? Plug in a DVD of what he did in
Toronto, where he beat Roger and Rafa back-to-back with the most awesome
attacking tennis I have ever seen from him.
Taking the game to his opponents and using his amazing array of skills to the full has to be the way to go. He has to do this every week in every match he plays, no matter what the tournament.
Had he played with the same mindset against Wawrinka that he did in Toronto then he would have been less susceptible to the kind of player who has troubled him in the Slams in recent years - the big hitter from the baseline having a hot day.
Wawrinka, to give him his due, played extremely well for most of the match, but this has to be expected. The defeat reminded me of the fourth round of the Australian Open versus Fernando Verdasco, another match of massive momentum swings involving a power hitter.
I see Andy’s coaching as an overrated issue at this stage of his career. Alex Corretja was here this week and it should not be forgotten that he is a former world No 2 and highly respected figure in the game - it is not as if he does not know what he is talking about.
Whoever Andy ends up with as coach may have one particular task - getting rid of those ghosts from Melbourne and Wimbledon and helping him to move on.
Gilbert says Murray badly needs Grand Slam title
Andy Murray's search for a new coach may take on additional urgency after his early exit in the US Open third round to Stanislas Wawrinka.
Former coach Brad Gilbert - never short an opinion in his role as television sideline commentator - has chimed in with his thoughts about the former pupil. Murray has been going it alone since parting with coach Miles MacLagan in July.
“Whoever Andy ends up with as coach may have one particular task - getting rid of those ghosts from Melbourne (2010 final) and Wimbledon and helping him to move on,” Gilbert told London's Daily Mail.
Murray has stalled in two grand Slam finals, losing the Open in 2008 to Roger Federer and going down badly to the Swiss in Melbourne last January. Gilbert is even putting a timeline on a Murray breakthrough: "It has to got to happen in the next couple of years.
“Andy puts enormous pressure on himself and the longer he goes without a major title the harder it is going to get. You would think that in the next two or three years other hungry, younger Grand Slam contenders are going to emerge as Federer moves into his 30s.”
Gilbert said that the January loss to Federer influences Murray's game to this day. "He produced brilliant tennis to win the Canadian Open in August, but when you turn up at a Grand Slam the whole feel is different and other memories can come crowding in.”
Gilbert dokłada swoje, jeżeli chodzi o presję, jaka ciąży na Szkocie. Sam Andy powoli zdaje się tracić wiarę w sukces w Wielkim Szlemie.
Andy Murray: Nie jestem pewny, czy kiedykolwiek uda mi się wygrać turniej wielkoszlemowy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tenn … 72208.html
A może by tak odnieść jakiś nowy sukces w trenerce, zamiast się wymądrzać i pognębiać byłego podopiecznego? :P Ale swoją drogą, Mary zdecydowanie idzie ścieżką bycia niespełnioną nadzieją.
Robertinho napisał:
A może by tak odnieść jakiś nowy sukces w trenerce, zamiast się wymądrzać? :P
Brad chyba to rzucił i teraz robi karierę dziennikarza i komentatora. ;)
DUN I LOVE napisał:
Robertinho napisał:
A może by tak odnieść jakiś nowy sukces w trenerce, zamiast się wymądrzać? :P
Brad chyba to rzucił i teraz robiu karierę dziennikarza i komentatora. ;)
Robiu karieru, jeśli już chcemy być jak Nelli Rokita. :D
Ale żeś teraz dołożył. :P
Ja szukam informacji o rzekomej kontuzji Murrraya. Ciekawe, na ile to jest poważne. Nie wydaje mi się jednak, aby drugi rok z rzędu miał opuścić turnieje w Azji, gdyż gdyby uraz był na tyle poważny to już by pewnie o tym trąbiono.
Matthew Norman: the phantom menace that stops Andy Murray being a star
Whether it’s finally having the doctor look at that itchy, raised mole, or opening the Inland Revenue brown envelope that has lain menacingly unopened on the sideboard for months, the potentially hideous truths must eventually be faced.
For me, regarding Andy Murray, the moment arrived on Sunday night.
Until his US Open defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka, those of us who crave a grand slam title for the Scot have suppressed the fear that, for all his technical brilliance, he may not have it in him.
So often has Murray departed majors after an opponent produced the tennis of his career, as with eventual finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open, that his failure to win one could be dismissed as a transient jinx.
The defeat to Wawrinka, however well the Swiss No 2 and his exquisite one-handed backhand performed, was something different. Here was a study in mental frailty to make Tim Henman at his most enfeebled look like Rafael Nadal at his most ferociously defiant.
However painful the vision of Murray’s disintegration after failing to hold serve for a two-set lead, the ensuing press conference was more so.
Utterly forlorn, dejected and bemused, he could offer no reason for the sudden and total drainage of energy that brought to mind a plane sent into a corkscrew spin by the loss of all its engines.
The explanation seemed purely psychosomatic. The power of neurosis to produce more tangible physical symptoms than fatigue is, as all decent hypochondriacs will know, astounding.
Soon after convincing myself once that I was in the latter stages of heart failure, a watery swelling (oedema) appeared on my right ankle.
A year later, after a thorough examination, the GP declared that the only specialist to whom she would refer me was a psychiatrist. The next morning, the swelling had vanished.
On Sunday, it was heart failure of another kind that both preceded and provoked Murray’s exhaustion. After edging the first set Murray’s courage deserted him, and that fatal penchant for awaiting unforced errors rather than imposing himself re-exerted itself.
In this, he is the equivalent of the England football team attempting to husband a 1-0 lead by defending too deep in defiance of their own will and their coach’s express instructions.
The only rival whom Murray always relentlessly attacks, liberated by the certainty that he cannot outlast the Spaniard in rallies, is Nadal.
Extending that fearless aggression to other opponents is a challenge that may, being middle aged in tennis terms at 23, be beyond him.
Following the Wawrinka disaster, there is talk of him needing a new coach, and one less matey and indulgent and more disciplinarian than the entourage presently led by his mother Judy.
Close comparison of England’s World Cup form under Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello respectively warns against too much faith in that particular fix.
Some flaws are too deeply buried for even the finest coach to reach, and it begins to look like Murray’s is the familiar one of being British.
Like Paula Radcliffe, so dominant in the marathon until drained by the stress of Olympic favouritism, and compatriot Colin Montgomerie, who won countless minor tournaments but collapsed when poised to win a US Open, perhaps he cannot bear the weight of expectation this country imposes on its sporting stars even when he is not consciously aware of it.
Tennis, like psychosomatic exhaustion, is a game of the subconscious mind.
So if he must have a new coach, my suggestion would be Paul McKenna, whom boxer Nigel Benn thanked for the bewildering reserves of energy that somehow took him to victory over Gerald McClellan in that peerlessly brutal and ultimately tragic world title fight.
If McKenna could hypnotise Murray to believe he is German or Australian, and always to see Nadal on the other side of the net, he would confirm himself as the world’s preeminent hard court player at US and Australian Opens, as he does in the Masters series events he routinely wins with the capacious self-belief that evaporated so alarmingly in New York this week.
Legendary coach Nick Bollettieri tells Andy Murray he's the man to help him win a Slam
The world's most celebrated tennis coach has declared that he would love to step in and try to help Andy Murray achieve his lifetime dream of winning a Grand Slam title.
Nick Bollettieri, who runs the eponymous academy in Florida and who has coached Andre Agassi and Boris Becker, believes he could take the world No 4 the extra step.
Bollettieri’s willingness to help Murray flies in the face of speculation that big-name coaches would be reluctant to take on the headstrong 23-year-old Scot.
As Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal head with seeming inevitability towards a classic showdown in the US Open final on Sunday night, Murray is at home weighing up his long-term coaching options.
Bollettieri, an extraordinarily youthful 78, told Sportsmail: ‘At this stage of my career there are very few players I would like to take on, but Andy is one of them. I really like him as a person and he has got all the tools. It would be fascinating to coach him.’
Significantly, the veteran American mentor gets on well with Murray’s mother Judy. When the disappointed Murray camp returned to their Manhattan hotel last Sunday, Bollettieri was on hand.
Although he admires Murray’s part-time coaching consultant Alex Corretja, the Spaniard’s future is uncertain. The player declined to have Corretja around for his build-up to the Open and nosedived after his arrival. During Murray’s defeat by Stanislas Wawrinka, he could be seen mouthing abuse at Corretja.
The relentlessly positive Bollettieri said: ‘I would put Andy at the centre of it all and ask him exactly how he wants to achieve his goals. You have got to observe at first. With Boris (Becker), I didn’t say anything to him for the first three weeks.
‘Andy’s a special individual, like Boris and Andre (Agassi), and maybe the coach needs to be a character, too. My feeling is that he needs to favour his forehand more and use it as a hammer.
'I’m not sure you can win a Grand Slam now playing from too far behind the baseline - it gives your opponent too much time.’
After beating Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, 24-year-old Nadal is two matches from becoming the youngest player to win all four Grand Slams, at the one major venue where he has not played a final.
On Saturday he faces Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the semi-final, while Federer has the more difficult task of getting past third seed Novak Djokovic.
With the Swiss so masterful in the strong winds that are likely to continue through the final weekend, Verdasco favours him.
‘If I had to bet, it would be for Roger,’ he said.
Andy Murray must stop copping out or he won't win a major, says John Lloyd
John Lloyd fears that unless Andy Murray stops 'copping out' in the heat of battle, his ambition to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam tournament since Fred Perry won the US Open in this city 74 years ago will end in failure.
After analysing Murray's behaviour that incited widespread scorn and bewilderment during his unexpected - and petulant - third round departure from the 2010 US Open at the hands of Stanislas Wawrinka a week ago, Lloyd said last night: 'Until Andy realises his behaviour has to change I can't see him winning a Grand Slam tournament.
'When he behaves like this, Andy's showing a tremendous weakness. At the top level of the game, it's a cop out. I am afraid it shows he is not prepared to put himself on the line.
Wawrinka was close to running on empty, having needed treatment, but guys know that Andy, at times, shows he has a soft underbelly. Andy could have the best four coaches in the world working with him - but until he recognises his weakness, and corrects it, he's not going to win a Grand Slam. It's up to him alone.
'He had a similar mental collapse in the French Open when he moaned and grumbled as he was beaten by Tomas Berdych. In this sport, we have just four majors and he gave away two of them by copping out. Do you not think that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the two main men, have not noted that?
'Their games occasionally dip - it's almost inevitable over a long match - but they are as tough as nails mentally. Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg were the same in my time as a player. As No 4 in the world, Andy has proved he is a great tennis player. But if he wants to be the best, as he has claimed, then, frankly, he should be having sleepless nights right now.'
Murray had arrived in town as the bookmakers' joint-favourite, entwined in the betting with Federer and rated ahead of Nadal, who has won Wimbledon and the French Open this summer, but whose price inexplicably drifted because he had no discernible form-line at Flushing Meadows.
And Lloyd, a former British Davis Cup who has spent a lifetime in tennis, can commiserate with Murray for having to carry the burden of expectation of a nation with him around the world.
'In Britain, we are desperate to celebrate a male champion as we haven't had one since 1936,' he said. 'I couldn't handle that expectation when I was British No1, not that I was remotely as talented as Andy. Yet with each major that passes, the pressure is mounting on Andy ; and I do believe it is starting to get to him.
'He had a great draw in this tournament, and all the stars seemed aligned in his favour. That is what makes the manner of his defeat here so hard to understand; and so hard to offer him sympathy.
'Andy's had some good wins, and getting to the Australian Open final in January, and the semi-finals at Wimbledon for a second consecutive summer, is nothing to be sniffed at. Yet performances like the ones against Berdych, then Wawrinka, send out the wrong message to his rivals. Of course, it's not too late for Andy to change.'
By his own admission, Murray knows he wasted a gilt-edged opportunity last weekend.
'I know I had a good chance this year,' he said, on his website blog posted on Friday from his £5 million home in Surrey.
'I've had a few days to reflect on the match and I know I didn't play anywhere near the level I'm capable of.' He offers no explanation for venting his spleen on his part-time coach, Alex Corretja. Lloyd said: 'Corettja should have just walked off the court.'
Murray is still deliberating on how to he wants to realign his future coaching arrangements having sacked Miles Maclagan a month after Wimbledon.
He could opt to have a coach work with him just during his training camps, in Miami, and travel with his best friend, Dani Vallverdu, who acted as his hitting partner at this tournament, with an input from his mother, Judy, a respected coach.
With Darren Cahill uninterested in the role, the cast list of proven coaches is a small one: Larry Stefanki, Bob Brett, and Roger Rasheed possess the necessary credentials, but all are currently employed.
'I'll give some thought to the situation before the next tournament and make sure I am in top shape for the remaining stretch of the season,' insisted Murray.
'I'm determined to end 2010 on a high. By and large, my record in the Slams has been pretty good this year, with a final in Australia and a Wimbledon semi-final. But rest assured no one is trying harder than me to go that step further and win a Slam.'
Lloyd feels Murray could yet accomplish his mission - but only if he adopts a play-hard at all times policy.
'I believe Andy could yet be a multiple Grand Slam champion, but only if he plays every point and puts himself on the line. If he does that, he can still break the door down.'
Murray ponders what went wrong with his US Open
By his own admission, Murray knows he wasted a gilt-edged opportunity last weekend.
'I know I had a good chance this year,' he said, on his website blog posted on Friday from his £5 million home in Surrey.
'I've had a few days to reflect on the match and I know I didn't play anywhere near the level I'm capable of.' He offers no explanation for venting his spleen on his part-time coach, Alex Corretja. Lloyd said: 'Corettja should have just walked off the court.'
Murray is still deliberating on how to he wants to realign his future coaching arrangements having sacked Miles MacLagan a month after Wimbledon.
He could opt to have a coach work with him just during his training camps, in Miami, and travel with his best friend, Dani Vallverdu, who acted as his hitting partner at this tournament, with an input from his mother, Judy, a respected coach.
With Darren Cahill uninterested in the role, the cast list of proven coaches is a small one: Larry Stefanki, Bob Brett, and Roger Rasheed possess the necessary credentials, but all are currently employed.
'I'll give some thought to the situation before the next tournament and make sure I am in top shape for the remaining stretch of the season,' insisted Murray.
'I'm determined to end 2010 on a high. By and large, my record in the Slams has been pretty good this year, with a final in Australia and a Wimbledon semi-final. But rest assured no one is trying harder than me to go that step further and win a Slam.'
Lloyd feels Murray could yet accomplish his mission - but only if he adopts a play-hard at all times policy.
'I believe Andy could yet be a multiple Grand Slam champion, but only if he plays every point and puts himself on the line. If he does that, he can still break the door down.'
Cash says Murray may need serious motivational help
Pat Cash has made the radical suggestion that Andy Murray may need a psychologist to help him pull out of his mental nosedive after losing early at the US Open.
The Scot is not only looking to revive his game but is also in the search for a coach.
"I make the next statement advisedly and I know a lot of people will be saying how on earth could that be the case with all the money, five star hotels, first class air flights, luxury and fame Andy Murray enjoys," Cash told the Sunday Tomes of London. "However I'm frankly concerned he is showing the first signs of depression.
"Such things are not unknown for top-flight sport stars; I've been there and I know a lot of others beside."
The 1987 Wimbledon champion said that Murray's third-round exit in New York to Swiss Stan Wawrinka was symptomatic of his current problems on court.
The London-based Australian also credit the use of a sports psychologist with helping his own career two decades ago.
"What Andy Murray needs now is good advice," said Cash. "I was fortunate in that I had a good sports psychologist called Jeff Bond who helped me figure a lot of things out.
"I know a couple of years ago Andy consulted a psychologist, but it didn't last too long. Seeing what I saw in New York, it's time for him to dig out Bond's telephone number or give somebody similar a call."
Cash said that Murray may be starting to resent tennis, much in the way that Andre Agassi revealed how he hated the game in his recent autobiography.
"You don't want to play, you don't want to even go near the big tournaments and when you are there, you always think about getting away. You spend the least amount of time on site and end up just
looking at four hotel room walls, which isn't conducive to clear thought," said Cash.
Murray admits he must get stronger
Andy Murray has confirmed that physical difficulties played a significant part in his defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka at the US Open this month. The 23-year-old Scot, who suffered leg and elbow problems in the third-round match, says he is still unclear as to why he struggled.
"I haven't felt like that for a very long time and I'll make sure it never happens again," Murray told the BBC.
"Physically I wasn't great and that's what I was most disappointed with. I've been very strong in that area for the last few years and it let me down a little bit, so I need to make sure I work hard, get myself in great shape again and hopefully I'll give myself another chance."
Murray, who is back in training for his next appearance at the China Open in Beijing in a fortnight's time, said that he had not had any discussions with potential new coaches following his split with Miles Maclagan two months ago. "I'm still looking into it and trying to find the best person that can help me," he said.
Murray no closer to naming coach
Andy Murray admits he is no closer to appointing a new coach ahead of his return to ATP World Tour action next month.
The world No4 had hoped to find a successor to Miles Maclagan � who he sacked in July after two and a half years together � before the China Open in Beijing, which begins on October 4.
Murray said: "The situation is the same as it was before the US Open. I'm still looking into it and trying to find the best person that can help me.
"I'm going to have to be patient with it, take my time a little bit and I'm sure I'll find someone that will help me.
"I haven't spoken to anybody yet but I've spoken to the guys that I work with and I've spoken to my mum about the people that I might like to work with.
"I've got to try and find out the availability, how many weeks people are willing to do and make the decision based on all the information."
Maclagan oversaw Murray's rise to the top of the game after linking up with the Scot in 2007 but a difference of opinion over the direction the 23-year-old should take and the role of part-time coaching consultant Alex Corretja led to the split.
Murray began life without a full-time coach in stunning style, beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to retain his Masters title in Canada, fuelling belief he could break his grand slam duck at the US Open.
But, after sailing through the first two rounds, the British No1 was beaten in four sets by Stanislas Wawrinka in round three.
Murray struggled physically against the Swiss and he has vowed to address those issues as he continues his quest to win one of the sport's major titles.
The Scot added: "I don't know what happened. I've been in very good shape and I haven't felt like that for a very long time and I'll make sure it never happens again.
"It was a disappointing end to the American stretch. I obviously had a good start to it and didn't finish particularly well. Physically I wasn't great and that's what I was most disappointed with."
Murray's troubles were in stark contrast to Rafael Nadal, who cemented his status as the best player in the world by winning a third consecutive grand slam title.
Murray said: "It's a great achievement. He's one of the greatest players ever.
"I've got four or five months before the next slam. I need to get physically stronger, improve my game and then I'll give myself the chance to beat him."
Murray planning brother's stag night amid coach search
Andy Murray is revealing little concerning progress in his continuing search for a coach, with the Scot more worried about planning his big brother's stag night as Jamie Murray sets to wed his South American fiancee within days.
"I don't have much time left," said Scot Murray player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000">Murray, who will wear a traditional tartan as best man at the ceremonies.
But the clock is also ticking on efforts to bring a new mentor on board after Murray player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000">Murray split with Miles MacLagan in July. Already, the former coach has landed a job with German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Murray player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000">Murray, 4th on the ATP but victim of extremely patchy form this season, now says he wants a world-class mentor onside. "A few people have offered to help me, and there are definitely a few guys I would be interested in working with. I need to find the one who could help me the most,” he told London media at a sponsor away day.
“I would go for a former great player or a coach who has worked with great players in the past, someone with a lot of experience at the top of the game.”
Murray player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000">Murray will apparently continue to work part-time with Spain's Alex Corretja, more in an advisory role for less than three months per annum. "I want someone who will be a little bit more full-time, but not necessarily for as many weeks as I was doing with Miles,” said Murray player profile" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #000">Murray, next schedule to play in October in Beijing and the Shanghai Masters.
"I want to get the right person, not someone who could only help me for six months. I want someone who could help me for five or six years, so I don’t want to rush into a decision that might only work for a few months."
Murray to take time over coach search
World number four Andy Murray will begin searching for a new coach at the end of the year.
"I want to make sure I pick the right coach. I don't want to just go for anyone as it might be a mistake after three or four months," said the British number one, who is in Beijing for next week's China Open.
Murray sacked long-term coach Miles Maclagan in July and is currently being coached by former Spanish pro Alex Corretja on a part-time basis.
"I'm going to keep working with Alex through to the end of the year and then look to appoint someone before the start of the new year, probably in December time, when I've got a bit of time to try some coaches out," Murray added.
The 23-year-old said he did not have any one in mind.
"I want to make sure I get the right person," he said.
The tired looking Scot was also hoping he does not get hampered by jetlag when he returns to the competitive tennis for the first time since falling in the third round of the US Open last month.
"I've been awake from 3:00am in the morning till 5:00pm, so I spent most of my time here in my bed," said the bleary-eyed Murray, who is using social networking site Twitter to tell his fans about his insomnia.
"Nice 4 o'clock wake up 2nd day running, love the jetlag going east," he wrote in his latest post.
Questions linger over his fitness and mental attitude after he admitted he might never win a Grand Slam tournament following his early exit at Flushing Meadows.
But Murray said on Saturday that he was not ready to wave the white flag.
"I think the French Open will be my least chance but in the other three, I think if I play well, I'll give myself chances to win," the Scot said.
"But it's very difficult right now because these guys at the top are playing very well."
Murray urządza casting. Spore wymagania
Andy Murray zaczyna się rozglądać za nowym trenerem. Od czerwca prowadzi go Alex Corretja, ale to tylko tymczasowe rozwiązanie. W nowy sezon najlepszy brytyjski tenisista wejdzie już z nowym szkoleniowcem.
23-letni Murray w czerwcu zwolnił swojego długoletniego trenera Milesa Maclagana. Żeby nie zostać na lodzie, nawiązał luźną współpracę w niepełnym wymiarze godzin z byłym hiszpańskim zawodowcem Aleksem Corretją, w 1999 roku drugą rakietą na świecie. Corretja będzie doglądał Murraya do końca roku.
Takie rozwiązanie odpowiada Szkotowi, który w trakcie pełnego sezonu nie ma głowy do poszukiwania nowego trenera. Zapewnia jednak, że po ostatnim turnieju w tym roku wreszcie znajdzie sobie trenera. Będzie jednak srogim recenzentem na castingu.
- Chcę mieć pewność, że wybrałem odpowiedniego trenera. Nie chcę nikogo brać na siłę, żeby się nie okazało za trzy czy cztery miesiące, że popełniłem błąd - tłumaczy swoją opieszałość Andy Murray.
- Do końca sezonu będę trenował z Aleksem. Nowego trenera wybiorę przed nowym rokiem, może jeszcze w grudniu, kiedy będę miał czas, żeby sprawdzić kilku trenerów - dodaje szkocki tenisista, który w poniedziałek rozpoczyna duży turniej w Pekinie.
Murray's Pre-Match Press Conference
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How is your fitness after Beijing? You were complaining early on in the week, were you?
ANDY MURRAY: I was sick before I got there and for the first few days I was there. So feeling a bit better than I was.
Q. Are you excited about coming to a new stadium, new venue, getting some matches in here? What do you think so far of Shanghai?
ANDY MURRAY: It's a great place. Really fun. I think, I mean, the facilities here are the best of any of the Masters Series. Yeah, I mean, I think it's one of the best tournaments, one of the best venues.
And, yeah, I only played obviously the indoor event in the Masters Cup. This is my first time here. It's pretty impressive the amount of courts you've got. Everything's run really, really well.
So it's good. Enjoying it.
Q. How do you feel your form is at the moment after the loss that you had against Ljubicic? Have you managed to shake that off?
ANDY MURRAY: I guess I have to see when I play my first match here. I feel okay, you know, would like to win some matches here. It would be nice.
But, you know, got a pretty tough first round match against Stepanek. Have to wait and see how that goes.
Q. The lack of energy that you've complained about at the US Open, did you ever get to the bottom of exactly what that was all about?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I don't think you ever get to the bottom of it. Like I said at the time, it's not really an excuse for losing the match. It's just, you know, not every day you wake up and you're not going to feel your best. You've got to try to find a way to come through when you're feeling like that. That day, I didn't manage to come through.
That's something that I need to, yeah, just try and get better at. You know, I did a good job of it last year. This year hasn't been as good. It's something that I'll look to improve on.
Q. Andy, given there's only five weeks left in the season, everybody wants to improve, would you make it a priority to really try to lift your game going into London? Would that be some sort of a motivation?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, my goal is to qualify for London, and then obviously want to try and improve on some things. You know, yeah, there's only one or two ways to improve things: you need to practice it a lot on the practice court and then you need to try and do it when you're out on the match court, you know, so that hopefully it becomes sort of more natural.
But yeah, I mean, I want to try to qualify for London. I really enjoyed playing there last year. That's what I've got to try to do the next few tournaments.
Q. Could you talk about Nadal and the fact that he's won three Grand Slams in a row. After your performance against him in Australia, I don't think many of us would have thought he would have won the French, Wimbledon, the US Open back to back. What do you think of him as a player?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I've spoken about him many times. I think he's a great player. He's great for tennis. Yeah, I mean, this year has been his best year on the tour, for sure. I don't know if he would agree with that. From the other players' point of view, it's been incredibly impressive.
Yeah, there's not a whole lot else to say about him. He's obviously one of the best ever.
Murray Targets Spot At Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
Andy Murray, who is currently No. 4 in the year-to-date ATP Rankings and in pole position to clinch one of the five remaining singles berths for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November, will be looking to win his 16th ATP World Tour title this week at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Murray, who has recovered from the sickness that hindered his performances at the China Open last week, where he lost in the quarter-finals (l. to Ljubicic), admitted on Monday, “My goal is to qualify for London, and then obviously [i] want to try and improve on some things.
“There's only one or two ways to improve things: you need to practise it a lot on the practice court and then you need to try and do it when you're out on the match court. I really enjoyed playing [in London] last year. That's what I've got to try to do the next few tournaments.”
Murray, who has a tricky first-round match against Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, believes, “the facilities [in Shanghai] are the best of any of the Masters 1000 [events]. I think it's one of the best tournaments, one of the best venues. Everything's run really, really well.”
The 23 year old was also full praise for World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who he lost to in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
“I think he's a great player. He's great for tennis. This year has been his best year on the tour. I don't know if he would agree with that, [but] from the other players' point of view, it's been incredibly impressive. There's not a whole lot else to say about him. He's obviously one of the best ever.”
Murray has a 36-14 match record on the season, highlighted by a successful title defence at the Rogers Cup in Toronto two months ago.
MURRAY REACHES QFS; QUALIFIES FOR LONDON SHOWDOWN
Fourth-seeded Scot Andy Murray advanced to the Shanghai Rolex Masters quarter-finals Thursday to secure his third straight qualification at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be played at The O2 in London from 21-28 November.
The 23-year-old Murray improved to 3-0 against French qualifier Jeremy Chardy with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in 82 minutes. It was his 38th match win of the year (38-14 overall), highlighted by one ATP World Tour title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto (d. Federer) and an Australian Open runner-up finish (l. to Federer).
"I think it's a great achievement to qualify for the Finals," said Murray. Obviously, [I'm] very happy to have done it with a few tournaments left. Today, actually, was a good match. I was happy with the way I played, too, which helps."
He added 90 points to his year-to-date ATP Ranking to join Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at the elite eight-player season finale. Four spots remain up for grabs with just under five weeks left in the regular ATP World Tour season.
Watch Shanghai Live Online
"I think the closer it gets to the tournament, you start thinking about it," said Murray on the battle post-US Open to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
"So much can happen at the beginning of the year. I had a great tournament in Australia, then I had three or four really bad months. So you have to try and view the year as a whole and not really panic if things go bad at the start of the year because it's such a long season."
Murray will next challenge French No. 12 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight. Tsonga knocked out Florian Mayer of Germany 7-5, 6-3 in 85 minutes, saving three of four break points.
Tsonga, currently No. 12 in the year-to-date ATP Rankings, will be looking to reach his third tour-level semi-final of the year. He reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. to Federer) and Open 13 in Marseille (l. to Benneteau).
#16) Szanghaj 2010
R64 Bye
R32 Yan Bai 62 62
R16 Jeremy Chardy 63 64
Q Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 62 62
S Juan Monaco 64 61
W Roger Federer 63 62
6 masters Szkota, 7 pozycja na liście Wszechczasów, brawo ;)
Pełniejsza statystyka:
http://www.mtenis.pun.pl/viewtopic.php?pid=53123#p53123
Pewnie jest to pierwszy w historii zwycięzca mastersa, który dwa razy wygrał z Bajem.
Murray kocha wyzwanie, które zwie się Federer
Andy Murray po finale turnieju w Szanghaju poprawił bilans spotkań z Rogerem Federerem na 8-5. - Lubię przeciw niemu grać - mówi Szkot - choć ani trochę nie jest to proste. Jest niesamowicie trudno za każdym razem.
Po porażce w Australian Open Andy już dwukrotnie, także w walce o tytuł (w Toronto i Szanghaju) zrewanżował się Szwajcarowi. - Kocham wyzwanie i nie boję się gry przeciw niemu. Wiem jednak, że mógłbym łatwo przegrać, gdybym nie wzniósł się na swój najwyższy poziom. W meczach przeciw Rogerowi grałem najlepszy tenis w życiu.
Federer w niedzielnym finale nie wykorzystał żadnego z sześciu break pointów. - Mecz z mojej strony był bardzo solidny - przyznał Murray. - Roger miał kilka okazji na powrót w pierwszym secie, ale potrafiłem w takich momentach posłać potężne serwisy. Miał jedną znakomitą szansę, gdy nie trafił forhendem. Poza tym to był świetny mecz w moim wykonaniu, z niewielką liczbą błędów.
Mając możliwość przydzielenia serwisu przed meczem, Murray wskazał na rywala. - W finałach odczuwa się nerwy. Normalnie uspokajasz się trochę w drugim gemie. W tym tygodniu czasem podawałem jako pierwszy, bo kilka takich mocniejszych serwisów i człowiek się czuje pewniej, czasami odbierałem pierwszy. To zależy od tego, jak się czujesz danego dnia. A dziś [w niedzielę] czułem, że chcę returnować.
Podstawą jest jednak serwis, który Murray utrzymuje na najwyższym poziomie: - Zyskuję wiele wolnych punktów dzięki temu - powiedział. - Wciąż mogę pracować nad wariacją podania. Przez ten tydzień miałem dobry pierwszy serwis, ale też ten drugi, bo nawet [przeciw Federerowi] nie dałem przy nim żadnych szans. Udało mi się to, co czasami się nie udawało [przeciw Federerowi]: serwisy z dużym kickiem, inne slajsowane, inne na jego forhend.
Szlem? Prosta recepta
23-letni Murray wygrał sześć Masters 1000 (do 2008 roku Masters Series), turniejów rangą ustępujących tylko Wielkiemu Szlemowi i Masters. Recepta na upragniony triumf w Szlemie (przegrał dwa finały, oba z Federerem) jest prosta: - Muszę grać tak jak w tym tygodniu przez cały turniej wielkoszlemowy. To proste. Nie sądzę, że moja gra musi się jakoś znacząco poprawić.
Wielka Brytania czeka na wielkoszlemowy tytuł od 1936 roku: - Mam umiejętności, by triumfować także w Wielkim Szlemie - twierdzi Murray. - Byłem już blisko. Muszę wygrywać turnieje takie jak ten [w Szanghaju]. Pokonywanie takich graczy jak Roger, jak Rafa, daje pewność siebie przed tym jak spotykasz się z nimi w Wielkim Szlemie. Grać tam dobrze: to zależy tylko ode mnie. Ale to ciężka sprawa.
Magical Murray downs Federer
Andy Murray rediscovered his best form to overcome former world number one Roger Federer 6-3 6-2 in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
Federer was broken in the opening game of the match from leading 40-15 and the match went downhill from that point onwards for the Swiss player.
Murray managed to torment Federer with his movement, shot selection and his unique ability to retrieve the ball from seemingly impossible situations.
It was the type of convincing performance that suggests better times ahead in his quest for that elusive first Grand Slam title.
"I played some of my best tennis," said Murray. "You always have to do that to beat Roger, which I did. I managed to do that most of the week."
The Scot's court coverage was outstanding throughout the final, but so was his resolve as he faced six break points and saved them all with some fine second serves.
Murray won 56% of his points on second serve. Set against Federer's 24%, it was a key reason behind Murray's win. Put simply, he played the big points better, a point picked up on by Federer afterwards.
"Andy had an outstanding tournament," said the always magnanimous Federer. "I thought Andy played great today. He didn't give me many chances."
Federer is set to move up to second in the world after his run to the final, but he was second best to Murray on this occasion.
It comes only a couple of months after he succumbed to Murray in the final of the Toronto Masters.
Neither man had dropped a set in reaching the final. Murray had overcome Yan Bai, Jeremy Chardy, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Monaco, while Federer had dismissed John isner, Andreas Seppi, Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic.
Murray looked a different beast from the erratic figure who complained about injury and seemed to suffer an outbreak of childish petulance in slumping to defeat to the powerful Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round of the US Open last month.
Murray was totally focused on the job in hand in the final. He established a 5-3 lead in the opening set and broke Federer for a second time to claim it by producing a tremendous passing shot on the run.
Federer had two break points in the opening game of the second set, but Murray did not allow Federer the chance to break him, which summed up the theme of the match.
With Federer being blighted by inconsistency on his groundstrokes, particularly a wildly fluctuating forehand, Murray broke to lead 3-1 and tied it up with his second break of the second set to wrap it up 6-2 as Federer could only bundle a volley into the net.
Murray now holds an 8-5 lead over the Swiss player in their career meetings, but Federer remains 3-2 ahead of Murray in their final duels, including wins over the Scotsman at the 2008 US Open and this year's Australian Open.
The one disappointing aspect of the final was a low attendance at such a match inside the gigantic stadium court in Shanghai.
It did not deter Murray, who made the occasion one to remember with the quality of his play.
Eurosport
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17102010/ … derer.html
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Btw, Ryży chyba włosy zafarbował. :P Wygląd jak brunet. :o
The curious case of Andy Murray
“Why do you never smile?” the cheerful Chinese presenter asked Andy Murray, moments after the Scot had beaten Roger Federer for the eighth time to lift his second title of the year at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. It is a question posed and pondered upon by every tennis fan, commentator, broadcaster, and journalist to cross paths with the seemingly surly Scot. Why he always looks thoroughly unexcited on a tennis court, why he blasts and berates himself, and why the only thing to animate his face is re-living the latest Pro Evo marathon with his fellow jugadores. Try as we may, it has seemed impossible to unravel the curious case of Andy Murray.
This weekend, a little more light was shed on the answer to that riddle. To have someone he doesn’t know throwing out the same old question, an irrelevant question, after he’s pulled off one of his best wins of the year would frustrate even the most saintly. But Murray’s response in Shanghai said it all. “I’m just quite shy,” he said. Cue instant elevation to hearthrob status among the clamouring Chinese fans with Scottish flags adorning their cheeks.
And that is Andy Murray. Behind the wealth, the wins, the global spotlight, he is a quiet and thoughtful bloke. He shies away from the superstar lifestyle and, while he enjoys some of the things that serious money can bring, he is not one to flash the cash for the sake of it. He bought a red Ferrari last year, but he’s decided it’s a bit much, so it’s gone back to the dealer.
He may own a sizeable chunk of Surrey real estate, but ask him why he traded in his Wandsworth penthouse for the £5 million mansion and it reveals far more about him than merely an assumption that he’s playing copycat to the David Beckhams of this world. “‘It’s the one thing that I always wanted to have since I started earning money because we spend so much time in hotels. It’s the one place where everything’s private, and I want to be able to enjoy that. I’m a pretty private person and I like to be able to do fun stuff in my house; I don’t have to go out that much when I’m at home, which is good,” he told ACE Tennis Magazine earlier this year.
“I just think that when you come home from a long trip – like now, when I get home, it’ll be like an eight-week trip, a nine-week trip – it’s nice just to go back to somewhere where it’s very quiet and you don’t get bothered at all. It’s pretty relaxing.” Murray may have famous neighbours, Jamie Redknapp and Scott Parker among them, but the footballer’s lifestyle is not for him, much as he loves the beautiful game.
“I think footballers have a good life, and it’s one of my favourite sports to watch, but I’m glad I chose tennis,’ he believes. ‘It’s a pretty good life as well. I think it’s just a little bit different because in an individual sport, you have a lot of responsibility on your own shoulders. In tennis, I decide who I want to work with and what I want to do, whereas in football, you’re more dictated to by what your manager wants you to do. So you have to become a little bit more independent in tennis. If I’d played football, I’m sure I would have stayed at home, whereas having moved away when I was 15 [to Spain], you just become more independent and have to grow up a little bit quicker, maybe.”
Watching the confident self-assured display against Federer in Shanghai, which for once was without any bashing of hand into racket, or yelps of dismay, it’s easy to see how quickly Murray has grown up. The tantrums and less than glowing demeanour may re-appear from time to time, but upstairs, the Scot remains fully aware of what he has to do to beat the best in the business.
“I think you have to be confident, you have to have self-belief,’ Murray told ACE. “That’s something that, when it comes to the crunch stages of big matches, when you’re under a lot of pressure, you need to trust in yourself a lot. And I think that’s something that I have. I think that’s the main quality. You obviously have to work hard and have a good work ethic. I think they’re probably the two most important things that most of the guys who are at the top of all sports will have, maybe slightly better than some of the other athletes. But it’s such a fine line. And I think it’s important to be humble. I think that’s one of the most important things.” And humble he is. While the papers proclaimed the win one of his easiest over the 16-time Grand Slam champ, Murray insisted that playing Federer brings out the best in him, as it should.
All this talk of home life and humility is not to say the the 23-year-old is a fusty dusty stick-in-the-mud, no matter how monotone he may sound in his interviews. It is well documented that he likes to have a laugh with his team, tweeting all manner of bizarre pictures to share the infamous Team Murray forfeits with the wider world. As he waited for the rain to stop in his Rogers Cup final against Federer, he did not fret or worry, but organised a game to see who in his team could get the most number of tennis balls into a rubbish bin at the end of the locker room by bouncing the balls off the walls and the ceiling.
“When it comes to the work, everyone’s very professional,’ he says. ‘But when we’re away from the court and the training, we try to have as much fun as possible because tennis is a pretty stressful sport, so we try to keep it as light-hearted as possible. I’m just very sarcastic. Yeah. Just very sarcastic, that’s how I’d describe my sense of humour.” If you read his tweets I think you’d agree.
So do we know exactly what makes Andy Murray tick? Of course not, and it’s quite clear that he doesn’t exactly want us to. But what we do know is that he likes his peace and quiet, he also likes mucking about, but most importantly as far as we’re concerned, he likes winning. The rest doesn’t really matter.
Muzza: I just wasn't weddy
ANDY MURRAY blamed his brother's wedding for the shock Valencia Open defeat to Argentina's Juan Monaco.
The Scot had won his previous tournament in Shanghai but looked short of fitness as he lost 6-2 3-6 6-2 to the world No 25.
Murray, 23, had taken time off after his Shanghai success to go up to Scotland as best man at brother Jamie's wedding.
And he admitted to feeling drained by the time he stepped on court to face Monaco.
Murray said: "For me to feel confident I need to spend time on the court hitting a lot of balls and a lot of time in the gym so that physically I feel good.
"I didn't feel that comfortable on court and didn't give myself the chance to win, but it's not the end of the world.
"I said before the tournament that I didn't expect to play my best - the wedding wasn't ideal preparation."
The world No 4 vowed to ensure he is fully fit for next week's Masters Series event in Paris.
But first he and Jamie are in action today for the doubles in Valencia.
He said: "I love playing doubles with Jamie and it would be good if we could do well, especially for his ranking.
"He's ranked about 90 just now so if we can win another match, it should push it up a little bit."
Tennis Star Jamie Murray Weds; Brother Andy Serves As Best Man
Kareem Shaker - AHN Sports Reporter
Dunblane, United Kingdom (AHN) - Scottish Wimbledon doubles champion Jamie Murray wed Colombian girlfriend Alejandra Gutierrez this week.
His brother, world No. 4 Andy Murray, served as best man in the ceremony, which took place at Cromlix House Hotel in their hometown of Dunblane.
Jamie, 24, met Gutierrez in 2008 during a stay in London and the couple have been inseperable ever since.
Andy, 23, attended the wedding with girlfriend Kim Sears, 22. The couple had just rekindled their romance prior to the ceremony.
A love-stricken Jamie later tweeted, "Love is a game that two can play and both win."
The elder Murray made his mark in doubles competition, posting a 71-71 record with four career titles.
He won the 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2007 with Jelena Janković .
PATIENT MURRAY WAITS FOR 'RIGHT' COACH
World No. 4 Andy Murray insists “it is a possibility” that he might not play with a full-time coach if he feels his current set-up, which includes former World No. 2 Alex Corretja, continues to work effectively.
“I would like to have a [full-time] coach,” said Murray at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris on Monday. “I work with Alex Corretja [and] there are people around me helping.
“I just have to decide to see what to do next year. If I like the way things are going and I feel like I'm improving, then I'm not scared of playing some tournaments on my own, trying out being on my own for a little bit.
“But I need to make sure I'm improving. If I'm not improving, then I'm not going to keep just trying to make it work without a coach.”
The 23-year-old Scot parted company with his coach of more than two-and-a-half years, Miles Maclagan, in late July. He has worked with Corretja on a part-time basis since April 2008.
“It just has to be the right person,” he added. “It's not like they have to be funny or they have to be old or young. It's about finding someone that I get on well with and that can help me. I'm sure there’s a lot of people out there who will be able to help, but it's about trying to find the best person.”
Murray reached the Australian Open final (l. to Federer) and has picked up two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles at the Rogers Cup and Shanghai Rolex Masters (d. Federer both times) this year. He has a 42-15 match record on the season.
“It's been a little bit up and down, a bit inconsistent,” confessed Murray. “It's been a good year, though. Last year was very consistent. But I'm still happy with the results so far.”
Last week, he partnered his brother, Jamie Murray, to their first ATP World Tour doubles title at the Valencia Open 500. “For me, [it was] one of the best weeks I've had on tour. I loved it.”
Becker: Murray too much of a mummy's boy
Boris Becker has said that one of the reasons Andy Murray has not won a Grand Slam yet is down to his close relationship with his mother.
Judy Murray, a tennis coach herself, is regularly seen with Murray at events, and Becker believes it shows a lack of maturity on the Scot's part.
"In many ways, Murray seems younger than 23," Becker is quoted as saying in the Mirror.
"Like how close he still is to his mother, Judy. He has also been pretty much with the same girlfriend for the past three or four years.
"That is something you don't usually do when you're 23, it's what you do when you're 19 or 20. Maybe he is maturing a bit slower and that shows on the court.
"On a tennis court, you are by yourself. You cannot ask anybody on important points what to do.
"You have to be convinced yourself what is the right thing to do. That is called maturity. I find he still hasn't matured enough to be able to make the right decisions in a Grand Slam."
Becker won Wimbledon when he was just 17 but the German legend said there is still plenty of time for Murray to win one of the big prizes in tennis.
"I think he is awfully close and one of these days he will break through," said Becker.
"He is like Arsenal because they look pretty and play good but haven't won trophies and their fans get impatient. But stick with the tactics and Wenger and Murray will do it!"
Eurosport
hahaha
Boris :beer:
Murray expects wrist issue to fade away
A sore wrist suffered in his opening match at the Paris Masters will hopefully fade away.
Andy Murray points towards the eight-man season final in his adopted hometown of London starting in just under a fortnight.
The Scot pulled up in pain as he beat Davis Nalbandian to open at the Paris Masters, took treatment and eventually won. But the ATP No. 4 admitted he will have to be careful.
"With London coming up, a few things go through your
head," said Murray of the heart-stopping incident in the third set. "I didn‘t think it was a terrible injury. But I didn‘t want to play three or four more points, make it worse and
maybe have to take 10 days off."
Murray missed three months with a wrist injury in 2007.
"My wrist feels okay just now. I‘ve have had a few problems with
it in the past, and felt quite a sharp pain. I got the trainer on to
look at it, it feels fine just now.
Murray said his chances are good of progressing in Paris: "It might just be a little bit bruised, but I should be OK for the rest of the tournament. If your wrist injury is bad, you can‘t hold the racquet; you can‘t really play properly."
Murray can be great, but needs to do it when people are watching
There's an old story about a jazz saxophonist who had stardom written all over him. He had the touch, a gift; anyone could see that. But somehow, things just didn't work out. Must have been the nerves. Every time he hit the big time -- New York, New Orleans, Chicago -- he bombed horribly, and he never did fulfill that promise.
"Yeah," he'd say in the ensuing years, "but I knocked 'em dead in Hoboken."
The story came to mind over the weekend as Andy Murray played Roger Federer in the Shanghai final. All year, we've watched Murray as a sad replica of his image, falling short at the majors while people wondered if he was some sort of head case. This lasted right through the U.S. Open. So he picks Shanghai -- tennis' answer to a champagne-and-confetti party on January 5 -- to give Federer a good thrashing.
Now the hype begins anew. Watch out for Murray at the Australian; he's really got it together now. And maybe he does. When he's really rolling, Murray gives the performance of a true virtuoso. Who else has the tactical eccentricity to throw Federer so noticeably off his game?
As little snippets of personal information come forth about today's athletes, there are things you just don't want to hear. You'd hate to find out, for instance, that your favorite quarterback has watched Ishtar a thousand times, or that some fearsome cleanup hitter can't decide between "Sugar Sugar" and "We're an American Band" as his all-time favorite record.
More than a couple of times, I've read that Murray is obsessed with video games -- like, all day long. Six, seven hours at a time. If that's true, I'll go public with a forecast that he'll never win a major. Zero. Lifetime. It would explain why his mind goes so far astray on court sometimes, because he spends way too much time being a mindless rockhead.
(Say it ain't so, Andy. Tell us you're actually studying films of Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad with Rod Laver.)
If Murray really wants to make a mark in this game, he'll have to do so when people are really paying attention. Who remembers the highlights of his eight career wins (against just five losses) against Federer? A far more vivid memory is this year's Australian, when Murray appeared to have Federer vanquished, only to blow some key shots and let the Swiss legend reassemble his game.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Murray's straight-sets win on Sunday was Federer's growing frustration. In the fourth game of the second set, Murray challenged a call in the midst of a point Federer thought he had closed with an overhead winner. It lead to a service break, giving Murray a 3-1 lead, and Federer said afterward, "It was a classic bad mistake by the linesperson. In the end, it's what maybe cost me the match. It happens all the time. You hope it doesn't happen in the finals against a great player like Andy on a break point."
Give Murray credit for a scintillating performance, and after the year he's had, he's not particular about the setting. It's just that he hasn't convinced everyone, including some of his most ardent supporters, that he's capable of winning a major. Until he does, there will be serious questions about his big-match mentality.
Once again, John, you've said it all.
LONDON CALLING
DEUCE
“It’s amazing I get to play in front of a home crowd again,” said British No. 1 Andy Murray when he was first told he’d qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. “It was such a good atmosphere last year. It was the first year at The O2, and they put on a great event. I look forward to competing again.”
This will be Murray’s third appearance in his capital city this year. He reached the third round at the AEGON Championships in June, and then, a couple of weeks later delighted British fans with his stunning run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. One of those British fans was The Queen, who watched her subject in action and met him in person after his match.
While spectators at Murray’s other tournaments throughout the year may not have been quite so regal, he has nevertheless posted some sovereign results. After reaching the final of the Australian Open in January – the first Briton to do so since the 1970s – he later lifted trophies at two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, in Toronto and Shanghai, winning both finals over Roger Federer in straight sets.All of which brings his total tally of tour-level titles to 16. When you consider that fellow Britons Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski won 11 and 15 titles respectively before retiring, it’s fair to say that Murray is now Britain’s most successful tennis player in the Open Era. And still only 23 years old.
It’s quite an achievement, and one that Murray has worked very hard for. Currently ranked No. 5 in the world – but previously as high as No. 2 – he looks to be one of the most physically strong of all the players on the tour. His ability to chase down balls other players would leave for dead and his knack of striking aggressive winners from almost anywhere on the court make him a very intimidating opponent. Often, even more effective than this, is the way he disorientates opponents by constantly varying his style of play.
Murray knows that if he is to reach the very top of the South African Airways ATP Rankings he needs to both heighten this aggression and continue with the variation, especially when he’s up against three players ranked above him: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“I have to make them feel like they’re under pressure a little bit more,” he said recently. “I think when I played [and beat] Roger in Toronto, I played a lot more aggressive; didn’t give him many chances to really dictate the points, especially on my serve. That’s something I need to do against them in the future if I want to beat them.”
Murray believes he knows which areas to target. “Roger plays closer to the baseline, but he doesn’t hit as many winners off his backhand. You obviously need to try to keep the ball away from Roger’s forehand, whereas Novak, he can hurt you from any part of the court. You need to kind of balance your attacks a bit more. You need to change the pace of the ball, use some slice, try not to let him get in too much of a rhythm because when he is in a rhythm he can dictate the points.”
Based in Surrey, where he lives in a £5 million mansion with his girlfriend Kim Sears and his pet Border Terrier Maggie, Murray is very much the local boy at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. It’s surely an advantage that he can commute home after matches, instead of having to stay in a hotel.
Aside from Kim and Maggie (the latter of whom incidentally now has her own Twitter page), other members of Murray’s entourage include part-time coach Alex Corretja (who twice reached the Roland Garros final), strength and conditioning coaches Jez Green and Matt Little, and physio Andy Ireland. Murray says he plans to appoint a full-time coach in the near future.
When it comes to family there is father William (who works in retail management), mother Judy (a professional tennis coach) and older brother Jamie, whom he teamed up with to win the Valencia doubles title earlier this month.
It was thanks to his older brother that, in the week ahead of their Valencia triumph, Murray made a rare trip back to his hometown of Dunblane, up in Scotland. The occasion was Jamie’s wedding to his Colombian girlfriend Alejandra Gutierrez. As best man, Murray stood alongside his brother – both men in kilts, of course – at the private ceremony at Cromlix House, a luxury hotel near Dunblane. Murray also organised Jamie’s stag party at a nightclub in the West End of London.
But now his entire focus will be on the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. In 2008, on his debut in the season finale, when the tournament was played in Shanghai, he reached the semi-finals. Last year he won two matches and lost one match during round robin play, after which he narrowly missed out on qualification into the semi-finals due to game difference.
This year, as the only home nation player competing, he must ensure he progresses further.
Andy Murray: I'll win a Grand Slam - but London calls first for world No 5
Even with what is the tennis world’s fifth most challenging tournament looming in London next week, Andy Murray cannot escape the question: when is he going to win one of the four Grand Slams?
Murray can take a decisive step towards that goal by winning the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which he kicks off on Sunday with a testing round-robin match against the powerful Swede Robin Soderling.
But the 23-year-old Scot knows that if he were to successfully overcome the world’s seven other top players at the O2 Arena, the focus on his search for a first major title would only intensify.
‘It’s certainly not going to help my life if I start getting obsessed with it,’ he said. ‘If I don’t ever achieve it, I won’t think of myself as a failure and it won’t be through lack of trying. If I do it, it’ll be a great achievement and, anyway, I think I’ll still do it.’
Soderling spent last weekend knocking Murray out of the world’s top four and intends to spend the coming one inflicting more damage on Britain’s great hope.
The strapping Swede flew into London yesterday looking more and more like the long lost heir apparent to the likes of Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg, who once made their Scandanavian nation such a feared force in the sport.
At an intimidating 6ft 4in, he is not a svelte athlete like his illustrious predecessors. The violence that he brings to hitting a ball makes them look like they were playing some kind of garden party game.
Nor does he possess their laidback affability. He is happy to be more of a lone wolf in the locker room and refusing to chum up with his rivals as seems to be the current fashion among most of the world’s leading players.
He arrives in the capital fresh from winning the last of the season’s Masters level events in Paris, a city which seems to bring out the best in him.
Eighteen months ago he caused a sensation there by knocking Rafael Nadal out of the French Open, en route to making the final himself, an achievement he repeated earlier this summer.
His consistency, more impressive than his opponent of this Sunday, has allowed him finally to crash into what had become a long-established top four of Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Murray.
Soderling loves playing indoors, partly as a product of having learned the game in the tennis halls of northern Sweden.
Last year he made the semi-finals at the 02 after making the field as a late substitute. The concern for Murray is that this time he feels much better prepared.
‘This year I feel so good,’ said Soderling. ‘Twelve months ago my arm was hurting, my knee was hurting and I was tired.
‘The thing now is that even when I don’t play my best I can still win matches. Tennis is a very mental sport these days because everybody plays so well, it’s the mental side that decides a lot of matches so I have worked on that a lot.
‘By getting to the final this year (Roland Garros) I showed it wasn’t a fluke before. That was clay but the great feeling is that I can play well on every surface.’
Former world No 1 Carlos Moya, 34, is to retire at the end of the season due to a foot injury. The Spaniard won the French Open in 1998 and was at the top of the rankings a year later.
BARCLAYS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS
British Favourite Murray Ending 2010 A "More Complete" Player
London, England
Andy Murray will be the focus of British attention at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
World No. 5 Andy Murray insists he will finish the 2010 season as a more complete player and is looking forward to playing in front of home support at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
"I feel more complete. If I play well, I'll give myself a good chance of winning the matches, if I don't it's going to be hard. I just have to try to play my best tennis," Murray said on Friday, at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, overlooking the River Thames and Houses of Parliament.
The 23-year-old Scot has picked up two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles this year, successfully defending his Rogers Cup title and lifting the Shanghai Rolex Masters crown (d. Federer both times). He also finished runner-up at the Australian Open (l. to Federer).
Murray admitted, “It's been a good year. It's been a bit inconsistent. Definitely the last few months I feel like I've improved a lot, I've improved many different parts of my game.
"I feel like I'm starting to learn new things again, which is nice. I'm hoping to improve more before the beginning of next year."
Murray is making his third straight appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. He has a 3-2 indoor record and a 5-3 record against Top 10 opponents over the past 12 months.
"It's great, all the players start every year trying to make it," he said. “Everyone knows it is a huge tournament. I want to try to qualify as many times as I can. It's a tough thing to do. Not that many guys have been able to break through and make it."
Murray, who will play Robin Soderling in his first round robin match on Sunday, insists the pressure isn’t any different than what he experiences at Wimbledon each year.
"The pressure is pretty much the same and the home crowd really does make a difference," he said. "Every tennis player will tell you when you play at home it really helps you to have the crowd behind you.
"The venue [The O2] is going to be great, as it was last year, the atmosphere was brilliant and we had full crowds for almost all of the matches and they're expecting it to be the same again."
Britain's No 1 Andy Murray in a hurry to toughen up for 2011
Andy Murray has already taken an executive decision to spend Christmas 3,000 miles from home.
Within days of the final ball being hit at the ATP Tour Finals at the 02 Arena next Sunday, Murray will be on a flight to his annual boot camp in Miami, where he plans to become fitter, faster and stronger when the curtain rises on a new year for him in Australia in January.
And he will not return to his luxurious mansion in Surrey for at least two months.
'I will stay in Miami until after Christmas when I take a plane to Perth to begin my new year playing again with Laura Robson for Britain in the Hopman Cup,' he explained.
'I intend to work even harder over the winter than I did last year. For us, five or six weeks is a long time away from playing a match, so it's important to keep your momentum in training.'
In America, he will willingly offer himself to the mercy of a programme devised by his fitness trainer, Jez Green.
'I have to make sure I work harder than all the other guys to give myself a chance of winning a major championship.
'I believe I can win one, but all I can do is give 100 per cent in training, and at all the tournaments I play. If I don't win one, it won't be through a lack of trying. This is what I'm working towards - and it's not something I take lightly.
'If I don't succeed, it will be because I'm not good enough.'
Murray can end the year restored to world No 3 should he win the ATP event featuring the world's elite eight players. And if he were to remain undefeated over the next eight days, Murray would depart for Miami richer by £1million.
But his opening round robin match against Robin Soderling is indicative of the challenge.
'Soderling's a big, strong guy who everyone recognises is dangerous when he's on his game,' said Murray. 'He plays huge tennis on an indoor court, where he's had his best success.'
Matches follow against Roger Federer and David Ferrer, while the other group features Rafael Nadal, winner of the last three Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych.
Last month, Murray had a rare opportunity to spend time at his home town, Dunblane, where he was best man at brother Jamie's wedding. He toured haunts that had formulated his childhood years.
'Everyone knows it's important to remember where you come from,' said Murray. 'It helps keep things in perspective.'
Yet for Murray, tennis does not allow him to reflect for long. After this week, his sights will be trained on 2011.
'What's happened this year is kind of irrelevant, isn't it?' he said.
Andy Murray has his eyes on the biggest prize in tennis
ANDY MURRAY is on a Ł1million mission to land ATP World Tour Finals glory.
The British No 1 goes into battle at the O2 tomorrow knowing he is just five matches from bagging the most lucrative title in tennis.
Muzza has been put in a round-robin group alongside world No 2 Roger Federer, Spain's David Ferrer and Sweden's Robin Soderling, who he faces first.
But the Surrey-based Scot will be backed by a partizan Brit crowd, who are set to pack out the O2 every night.
Murray, 24, said: "The crowd does make a big difference and it's always nice to have them on your side.
"This tournament is great and all the players want to make it.
"I have had a good few years on tour and want to qualify for this as many times as I can.
"It is tough to break through as there are only eight spots up for grabs but I'll try my best to win it and feel pretty confident now."
World No 1 Rafa Nadal, Czech Thomas Berdych, Serbian Novak Djokovic and Yank Andy Roddick will contest Group B - and all eight players warmed up for the finals with a trip to 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday night.
The visit appeared to go down a treat, although Brit Murray seemed to receive special treatment.
World No 3 Djokovic said: "It was great to meet Mr Cameron away from the media, where he was relaxed.
"He just seemed like an ordinary man but, for a lot of the time, he was speaking with Andy. I was trying to listen in."
Swiss ace Fed added: "Mr Cameron was very excited to have us there. He was giving more tips to Murray than to me. Nothing I could use for my game quite yet though!"
Nadal, who has bagged a sensational three Grand Slams this year, will certainly be the freshest after five weeks' rest.
Out of his 43 career wins, just one has come indoors in Madrid.
But the Spaniard, 24, said: "I am going to be playing with special motivation and using everything in my powers to play well there."
ATP World Tour Finals - Murray overpowers Soderling in opener
Andy Murray made a solid start to the ATP World Tour Finals in London as he thumped Robin Solderling 6-2 6-4 in his opening match at the imposing O2 Arena.
Murray, the world number five, came into the match a spot below Soderling in the world rankings after the Swedish player's success in winning the Paris Masters last week, but he made a mockery of those standings in the opening set.
Soderling could not live with Murray's court coverage, movement, pace of shot or, indeed, the consistency of his serving as the opening set turned into what could be described as a 'tennis clinic' on how a Tour professional should play the game.
He broke to move 2-1 ahead with a lovely backhand winner down the line before letting out a huge yell of "c'mon".
The estimated 17,500 crowd were certainly getting their money's worth in tension that had more than an air of the Davis Cup about it.
The viewing public continued to drool over the antics of the home favourite as he secured the double break to move 5-2 ahead as Soderling, who looked nervous and unsettled in the vast arena, cut a frustrated and lonely figure.
A stunning ace of 139mph helped Murray bring up a second set point after he missed three successive first serves in the eighth game of the match, but he was left to revel in applause when he won it with a lovely little drop shot that left Soderling looking like a carthorse as he tried in vain to scramble across the court.
If the first set was something akin to an exhibition match, the second set became a whole lot more interesting as Soderling slowly began to discover glimpses of the form that has carried him to two French Open finals over the past two years.
Murray managed to resist a break point in trailing 2-3 and that seemed to be the catalyst for him to claim the second set as the imposing Swedish player finally caved in after six gruelling games of the set.
He saved one of three break points from 0-40 down, but a double fault was enough for Murray to snag the game and tilt the match firmly in his favour.
All that was left was for Murray to tie up the loose ends.
A couple of solid service games from the Scot was enough to put the match to bed, and complete his first victory over Soderling since 2006. The manner of Murray's success bodes well for his prospects of advancing from the group stage of the tournament.
Murray faced only one break point in the match, but produced 10 aces compared to Soderling's two. He won 75 per cent of points on his first serve and 63 per cent on his second serve. In comparison, his opponent could win only 33 per cent of his points on second serve.
Roger Federer meets David Ferrer in the second match of the day in Group B on Sunday evening.
Murray needs to finish in the top two in the group to reach the semi-final stage with the pressure on Soderling to win his remaining two matches to give himself a chance of progress.
Eurosport
Greg Rusedski questions Andy Murray mental toughness
Former British number one Greg Rusedski believes Andy Murray only needs to improve the mental side of his game to win a first Grand Slam title.
Murray, the world number five, has reached two Grand Slam finals, losing both to Roger Federer.
And Rusedski said the Scot has more than enough talent to win a major.
"For me the problem with Andy Murray's game is not his backhand or his forehand but what goes on in between the ears," Rusedski told BBC Sport.
The 23-year-old Murray, who swept past fourth seed Robin Soderling at the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday, has been a mixed year.
He reached the Australian Open final in January, the semi-finals of Wimbledon but went out in the third round of the US Open and the fourth round of the French Open, while also splitting with coach Miles Maclagan in July.
"The biggest question mark for him is to have that consistency of the top players and mentally being at that level," added Rusedski, himself a finalist in the US Open in 1997, added on Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.
"That is the 1% he has to add to his game that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have already. If he does that then he has a good chance to win majors because the talent is there. He is a phenomenally talented player.
"Being a top player is about having that belief and remaining calm when the pressure points arise and being calm enough to take those opportunities."
But history is on Murray's side and Rusedski is sure he can overcome the psychological hurdle.
"He will have his chance in a 10-year-career," said Rusedski.
"If you've made the top 10 before the age of 20 [as Murray did in April 2007] only one player in the history of the game has not won a major and that is Marcelo Rios.
"So for me the statistics look really good for Andy Murray, and he is too good a player not to win a major."
On Murray's search for a coach, Rusedski added: "There has been talk about possibly Mats Wilander becoming his coach.
"Mats has won seven Grand Slam titles and is a former world number one. He has done it and got the t-shirt."
Murray will rock
ANDY MURRAY is planning to put on a Saturday supershow to leave Anne Widdecombe and Wagner firmly in the shade.
The British No 1 will take on the majestic might of Rafa Nadal today in the last four of the World Tour finals - in what promises to be as explosive as anything on the box.
Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor may get the public seal of approval - but try telling the 17,500 packed into the O2 that the best entertainment of the day will not be coming from the tennis court.
If Muzza manages to stun the world No 1 it will certainly be as staggering as watching former Tory minister Widdecombe strut her stuff in front of Bruce Forsyth.
The Surrey-based Scot said: "No, I don't watch X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing. My girlfriend watches them. I go on the computer when that's on.
"But hopefully it will be better than watching Anne Widdecombe dancing!"
Murray weirdly insisted after sealing his spot in the last four that he had no chance of beating Nadal, who booked his semi-final ticket by beating Tomas Berdych yesterday.
The Brit followed up his outburst on Twitter yesterday, hinting that he was being sarcastic - a clear sign Muzza was angry at criticism following his feeble loss to Roger Federer on Tuesday.
Spanish superstar Nadal reckons Murray's negativity has simply piled more pressure on the home favourite.
He joked: "If Andy said that then he should pull out because of the pressure!"
Murray is tempted to carry on without coach
Andy Murray is ready to keep faith with his present entourage rather than replace Miles Maclagan, the coach he parted company with this summer. The 23-year-old Scot had been planning to spend some time this winter recruiting a replacement, but after finishing the season on a high note he has had second thoughts.
Having won two Masters Series titles since the split with Maclagan, Murray ended his competitive campaign by reaching the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals, an achievement that secured his return to No 4 in the world rankings. He lost 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to Rafael Nadal on Saturday in one of the best matches of the year.
Alex Corretja, the former world No 2 who originally signed up to help during the clay-court season, has continued to work with Murray on a part-time basis, while Dani Vallverdu, a close friend since his days with the Scot at the Sanchez-Casal academy in Barcelona, has been a regular hitting partner. Jez Green and Matt Little, Murray's physical trainers, and Andy Ireland, his physiotherapist, have also provided continuity.
Might Murray consider carrying on with the present arrangements? "Definitely," he said. "I like working with the guys I work with. I've started improving and learning stuff again and the way things are now I feel everyone works well together. I just need to make sure that if I feel everyone is as motivated as I am to get me working to get to No 1, I'll probably keep working with the same bunch of guys and don't necessarily need to add anything. I need to wait and see because there are a lot of great coaches that I could work with."
After flying to the Bahamas later this week to play in a charity event, Murray will go to Miami, where he will spend the rest of the off season training before playing in the Hopman Cup in Perth in the first week of the new year.
Having come within two points of beating Nadal, Murray said that the performance would give him encouragement for the future.
"I need to be able to play that level for the whole year," he said. "This match is a huge motivation to get myself prepared properly in Miami and to improve everything. It does come down to the small differences. I need to train like the best player in the world. That's the only choice I have."
Unwelcome wake-up call for Murray prior to off-season training
Andy Murray was forced to begin his weekend with a surprise 6 a.m. drug test before flying out of frigid Britain and into the December heat of the Bahamas.
The Scot is due to play in a charity exhibition organised by fellow ATP pro Mark Knowles, a native of the island.
But Murray was hardly pleased by his rude awakening, Tweeting: "Off to Bahamas today! Nice little 6am drug test to start the day off, must be a weird job being a drug tester waking random people up staring at their privates and then leaving! Surely there is a law against that."
The world No. 4 will not have to worry about the cold for another two months as he goes onto December training at his base in hot-house Miami followed by a late December flight to Australia and a second appearance at the Hopman Cup teams event in Perth.
Murray is hoping to inject some consistency in to his 2011 season after losing the final of the Australian Open to Roger Federer, and going out in the first week of the US Open. On the plus side, he won two Masters 1000 titles and reached the semis of the year-end final in London.
"I go to Miami every year at this time and I plan to work harder than ever. That might involve longer sessions, more hours, and just making sure everything is even more professional," Murray said. "I'll be in Florida for Christmas.
"I've got friends out there but I'm not sure yet whether I'll see my family - it's a sacrifice you have to make."
Murray bez genu zwycięzcy?
Andy Murray w sierpniu w wielkim stylu wygrał turniej w Toronto pokonując po drodze Rafaela Nadala i Rogera Federera. Liczący na niego Brytyjczycy mieli nadzieję, że w końcu doczekają się wielkoszlemowego triumfu, tymczasem Andy z US Open odpadł w III rundzie. Dlaczego tak się dzieje, że fantastycznie grający w cyklu Masters 1000 Szkot w Wielkich Szlemach nigdy nie potrafi się wznieść na sam szczyt?Szkot w tym sezonie swoją kolekcję trofeów powiększył o te wywalczone w Toronto i Szanghaju. W sumie na swoim koncie ma 16 tytułów, z czego sześć zdobytych w cyklu Masters 1000. Urodzony z Dunblane tenisista ma dodatni bilans spotkań z Rogerem Federerem (8-6), ale przegrał ze Szwajcarem te najważniejsze mecze, w finale US Open 2008 i Australian Open 2010 nie wygrywając w nich seta.
Dwa wielkoszlemowe finały dla 23-letniego tenisisty to oczywiście spory sukces, ale jest w nim coś takiego co każe zaryzykować śmiałą tezę, że po wielkoszlemowy tytuł nigdy nie sięgnie. Murray to jeden z najlepszych specjalistów od gry z kontry w dzisiejszym tenisie. Sprytny, świetnie poukładany taktycznie, najwięcej kończących uderzeń notujący będąc w głębokiej defensywie, cierpliwie rozgrywający wymiany, wymuszający błędy. Jego tenis oparty jest na wybijaniu rywali z rytmu za pomocą technicznych zagrań. Jego mocną stroną jest też return. Świetnie czyta grę i dopasowuje swoją taktykę do ruchów rywala. Wszystko wygląda pięknie: inteligencja i spryt, świetny pierwszy serwis, do tego return, ale jest w jego grze jeden poważny mankament. Jest to tenis zbyt delikatny i defensywny, by mógł mu zapewnić zdobycie wielkoszlemowego tytułu.
I znów warto wrócić do turnieju w Toronto. Tam grał tenis odważny, maszerował ochoczo do siatki, skracał wymiany, czym zaskoczył wszystkich rywali, z Nadalem i Federerem na czele. Ale już na Flushing Meadows widzieliśmy tego samego Andy'ego: do bólu konsekwentnego, biernego, przyczajonego, czekającego na błędy rywali bądź też na okazję do skończenia dłuższej wymiany. Szkot chce być cwanym lisem, który przechytrzy wszystkich, ale w ostateczności zawsze okazuje się zbyt miękki i to on zostaje upolowany przez silniejszych od siebie rywali.
Dla jednego z największych taktyków we współczesnym tenisie paradoksalnie ta taktyka jest największym problemem. Czasem tak się zaplącze w tych swoich taktycznych zagrywkach, że sam wpada w zasadzkę, którą przygotował rywalowi. Ta delikatność, pieszczenie piłki jest skuteczne, ale do czasu. W Wielkich Szlemach Murrayowi brakuje ikry, lwiego pazura, przemienia się w przestraszonego kociaka nie potrafiącego dobijać rywali, choć nawet w cyklu Masters 1000 wydaje się, że jest już przygotowany do mocnego ataku. Negatywny wpływ ma też na niego mama. Ile to już mieliśmy przypadków rodziców wtrącających się w kariery swoich dzieci, gdy ich nadopiekuńczość doprowadzała do katastrofy.
Co powoduje, że Andy ciągle pozostaje bez wielkoszlemowego tytułu? Jest to efekt słabości fizycznej, nieumiejętność wytrzymania trudów dwutygodniowej rywalizacji? A może jest to słabość psychiczna, czyli nieumiejętność radzenia sobie z presją Brytyjczyków czekających na wielkoszlemowy tytuł od prehistorycznych czasów? A może Andy po prostu nie ma genu urodzonego zwycięzcy?
autor: Łukasz Iwanek
MURRAY RETAINS CORRETJA THROUGH WIMBLEDON
Andy Murray and Alex Corretja take time out
during training.
World No. 4 Andy Murray has confirmed that Spaniard Alex Corretja will continue as his main coach for at least the first half of 2011.
In a statement on Murray’s official website, the Scot also confirmed that Dani Vallverdu would carry on assisting him with training.
"Andy has taken time out from his busy pre-season fitness training to confirm that the current coaching set-up, with both Alex Corretja and Dani Vallverdu, will continue into the first half of next year.
"The guys are busy planning their tournament schedule for the early part of 2011 and are, as a team, very focused on preparing in the best way possible for each tournament."
Corretja, a former World No. 2 and two-time Roland Garros finalist, was initially employed in 2008 as a part-time consultant during for the spring European clay-court swing.
In July 2010, Corretja took on a wider role after Murray split with his former coach Miles Maclagan.
The 23-year-old Murray compiled a 46-18 match record on the season, including two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles at Montreal and Shanghai (d. Federer both times).
Murray i Corretja ciągle w jednym teamie
Przynajmniej na pierwszą część sezonu 2011 Àlex Corretja pozostanie szkoleniowym konsultantem (na prawach trenera) Andy'ego Murraya, czwartego singlisty świata, dwukrotnego finalisty wielkoszlemowego.
Murray poinformował na oficjalnej stronie internetowej o przedłużeniu współpracy z byłym hiszpańskim mistrzem, a także swoim ex partnerem deblowym, Wenezuelczykiem Danielem Vallverdu.
Sezon dla Murraya rozpocznie się w Nowy Rok, gdy wystartuje Puchar Hopmana w Perth. Podobnie jak przed rokiem, Andy stworzy parę z Laurą Robson; w grupie B zmierzą się z Włochami (Schiavone), Francją (Mahut) i USA (Isner).
2010 w liczbach
Ranking: 4
Turnieje: 2 (Toronto, Szanghaj)
Finały: 2 (Australian Open, LA)
Mecze: 46-18
Zarobki: $4,046,805
The Last Word: ATP No. 4, Andy Murray
Murray has beaten the biggest players, just not at the biggest moments.
Best of 2010
Murray has set the bar of expectations high enough that this could be looked at as a disappointing season, despite some excellent results. While he won two Masters titles, it was his runner-up finish at the Australian Open, which included a scintillating win over Rafael Nadal, that was most impressive.
Worst of 2010
The worst came right after the best. Murray handled Roger Federer twice this season without much trouble, but when it mattered most, in Melbourne, he didn’t have his best.
Year in Review
Murray looks at the big picture, and when you look at it from there he had a strong 2010. Finalist in Australia, semis at Wimbledon, back-to-back wins over Nadal and Federer in Toronto, a blowout win over Federer in Shanghai, and a classic battle with Nadal in the semis in London. But you also get the feeling that Murray is a little too big picture. He still couldn’t raise his game, a la Federer and Nadal, when he really needed it. How many of those classic losses can he take before he starts to wonder if he’ll ever win one of them?
See for Yourself
Murray pushed Nadal to the brink at the World Tour Finals:
The Last Word
It’s hard to make predictions when it comes to Murray. He swings between promise and disappointment every couple of months. There’s a Slam in his game somewhere, but his best hope is still someone else taking out Rog or Rafa for him.
—Steve Tignor
The Last Word: ATP No. 4, Andy Murray
Murray has beaten the biggest players, just not at the biggest moments.
Best of 2010
Murray has set the bar of expectations high enough that this could be looked at as a disappointing season, despite some excellent results. While he won two Masters titles, it was his runner-up finish at the Australian Open, which included a scintillating win over Rafael Nadal, that was most impressive.
Worst of 2010
The worst came right after the best. Murray handled Roger Federer twice this season without much trouble, but when it mattered most, in Melbourne, he didn’t have his best.
Year in Review
Murray looks at the big picture, and when you look at it from there he had a strong 2010. Finalist in Australia, semis at Wimbledon, back-to-back wins over Nadal and Federer in Toronto, a blowout win over Federer in Shanghai, and a classic battle with Nadal in the semis in London. But you also get the feeling that Murray is a little too big picture. He still couldn’t raise his game, a la Federer and Nadal, when he really needed it. How many of those classic losses can he take before he starts to wonder if he’ll ever win one of them?
See for Yourself
Murray pushed Nadal to the brink at the World Tour Finals:
The Last Word
It’s hard to make predictions when it comes to Murray. He swings between promise and disappointment every couple of months. There’s a Slam in his game somewhere, but his best hope is still someone else taking out Rog or Rafa for him.
—Steve Tignor
Cahill always has time for Murray
Andy Murray's decision to go without a big-name major coach until at least the summer has been fixed for weeks.
But the Scot remains secure in the knowledge that he can always count on quiet behind-the-scenes advice from uber-coach Darren Cahill.
The Las Vegas-based Australian was mentioned last summer as a possible mentor for Murray, but withdrew his name from consideration due to the travelling involved. But the 45-year-Aussie who made his name with Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, still has plenty of time for Murray.
"I love the guy, he's one of the best characters on the ATP tour,” said Cahill, who also spends time in the television broadcast booth. "Andy knows where I am if he wants a chat or a bit of advice. I would be delighted to help him.”
Cahill is known as a top tennis strategist. But he says that Murray is smart enough to work on the strengths of his own game without constant supervision. Murray is committed to work with his Spanish advisor Alex Corretja until at least mid-year as well as with his regular set of Team Murray physios and trainers.
"Andy is the sort of player who can figure things out for himself. It will do Andy no harm to have a period on his own," said Cahill. "He's a clever player and one who has all the shots. He thinks deeply about tennis and this could be a period of growth for him. It offers him more personal responsibility to solve problems.”
Murray is competing at the Hopman Cup teams event, where he reached the final in 2010 with partner Laura Robson. The event is the first of the tuneups for the Australian Open, which starts January 17.
Motivated Murray has top two in his sights
More to come: Murray says he has worked hard on his serve as he prepares for another
bid at landing his first Grand Slam
Andy Murray believes he still needs to improve if he is to land a maiden Grand Slam tournament victory and overcome the challenge presented by two of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Last year Murray, who is ranked No.4 in the world, reached the final at the Australian Open where he lost to an inspired Roger Federer, and the semi-finals at Wimbledon where Rafael Nadal ended his quest.
Speaking in Perth on Sunday as he prepared to partner teenager Laura Robson for Great Britain against Italy in the mixed-teams Hopman Cup on Monday, Murray, 23, admitted he had work to do to improve his chances against the top two players in the world.
His last game of 2010, when he was beaten by Nadal in a thrilling three-set semi-final at the ATP Finals in London at the end of November, was a “great match”, he said and “a good way in many ways to finish the year”.
But he added: “It would have been good to win the match.
“I had to go away and realise that I played a great match but that I still needed to get better if I want to beat Rafa and Roger in the Slams.
“That is hopefully what I have been able to do.”
He has been concentrating on improving his serve in the off-season. "One of the most important shots in the game is the serve, the serve and the return, and I have worked a lot on my serve,” he said.
“I think from the baseline I have matched up well with Roger and Rafa in the past but I’ll need to serve well and return well against them if I want to beat them.”
Murray conceded he lacked consistency last year. After his Australian Open final appearance, he lost in the second round in Dubai, Miami and Monte Carlo, although he also won Masters events at Shanghai and Toronto during the year, beating Federer in both finals.
But he reached only the third round of the US Open, and the fourth round in the French Open.
“It was just a very up and down season last year,” Murray admitted. “I played great at the Aussie Open, I played great again at Wimbledon, and then the periods in between weren’t so good.
“I still finished four in the world and won a couple of the big Masters Series but yeah, obviously I would have liked it to have been more consistent.”
As he did 12 months ago, Murray turned his back on the season-opening Qatar Open in Doha to use the Hopman Cup as preparation for the Australian Open later this month.
The mixed teams event, with a guarantee of six matches - three singles and three mixed doubles - in the Perth heat was perfect for his needs heading to Melbourne, he said.
He had fond memories of last year’s Australian Open, he added, despite being beaten in straight sets in the final. “This will be a good gauge here to see where my game is at,” Murray said.
Australian Open - Murray: Serve the key to Slams
World number four Andy Murray admits he still needs to improve his serve if he is to break his Grand Slam duck at the Australian Open later this month.
The Scot, who was beaten in the final at Melbourne Park by Roger Federer last year, begins his 2011 season on Monday at the Hopman Cup, where he and Laura Robson will represent Britain in the mixed team event for the second successive year.
Looking fit and strong after a month of training in Miami, Murray said the form of world number one Rafa Nadal and 16-times Grand Slam champion Federer meant it would be even tougher to win one of the sport's four biggest events.
"Last year's Australian Open was one of the best events I've played in my life," Murray said.
"I played some of my best tennis so I'll have to play even better if I want to win because Rafa and Roger are playing so well just now."
Murray, whose other Grand Slam final appearance came at the US Open in 2008, said he had been focusing on particular areas of his game in the short off-season.
"I've worked a lot on my serve and I'll keep working on it the next couple of weeks," Murray said. "I think from the baseline I've matched up well with Roger and Rafa in the past, but I'll need to serve well and return well against them if I want to beat them."
Murray will take on Potito Starace of Italy in his Hopman Cup opener on Monday and will also play France's Nicolas Mahut and American John Isner in his other round-robin matches.
The Scot said the way he played in his last match of the year, the semi-final of the ATP World Tour Finals against Nadal in London at the end of November, had given him plenty of confidence with which to start 2011.
"It was a great match, one of the best matches I'd played in during the year, said Murray, who lost out in a final set tiebreak.
"I think both of us played a really high standard and it was a good way in many ways to finish the year.
"It would have been great to have won the match but at the same time having lost I realised that I played a great match but I still need to get better if I want to beat Rafa and Roger in the Slams."
Cleanskins" for Murray as sponsorship negotiations start
Scotland's Andy Murray goes to Melbourne patch-less, as the world No. 4 attempts to renegotiate sponsorship contracts.
Andy Murray's handlers might find contract negotiations for his personal sponsorship a slightly tougher sell after the Royal Bank of Scotland produced a 28 billion sterling ($42 billion) loss in 2008, a year in which they also spent $300 million on paying for sports endorsers like Murray.
As a result of ongoing negotiations, the Scot is playing in a shirt devoid of sponsorship patches during January in Australia as his management work to try and salvage contracts with both RBS and British water Highland Spring.
Murray's adidas shirts are currently seen "clean" as the negotiations continues in Europe while Murray concentrates on his Australian tennis summer. “It’s just a situation where the contract with both companies expired and we are still in a process of talking to them and others to see the way forward,” a spokesman told British media. "There is a possibility the two companies could be back on board very quickly."
Murray has been with RBS since age 13 a decade ago, while he's worn a Highland Springs patch for the past four seasons. He is competing this week at the Hopman Cup in perth, where he and teammate Laura Robson reached the final against Spain a year ago.
Fitness still a worry for Murray in Australia
Despite several weeks of hot-weather training at his base in Miami during December, Andy Murray is still appearaing to scratch for fitness as Britain crashed out of title contention at the Hopman Cup.
While the Perth event played indoors, that still doesn't keep out the humidity - and the Brit admitted after a loss to France that he is still struggling with form.
"I'm a little bit stiff and sore but it's to be expected. I've been off the court for five or six weeks, so it's good to be back on it, but yeah my body is feeling it a little bit, said the No. 4 who reached the final of the mixed team event a year ago with Laura Robson.
Murray cut it close as he arrived in Perth only a day or so before the nation's opening match, a loss to Italy. "I trained outdoors (in Perth) and maybe I overdid it a bit," he confessed. "I'm just trying to acclimatise as quickly as possible so I've got to get outdoors as much as I can.
"I was breathing so hard after four or five games but that will improve over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully that will improve over the next couple of weeks. That's the goal - to try and beat those guys in the big events, and try to win my first grand slam."
The Scot is counting in a week of training in Melbourne and a possible practise match at the high-profile AAMI Classic at Kooyong club to bring him up to fighting form as he begins the major where he lost in a disheartening final a year ago to Roger Federer.
Murray looking to repeat last year's feat
British ace Andy Murray enjoyed his first practice session at Melbourne Park this afternoon in preparation for the year's first major.
The world No.5 looked solid as he played a series of points against fellow Brit and good friend Ross Hutchins beneath the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena, practising his sliced backhand and teeing off on some big forehand drives.
Murray represented Great Britain at the Hopman Cup in Perth last week with teenager Laura Robson, and won all three of his singles matches in straight sets.
He is among the favourites at Australian Open 2011 alongside world No.1 Rafael Nadal, reigning champion Roger Federer, Davis Cup hero Novak Djokovic and Brisbane International winner Robin Soderling.
Soderling has replaced Murray as No. 4 in this week's rankings following his win in Brisbane. Murray played stunning tennis to reached last year's final before succumbing to Federer in straight sets.
Top two look too hot for Murray
British tennis fans will be hoping that the Australian Open will finally see Andy Murray lift his first Grand Slam title, but the big problem he has is the same one he faced last year - he's up against the two greatest players of all time.
Nadal goes into the tournament at the same level he was at last year - if not higher - and Federer is certainly better than he was at this time last year; so it doesn't look good.
Last year Murray was clearly the best player apart from those two going into the tournament, but Djokovic has rediscovered his form too, which is bad news.
However, the Australian Open is as good a chance as Murray has amongst the Slams. The surface suits him and he works extraordinarily hard in the off-season which can also bear fruit.
Andy probably works harder than any other player on tour and he's in as good shape as he was last year.
He played phenomenal tennis last year and I was optimistic going into the final but Federer, just as he has done in finals in the past, raised his game against Andy.
It must be so frustrating for Andy and I know he was shattered by losing to Federer. It took him time to get over that, but by the end of the year he was back playing his best tennis again.
I feel he is going to be play really well in Melbourne, but the problem is Federer and Nadal are playing unbelievably well at the moment and until he is able to beat them both in a Grand Slam, I don't think he can win one.
I do think, even after what happened in Australia, that he believes he can beat Federer on almost any occasion - but I'm not sure he goes in believing he will beat Nadal. Has he still got that mindset when he takes on Federer? I hope he has.
However, I do still see Andy as the next best bet after Nadal and Federer.
I think we're roughly at the same stage we were last year - I'm no less hopeful, but it's a very tough call to say that he can win it.
Po tej wypowiedzi Simona, szanse Rudego moim zdanie diametralnie wzrosły, bez "klątwy Reed'a" może wreszcie uda mu się wygrać upragnionego Szlema.
Wywiad przed AO
Q. How is the training going? You in as good of a spot as you were last year?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, you never know how you're going to feel once the tournament starts. But trained well in Miami. Then last week or so I think has been quite tough for everyone because of the weather.
But, you know, we've managed to get some decent practice indoors and practice outside the last couple of days. The court plays very different outside.
But, no, it's been good, a good month and a half.
Q. What's the difference with the court speed compared to when the roof is shut?
ANDY MURRAY: The ball moves a lot quicker. Obviously, every court here is going to feel slightly different pace wise. I think Laver is perhaps a little slower. I practiced on the Margaret Court one today, which felt pretty quick.
But I think when the roof's on, it definitely slows the ball down. I played, you know, my first round I remember against Kevin Anderson, who hadn't been broken the whole time through qualifying. I played him the first round. The ball just wasn't going anywhere, which worked to my advantage.
It's definitely quicker when the roof's open.
Q. What do you know about Karol Beck?
ANDY MURRAY: He's been around a long time. I think he plays like a lot of the Slovak, Czech players: very flat hitter of the ball. He's talented. He's been a very good player in the past.
He had some problems off the court a few years ago. But, you know, he's obviously got a lot of experience. So it will be a tough match.
Q. You never played him. Have you spoken to anyone that has?
ANDY MURRAY: No. But I've seen him play quite a bit. I haven't spoken to anyone that played against him. I never practiced with him either.
It will be, yeah, one of those matches where you don't really know your opponent particularly well. Have to work a few things out once you're on the court.
Q. How do you feel you're an improved player compared to this time last year?
ANDY MURRAY: Experience obviously helps. I played quite a lot of big matches last year. I went through some very tough patches last year, as well, especially after the Aussie Open. That was something I had to come back from and I learned from. So I think mentally, you know, I'm probably in a better place. Physically I've worked hard again, so physically I should be good.
In terms of my game, I work on things a lot in practice, things that are hopefully going to improve my game. Then you just need to go out there and try to put them into the matches when you get the chance to, so...
Q. Do you feel this is a place where you're going to have that win?
ANDY MURRAY: I have no idea. I don't think any of the players do. I'm focusing on my first match. Got a tough opponent in the first round. You know, that's what I'm focusing on just now: trying to win my first match.
Q. What's the main emotion coming back here? Is it having played so well last year or having got so close?
ANDY MURRAY: It's a little bit of both. I mean, you know, I have very good memories from here. I have some bad ones, as well. I've had a couple of very tough losses here in the past. Obviously last year I played some of the best tennis of my life throughout the tournament.
But I do always enjoy playing here. I think it's a very fun place for all the players to come. Everything's incredibly easy. I always enjoy coming back. We're staying the same place as we stayed last year. Everyone enjoys it.
So, yeah, it's kind of mixed emotions.
Q. Because of its place in the calendar, is it the most difficult Grand Slam to get a sense beforehand of how you feel you're going to perform?
ANDY MURRAY: You have to trust the training that you've done and believe in it. That will get rid of some of the doubts.
But, yeah, you won't really have played a big, big match for, you know, quite a long time. No one's played that many matches. The conditions are very different here to what we were playing right at the end of the year in the indoor tournaments.
Yeah, no one ever really knows exactly how you're going to play. There's always been a few guys getting deep into the tournament normally that haven't done that well at slams in the past. You just have to, you know, try and focus on every match and not get too far ahead of yourself 'cause you're probably not going to play your best right at the beginning.
Q. Would we be wrong to interpret the fact that you're practicing so much with Novak for the two of you to get that little bit up to Roger and Rafa?
ANDY MURRAY: I used to practice with Novak a lot, as well. A lot of it is depending on tournaments that you're playing and stuff, if you're around at the same tournaments.
But, no, I've said it quite a few times. You practice with one of the other guys that are ranked high, especially when the weather's been bad, it's a lot easier to get practice courts. You get, yeah, kind of priority, and that helps.
I haven't practiced with Novak to try to beat Roger and Rafa, but he's obviously a great person to practice with because he's, you know, No. 3 in the world, and an incredibly, incredibly tough player.
Q. With all due respect, you don't exactly come from a place that's a stronghold of the game. Are you a cricket fan?
ANDY MURRAY: I never played it when I was growing up in school or anything. Cricket and rugby are two of the sports, two of the real British sports, that I haven't really followed that much. But I did watch the game last night.
I like Twenty 20 compared with test matches.
Q. Perhaps it's a bit too obvious, but did what happened in the Ashes, could that inspire you at all?
ANDY MURRAY: No, like I say, it wasn't something that when we were over in Miami, we were training and stuff. It's not something you really watch or have sort of on on the TV.
It's obviously a great achievement. I think the Aussies were ranked No. 1 in the world. So, you know, it's obviously a great achievement.
But, yeah, it's never been a sport that I've watched that much.
Q. Are you tempted to go tomorrow night?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I'll be in my hotel room. We don't actually know when we're playing yet. Could be first up on Monday. So, yeah, no plans.
Q. Are you pleased, after the talk of you falling to No. 5, then you get in the same quarter with Soderling, do you feel that sort of defused all that sort of speculation and is a nice place to be?
ANDY MURRAY: To be honest, I don't really care. Like last year, I was seeded 5 here and made it to the final. Been 4, lost in the third round of slams.
I don't think it really makes a whole lot of difference where you're seeded. You know, you have to play maybe one of the top guys maybe a round earlier.
But, no, all of those guys are incredibly difficult to beat. It wasn't something that I was worried about or thinking about when the draw was getting done.
Q. Was your Miami training the same sort of stuff as usual? Did you try anything new?
ANDY MURRAY: I did most of the same stuff. I did a lot of running on the track, running on the beach. Yeah, just the usual weights, core stuff, movement work on the court. Yeah, nothing too different to normal.
Q. Do you have any thoughts on who deserves to be favorite in the event?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I think Roger and Rafa are the two guys that have played the best in the slams the last few years. So I'd probably say between those two, you know, they'd be the favorites.
But I think there's a lot of guys that can win against them if they play their best. It's going to be an interesting tournament.
Q. The running you do on the track, is it 200s...
ANDY MURRAY: We do 200s, 400s, 800s are the only distances we run.
Q. What is your worst and the best?
ANDY MURRAY: 400 repetitions are probably the most painful 'cause you've got to run pretty quick. But it also is, you know, a long enough distance, it starts hurting a lot towards the end.
800s are quite tough on the legs, but you're not running as fast. I don't mind that too much.
200 is probably the least painful one, I would say. But 400s I don't like. But that's the distance that I'm good at running. Kind of not ideal (smiling).
Q. In his online blog today, Nick Bollettieri has suggested you might be changing your management company.
ANDY MURRAY: I got told about it just before I went in. And, yeah, it was news to me. So, yeah, I don't really know where that came from. I've definitely got a contract for a couple more years before I'd have those remarks come up.
Q. He doesn't pick you in the tournament either.
ANDY MURRAY: I always get on quite well with Nick. And when I see him, he'll probably tell me that he thinks I'll win, so...
Yeah, I don't know. Have to wait and see.
Q. Do you have a view on the question of, if Rafa wins here, whether you should call it a Grand Slam? Do you think it not being in the calendar year in any way belittles the achievement?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't think it does at all. Really, yeah, I don't think it does. If you hold all four of them, I think it's one of the greatest achievements I think almost in sport.
You know, I think now, because of the depth in the game and because you have to win seven matches against, you know, always different players, a different day. You turn up and play a bad match, because of depth you can lose.
To me, I think if you hold all four Grand Slams, it's one of the best achievements in sport. And I really hope he doesn't do it (smiling).
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie
Q. Do you get much out of that?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah. I mean, I don't know exactly when he hurt himself. But, I mean, he was serving pretty well up until, you know, the end of the second set. And, yeah, I thought it was a pretty good match. I started well. Wasn't great at the end of the first set, then played better in the second.
But, uhm, yeah, I mean, obviously you'd rather finish the match off without your opponent being hurt. But, you know, it does happen quite a lot. So you just have to move on and get yourself ready for the next round.
Q. Does that affect your preparation for the next round in any way?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it was pretty close to the end. I mean, I think, you know, I don't know if it was maybe 4 2 in the third when he stopped. So, yeah, I mean, I don't think it will affect me too much in the next round.
Q. When he was going for it in the third set, he was firing everything. Did you think, At some point he's going to blow up or can he keep this going?
ANDY MURRAY: He's a very talented player. He hit some great shots. Yeah, obviously, you know, yeah, he just started throwing everything at me. He went for some huge shots. I just kind of had to weather the storm a little bit. I had some chances to go up a break in the third set, and again Love 30, didn't manage to break. So I was having chances.
I just had to hang in, make a lot of balls. It was high risk tennis. Managed to make a few mistakes before he stopped.
Q. Is that court a little tricky? You had that great match against Martin three or four years ago. Because it's so far away, is it sometimes difficult to get your concentration right?
ANDY MURRAY: It's actually one of the nicest courts to play on. When you hit the ball, like the echo, the noise it makes, you always feel like you're hitting the ball well. I practiced on it a couple of times before the start of the tournament. It's actually a really, really nice court to play on.
There is a lot of space around the court. There's a huge space between the people on the side and the crowd. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get your bearings.
But I like that court. It's a really nice court.
Q. What do you think of the weather conditions so far?
ANDY MURRAY: It's different, you know, to what we normally have here. Today was actually pretty cold. It changes the way the court plays a lot. He hits the ball very flat anyway. With the court not being particularly warm, it was coming through quite low, whereas I'm sure in the next round later on in the week when it gets warmer, the ball is going to be bouncing very, very high. Very different tennis.
Yeah, it's just conditions that, you know, you have to deal with. A lot of the slams, the conditions can vary from day to day. You just have to be ready for anything.
Q. Reassuring to get that first one always, isn't it, in a slam?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, like I said before the tournament, everyone always has slight doubts before the start. You know, you're always a bit nervous. But getting off to a good start, getting a break early in the match, does help a lot, which I managed to do. Yeah, nice to be through to the second round with no drama.
Q. First meeting with Marchenko. Can you give your thoughts on what he might pose in terms of problems?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't really know him that well. I saw him play a little bit when the Ukraine played Great Britain in Davis Cup. That was obviously quite a while ago. He's improved a lot since then.
Danni and my mom went to watch some of his match after I finished, so they will give me the tactics, things to look for. But, yeah, I don't know his game that well.
Q. (Question regarding getting pictures developed.)
ANDY MURRAY: I haven't actually seen them. I don't know if they were in the papers or not. I haven't seen them.
Q. Was it a million you helped to raise?
ANDY MURRAY: It was great. Yeah, there's many of those things that the players can do the better. Obviously, raised $2 million, it's a huge amount of money and I'm sure will help out a lot. So, yeah, I mean, I think all of the players enjoyed it. It was obviously for a good cause. The crowd I think loved it. TV enjoyed it, too. Yeah, the more of those things we can do, the better.
Q. Spoke to Jamie about his accident?
ANDY MURRAY: I haven't spoken to him about it. My mum told me about it when I woke up this morning. But, yeah, I haven't seen him yet today.
I think it actually happened in a doubles match here. I saw that on YouTube. I think Llodra hit a bird a few years ago. That doesn't happen that often.
Q. (No microphone.)
ANDY MURRAY: Not that I'm aware of. I'll ask him, but I hope not.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
Q. It looked easy, but how hard was it?
ANDY MURRAY: There were parts of the match that were tight. Obviously the beginning of the second he started well. I was a little bit tentative. But I played well. A lot of the close games, a lot of 30 All games, deuce game, and I served well when I needed to really. That was the difference.
Q. 16 aces. Got yourself some free points, didn't you?
ANDY MURRAY: I got a lot of free points on the first serve, which is important because from pretty much the first game he was swinging quite big on first serve returns and second serve. You know, I think once it got close, he started to miss more, because I didn't feel like I hit my second serve badly. A few of them I looked, the ball was bouncing so high, he was really trying to take them on. When it got close, he started missing a few more. But he was going big on the returns on first and second. It was important to get free points off the serve.
Q. You mentioned after the first match how comfortable you felt on Hisense and enjoyed playing it. Isn't there a bit more fun to be had out there with a tight knit crowd?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it's great. The atmosphere on that court is great. It's one of the best in tennis I think. You know, I think Davis Cup crowds aside, for a slam, the atmosphere on that court is probably one of the most fun to play in because everyone gets into it. There was a lot of Brits supporting. It did feel like a Davis Cup match, which is nice. It definitely helps.
Q. You feed off that, as well?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, I think it's a good atmosphere to be involved in. I played a match there last year. I played well. You know, it can get tricky in there because the wind will swirl a lot. It can be a tough court to play on, as well.
But in terms of the atmosphere, it's excellent.
Q. Your former coach, Brad Gilbert, is now working with Kei Nishikori. We Japanese are excited about that. Can you talk about Gilbert, what you learned from him, what kind of coach he is.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, he's obviously had very good results with everyone that he's worked with. He's a very tactical coach, not so technical. Obviously, you know, because of the way he played the game, he's very good at that. It definitely helped me when I was sort of coming onto the tour, you know, to learn how to win matches, even if it didn't look like you were playing great tennis, doing enough to win.
So I'm sure he'll help Kei a lot.
Q. Do you take time out to watch Rafa and Roger, their matches, keep an eye on what they're doing?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't normally watch the whole of the matches. Obviously, you know, I need to be taking care of ourselves. But, yeah, I mean, if they're on the TV and you're in the hotel, yeah, you're around, you'll definitely sit and watch some. You can learn a lot from those guys.
Q. Did you watch last night all the way through?
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't watch all of the match, but I was watching a bit of Djokovic and then I watched from sort of the middle of the fourth set to the end of the match with Federer.
Q. Do you think that tight run he had last night changes anything in the tournament at all?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't think so. I mean, last year he had quite a few tough matches early on in the tournament. Didn't really affect him. So I don't think it has a huge bearing on the outcome of the event, no.
Q. You played your next opponent once at Queen's. Anything in particular that makes him stand out in your memory?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, he's playing very well just now, the last sort of seven, eight months. I think, you know, his ranking has got a bit higher. He's getting seeded in the slams now. He beat Rafa at the end of last year in Bangkok. He's had a big win there.
He's a very solid player. He does everything well and he's improved his game on hard court. So it's going to be a tough match.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
Q. Fairly straightforward?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I got off to a good start and played well from there. I mean, the first game, you know, doesn't always sort of dictate the way the match is going to go, but it definitely helped today.
I broke from 40 Love in the first game and played well after that.
Q. What did you think of his between the legs shot in the first game?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. It was the first time someone passed me on a through the legs shot on the tour. It was a very close one on the line.
Q. In terms of getting a match done with a minimum fuss and the quickest time possible, it couldn't have been any better today, could it?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it was good. Obviously, it was a quick match. Served well. Hit the ball clean from the back. That was it.
Yeah, I played well. He probably didn't play his best. It was over quickly. So, I mean, it was hot today, so it was nice to get off the court.
Q. How important is that, not expending yourself through five huge ones on a hot day?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it makes a big difference. When we warmed up this morning it was pretty cool. And then, yeah, as soon as the clouds went away it became hot.
Yeah, it was very, very good to get off quickly. Didn't use up much energy at all. There wasn't many long rallies. So, yeah, it was perfect.
Q. Just looking ahead to tonight, obviously in terms of a local match, Rafa and Bernard Tomic is huge. How do you see that playing out? Do you have any advice for Bernard?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I see Rafa winning, and I think it will be pretty comfortable. The first set I think will be the tightest of the three sets. But, I mean, I think it will be a great experience for Tomic. I'm sure he enjoys it.
I've seen a little of his matches so far; he's played very well; he's a nice player to watch. He'll be very good in the future, that's for sure.
Q. Your next opponent could be Jurgen Melzer. You have experience with him. Can you tell us what you expect if he is your next opponent?
ANDY MURRAY: A tough match. He's very unpredictable on the court. He played his best year last year on the tour. Yeah, he takes a lot of chances on the court. He can also make some mistakes, too. He plays quite high risk tennis.
I played him quite a lot. I don't think I played him last year. But he's definitely improved, you know. The older he got, he's started to play better. He's started to understand his game better. So, yeah, it will be a tough match, whether it's Melzer or Baghdatis. Both are very good players.
Q. You've been hitting up quite a lot with young George Morgan. Are you impressed with his attitude and his approach, what you've seen?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, he hits the ball well. Yeah, he hits the ball well. It is tough when you're just warming up for matches just sort of up and down the middle.
But, you know, he hits a solid ball. He's got, you know, a decent whack on his serve. He can hit it pretty big. He can play with a bit of topspin. It's not all one pace. Yeah, he's good.
I haven't seen him play that many matches or played points against him to see exactly what his game is like, but he hits the ball well for sure.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
Q. You must be rather contented with that performance today.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was very good. Again, like the first few matches, I started very well. I started hitting the ball very cleanly right from the beginning of the match. There was a few games where it was tough from one of the ends. Doesn't feel it when you're watching, but all the players will tell you from the far side of the court, it is difficult. I came through a couple of tough service games from that side.
Yeah, when I had the wind with me, I dictated a lot of the points, returned very well, served well in the second and third set. So it was very good.
Q. When you see someone who can be so difficult, throwing his racquet down, getting out of sorts, confidence wise does that put you at a high level that you know you got this guy?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if it helps or not. But, yeah, I was really just focused on my side of the net today, what I had to do. I wasn't worrying too much about what he was doing or saying. Yeah, I just played my side of the net and played it very well.
Yeah, he did get frustrated. That might have showed a bit in his game. But, no, I was just focusing on what I was doing.
Q. Obviously you've had straight forward matches. How are you feeling with your game, yourself, physically?
ANDY MURRAY: I feel good. The matches are definitely going to get tougher. I'm not expecting to go through, you know, the tournament winning matches like that, with that score line. So, you know, I'm ready for that mentally when it does get tough.
Whether there has been tight moments, like today it was right at the beginning of the match, went up a break, got broken straight back. I managed to break him in the next game, so I've been staying strong. I've been moving well. Today I hit the ball the best I had done of the first few matches.
It's been a very good start, but it's going to get much tougher.
Q. Will you comment a little bit on the next opponent.
ANDY MURRAY: I know a little bit about him. I played him once before. He's got a very unorthodox game, very different to most of the guys on the tour. Yeah, he's starting to put everything together. He's playing well, taking chances. Yeah, it's just different. He has a game that can make you play strange shots or, you know, not play that well. So you need to play, you know, as solid as you can against him 'cause if you start playing sort of inconsistent, a bit up and down, that's when he plays his best.
If you can keep making a lot of balls, chase everything down, not give him many free points, I think he can start to miss. But he was playing well today.
Q. I didn't hear all of the post match, but have you meet Billy Connolly?
ANDY MURRAY: I met him after the match. But I hadn't met him beforehand.
Q. What was that interaction like?
ANDY MURRAY: I've never been to his shows. When I used to like travel around, most of the tournaments we went to were in England, so we used to drive Scotland down to England. We used to listen to him on like cassettes.
So, yeah, I've never been to see him live. I might try and go see him this evening if I've got time. But, yeah, I mean, he's obviously a very, very funny guy. He's very normal, too. It's not like he was trying to be funny. He's just a funny guy.
Q. Do you have a favorite Billy Connolly joke?
ANDY MURRAY: No. That's the thing. We used to listen to it all the time, from maybe like 10, 11 years old until I was up to 15, 16. Then I haven't seen that much of his stuff for a little while. I'm hoping I'm going to be able to go along and see it. We got a few little tidbits when we were talking to him.
My mum and dad were pretty lenient with that stuff. Probably why my language is so bad on the court (smiling).
At that Point Again
Puncher vs. counter-puncher makes sense. One player attacks, the other uses that pace to fire back. Puncher vs. puncher isn’t as elegant, but you can certainly follow it. Two guys take turns belting the ball. Counter-puncher vs. counter-puncher is harder to figure. Neither can play their game. They’re robbed of something to punch against.
Andy Murray vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov was the latter, and it was predictably unpredictable. If it showed us anything, it showed us how deeply ingrained Murray’s defensive mind-set is. For the most part, it was Dolgopolov who attacked and Murray who defended. Murray’s speed and consistency allowed him to remain the counter-puncher, and allowed him to win in four sets. The Ukrainian played well and tried just about everything, but he couldn’t hit through him.
“Hitting with him on the baseline was just suicidal,” Dolgopolov said. “He wasn’t going to give me anything. I had to go after it.”
Dolgopolov was a crowd favorite today. His coach is naturalized Aussie and former low-level pro Jack Reader, a leathery, longhaired character who sported a cap in the colors of the national flag in honor of Australia Day. Cries for Dolgopolov—known as “Alex!” here—outnumbered cries for Murray by roughly 5 to 1.
He’s an easy player to like. Dolgopolov walks on his toes between points, and he appears to float a little above the surface during them. He’s as loose as they get, for better and worse. The freedom that allows him to coast to his left and twist in the air for an inside-out forehand is the same freedom that allows him to chuck in an ill-advised forehand drop shot on a critical point late in a set.
“He hits different,” Murray said. “It was tough to get my rhythm.”
The two players traded sidewinding slice backhands and on the rise two-handed crosscourts. They traded running one-handed shovel backhand winners. They traded heavy topspin crosscourt forehands. There plenty of long games, but Murray was, as Dolgopolov, “more solid.”
“He’s one the smartest players on tour,” Dolgopolov said. “He really breaks your game.”
Murray dropped his first set of the tournament today. By his own admission, he got tight in the third-set tiebreaker. Otherwise, he’s in good, standard form going forward. He bounced back from that breaker by winning 12 straight points at the start of the fourth.
“He was making me run more than any of my other opponents,” Dolgopolov said of Murray’s surge.
So now what? We presume, as of this writing, that Murray will play Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Can he beat him with this good, standard form? Last year the two met in the quarterfinals, and Murray won by playing some of the most aggressive tennis of his career. His backhand, in particular, was a controlling stroke in that match.
"I feel like I’m hitting the ball bigger than last year,” Murray says.
Aside from that, though, there’s not a lot that's new about the man. His game is the same and his demeanor off the court is as even-keel and reserved as ever. There hasn’t been much discussion of him here so far. Now Murray is back to that point again, the point he’s always asked about, one of only four chances he’ll get this year to make an advance in his career. As always, he’s playing it straight and low-key, no special desires or ambitions revealed. He did crack a couple of smiles in his presser today, but mostly it was the same expressionless monotone, and the same answers about "the player who plays the best" being the one who is going to win, and if he doesn’t it’s not the end of the world.
That’s a theme we’ve heard quite a bit at this tournament, from Roger Federer to Caroline Wozniacki to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga to Andy Murray. It seems like a healthy way to think, but Murray must know that to beat Nadal it can’t be business as usual. He’ll have to push out of the defensive shell that served him so well today. From a personal perspective, it would be sweet to see Murray hoist the trophy here; he’s the only one of the “Big 4” without a major, and I'm curious as to what his reaction would be. A smile? A tear?
As Murray moves on, Dolgopolov flies on to the tour’s next stop. He says he’ll try to get visas to play the clay events in South America next month. He’s a player we’ll hope to see more of very soon. Aside from his balletic game, he’s also a very relaxed press-room presence. He says that despite the big Melbourne pay day, he’s sticking with his Subaru. When he was asked if he was “amazed” by what he did here, Dolgopolov shrugged and said, “Yeah, for sure I’m really happy. I’m confident and I think I can do good.”
“Have you heard from a lot of people, like your parents?”
“Yeah, my parents are watching all the time, cheering for me. They’re really happy. A lot of my friends as well. So it’s really nice.”
The big names take over from here. But amidst the tension and drama of the weekend to come, I may find myself missing Dolgopolov’s easy play and easy ways.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale
Q. What's the most difficult thing about playing him?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, he's just unorthodox, very different to how most guys play. Obviously it's tough to get into a rhythm. But he's also a very, very good player, definitely not someone to be underestimated. He's had some very good wins this week. He had a good week last week. I'm sure he'll give a lot of players problems in the future.
So, you know, he was very good.
Q. That was your toughest match of the tournament so far. Were you happy with your game, how you overcame his unpredictability?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, well, I mean, I played well. I wouldn't say I was necessarily in trouble at any stage. I was ahead in most of the sets. Getting ahead early in the fourth set made a big difference.
But I thought I dealt with his game well. It was, yeah, just difficult to get into a rhythm. Did quite a lot of running. He won a lot of free points off his first serve. You know, it was a tough match. I thought I dealt with it pretty well.
Q. Where is your game compared to when you played here last year?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I think I'm hitting the ball bigger than I was last year. You know, I think a lot of the things, you know, can be quite subtle differences. I don't think there's any major change. I don't see many major changes in any of the guys really at the top of the game. But you just try to become more consistent, have less weaknesses. I think this year I'm a little bit more solid.
Q. How do you brace mentally when you see who's left in the tournament? There's a lot of great players left.
ANDY MURRAY: Great players left. Yeah, some of the best of all time. So it's exciting to be part of it. You know, I hope I can come through. But I'll just be focused on my next match. I'm sure they'll have a really good match tonight. Rafa and David are both great competitors. They're both in unbelievable shape. It will be a very tough match.
Q. Rafa spoke the other day in the early days of his career not really feeling like he belonged. Did you have a breakout match that you can think of?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, actually when I played Rafa here, I think it was in 2006, maybe. I could be wrong. 2006, 2007. Yeah, it was five sets. It was probably the first time I played against one of the best players in a Grand Slam and made it very tough for them. It was a great match. So that was probably the first time I felt like I could go on and compete with them in the big events.
Q. How do you feel now compared to then?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I feel just way more experienced. I know how to deal with playing deep into Grand Slam events now, how to get prepared for them mentally and physically. It's something that I'm a lot better at.
But, yeah, I mean, it's always you know, it's always very tough when you come up against those guys. You need to be on your game physically and mentally if you want to beat them. So that will be the case in the next match.
Q. I read some article which says maybe when you were 13 or 14 you played Rafa in a junior tournament or something. You lost. That's when you decided to go to Barcelona. Is that a true story?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I actually didn't play against him. I never played against him until we were both on the tour. But I was playing like a team competition. Yeah, we were playing racquetball. I just asked him who he was practicing with in Spain. He said he was practicing with Carlos Moya, who was like top 10 in the world, and I was practicing with some guys that if I told you a name, you wouldn't know who they were. So that was really why I decided to go and train over there.
I went over when I was 15. I think it was a good decision.
Q. You made it to the semis pretty smoothly. Do you feel you have an extra gear that you haven't used yet?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, you have to wait and see. You know, I've played very, very well. When you play against the best players at the end of the tournament, you know, you need to play your best tennis again to give yourself a chance of winning.
So, yeah, I just have to wait and see how I respond when I play against them. But I have played very well so far.
Q. Do you feel like the pressure is off given that Roger and Rafa are Roger and Rafa and Djokovic is in such good form? Do you think this is a time that no one is putting the pressure on you?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I think there's pressure. I mean, you know, I'm sure the next match might be a bit different to today, the pressure. But, you know, I obviously want to try and reach the final, and if I get there, go on to win the tournament.
Unless you've been in those positions before, you know, you can't explain what the pressure's like. You expect a lot of yourself. You want to perform your best right at the end of the event. I'll be putting pressure on myself to play well.
Q. Does the burn get greater to want to win one the longer the time goes?
ANDY MURRAY: I think it's still the same as when I first was giving myself chances to win slams. It's still exactly the same as it was then. But it's not something that I lose sleep over. It's something that I work very hard towards, the reason why I train hard, you know, train away from home in December.
But, you know, this is obviously for me what my job is. You know, tennis is very important to me. If things don't go well on the tennis court, I've got very good friends and family to fall back on.
Q. You were talking to yourself a lot out there today and gesturing. What were your thoughts? What were you saying?
ANDY MURRAY: I was trying to get myself pumped up. It was very slow, cool conditions out on the court. You need to make sure you're moving your feet a lot when you're out there. And, yeah, because he's a very unpredictable player, you can't switch off. He goes through periods in matches where he plays great tennis, and you have to sort of hang on a little bit. Then he can go through periods where he makes some mistakes.
You need to sort of urge yourself to play a solid, sort of stable match, not make too many mistakes, and in the end hope that, you know, he'll make a few more mistakes than you.
I was just trying to get myself as focused as I could for the whole match.
Q. Not including this tournament, you've earned $14 million in your career. Royal Bank of Scotland is one of your sponsors. Do they manage your money?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I do bank with them, but they don't manage it. I have an accountant that does that.
Q. Do you invest in property in Scotland?
ANDY MURRAY: I do invest in property, not in Scotland. I do invest in property, yeah.
Q. Where?
ANDY MURRAY: Where? I have a place in Miami. I have a place in London. And then a few sort of projects in central London, as well. But, yeah, I'm pretty conservative. Don't make any bad decisions.
Q. Do you feel the support you have here? Seem to be a lot of people on your side.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, there's a lot of Scots here, a lot of Brits here. Actually, most all of the years I've come, I've had very good support. And, yeah, it does make a big difference in your matches when it does get tight or, you know, when there's a bit of sort of, I don't know, where the atmosphere's a little bit flat, and there's a group of guys that sing all the songs and stuff, get everyone into it. It does make a big difference.
Q. Did you go and see Billy Connolly last night?
ANDY MURRAY: I did.
Q. Did he make any reference to you in his act?
ANDY MURRAY: No, he didn't.
Q. Should he have?
ANDY MURRAY: I wouldn't have minded. I don't mind people making jokes about me. It's not a problem.
Q. Can you compare the win against Rafa at the Australian Open last year against the loss at Wimbledon to him?
ANDY MURRAY: In terms of?
Q. How you played.
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, the surfaces are very different. But, again, I mean, I was up a couple of sets and a break when he stopped. Like at Wimbledon, it was a lot of close games. Both of us had chances in both matches. It just comes down to who plays them a bit better.
I played better here and he was better at Wimbledon. It wasn't a huge difference in the way the match went. They were both pretty close. You know, hope I can play another good one in the semis.
Q. You've talked about having a lot of British support here. Do you think you're starting to win over some of the neutrals in Australia?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't know. But the support I've had in all my matches has been very, very good. I'm sure it won't be if I play against Rafa or Roger. I'm sure the majority of the crowd would be behind them.
But, no, I have good support here. I'm happy with how it is. I don't need any more or less.
Q. And what about Dolgopolov? Do you think you're going to be encountering him at this stage in tournaments in the future?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, with his game style, he's going to give a lot of guys problems. He might be a little bit inconsistent from time to time. But when his game's on, I'm sure, yeah, he'll get deep into Grand Slams and the big tournaments just because of how tricky his game is.
Q. Most people say that the depth in men's tennis is always increasing. In most slams maybe all four of you four guys at the top are in the semis. What is your explanation for this? There is still quite a big gap.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, Novak's consistency has been very, very, very good the last few years. Yeah, Roger and Rafa obviously speak for themselves. They play their best tennis at the big moments.
You know, I think the depth is very, very strong in the men's game. But I think, as well, because it's become very physical, it's also difficult throughout the whole year, because it's a long one, to play your best tennis the whole year. So I think sometimes, you know, guys like Roger and Rafa, they have losses in those events that maybe Roger didn't have before because I just think the game's become very physical. It's tough to sort of peak the whole way throughout the year. That's probably a reason why they lose a little bit more than they used to.
But the depth is still very strong. You know, the guy I played today was ranked 45 in the world. He's a lot better than that. He's a very, very tough guy.
Q. Does that give you the confidence that you can beat these guys in front of you at any given time?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I think I've played well against Roger, Novak and Rafa. I've had a lot of close matches with Rafa. I've had a lot of good wins against Roger. I actually haven't played Novak for quite a long time. But, I mean, I think everyone does beat everyone. I think Roger and Rafa have been better in the slams. That's something that me and Novak want to, I'm sure, try and change.
You know, Novak managed to beat Roger at the US Open last year, and I managed to beat Rafa at the Aussie Open. Hope that changes this year.
Q. Yet at the 02 when you played Rafa in the semi, you sat in your chair as long as he sat in his chair. You weren't standing up at the net waiting for him. Are you going to adopt the same policy? Every other player appears to spend half an hour hanging out in the corridor or in the chair.
ANDY MURRAY: Yes, I mean, I played him a lot of times. There's no point in getting yourself ready and waiting. So when they ask you, Are you ready to go, I always take three or four more minutes. I just warm up like a little bit later than I normally would. Yeah, I always stay in my chair until he's up and about because, well, that's just the way it is.
But I don't mind it at all. I don't really notice it. But it's just something you're ready for before you play against him.
Q. Do you think he's playing mind games with his opponents or that's just what he does?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I think that's what he does. I think he's done it since he was very young. I think he's very particular. You know, I just saw him getting ready for his match, you know, just now in the locker room. You know, he takes his time over everything, doing the grips on his racquet, doing the tape on his fingers. You know, he has the things with his bottles on the court. That's just the way he is.
I'm sure, even if he didn't do that, he'd still be an unbelievable player. I don't think it makes really a huge difference at all. I don't think he's playing mind games. But if you can reverse it a little bit, then you might as well try.
AO 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w półfinale
Q. How satisfied is it for you to get to the final?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, very. I mean, it's a very tough match tonight. I expected a very, very tough match. You know, it was a little bit up and down I thought. I changed my tactics well in the second set, second and third sets.
But, yeah, very happy to come through, because it was a really, really tough match. It could have gone either way.
Q. Can you talk us through the way you changed your game.
ANDY MURRAY: I just started playing closer to the baseline, taking his time away a little bit. I started slicing a little bit more, like changing the pattern of the points. You know, we were playing a lot of sort of cross court backhand rallies in the first set. He wasn't missing a ball.
I started slicing up the line, changing the passing of the points, was able to dictate a little bit more with my forehand. I used my backhand down the line well. Just went for my shots a bit more. I came to the net a lot. Finished a lot of points off at the net.
There was a lot of changes. But I was just going for my shots a bit more.
Q. In the tiebreaks, you must have been really pleased with the way you stepped it up and won them both pretty comprehensively.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I served well in both of them. Went for my shots. You know, I got off to a good start in both really. Yeah, that always makes a big difference in the tiebreaks.
Yeah, tiebreaks were good. Third set was very well, it's not like the first set I felt like I played badly. It was just I had my chance in the first set; didn't take it.
And, yeah, I mean, it's gonna happen in a five set match against someone as good as him.
Q. You said you changed string tension. Did you go on court with two different racquets strung with different tension?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I always go on with two different tensions. I wasn't really feeling it at all. You know, I went up in tension even though it was getting colder, so I felt like I could really swing hard at the ball just give it just a bit more of a crack, and I helped.
Q. Yesterday Novak said that it's good for the game to have some people who can beat Roger and Rafa and not have those two all the time. Now we have a final without either one. It's to your advantage to be in the final. Do you agree it's good for the game itself to have that?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, personally, yeah, if people thought it was better for the game if Roger and Rafa were in the final, then I'm not really bothered. It's better for me if I'm in the final.
But I don't know. I don't know if it's better for the game or not. You know, I think, I mean, those two have been great for the sport, and I'm sure they'll continue to be for the next six, seven years however long they're both playing.
You know, but from a personal point of view, I would rather be in the final than be watching Roger and Rafa at home playing again.
Q. You played Novak seven times on the tour. You maybe played with him as a junior or something. Can you talk about the rivalry between you and Novak.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, because we've always been like 3 and 4 the last few years, we've always been on different halves of the draw in every tournament we've played. So, yeah, we haven't come up against each other I think for over two years now.
So, you know, we practice a lot together. We get on well together. We're good friends. You know, so in terms of a rivalry, I think this will be the start well, I hope it's the start of us playing each other in big matches.
Q. Can you take us back to when you first met? What were some of your earliest memories of meeting Novak as a teenager?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, we both went quite different routes. I played him the first time I think when I was like 13 maybe. You know, it's not like you speak that often to the foreign players and stuff. There's normally a pretty big sort of language barrier.
We played each other up until we were like 15, and then he improved a lot faster than I did. Then I managed to catch up. It wasn't really until we got back on the tour that we started playing together a lot and practicing together again.
Yeah, the first time I played him must have been, yeah, when we were about 13. So it's been a long time we've known each other.
Q. Was that first match in Tarbes?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah.
Q. Do you know who won?
ANDY MURRAY: I won 6 Love, 6 1 maybe. So, yeah, a lot's changed since then, I'm sure. It will be just a bit tougher than that on Sunday.
Q. Do you think the fact that Novak will have had 24 more hours to prepare will be a factor at all?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I think it helps. Yeah, it's not really an excuse. I had it last year. You know, I think the more rest you can have, the better.
But it's not like, you know, at the US Open where I would have where I'd be playing, in 13, 14 hours. I have the whole of tomorrow. I won't practice till late tomorrow, and then I've got the whole day to get ready on Sunday.
So I'm hoping physically I'll be okay. But, yeah, I'm sure every player in the draw would rather have an extra day.
Q. Can you take us through the sequence where you said you lost track of the score tonight.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I thought it was 4 3 in the second set, and then, yeah, it wasn't until the umpire called 5 5 that I realized that, yeah, I just saved a set point.
Q. What did you think when you saw it was 5 All?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I was obviously a bit surprised. But you need to sort of get back into focusing. It was quite a big stage of the match. So, you know, it hadn't really happened to me that often before.
But sometimes, you know, when you're in the match, you know, you sort of get in a bubble, in a zone, and you don't well, normally you know exactly what the score is, but tonight I obviously didn't.
Q. When you're in the rhythm of play in a tournament, very much in your routine, is it quite easy to sort of shut out the historic significance, how big a match it is? In some ways is it possible to treat it like any other match?
ANDY MURRAY: It was until you brought it up.
But, no, I mean, first of all, it's more like, you know, a personal dream or a personal goal of mine. So that's really what you need to sort of keep in check and not let yourself get ahead of yourself.
You know, the historical thing, it's not something that I've thought about that much, but it's something that obviously for me personally I want to try and win.
You know, but I also don't want to sort of get myself so amped up that, you know, I play a stinker of a match. I think if you go in thinking like, Yeah, no one's won for 60 years, I might never get another chance.
I'm going to make the most of the opportunity, for sure. I'll give 110%. But, you know, I also need to make sure I'm relaxed and calm on the court. I don't want to get myself sort of too worked up.
Q. You didn't play against him in almost two years, but you won the last three matches in two sets. Does it mean something or not much after all this time?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I'm sure if I lost all of them in two sets, I mean, I would have been seven matches down. So, you know, they were big moments for me. I won against him a couple of times in Masters Series finals. When I won my first Masters Series in Cincinnati, you know, that was a big win for me.
The wins meant a lot to me at the time. I don't know if they'll have a bearing during the match on Sunday. But at the time they meant a lot to me. You know, I expect a very tough match. I'm not expecting him, just because he's lost the last couple of times, to hand the match to me. I'm going to have to work incredibly hard.
Q. Did you watch Novak's match last night?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I watched all of it. I didn't see that much of the first set, but I saw from the second set onwards.
Q. It's going to be hot on Sunday. Novak has had some problems in the past with heat exhaustion. Do you think that might be an advantage for you?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I mean, it's in the evening. I wouldn't expect it to be too much of an issue. If it is an issue for him, then that's obviously an advantage for me. But I'm not going to the match thinking that will be a problem for him. You know, you just have to see what happens when you're out there.
Q. When draws are made, I think probably we tend to assume that the toughest draw is likely the way it turns out. We figured it would be Soderling to play Nadal to play Federer. Do you get any more sense of gratification that you've came through people like Dolgopolov and Ferrer today, maybe even tougher matches for you mentally?
ANDY MURRAY: There's definitely a slightly different pressure. But, yeah, from my side I was very surprised. I did one hour of press after my last match. I didn't get asked one question about Ferrer. The guy is ranked 7 in the world. After this week, he'll probably be higher.
I have a lot of respect for all of the players on the tour. I have a lot of respect for him. I played him many times. Had very tough matches. I practiced with him. I've seen him train. The guy's in unbelievable shape.
Yeah, it's important, I think, for everybody to respect, you know, all of the players. And he, yeah, pushed me. It was an incredibly difficult match, like I was expecting.
There has been slightly different pressure going into the matches, because against Dolgopolov I didn't really know his game that well and I was favored. You know, you're expecting to get to the semis, but last two matches have been the hardest two in the draw.
So I'm sure Sunday's going to be very tough, but I've been very focused on just playing my opponent and not getting ahead of myself.
Q. The other day you said you were very conservative about your money investment. How conservative do you consider yourself as a player?
ANDY MURRAY: I think tonight I showed that I did what I needed to do to win. I think a lot of the players now are very patient on the court, because you can't just be trying to hit winners because the guys are too fast and it's all played from the baseline, it's a lot slower.
I don't know. Depends how you view being conservative. You know, I think I try a lot of different shots. I have a lot of variety, dropshots, came to the net a lot, change the pace of the ball. I don't hit the same ball over and over again just because I think I'm going to make it. I do hit a lot of different shots.
I don't think the match tonight was conservative. Some matches you need to be conservative. You just do what you have to do to win.
Q. Djokovic yesterday said that this surface is the best for him because it's not too fast and it does give him some options when he has to choose the selection of his shots. What about you? Do you like this surface a lot, too? Would you like it a little faster?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, it changes. The surface here does change a lot. Not the surface, but the way the court plays changes a lot depending on the heat. Because it's been quite cool here, that's slowed the pace of the court down a bit.
But, I mean, for me the court here is the best for my game. You know, I can see why Novak would really like the court, as well. The balls here are very different to what they are at the US Open. The US Open is very, very fast compared to here.
So I think this is along with the French; the French can be very quick, too, for clay it is slow.
Q. You seemed a bit gimpy working the autograph line after the match. Is everything all right health wise?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I just played 3 hours and 45 minutes. I was a bit stiff and sore when the adrenaline wears off of just playing a fourth set tiebreak. You stiffen up quite quickly. It wasn't warm out there. I was a bit stiff and sore. I jumped in the ice bath, had a warm bath afterwards. I feel better.
Q. How significant was last year? You tasted the bitterness of defeat, but you must have gained experience making the final.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was tough for me, but something that I think overall would have made me a better player, stronger mentally. You know, they're all experiences that you need to deal with sort of playing at the highest level of sport. You know, you definitely lose some tough matches. You know, I hope that it will help me on Sunday.
But I'm sure I'll deal with everything better than I have done in the past on Sunday.
3 wielkoszlemowy finał Murraya
Andy Murray zagra w finale Australian Open 2011. Będzie to już 3 finałowy występ Szkota w Wielkim Szlemie. W dwóch poprzednich podejściach najlepszy brytyjski tenisista przegrywał z Rogerem Federerem: 26 57 26 na US Open i przed rokiem właśnie w Melbourne 36 46 67.
AO 2011 - wywiad po porażce w finale
Q. How hard is it for you at the moment?
ANDY MURRAY: It's better than it was last year. You know, it was obviously tough, disappointing. You know, I thought Novak played unbelievably well. And, yeah, it's tough, but got to deal with it.
Q. Why do you say you feel better this year than last year?
ANDY MURRAY: I just do. That's it. I was in a much worse state last year than I was this year. I don't know why. That's it.
Q. Did you have a feeling at any time you were going to get back into it?
ANDY MURRAY: You always have to try and find a way to get back in. You always have to try and believe. I mean, you know, he defended, I mean, unbelievably well tonight.
So when I got ahead in some games, you know, and even just in points, uhm, you know, he was sticking up lobs that were landing on the baseline, passing shots that were very close to the lines.
So it was quite difficult to find parts of the court where I was getting free points from. You know, I think I broke his serve maybe twice in the third set and still lost it 6 3.
So, you know, I was trying to find a way; I just wasn't able to put enough good points together.
Q. The first two sets, on his serve you only made six points in the first set and again six points in the second set. How do you explain that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't know. I just finished, so I don't know exactly why that would have been.
But, you know, he played a great match. He hardly missed any balls. You know, it wasn't like I was missing loads of returns or making a lot of mistakes off returns. You know, we were getting into a lot of rallies.
I saw the stats up on the thing at the end of the match. Not like he hit way more winners than he. I made way more mistakes than him and he defended very well.
Q. You didn't seem to move as well as you had done in this tournament. Were your energy levels down? Was there an injury problem at all?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I would say the semifinal match was a tough one, a long one. But I felt okay. You know, when it's a Grand Slam final as well, the adrenaline helps. You feel a lot better with that. That definitely helps.
No, that definitely wasn't the reason why I lost.
Q. Can you put your finger on why it just didn't click for you? Wasn't the real Andy Murray out there, was it?
ANDY MURRAY: It was. But he played great. I mean, I would have liked to have played better. But, you know, I think he would have beaten every other player on the tour if he played like that tonight.
He served well. He didn't make many mistakes from the back of the court. He moved really, really well. He hit the ball very clean. That was it.
Q. Agassi lost three finals before he went on to win a career slam. Do you still have belief you can win?
ANDY MURRAY: You know, I want to keep working hard, try and improve. You know, but I said before the final, it's not something that, you know, I don't lose sleep over at night. You know, it's going to be tough for sure for a few days.
But, you know, I want to try and win one, of course. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. You know, I'm just working as hard as I can. I train very hard. You know, I take tennis very seriously.
But, you know, I love my life away from tennis, as well. You know, that's why maybe this year, compared with last, I'm very, very happy off the court. I'm enjoying myself. There's other things to look forward to, too.
Q. Did you get the sense that the first set was always going to be the crucial one today, that that one getting away from you gave him that extra incentive to go for his shots?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think he definitely loosened up after the first set and started playing better. You know, it was a long first set. The match was even quite long for the scoreline. There was quite a lot of long rallies and stuff.
But, yeah, the first set of all matches in majors are important. But just because you lose the first one, you still have a lot of time to get back into it. You know, I wasn't able to get back into it.
Q. Can you describe how different it is physically and mentally playing in a Grand Slam final as to a regular tour final?
ANDY MURRAY: Physically there's no difference to playing any of the other matches. I mean, mentally, you know, there's a bit more pressure and stuff. But that gets less, you know, after you start the match. It's more the buildup in the beginning of the match.
You know, the pressure is different obviously to playing the first round of a Grand Slam because you're playing to win it. But physically it's the same as all the other matches.
Q. You said off the court you're very happy. Is there a sense of frustration having been there three times and not getting one yet?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, anyone who played in three finals would have loved to have won one. But I haven't. And, yeah, I mean, I just need to keep working hard and, you know, try and do it.
But, yeah, I would have preferred to have won one than lost three.
Q. Were there any improvements in Novak's game that surprised you?
ANDY MURRAY: He's a very good player. I haven't played him for a very long time, you know, but I've played him when he's played well and when he hasn't played so well.
He served well tonight in comparison to how he had been the last year or so. That's definitely helped him.
Q. Do you think you can still get close to his level when you're at your best? Is there a gap there now that you need to bridge?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I think I could have played better this evening. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to need to improve. You know, obviously I lost in straight sets, so I'm going to need to get better.
Q. Is it tougher for you to have lost in straight sets like the other two finals, or it doesn't change that much because what is important is to win?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't think it changes that much. Uhm, you know, obviously, you know, if it's sort of a five set match, you feel like you're very, very close to winning, I'm sure that's very difficult, you know, when you get so close.
You know, I wasn't particularly close tonight. I mean, it's disappointing I'm sure every time you lose, whether it's three sets or five sets.
Q. Rafa when he came in said he didn't want to talk about injury. He did eventually say he did have a problem. Are you saying you were a hundred percent?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I mean, I thought I moved decent. I think I could have moved better. But, no, like I said, yeah, I wasn't injured.
But, you know, I had a tough match in the semi. I moved very well the whole tournament. I felt like I could have moved a bit better tonight.
And against someone like Novak, you know, you need to be firing on all cylinders, and I didn't move as well as I would have liked.
Q. I know it is what it is, but this idea of playing, you've got 24 hours less...
ANDY MURRAY: I think they do a great job at this tournament. Last year I had some extra time. The US Open you have both players don't have any time really. You play Saturday, Sunday. I mean, I think it's fine the way they do it here.
Q. What were you talking about to the umpire in the first set? You seemed to get into a discussion with the umpire.
ANDY MURRAY: No, I hit a backhand cross court, and I think it was quite clear in the end they called it out and he overruled. I just said to him, like, you know, I thought that was like almost inside the line. You know, he sort of like bit back at me even though he'd overruled it and we were agreeing.
I just said to him, like, to get defensive toward me, I was just saying I thought it was a quite clear mistake. That was it. It wasn't anything more than that.
Q. You've played him a lot. Has he ever been better at retrieving and playing defense?
ANDY MURRAY: No, he always moves great. But, you know, tonight there was probably five, six times when, you know, I got into good position. He stuck up a lob that landed right on the baseline. You know, so it's difficult to smash because you don't know whether it's going in or not.
Then a couple of times, you know, we played I think at 5 4 in the first set we had another unbelievable point at 15 30. You know, he did some unbelievable retrieving in that point. You know, he came up I think to break me in the third set. You know, I had him going side to side. He hit one backhand passing shot down the line from way back in the court.
When he was on the run tonight, he hit the ball very, very well.
Q. You changed to Plan B against David Ferrer. Did you have any tactical changes that you would have liked to have made tonight?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I started trying to go for my shots more as the match went on. You know, at the beginning of the match, both of us, you're sort of trying to feel each other out a little bit. As you work your way into the match, you start to find patterns and go for your shots more.
Started taking more chances. You know, managed to break serve a few times, but wasn't able to keep it up for long enough.
Q. It took you a little over three months to recover last year, yet you seem to be saying you can handle it better now, not have the same effect.
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Might do. But right now I feel better than I did last year. I'll see what I do from here, you know. I don't know, I might not play for a few months. I might feel like playing in a week's time. It depends. See how I feel.
Q. Is the other way to switch it around to say, first major tournament of the season, another final?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I look at the tournament as a whole, it was excellent. I don't think anyone would say that reaching a slam final is a bad achievement. It's a very, very good achievement.
Obviously right now there's disappointment because you just lost the match. But, you know, when you look back over the tournament, you know, there's not many people that can say they've made slam finals.
So, you know, I'll be very happy with the way the tournament went. But I would have obviously liked to have gone one step further.
MURRAY VOWS TO KEEP WORKING HARD
Andy Murray was trying to win his
first Grand Slam title.
Great Britain’s Andy Murray lost a major final for the third time on Sunday as he fell in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open championship match. However the Scot insisted that he will deal with the disappointment and continue to work as hard as he can to end Britain’s 75-year wait for a male Grand Slam champion.
“I want to keep working hard, try and improve,” said Murray. “But I said before the final, it's not something that I lose sleep over at night. It's going to be tough for sure for a few days. I want to try and win one, of course. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I'm just working as hard as I can. I train very hard. I take tennis very seriously.
“But I love my life away from tennis, as well. That's why maybe this year, compared with last, I'm very, very happy off the court. I'm enjoying myself. There are other things to look forward to, too."
The 23-year-old Murray was beaten in straight sets in all three of his major finals, also losing to Roger Federer in the 2008 US Open final and finishing runner-up to the Swiss in last year’s Australian Open title match. Asked if that made the defeats any tougher to digest, Murray replied it only served as motivation to work harder and improve.
“I don't think it changes that much,” said the Dunblane native. “Obviously if it's sort of a five-set match, you feel like you're very, very close to winning, I'm sure that's very difficult when you get so close. I wasn't particularly close tonight. I could have played better this evening. I'm going to need to improve. Obviously I lost in straight sets, so I'm going to need to get better.”
After losing out to Federer on the Rod Laver Arena 12 months ago, Murray was visibly distraught and went on to endure a lean period on the tennis court, reaching only two quarter-finals before rediscovering his best form at Wimbledon. Following his impressive run over this past fortnight, though, the Scot’s overriding emotion is one of pride and optimism.
“Obviously right now there's disappointment because you just lost the match. But when you look back over the tournament there's not many people that can say they've made slam finals. So I'll be very happy with the way the tournament went. But I would have obviously liked to have gone one step further.”
Murray may be ready for a month away from tennis
Andy Murray might be preparing to pull the plug on his next round of tournaments after losing badly to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
While the Scot has not taken action yet, British media is speculating that he could easily withdraw from his first date from Monday in Rotterdam and could also miss Dubai later in the month.
A year ago, after an emotionally heavy loss in Melbourne to Roger Federer, Murray made a late pull from Rotterdam, then lasted just one round in Dubai. He said after losing to Djokovic in Melbourne that he has other things in his life, with tennis not the only focus.
He could well be laying the groundwork for time away from the game. "I don't know, I might not play for a few months. I might feel like playing in a week's time," warned No. 5 Murray.
"It depends on how I feel. I don't have to play until Indian Wells and Miami (in March). If I am enjoying myself back home then I won't start training again, because last year I went through the motions a bit and that is not the way to move forward."
With his girlfriend back in his Surrey mansion near London after the pair split but were reunited, Murray could be loathe to leave Britain. "I want to spend time with my girlfriend, chill out and get away from the court."
Rusedski: Murray needs proven coach
Beaten Australian Open finalist Andy Murray needs a proven coach in his corner if he wants to break his Grand Slam duck, according to former world number four Greg Rusedski.
Rusedski, the last British player to reach a Grand Slam final before the 23-year-old Scot, said he could do a lot worse than get on the phone to no-nonsense Australian Tony Roche as he mulls over his thrashing by Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
"That's three Grand Slam finals and he hasn't won a set yet," Rusedski told Reuters by telephone.
"Yes, he's lost twice to Roger Federer and now to Djokovic so it's no disgrace but he's got to do things better out there and maybe it's time for a few changes.
"I think someone like Tony Roche would be a great thing for Murray. He is a great guy and was a great player himself.
"He coached Ivan Lendl who was number one, he coached Pat Rafter who was number one, he coached Lleyton Hewitt who was number one and he coached Roger Federer, so that's not a bad record is it?
"Murray cannot expect to win a Grand Slam final being a counter-puncher. He has to take the bull by the horns and Roche is an aggressive sort of coach who knows all about coming forward and serve and volley.
"He's a no-nonsense sort of guy who has that experience and I think that would be beneficial for Murray having someone with him who's been there and done it."
Murray ditched his full-time coach Miles Maclagan last year and now works part-time with Spaniard Alex Corretja and uses best friend Dani Vallverdu as a hitting partner while his mother Judy also has a big input.
However, Rusedski doubts whether the current set-up can get Murray over the next hurdle.
"Maybe he needs someone a bit stronger," added Rusedski, the runner-up at the 1997 US Open to Rafter.
"His mum Judy does the video analysis and she does a good job in those things but then he's got Corretja as his coach who didn't show up (at the Australian Open).
"For me it's about having someone to get you in the right frame of mind because last year was very similar for Murray. He needs to change his mentality. He needs someone in his corner who can tell him how to handle a grand slam final.
"We are talking about the final hurdle, the guy is a great player but we are talking about that half per cent and that's all that is missing. It's very small margins."
Rusedski, who also threw the name of Swede Magnus Norman, previously working with world number four Robin Soderling, into the frame, said Murray would continue to challenge for majors but it would not get any easier.
"It becomes harder every time you miss out," he said. "This time it was not even Federer in the final, it was Djokovic who is a week younger than him and someone he's grown up with.
"Djokovic has stepped it up. Don't forget, he had just won the Davis Cup for his country which is probably the most pressure packed tennis you can ever play.
"Murray is the best British player of the Open era. You don't win six Masters Series and reach three Grand Slam finals without being a great player but you need that little bit that's going to make the difference. He doesn't want to look back at his career and think I could have, I should have, I would have."
Murray gets the advice to get a proper coach
As Andy Murray fights his personal demons after a second straight Australian Open title loss, he's getting some advice: get a coach.
The word came in Britain from Greg Rusedski, the former player with whom the Scot has never been close. But television commentator Rusedski made his recommendation anyway, suggesting that Murray could profit with a steady hand such as Australian Tony Roche onside. But that would appear to present an impossible logistical issues, with Roche not only working with his nation's Davis Cup team but also the personal coach of Lleyton Hewitt.
"Someone like Tony Roche would be a great thing for Murray," television commentator Rusedski told British media. "He coached Ivan Lendl who was No. 1, he coached Pat Rafter who was No. 1, he coached Lleyton Hewitt who was No. 1 and he coached Roger Federer, so that's not a bad record is it?”
1997 US Open finalist Rusedski called Roche "a no-nonsense sort of guy who has that experience, I think that would be beneficial for Murray having someone with him who's been there and done it."
Murray parted with his former coach Miles MacLagan last summer and has since been advised by Spain's Alex Corretja - remaining in Barcelona for the Australian Open - and a travelling circus of various hitting partners. physios, trainers, and of course, his mother Judy.
25 zawodowych finałów Murraya
Finał Australian Open był wielkoszlemowym finałem w karierze 24-letniego Szkota i 25 pojedynkiem finałowym w karierze. Murray wygrał 16 turniejów, a niecały tydzień temu w Melbourne przegrał mecz o tytuł po raz 9.
Andy Murray - przegrane finały (9)
2011 Australian Open
2010 Los Angeles, Australian Open
2009 TMS Indian Wells
2008 US Open
2007 Metz, Doha
2006 Washington
2005 Bangkok
Murray pulls out of Dubai citing wrist injury
Beaten Australian Open finalist Andy Murray has pulled out of next week's Dubai Open, citing a wrist injury.
"Andy would like to apologise to both the tournament and its fans," a simple two sentence statement on his official website read.
The Scot was last week bumped out of Rotterdam by Marcos Baghdatis, his first match since losing the Australian Open showpiece to Novak Djokovic last month.
That Melbourne defeat was the third time a Grand Slam final appearance has ended in defeat for the world number five, who is yet to win one of tennis's four major titles.
His next tournament is now listed as the March 10-20 Indian Wells Masters event.
Murray last year came under fire in Dubai for saying after a loss at the tournament that he had employed experimental tactics.
He was beaten by unseeded Janko Tipsarevic after an unusual display in which he charged the net more than usual and went for a greater number of winners.
"I think it was a good learning experience - if it was a Slam, my tactics would have been different," Murray said afterwards.
Reuters
Murray looks to the future.
Britain's Andy Murray, in a bid to break his Grand Slam duck, has adopted a forward-looking strategy for this season while attempting to learn from his mistakes in the past.
The 23-year-old Scot has reached three Grand Slam finals without going on to seal victory, most recently at January's Australian Open when he was pummelled by Serb Novak Djokovic.
"I've been thinking a lot for the future," Murray said while preparing for the Indian Wells ATP tournament. "I haven't been thinking too much about the past which maybe wasn't the case at this stage last year.
"I think it's been a huge benefit. I've seen many positives from the start of this year but now it's time to make sure I have kept improving and I'm not staying at the same level."
Murray, who had again been hoping to end his country's 75-year wait for a major men's champion at the Australian Open, believes he has learned a great deal about handling Grand Slam pressure since the start of his career.
"There was a lot of pressure on me to do well very quickly and I feel like now I have learned not to put the emphasis all the time on winning matches," the world number five said.
"I want to make sure that I play my best tennis at the Grand Slams and I think I have started to do that better the last couple of years.
"I've just got to make sure I stay confident about the level I am trying to get to. I hope I can win here the next couple of weeks but I need to also view the things I am working on as being very important as well."
Asked what had prompted his shift to a forward-looking strategy, Murray replied: "Probably just growing up. You learn how to deal with things better and how to improve faster.
"I made mistakes when I was younger and I am starting to understand better how to deal with them and how to move on from them. It has certainly been better the last few months."
Murray has competed in only two tournaments this year, losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open final and then being beaten by Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4 6-1 in his first match in Rotterdam last month.
The Briton was forced to pull out of the Dubai Open which followed, citing a wrist injury, but he has since fully recovered and has just completed 10 days of training in Miami.
"It's been good," Murray said. "The last few years I haven't played that much (at the start of the season) and it's helped me a lot.
"You need to have a little trust in what you are training and what you're practising so when you come into the tournaments you're not as uptight if you haven't played a match for quite a while.
"I feel good. I've played a lot of practice sets to make sure I'm not going to be that rusty and I've been hitting the ball well."
Fifth-seeded Murray will play his first match at Indian Wells when he takes on American qualifier Donald Young in the second round.
Murray game falling into another post-Melbourne slump
For a second straight season, Andy Murray's tennis looks to be in serious trouble weeks after losing another Australian Open final.
And instead of snapping back six weeks after losing the Grand Slam title bid to Novak Djokovic, the Scot world No. 5 is in danger of falling further if he doesn't pull up his socks.
Murray's latest - and totally unexpected - disappointment came in his Indian Wells Masters opening match against 143rd-ranked American Donald Young. The 21-year-old has done nothing of note for the past half-decade after being "discovered" by John McEnroe.
But suddenly, the journeyman with the hip-hop look diamond stud and the baseball cap askew has the game to beat Murray. The loss left the Scot adrift, with doubles alongside his elder brother Jamie as his only hope now of remaining at the desert venue.
"I haven't thought about it," he said of his immediate plans. "But I've got doubles, so I'll stay here until I'm done with doubles, and then I go on to Miami and hopefully have a better week there."
Murray has played only one other match since his loss to Djokovic, going out in the Rotterdam first round to Marcos Baghdatis. The coach-less Scot remains puzzled about how to turn his game around.
"I started the match well, and when it got close to the end of the first set, I just didn't do anything particularly well. I didn't do anything to really lift myself. The crowd were for him. He started playing better and I didn't find my way back into the match."
Murray Hoping To Bounce Back
Former champion Andy Murray is hoping to get back into winning ways at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. The World No. 5 has not won a tour-level match since reaching the Australian Open final, when he lost to in-form Novak Djokovic.
The 2009 titlist, who lost to World No. 143 Donald Young in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, told reporters in Miami, "I want to do well here.
"It's obviously an important week for me. I have had success in the past, but obviously this tournament is hopefully where I start to play better again and have the right mindset going into matches."
Since his loss to Young, Murray admitted, "I think [I've] been sort of understanding what my game is. It's impossible to completely change. I'm not far away from the top of the game, and there's a few things I could do definitely better that would help."
FedEx Reliability Zone: Masters Of The Court
Murray, who owns an apartment and trains in Miami during the off-season and after Wimbledon in July, has been practising in Florida for the past five days.
The 23-year-old Scot commented on the change of conditions between Miami and the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. "[It's] very different to Indian Wells, very different conditions," he said. "The ball comes off the racquet very slowly, and the balls, the longer you play with them, get slower; whereas in Indian Wells, they were getting quicker."
Murray opens his Miami campaign against Alex Bogomolov Jr. in a second-round encounter.
Lendl offers to coach Murray
Former world number one Ivan Lendl has offered to coach Andy Murray, according to widespread reports in the British media.
Lendl, the winner of eight Grand Slam titles, is believed to have contacted Murray's advisors asking to meet with the struggling Scot.
The Czech-born American seems the ideal person to identify with Murray's current struggles.
During his career, Lendl lost his first four Grand Slam finals before finally going on to win his eight majors, with Wimbledon, where he was a beaten finalist twice, being the only Slam he failed to capture.
Murray has been in two Australian Open finals and one US Open decider - but failed to win so much as a set in the best-of-five contests.
The 23-year-old is in the midst of an alarming slump in form which has seen him crash out of the recent Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami to unheralded Americans Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov Jr respectively.
Murray, who has been coached by Mark Petchey, Brad Gilbert and Miles Maclagan in the past, is currently without a full-time coach.
He employs Alex Corretja as a part-time consultant and has a travelling companion in friend Dani Vallverdu.
Former world number one Roger Federer, now number three in the rankings, has sympathised with Murray's current difficulties.
"I struggled hugely when I was between 19 and 23, so for it to happen once in a while, I don't think it's that much of a worry," he said.
"It's important he picks it up before the French (Open) and Wimbledon but he's too good a player to continue like this, so he'll be all right."
What's behind Andy Murray's slump in form?
Given his status as arguably Scotland's top sportsman, the burning question being asked up and down the land is: what on earth is up with Andy Murray?
Since my BBC remit is to basically stalk the guy, you'd think I'd be in a great position to give you an answer. I wish.
Frankly, I haven't a clue either, other than that it must be much tougher to recover from two crushing Grand Slam defeats in Australia than even Andy realises.
And yet, how is it possible to go from the near-faultless tennis of his first six matches of the year, to the awful displays we've seen in Miami, Indian Wells and Rotterdam?
Not forgetting the hugely disappointing below-par performance in the Australian Open final itself, albeit that was against a player in Novak Djokovic, who has since proved to be unbeatable.
I'm afraid we're now in uncharted territory, as this is officially the worst run of form in Andy's career.
Since turning professional in 2005, he's never lost four matches in a row, far less lost them in straight sets. And he's failed to win a set since seeing off David Ferrer in the last four in Melbourne.
The last two defeats have arguably been the worst of his entire career, losing back to back matches to two qualifiers
It's also, sadly, the first time in his professional career he's gone out of three tournaments in a row in his first match. Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami 2011 will all be remembered as the events where he lasted longer
in the doubles than the singles.
And it's not just the defeats that are a cause for concern; it's the manner of the losses and the stature of the players he's losing to.
We had a similar downward spiral last year when Andy lost consecutive matches to Robin Soderling in Indian Wells, Mardy Fish in Miami and Philip Kohlschreiber in Monte Carlo.
But you'll have heard of all three of them. Kohlschreiber is just outside the top 30 and is now coached by Murray's former mentor Miles Maclagan. Fish contested the Queens club final last year and won two other titles on
the tour. And Soderling, at world number four, is clearly one of the best players on the planet.
So last year it was a slump, this year it's a mini-crisis. Of course, losing to the vastly improved Djokovic back in January in the big Melbourne final was no disgrace at all.
Simply getting there is a wonderful achievement in itself and should be celebrated and admired.
But for a player of Andy's ability, failing to take so much as a set from any of his three Grand Slam finals is not merely, if you'll excuse the pun, a major worry; it's also unprecedented in tennis's Open era.
To then go straight to Rotterdam and lose to the talented former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis was easily forgivable and, perhaps, inevitable, allowing for the post-Melbourne blues.
But what we've seen since then is a worrying disintegration of Murray's game and confidence.
The last two defeats have arguably been the worst of his career, losing back to back matches to two qualifiers.
Donald Young was ranked 143 in the world when he knocked the Scot out of Indian Wells the other week; and another American (though he was born in Moscow), Alex Bogomolov Jnr, is barely inside the top 120 and yet is celebrating a "shock" win in Miami.
No disrespect to these two fine gentlemen but Andy, as the world number 5, shouldn't be losing to them. Far less losing to them in straight sets. Indeed, the Murray of early to mid January would have crushed them.
So, what's happened since then to bring on the worst run of his career? Is it physical or mental, or a combination of both?
If it's a mental issue, Andy himself isn't letting on. He assured us he felt much better about this Aussie Open defeat than the one to Federer last year; and that, away from tennis, things are all hunky-dory in his private life.
And in the course of following him for the past couple of years, I've learnt that Andy definitely doesn't believe in sports psychology or psychologists, so it would seem that avenue of help is closed off.
So what about the physical?
I must admit, I thought Andy was carrying some sort of injury into the Australian Open final but when I asked him afterwards, he flatly denied it, though he did admit his movement around the court wasn't what it should be.
There are some long faces in team Murray at the moment: part-time consultant Alex Corretja didn't travel to Australia; was there for Indian Wells but then didn't go to Miami.
As far as I'm aware, he is still due to guide Andy through the upcoming clay court season.
And yet Andy has just promoted his hitting partner and best friend Dani Vallverdu, a former Davis Cup player for Venezuela, to be his main coach. He wants more continuity on the year-long grind that is the ATP Tour.
But where is the big-name, experienced coach who'll help guide him to the next level, a level he's surely just a couple of shots away from?
With the French Open just two months away, it's time for Andy to re-focus and re-energise
When he fired Miles Maclagan last summer, Andy said at the time he intended to look long and hard for the right man to guide him through the most important phase of his career.
No announcement came, other than to say he was staying with Corretja until after Wimbledon, when the coaching situation would be reviewed again.
There's no middle ground with Andy at the moment: he's either awesome or awful.
Back to back Australian Open finals and consecutive Masters Series final wins over Roger Federer in Toronto and Shanghai; or straight sets defeats to the likes of Donald Young and Bogomolov Jnr, whose name is an even more impressive scrabble score that yours truly.
Would Roger, Rafa, Novak or any of the rest of the top ten lose to these guys? No. Not in straight sets. And not two tournaments in a row.
So, with the French Open just two months away, it's time for Andy to re-focus and re-energise.
Last year it took him until the summer grass court season to recover his game. Let's hope he gets back to form much quicker this year.
He's far too good a player not to maximise his talent and win one of the big four. Do I believe he'll still do it? Yes.
However, if winning a match is beyond him right now, the prospect of securing a Slam must seem more daunting than ever.
Murray given Monte Carlo wildcard
Slumping world number four Andy Murray has been handed a wildcard to compete in the Monte Carlo Masters this month.
The Brit has had a miserable run since losing the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic in January and has decided to play in Monte Carlo to get an early taste of claycourt action ahead of May's French Open.
Czech world number seven Tomas Berdych will join Murray as a wildcard in the April 9-17 tournament which includes world number one Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Murray Aims To Regain Queen's Club Title
Andy Murray won the AEGON
Championships in 2009.
Britain’s Andy Murray will return to The Queen’s Club in June to try to regain the AEGON Championships title and begin a path to grass-court glory at Wimbledon.
Murray, who lifted the trophy without dropping a set two years ago, joins the top two tennis players in the world - No.1 Rafael Nadal and No.2 Novak Djokovic, in the field. The 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and four-time AEGON Championships winner Andy Roddick will also be part of the line-up at The Queen’s Club, 6th-12th June.
"Winning my first grass court title here in 2009 was an amazing feeling,” said Murray, who had never previously won a title on British soil.
“It means a lot to me to have my name on the trophy next to great champions such as John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal who have won it in the past. The Queen's Club has some of the best grass courts in the world, there are packed crowds every year and there is always a great atmosphere. Usually players that have done well at Queen's have gone on to do well at Wimbledon. I can't wait to get playing."
Murray began the year impressively, reaching the final of the Australian Open for the second successive year. He was beaten in the final by Djokovic, who in turn went on to lift the Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami titles in an unbeaten first three months of 2011.
The AEGON Championships will be broadcast live, every day from 6th-12th June, on BBC Television and Eurosport.
Intelligent Murray doesn't need a coach
Andy Murray is one of the most intelligent sportsmen I've ever come across, and he is not far off being a great player. He does not need a coach.
There has been a lot of talk recently about who Murray should have in his corner, but when you are as switched on as he is, it is pretty academic.
The key thing for Murray is to be enjoying his tennis, relishing his work off the court and generally flourishing with the people around him.
There is no need for someone else to be telling him what to do tactically, because he is incredibly astute and he thinks on his feet.
Murray is not one of the many players on Tour who need a coach to be spoon feeding them ahead of each match or motivating them to get on the practice court each day.
The Brit is a very intelligent man, and he does most of his thinking for himself.
Murray works things out very well, and he analyses his opponents and knows when to attack, and when to defend on the most part.
However, he does seem to have a proficiency to endure rather long droughts and that makes people describe him as rudderless without a coach.
But that is nonsense.
I don't think a single coach would make any difference, and what is very important is that he is not being annoyed by who is around him.
Murray had one of the best coaches in the world in his corner in Brad Gilbert, but after a while he got sick of him and stopped listening.
Once that became the case, the Brit simply moved on and it proved to be an unsuccessful partnership.
It is all very well for people to throw names into the ring, but if Murray does not enjoy being around the person in question then he will stop listening. That is just the way he is wired.
Murray has confirmed that he will travel around with a group once more, and that is all well and good.
So what if he doesn't wish to appoint a long-term single coach at this stage?
I believe it is irrelevant who Murray has in his corner at the moment, and nothing will deter him from focusing on the clay court season and beyond.
He said he was keen to make a decision before Roland Garros, but he has been wise in biding his time.
The fact is that Murray is a very difficult man to work with: there is unlikely to be a long queue of coaches willing to partner with him.
It's a tricky situation, but he must remain patient and see how this season unfolds.
But one thing is for sure: like Pete Sampras and Roger Federer before him, Murray does not need a coach.
Relationships with coaches are fraught with difficulties, and he is far too intelligent to need one.
Murray still searching as he sees limits of adidas coaching
Andy Murray's temporary coaching solution might not be the ideal one, with the No. 4 now not allowed to use the coaching brain trust retained by clothing sponsor adidas when he faces another member of the company's player stable.
That essentially means for showdowns against Fernando Verdasco, Jurgen Melzer, Mikhail Youzhny or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Scot is on his own for advice. Murray admitted: "It's not the fix that I'm looking for," but knows that any help can do him some good as he struggles to escape his current on-court crisis.
Murray has been without a mentor since last summer and only a fortnight ago split with part-time Spanish advisor Alex Corretja. Now the Scot is finding out how hard it is to find someone prepared to travel up to 35 weeks per year.
The adidas programme uses noted coaches including Australian Darren Cahill and Dutchman Sven Groeneveld as advisors for all company players. Murray has reportedly been in talks with various others on for a possible full-time gig but with nothing yet to report.
"I've thought about it quite a lot. I'd like to do it as soon as possible but you need to find the right person. People think it's an easy thing to do but it's really not. There might have to be a bit of sacrifice on my part to go and train wherever the coach is, to make it a bit easier for them."
As the conversation built up a life of its own last week, former pros Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl both said they'd be wiling to work with Murray - if the price was right. But Murray was not taken in by the idle speculation. "I'm looking for someone who can come to the big events with me, who isn't restricted in terms of the weeks they can do," he told British media. "If they can't come to the French Open, for example, then for me that's quite a big negative. I'd like them to be around at the big events."
Murray won't let coach choice interfere with tennis concentration
Scotland's Andy Murray continues to look for a coaching solution, but promises to focus his attention on his tennis for the Monte Carlo tournament.
While he may dream of having British compatriot Tim Henman in his coaching corner, Andy Murray is currently dealing in reality, with the Scot saying he will put any considerations of finding a mentor on hold until after he competes in Monte Carlo and Barcelona over the next fortnight.
Murray revealed that he will be working with Australian uber-coach Darren Cahill - a member of the staff of sponsor adidas - on a temporary basis for the May ATP Masters events in Madrid and Rome as well as in the week proceeding the French Open.
"I spoke a lot about that (the coaching situation) last week," said Murray prior to his first Monte Carlo match as the season switches over to clay form hardcourt. "And I'm not any closer than I was then.
"I'm concentrating on playing now. I won't be making phone calls or thinking of it too much. After Barcelona (next week) I've got a week off so that will be the time to consider my options."
Murray had told the BBC that it would be great to have former No. 4 Henman on his team, more of a dream as the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist ha said he is not interested in all the travel such a post would entail.
Andy Murray has revealed that he would like the chance to work with Tim Henman, the man he replaced as British number one. "I would be interested in working with Tim. I might speak to him but I haven't yet. He's an ex-player who I'm sure could help me out in many respects.
"Unfortunately, I think he's quite happy on the golf course, so I'm not sure."
Murray waits on scan results in Barcelona
Andy Murray is set to decide on Tuesday whether or not he will play in Barcelona after undergoing a scan on his injured elbow.
The Scot required extra time and a pain-killing injection on his right elbow before his Monte Carlo Masters semi-final against Rafael Nadal on Saturday.
He also needed extra treatment during the match which he eventually lost 6-4 2-6 6-1.
"I've seen the doctor here and been getting treatment from my phsyio the last few days and I don’t think it's anything serious," the 23-year-old told the BBC.
"Whether or not I'll be able to play this week, I'm not sure. I haven't hit any balls since Monte Carlo but I'm going to practise (on Tuesday) in the morning and see how it is, and then I'll make a decision after that."
Even if he does play, second-seeded Murray will receive an opening-round bye and will face either Juan Carlos Ferrero or Xavier Malisse in the second round.
The European clay-court season is now in full swing since the Monte Carlo Masters, continuing with the tournament in Barcelona before the Madrid and Rome Masters in the first two weeks in May and the French Open which begins on May 22.
Eurosport
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/18042011/58/ … elona.html
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Murray out of Barcelona with injury
Second seed Andy Murray has withdrawn from this week's Barcelona Open with an elbow injury.
The 23-year-old required pain-killing injections into his right elbow before his Monte Carlo Masters semi-final against Rafael Nadal on Saturday which he eventually lost 6-4 2-6 6-1
Murray then underwent scans to the injury when he arrived in Barcelona on Monday before deciding whether or not to play.
"Under advice from the medical experts I have had to withdraw from the Barcelona tournament due to a right elbow injury," Murray said in a statement.
"I'm going to take four to five days rest and begin practising at the start of next week."
Murray is next scheduled to play in the Madrid Masters early in May, followed by the Rome Masters in the build-up to the French Open, which gets underway in Paris on May 22.
Murray nie zagra
Niedawno informowaliśmy o tym, że numer cztery światowego rankingu - Andy Murray – przejdzie szczegółowe prześwietlenie stawu łokciowego i wtedy zapadnie decyzja czy Szkot zagra w turnieju, czy nie. Najnowsze doniesienia głoszą, że uraz 23-latka niestety uniemożliwi mu występ na hiszpańskich kortach.
Kontuzja łokcia, której nabawił się Brytyjczyk przeszkadzała mu już podczas rozgrywanego w zeszłym tygodniu Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. Mimo niej, tenisista z Glasgow zaprezentował się z bardzo dobrej strony, przełamał fatalną, towarzyszącą mu od paru miesięcy passę i dotarł aż do półfinału zawodów. Tam zbyt mocny okazał się dla niego późniejszy mistrz monakijskiej imprezy – Rafael Nadal.
Informacje o stanie zdrowia Murraya sugerują, że uraz łokcia nie jest jednak na tyle poważny, aby miał zagrozić jego występowi w nadchodzącym wielkimi krokami French Open.
- Po konsultacji ze sztabem medycznym wspólnie podjęliśmy decyzję o tym, że nie wystartuję w barcelońskim turnieju – wyznał Szkot. Przez najbliższe cztery-pięć dni będę odpoczywał od tenisa, a do treningów powrócę wraz z rozpoczęciem nowego tygodnia.
http://www.tenisportal.com/news_full.ph … 4-19_17:57
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Murray o swoim urazie
Najlepszy brytyjski tenisista ostatnich lat – Andy Murray – ma nadzieję, że kontuzja łokcia nie okaże się zbyt poważna, a jemu samemu będzie dane zagrać w prestiżowym Barcelona Open, który od wczoraj jest rozgrywany w stolicy Katalonii.
Problem z łokciem dawał się Szkotowi we znaki już w zeszłym tygodniu na turnieju w Monako. Mimo bólu, 23-latek z Glasgow zdołał dotrzeć aż do półfinału imprezy, gdzie po ciężkim boju uległ późniejszemu triumfatorowi Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters - Rafaelowi Nadalowi.
Nie da się jednak ukryć, że uraz Murraya w jakimś stopniu przeszkodził mu w skutecznej walce o monakijskie laury. Szkot przejdzie dzisiaj szczegółowe prześwietlenie stawu i będzie mógł zadecydować o ewentualnym udziale w meczu pierwszej rundy, który organizatorzy zaplanowali mu na środę. Brytyjczyk jest jednak dobrej myśli i jak sam przyznaje, wydaje mu się, że ta kontuzja nie powinna nieść za sobą zbyt poważnych konsekwencji.
- Jestem nastawiony bardzo optymistycznie do tej całej sytuacji – zaczął Murray. Nigdy nie zmagałem się z problemem tego typu, ale skoro mogłem wystąpić w Monte Carlo, to chyba nie jest tak tragicznie. Ból nie uniemożliwił mi gry, więc bądźmy dobrej myśli.
- Nie zamierzam wdawać się w zbędne spekulacje na temat mojego stanu zdrowia, ponieważ nie jestem autorytetem w tej dziedzinie. Mogę się mylić, a kontuzja może się okazać dużo poważniejsza niż mi się wydaje. Moim zdaniem to tylko stan zapalny, ale jak już mówiłem – nie będę się wymądrzał. Poczekam na fachową opinię mojego lekarza i wtedy będę wiedział więcej.
Murray happy for Rome help from adidas coaches
Andy Murray has the services this week of adidas coach Darren Cahill at the Rome Masters.
But both Australian coach and Scottish player are taking pains to point out that the arrangement is merely temporary and purely the result of Murray wearing the company's three- striped clothing.
Cahill arrived in sunny Rome from the first rain of the week in Madrid, a day after Murray, who lost badly in the third round to Brazilian Tomaz Bellucci. Cahill said that his work with the world No. 4 was catch-as-catch-can along with his other duties of looking out for the rest of the company's players.
And for his part, Murray said he's unlikely to consider ending the coachless state he's been in since last summer until his run at Wimbledon is done. The player who turns 24 this month said he's happy to have just part-time guidance. "I'm not 100 percent sure yet. But I quite liked the way it worked this week," he told the BBC
"Obviously I can work with them (the adidas team) again, and also in the build up to the French Open. They have a lot of good guys, who've worked with experienced players, that can definitely help. They all seem very motivated to help me."
But Murray insists on stickiing as well with his ad-hoc team of friends and others who have helped him through his career. "I trust the guys I've got around me just now, and I just need to keep working hard."
Murray counting on elbow to carry him through Rome start
Andy Murray starts his Rome Masters campaign with optimism as his elbow injury from last month continues to improve.
The Scot fourth seed injured the joint at Monte Carlo but took a set on clay off of Rafael Nadal while playing their semi-final with a pain-killing injection more than three weeks ago.
Murray won a round in Madrid but is hoping to truly lift his level at the last major test before the French Open begins a week from Sunday. "I feel good, I'm playing pretty well. I've lost to some pretty good players here but I feel much better here."
Murray admitted that he did not take the decision to play Rome until the weekend when he felt his elbow was fit enough to withstand match play again. "I felt a bit better each day and I've been practising well. Monte Carlo was some of the best tennis I've played on clay. I need to keep that up."
The Scot will start with tough Belgian campaigner Xavier Malisse, playing the event for the first time in five years.
100 zwycięstw Murraya w turniejach Masters-1000.
Szkocki tenisista dokonał tej sztuki pokonując dziś Floriana Mayera w meczu 1/4 finału turnieju w Rzymie. Murray wygrał jak do tej pory 6 turniejów Masters-1000:
- Cincinnati 2008
- Madryt 2008
- Miami 2009
- Montreal 2009
- Toronto 2010
- Szanghaj 2010
Szkot był także w finale w Indian Wells 2009.
Cytat ze strony ATP:
Victory marked Murray’s 100th win at the elite Masters 1000 level; he has won six of the coveted trophies.
Andy Murray kończy dziś 24 lata. Szkotowi życzę jak najszybszego powrotu do walki o najwyższe laury, zdrowia i przezwyciężenia tego kryzysu, w jakim się znalazł. To tak po tenisowemu pożyczyłem .;)
Andy Murray - osiągnięcia w wieku 24 urodzin:
Ranking: 4 (rekord: 2)
Tytuły/Finały: 16/9
WS: 0/3
M-1000: 6/1
WTF: 0/0
Bilans spotkań: 280-101
Zarobki: $15,331,083
Fighting Murray confident as Roland Garros approaches
Andy Murray will take only confidence out of his three-hour Rome Masters battle with Novak Djokovic, with the Scot heading to London for a few days of rest before tackling the French Open.
Murray's three-set loss will only strengthen his resolve to make his big breakthrough on clay as he moves onto the Grand Slam. The Scot now says the slump he suffered after losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open final are just a memory.
"The 'crisis' I was in is over," said the world No. 4 who turned 24 at the weekend. "I'm playing great tennis again. I know that I can compete. I have to play that well and better if I want to win the French Open."
Murray is hoping to polish his fitness prior to arriving in Paris on Wednesday and playing a Thursday exhibition match. "I need to get fitter over the next four or five days. That will give me confidence going in there. This is the first time I've been unable to finish a match off - I'll make sure that it's the last."
He remains convinced he can go far at Roland Garros on current form. "I'm moving well on the clay. If I can be prepared physically and mentally. I give myself a chance there.
"My tennis will never go away when I have the intensity and right attitude I've had the last few weeks. I can be on top of the game.If I learn from my mistakes I can go even higher," said the longtime number four. "I'm fresh going into French. I'll play my best tennis, which is the most important thing."
http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20110 … approaches
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+ Wszystkiego najlepszego Andy !!! :)
Murray suffers injury scare in Paris
World number four Andy Murray has suffered an injury scare days before the French Open as he was forced to withdraw from the Mary Cohr Guinot Masters.
The Scot was due to play Frenchman Michael Llodra at the exhibition tournament in Paris but is understood to have pulled after straining his groin in training.
The injury is not expected to be serious and Murray is expected to be fit to play at the second Grand Slam of the year which gets underway at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Murray was also forced to withdraw from a tournament in Barcelona last month after sustaining an injury to his right elbow but returned at the Madrid Masters before pushing unbeaten Novak Djokovic to three sets in the Rome Masters semi-finals last week.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 1 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 000cc.html
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00134.html
French Open - Murray to have scan on ankle injury
World number four Andy Murray will have a scan on an injured ankle after limping past German Michael Berrer 6-2 6-3 6-2 in the third round of the French Open.
The Briton twisted his right ankle at the beginning of the second set but overcame the pain to win in two hours seven minutes.
"I don't know if I will be 100 per cent fit. I don't know if I will be playing the next match. Maybe I will be," he said.
Murray, who was barely troubled by an innocuous opponent throughout, put some ice on his ankle right after his match and said he would do everything to be ready for his next tie.
"You never know with these things. They can go away quickly. There's things you can do to recover faster. That's what I'll do," he said.
"I've managed to play almost two sets with it. I don't know. I've just got to wait and see, see what happens, and do all the right things.
"I'll try and hit some balls tomorrow and that's all I can do just now," he added.
Injury permitting, Murray will face Serbian 15th seed Viktor Troicki, who beat Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4, on Monday.
"He is definitely playing better than he was in previous years. He is very solid from both sides, got a big first serve. He moves very well," Murray said of Troicki.
"He's a very, very consistent player, doesn't make too many mistakes, but he can throw in some variety, some different shots, some slices, some higher balls and throw off his rhythm a little bit.
"He struggled a bit with that in the past when I played him."
Murray has never dropped a set against Troicki in three previous encounters but they have never met on clay.
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00194.html
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00210.html
Andy Murray w 1/2 Rg11!
Szkot został 5 aktywnym tenisistą, który zanotował półfinały wszystkich 4 lew Wielkiego Szlema. Oprócz niego tej sztuki dokonali wcześniej: Roger Federer, David Nalbandian, Novak Djoković i Rafael Nadal.
Żeby było śmieszniej, Murray został pierwszym zawodnikiem, który zmierzył się (bo chyba nie skreczuje przed SF) z Nadalem we wszystkich czterech WSach :D
RG 2011 - konferencja po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00249.html
Jestem w stanie pokonać Nadala
W piątek rozegrane zostaną półfinały gry pojedynczej panów w międzynarodowych mistrzostwach Francji. Broniący tytułu Hiszpan Rafael Nadal zmierzy się z rozstawionym z numerem czwartym Andym Murrayem, który wcale nie odczuwa strachu przed królem mączki. - Jestem w stanie go pokonać - deklaruje Szkot.- Powinienem przede wszystkim zaprezentować w piątek mój najlepszy tenis. Muszę być odpowiednio przygotowany pod względem psychicznym oraz taktycznym - stwierdził Murray, który w tym roku urwał już seta Nadalowi podczas zawodów rozgrywanych na kortach ziemnych w Monte Carlo. W Paryżu jednak Hiszpan legitymuje się niesamowitym bilansem gier 43-1. - To jedno z największych wyzwań we współczesnym tenisie. Jego wyniki tutaj są imponujące i zdaję sobie sprawę, jak trudny pojedynek mnie czeka - dodał pochodzący z Dunblane zawodnik.
24-letni Murray w swojej dotychczasowej karierze czterokrotnie ograł obecnego lidera światowego rankingu, lecz na jego ulubionej nawierzchni ziemnej nie znalazł jeszcze sposobu na Hiszpana (bilans: 4-10, z czego na mączce 0-3). W piątek Nadal będzie obchodził swoje 25. urodziny i z pewnością postara się w pełni pokazać swoje umiejętności. - Jestem przekonany, że Rafa będzie w wyśmienitej dyspozycji. On zawsze gra wspaniale podczas naszych pojedynków, więc nie spodziewam z jego strony jakiejkolwiek taryfy ulgowej - zauważył Szkot.
Dużym problemem reprezentanta Wielkiej Brytanii jest jego dyspozycja fizyczna. Murray jeszcze w spotkaniu III rundy z Niemcem Michaelem Berrerem doznał kontuzji kostki, lecz zarówno w pojedynku z Serbem Viktorem Troickim jak i Argentyńczykiem Juanem Ignacio Chelą przezwyciężył towarzyszący mu ból. - Byłoby naprawdę nie na miejscu, po tym co przeszedłem, abym zadowolił się tylko samym faktem dotarcia do półfinału - zakończył Murray, który w wielkoszlemowym Roland Garros znalazł się w gronie czterech najlepszych zawodników turnieju po raz pierwszy w karierze.
RG 2011 - konferencja po porażce w półfinale.
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/multi … 00280.html
Murray Back In Training For Queen's Club Title Tilt
Andy Murray trained on the grass courts at
The Queen's Club on Monday.
Andy Murray practised for more than two hours at The Queen's Club on Monday ahead of his first match at the AEGON Championships.
"This tournament is one of the nicest tournaments to play," admitted Murray. "It's got a different feel to it because it's a club. It's a sort of different atmosphere. I really enjoy it. I played well here in the past and it's the perfect preparation for Wimbledon."
The World No. 4 suffered a partial ligament tear to his right ankle during a run to the Roland Garros semi-finals (l. to Nadal), but said "it is definitely better. Playing matches on it didn't necessarily help too much, but it is definitely better than it was and should be okay."
The 2009 champion is set to play either Belgium's Xavier Malisse or Matthias Bachinger of Germany in the second round on Wednesday.
"[At Roland Garros], I felt like [my form] was a bit patchy throughout the tournament, but I was finding a way to win. I came back in a lot of matches, which is something I hadn't been doing before the clay-court stretch, which is good."
"Winning matches when you're not playing your best is really important. Clay is a surface I have struggled on in the past, so I was happy with that."
Murray only started hitting on grass courts today, after rain in London on Sunday, but is happy to be back home again.
"I know I'm going to be in the one place for five or six weeks now, which is so nice for a tennis player. It's also one of the nice parts that I get to go home, sleep in your own bed and go to the restaurants that you always go to. You can create that sort of comfort zone, which is important to playing well."
Murray is accustomed to the fact that for the next month he will carry the weight of British tennis expectation. The 24 year old won't be shying away from reading newspapers or watching the television.
"You just need to live your normal life," said Murray. "I think if you try and avoid reading newspapers, turn[ing] the TV on, that's not normal.
"Just because there is a big tournament coming up, I watch all the same TV that I always watch, and if there is a paper around I am not going to avoid it. I'll pick it up. I always do crosswords in the newspapers.
"I don't lock myself away in my house."
Rafael Nadal arrived at The Queen's Club after catching the Eurostar from Paris and almost immediately hit the practise courts. The six-time Roland Garros champion will be hoping to add to his 2008 title (d. Djokovic) this week.
ANDY MURRAY
Smashing his way into history
Andy Murray’s intensity is misunderstood, as Jimi Famurewa finds out during a surprising encounter with ‘Mr Angry’. As he strides into the room after training, gives us a brisk handshake and flops into a chair, ShortList can’t help but wonder which Andy Murray we’ll get today. Will he mumble grumpily throughout? Dust off enough sporting clichés to shame a football manager? Smash a racquet then angrily chomp through a banana if he disagrees with our viewpoint? Thankfully, our initial jitters are misplaced.
Britain’s No1 tennis player might possess a cold-eyed determination that’s taken him a whisker away from his first grand slam title (most recently as the losing finalist at this year’s Australian Open), but in person he’s relaxed, self-deprecating, honest and funny. Hardly the sporting Groundskeeper Willie he’s been depicted as. But with the biggest Wimbledon of his career looming, is that all about to change?
It’s not long now until Wimbledon. Be honest, are you ever annoyed by ‘Murraymania’ and the extra pressure it brings?
I don’t mind it, and I love playing at Wimbledon. It’s the four or five days before the tournament that are tough and different to any of the others. The spotlight is mainly on me and there are more strains on my time when I need to get rest. But once the tournament starts, I find it a lot easier to relax because I can go home and sleep in my own bed. And, obviously, on the court I get the support. Look at football — teams always play better at home. It shouldn’t make a difference because the court is still the same, but subconsciously it helps.
Surely all the media attention can’t be good for your concentration?
You have to try to embrace it. I’ve spoken to a few people and if you’re going out of your way to change your normal daily routine it doesn’t help. Whether it’s reading a newspaper, switching on the TV or going on the internet, it doesn’t make sense to stop doing those things because you might be [featured] in them.
Do you tire of the questions around your national identity?
I do because it’s just... [laughs] well, annoying. I’ve played tennis under Great Britain since I was 12 years old. I have a lot of English friends, a lot of my family is English, my girlfriend is English and I live in England now. I’m proud to be Scottish as I’m sure most English people are proud to be English. But when I play tennis, I play under Great Britain and I’m very proud to do that. It gets annoying because every year when Wimbledon comes around the same thing comes up.
Has it made you wary of what you say in front of people?
Definitely in interviews. It’s tough. When I first came on the tour I just answered questions as they were asked. I treated it like being with my friends. But after a few things like that happened it became quite stressful and I lost focus on what I was meant to be doing. It’s about winning tennis matches not saying stuff in press conferences. So I found that it was better not to expand on my answers or say anything that may come across as controversial or wrong. That annoying thing happened at the beginning of my career and I thought, “Is it really worth making a joke [in an interview] if a few people take it the wrong way?”
Away from the court you’ve just done some acting in a viral for a Facebook campaign to ‘get Brits behind Andy for Wimbledon’. Your performance was pretty good...
[Mock-incredulous] Really? It was good fun but as it happens, at the start of the day I had a blood test and I fainted because I was having a lot of blood drawn. I came to and thought, “This just isn’t going to be good at all.” But it was actually really good fun. Maybe it helped my performance.
You also had to strip down to your pants for a shower scene. Was that difficult?
It was pretty embarrassing. I had to wear tiny pants and they didn’t leave much to the imagination.
Did you ensure that the, um, temperature was regulated that day?
[Laughs] Yeah, and I had a sock that helped me out.
Do you feel that a lot of people don’t see your fun side? You’re painted as something of a ‘Mr Angry’.
Yeah, and maybe it’s because of my attitude on the court. But it wasn’t the case at the start of my career. I remember at my first Wimbledon everyone was saying, “Oh, it’s great. What a breath of fresh air after Tim Henman” [laughs]. Then a few things go the wrong way, you change the way you’re acting and they go, “Ah, he’s being pretty boring and not saying much.” I feel like I’m completely different off the court. I enjoy myself and I’m always laughing and joking around. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter, but I would like to be viewed differently.
Does anger ever help you on the court?
If you’re moaning for two or three games, it’s not productive. But, if you’re quite an emotional person and you let it out once, then it can make you feel better and calm you down. I used to moan a lot more but it’s something I’ve concentrated on getting better at. It’s my job, and I know a lot of people who when they get in from work, moan about how bad their day was. I’m very lucky to play sport [for a living] but obviously I go through periods where I’m tired and under pressure so all of a sudden I’m saying stuff that I shouldn’t be.
How do you unwind?
I watch loads of boxing, I go go-karting and play 11-a-side football. I get quite animated when I talk about other sports because it’s something I’m very interested in. Whereas all the time I get asked about tennis, and specific matches, and, “What were you doing on this point?” which can get quite repetitive.
Boxing? Really?
Yeah, I actually spent a bit of time with David Haye in Miami. I went to watch him training which was amazing. I didn’t take a punch — he’s a big guy. But he was a good person to speak to because tennis and boxing are both individual sports. We share an understanding on certain things. The pressure if you have a big fight or tournament coming up, dieting and the responsibility. In football, the manager’s telling you what to do and the club employs the coach whereas in tennis, you pick the coach, fitness trainer and whatever. If I lose it’s not like people blame my coach or my fitness trainer, they blame me.
Any other guilty pleasures you can tell us about?
Eating Milkybar yoghurts, that’s my one thing. I have quite a lot of them but I’ve been trying to improve my diet this year. I play Pro Evo most nights too. We all play on the tour.
Can you take out frustrations on the court by beating someone such as Rafa Nadal on the PS3?
Yeah, I’m definitely better than Rafa Nadal at Pro Evo [laughs]. The thing is we play two-against-two in teams. He plays with his tennis partner, a guy called Juan Monaco, and I play with Danny, my coach. It can be close.
In all seriousness, do you ever curse the fact that you’ve emerged at the same time as greats such as Nadal and Roger Federer?
No. I’ve played against them a lot and I’ve got a good record against Roger, Rafa and even Novak Djokovic. Rafa’s the only one I’ve won against in grand slams, but my record against him isn’t as good. I’ve beaten them all at least three or four times each, so I know that I can win against them. It’s just about making sure that when I go up against them in the big matches, I can do it. I feel a lot better about that now than I did in the build-up to this year’s Australian Open and afterwards.
Have you fully recovered from the Australian Open now?
It was disappointing. Because it’s just one tournament, people think, “Oh, it’s fine. He’ll have another one next week.” But so much work goes into getting ready for it. You have your off-season in November and December, so you’re training through that time to get yourself into good shape. You go to Australia and it’s the middle of their summer, so you’re playing matches in 35C. A lot goes into the preparation and, obviously, getting so close and not winning is really disappointing. You need to pick yourself up. It took me a little while to do that but I feel good now.
Is it tough to keep enjoying the game after being so tantalisingly close to victory?
When things are going well it’s easy to enjoy yourself, but when things aren’t going well you need to try to enjoy — but still find what’s going wrong and ways to get better. In the last couple of years I’ve been much better at that, and every time I’ve struggled a bit, I’ve always come back from it well.
Do you feel like this could finally be your year?
I feel good. I was injured [earlier this year] but it was only for one week. That sort of injury in sport is nothing, so I was training the whole time and I don’t feel rusty. I didn’t play well after the Australian Open but now I feel fresh.
You’re on Twitter, but the social-networking site has got sportsmen in trouble. Are you still a fan?
I don’t understand people going on there just to slam others, or when celebrities use it to have a go at each other. I’d rather use it to speak to my followers than to slam other people. Being positive on it is really important too. There’s a lot of negativity that flies around and people can say anything online. But if they saw you the next day they wouldn’t walk up to you and say what they said online.
Finally, have you still got your Ferrari F430?
I exchanged it. The thing was, I really enjoyed driving it and once you’re inside, it’s great. But I always felt like a d*ck when I got out. I didn’t want to take it anywhere or park it — I just wanted to drive it. It was fun while it lasted.
#17) Queen's Club 2011
R64 Bye
R32 Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-3 5-7 6-3
R16 Janko Tipsarević (SRB) 6-4 7-6(3)
QF Marin Cilić (CRO) w.o
SF Andy Roddcik 6-3 6-1
W Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4
2 tytuł na trawie i 2 w Queens Clubie. Murray dość długo czekał na turniejowy sukces, ponad 7 miesięcy. Wcześniej triumfował pod koniec października w Szanghaju.
Murray must seize the moment
Despite his win at Queen's Andy Murray goes into Wimbledon facing questions about his ability to win at the highest level.
The Scot proved his level of play, justified his ranking and showed an ability to shine on all four surfaces of the ATP Tour with his run to the semi-finals of the French Open.
Some doubted him because he had not had any great results on clay until this season.
Now he has made at least the semi-finals of each Grand Slam and beaten the three players ahead of him on several occasions - but has yet to get that first Grand Slam title.
At Roland Garros we witnessed once again both how talented he is but also why he is still unable to take the last step which could transform him from a nearly-man into a winner.
In one sense he is close to his goal because he is capable of beating anyone, but he's also as far away as ever. There are a lot of players in history who were only ever 'bridesmaids'.
Andy is 24 years old so it's a crucial time for him. And a career is often decided by key decisions taken at key times.
The way he played his semi-final against Rafael Nadal shows what the problems are and why he's still not quite on the same level as the top three players.
He was too defensive and lacked intent on crucial points. He had plenty of opportunities in the match even if the Spaniard was overall the better player. Every time Andy could have changed the face of the match he was too passive and chose to let his opponent take the lead during the point.
But this state of mind isn't going to be altered in the middle of a French Open semi-final - it's like a muscle, and you have to train yourself to change it.
It will give him the ability to take the lead on a decisive point, to hit the ball with the intention of dominating, to be fully committed.
Andy knows he can win matches against most players on tour by playing his passive game, and he's now the victim of that gift.
That's why having a coach at his side who has experience and recognises these issues is now mandatory if he wants to go on improving.
Murray has everything it takes to win not just one Grand Slam but several. He has weapons for all surfaces, and a strong temperament.
If he can start to play more intense, attacking tennis regularly then he will be able to display it on the biggest occasions.
He showed glimpses in an entertaining final at Queen's against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and must continue in that vein.
Now is time for him to invest in himself, because it will be worth it.
Murray Family Announces New Sporting Intiative - Set4Sport
Led by their mother Judy, Andy and Jamie Murray helped launch Set4Sport Tuesday.
Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment announced a new partnership between Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and World No. 4 Andy Murray, his brother, Jamie Murray, and their mother, Judy Murray.
The result is Set4Sport, a programme created by Judy Murray and inspired by her years of experience as a tennis coach and parent, which showcases easy and accessible ways for parents to play with their children that develop the skills required for playing sport.
The programme centres around a book of activities, ball skills, and exercises based on the games Judy played with her sons when they were growing up. The book details a range of ways parents can help children acquire basic physical skills in a fun environment and is available for free download from www.Set4Sport.com for the first time.
The new partnership reflects an important shift towards supporting local communities. Judy will take Set4Sport to people around the UK with a series of road shows that will visit major UK cities throughout the summer holidays. Tuesday's launch, hosted by Singlegate Primary School in Colliers Wood, saw 16 school children and their parents be the first to use the Set4Sport resource under Judy’s supervision.
Both Andy and Jamie expressed a desire to use their personal sponsorships to support Judy’s cause, and it will see the pair act as ambassadors and the Set4Sport logo appear on their tennis match kit from Wimbledon.
Judy Murray said: “I played ball games with Jamie and Andy almost as soon as they could walk. We didn’t know it then, but we were all taking part in the most basic of coaching sessions. Not only was it great fun but it also helped them develop the coordination skills that would allow them to play any sport competently in later life. Primarily, this is about kids having fun in their family environment, but doing so in a way that develops core skills at the same time. And the beauty of it is that any equipment needed for these games and exercises will almost certainly already be in your home.
“I didn’t write the programme to tell parents what they should or shouldn’t be doing and it isn’t aiming to be a solution to social issues such as obesity. Everything in the programme, which is not particular to any sport, is based on my own personal experience with Andy and Jamie. I know how busy parents are, so by providing quick and easy to follow games and tasks, parents can get the most out of the precious time they do spend with their kids.”
Jamie Murray said: “Sport has always been a huge part of our lives and even from a very early age we were encouraged to play games that I now realise were about more than simply having fun. Set4Sport has a serious message but that didn’t stop us transforming our living room into a mini court – where I used to win most of the time.”
Andy Murray said: “I remember the games we used to play when we were younger and the rivalry between Jamie and me and those early games definitely helped us develop into the players we are today. It’s funny to think that Set4Sport was brought to life in our family house all those years ago, but we had great fun playing together and it taught us some key skills – I’m sure I used to win more than Jamie.”
Sir Philip Hampton, RBS chairman, said: "We have fundamentally changed our approach to sponsorship at RBS. Delivering benefits to the communities we work in now underpins all of our sponsorship activity and ultimately that's good for business too. The Set4Sport programme being launched tomorrow fits that new ethos perfectly."
Simon Fuller, XIX Entertainment, said: “I believe that the most effective sponsorships are run as partnerships, and I’m delighted that the new RBS relationship reflects such a high level of involvement with Judy, Jamie and Andy. It’s important that our marketing generates a positive outcome, and Set4Sport does this by giving specific support to parents and children around the UK and helping get them involved in sport. The Murrays are a powerful role model for young families in the UK, and I think Judy in particular deserves our congratulations on working so hard to make this happen.”
Once again, all eyes on Andy Murray
Andy Murray characterized it as "just one of those days," failing to add that it was just one of those days that have been in short supply until recently, but which he can really use in the coming weeks as Wimbledon plays out.
Murray was referring to the near-perfect form he showed in the Queen's Club semifinal, as he halted Andy Roddick's push to become the first man to win the title at the major Wimbledon warm-up event five times. Murray prevailed in a 59-minute, 6-3, 6-1 blowout. He can build on that excellent result against the third-best grass-court player of this generation (Roddick is right up there, behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal) by beating always unreliable Jo-Wilfried Tsonga when they play the Queen's final, which was postponed by rain Sunday.
Firing 13 aces, Murray put on an impressive display of all-court tennis and sheepishly admitted, "Everything that touched my racket was going in, and it felt great out there."
This was a statement win delivered by a man who really hit the skids after the Australian Open, where he lost his third Grand Slam final in as many appearances. Never mind that 99 percent of ATP pros never get to play a Grand Slam singles final, much less win one. Murray is a quality player, and when he suffered that third-pitch strikeout, he lost interest. Or heart. Or motivation.
Whatever the case, Murray lost the next three matches he played, going out in rapid succession to Marcos Baghdatis (not so bad), Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov Jr. (bad, especially because those losses were in Masters 1000 events). Murray slowly rebuilt his game -- and spirit -- on his least favorite surface, European clay.
By the end of that swing, Murray had come closer than any man in 2011 to pinning a loss on Novak Djokovic (the honor would finally fall to Roger Federer at the French Open). Murray played the French Open on a bad ankle and often in a bad mood, but he had a good draw and managed to slash and whine his way to his best result at the French Open. He lost in the semifinals to the eventual champ, Nadal.
But if you're from the United Kingdom, tennis season really begins when the last ball is hit at Roland Garros and the circuit moves to grass. Given his wild mood swings this year, Murray needed to help his own cause by showing the adoring -- or skeptical -- home crowds that the result in Paris was no fluke enabled by the draw gods. He had to show that he's back to or approaching the form that his No. 4 ranking implies, and that he's capable of making his semifinal seeding at Wimbledon.
It means a lot to the Brits to have a contender at the big show, and thus far Murray has not disappointed them. The 24-year-old Scot has never lost before the third round at Wimbledon in five appearances, and every player who's beaten him has been in, or won, a Grand Slam final. He's lost to the champ, Nadal, in two of the past three years, and he's looking to be in the semis -- or better -- for the third consecutive time this year.
You don't get too many chances to establish your credibility on grass owing to the short period of time between Roland Garros and Wimbledon, not to the fans and critics and not to yourself. That's why this win was huge for Murray, who will once again have all of the U.K. hanging on every drop shot or backhand bullet he hits.
After losing to Murray, Roddick observed that everything his opponent touched "turned to gold." It will take a man with the Midas touch to become the first British subject to win Wimbledon in the Open era, so Roddick's analysis implies that there's still hope for the Brits. And for long-suffering Andy Murray.
Murray ready to claim first Grand Slam title
British hope Andy Murray will make his return to the All-England Club, looking to record his first Grand Slam victory in two weeks’ time. The Scot is set to begin his effort as the fourth seed at the tournament.
World No. 4 Andy Murray returns to grass-court competition for the third week of June, after putting together a title-winning run at Queen’s Club. The 24-year-old captured his first title in 2011, having rallied to oust Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three sets.
Murray has regained form following a post-Australian Open lull, with semifinal or better berths earned in five of his last six tournaments. He has reached the final four at Wimbledon in 2009 and 2010.
The World No. 4 leads a tricky quarter of the draw that includes: (8) Andy Roddick, (9) Gael Monfils, (14) Stanislas Wawrinka, (17) Richard Gasquet, (23) Janko Tipsarevic, (27) Marin Cilic and (30) Thomaz Bellucci.
Other competitors in the Scot's section are: Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ivan Ljubicic, Ivo Karlovic, Feliciano Lopez and Victor Hanescu.
Murray is scheduled to start his run against Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver. The closest seeded player to the World No. 4 is Cilic, whom the Scot could meet in round three. Should the seeds hold through the draw, the 24-year-old looks toward a likely showdown with three-time Wimbledon finalist Roddick.
Passage through to the second week will set a probable clash with defending champion Rafael Nadal, who handed Murray a semifinal loss at the French Open.
Murray mum says tweeners have their limits
Judy Murray says son Andy should keep away from hot-dogging and the 'tweeners on court if he as he takes a shot at trying to break Britain's 75-year men's singles title draught at Wimbledon.
The No. 4 Scot proved to be a bit of a show-off this week in his winning Queen's club final and in a later exhibition match, letting his flamboyant side show through in contrast to his usual dead-serious and often angry on-court demeanour.
But mum, his first coach, has words of advice after he landed a between-the-legs winner at Queen's against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: "He had to improvise, but that's a high-risk shot at the level of tennis he's playing."
Judy said that Murray could be coming into his own after the best clay season of his career which included a first French Open semi-final. "Perhaps he's just growing up and coping well with what he knows is ahead of him," she said of her 24-year-old younget son.
“It's his goal to win a Slam, and your home Grand Slam is the one you would pick. But he's playing in probably the strongest era ever in men's tennis."
Murray: "I'm Not Looking Anywhere Past The First Match"
Andy Murray has reached the
semi-finals at Wimbledon the
past two seasons.
World No. 4 Andy Murray has been dealt a very familiar situation at this year’s Wimbledon – he's in the same half of the draw as defending champion Rafael Nadal. It’s the 13th time in the past 14 majors that both have played in that this has occurred, but the British hopeful is not looking ahead to the potential showdown. “I'm not looking anywhere past the first match. It's not worth it,” Murray said in his press conference Saturday. “It's happened to me before when I was younger, and you lose if you're thinking about playing against Nadal in the semi-finals or whoever it is in the quarter-finals.”
His approach can be attributed to last year’s results, when Nadal and Roger Federer had their hands full in the early stages of the event. “There’s tough matches everywhere, as you would have seen last year watching the tournament,” the Scotsman said. “Rafa had a couple of long five-set matches that he nearly lost. Roger nearly lost in the first round against someone that you would have never expected him to lose to. I think Falla served for the match. It's just not worth it”
Murray is a two-time semi-finalist and is gunning to become the first British man to lift the Wimbledon trophy since 1936, when Fred Perry won for the third time in a row. Of the four Grand Slam events, Wimbledon holds the longest drought without a home winner, conceivably adding to Murray’s pressure of breaking through for his first major title. However, the Dunblane native claims he hasn’t experienced any added weight or expectations at the All England Club in comparison to other larger events. “The buildup to the tournament is a little bit different than what I'm used to. But once the tournament starts, it isn't… everyone asks me every year. It really isn't.”
The three-time Grand Slam finalist finds that playing on home soil is comforting, helping to put him at ease. “I've always had really, really good support. It makes a big difference,” believes Murray. “It's just nice being able to go back home and watch the same TV that you always watch and stay in your own bed. It's way more relaxing in many ways than a lot of the other tournaments.”
After losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, Murray went through a dry spell, losing three consecutive matches, including two against players ranked outside the Top 100. “They weren’t technical issues. That wasn't the problem,” assessed Murray. “It was more [my] mental state, sort of getting myself in the right frame of mind for the matches and also for the preparation for the tournaments… getting a real plan of what [I was] going to work on.”
Added Murray, “I'd been thinking about it for a while, but I think it's natural when you work so hard to try to achieve something. [When] you don't quite do it, you sort of question the work that you're doing, your game, what should I do to improve. But when you actually look back, you're not that far away from doing it. It's very minor things you need to change.”
He bounced back with a steady clay-court season, highlighted by his first semi-final at Roland Garros and a strong performance in Rome, where he nearly ended Novak Djokovic’s then undefeated 2011 run in a dramatic semi-final clash. “I was very close to winning it. I served for the match, so I had my chance there,” recalls Murray. “Obviously Roland Garros was a good tournament for me, and also Queen's.”
Murray defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the AEGON Championships to win his second grass-court title at the Queen’s Club on 6 June, and comes in as an in-form contender. As the No. 4 seed at Wimbledon, the Scot has a great chance to win the event – history doesn’t lie as only seven players seeded outside the Top 4 have gone on to win the prestigious title at SW19. But Murray isn’t buying into the statistic, believing there are other challengers to consider. “I think it's going to be a fun tournament; definitely going to be some surprises,” Murray reckons. “Everyone's playing really good tennis, and I think there are other guys, outside of the Top 4 that are playing really well, so I think tennis is in a great place just now… I wouldn't be surprised if there were guys outside the top four who made it through to the semis.”
The 24 year old begins his Wimbledon title quest Monday against Daniel Gimeno-Traver, whom he defeated in Valencia two years ago in their lone meeting. “I know him quite well because we grew up playing a lot of the same junior tournaments,” said Murray. “When I went over to Spain I saw him quite a lot. He's a solid, good all around player. He serves pretty good; solid forehand. Similar to a lot of the Spanish guys, so I'll have to work hard.”
Wimbledon - Mourinho inspires Murray for Wimbledon
Andy Murray will draw special inspiration from Special One Jose Mourinho as he seeks to become the first home winner of the men's singles at Wimbledon for 75 years.
Murray, who has a reputation for sullen and erratic behaviour on court, said a chance meeting with the Real Madrid boss last summer has helped him deal with the stress of being one of the world's top tennis players.
"I spoke to Jose Mourinho when I met him last summer in LA," Murray is quoted in the News of the World.
"He said, 'Just enjoy it because it is always going to be there. Get on with it and have fun'.
"That is what I am like as a person but before I was keeping a lot of things bottled up. I was thinking too much or being stressed on the court.
"Now I feel more comfortable. The best way is to try to be yourself and it comes across more naturally than trying to be something different."
Murray, 24, has also spoken with British WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye, who fights Wladimir Klitschko in a unification bout on the weekend of the Wimbledon final.
Haye came under fire ahead of his defence against Audley Harrison for using an offensive sexual metaphor to describe how one-sided he expected the fight to be.
"Speaking to somebody like David Haye was good because boxers say stuff that is just outrageous," Murray continued.
"It gets them in a lot of trouble and people don't like them for it but they don't really care.
"They are doing it just to get under the skin or wind up their opponent. If their opponent is just hitting them and not thinking about tactics, they will make mistakes."
The fourth-seeded Scot begins his campaign against Daniel Gimeno-Traver on Monday - and said he finds playing at SW19 easier than many other tournaments.
He added: "The build-up is different but, once the tournament starts, it isn't. I've always had really good support and it makes a big difference.
"It's nice being able to go back home and watch the same TV that you always watch and stay in your own bed.
"It's way more relaxing in many ways than a lot of the other tournaments."
Murray has reached the final of both the US and Australian Opens, but failed to win a set in either.
Murray Advances With Win Over Kamke
Andy Murray faced just one
break point in his win against
Tobias Kamke Wednesday.
World No. 4 Andy Murray continued his 2011 grass-court form Wednesday at the All England Club, defeating Tobias Kamke 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the 125th Wimbledon Championships.
The recent AEGON Championships titlist was confident on serve, winning 74 per cent of his service points while only facing one break point to take the pair’s first meeting. "I served well, especially when I was behind in games," Murray said after his win.
"It was quite windy on the court which made it tricky, and I thought he hit the ball very well from the back of the court. I could have returned a little bit better. But straight sets, so I've got to be pleased with that... [I've got to improve for the next match."
In the third round, the two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist will square off against Ivan Ljubicic, a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 winner over Sergiy Stakhovsky. The two are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head series. "He serves well. That always makes it difficult," said Murray. "I have to make sure I return well, which I did very well at Queen's. I'll need to do the same thing again on Friday."
Simone Bolelli ousted 14th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka in a second-round encounter, taking the match 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-6(4).
The unseeded Italian had lost his two previous matches to the Swiss, both coming on hard courts, but reversed his fortunes Wednesday with steady play at the net, winning 24 of 30 points when he came forward.
Bolleli is looking to reach the round of 16 at a Grand Slam event for the first time, and can achieve the result should he defeat No. 17 seed Richard Gasquet in the third round.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 2 rundzie
A. Murray bt T. Kamke 6 3, 6 3, 7 5
Q. The expectations here are massive for you to win. You said you don't let that pressure you in any way. Do you have any way of blocking it out, by not reading newspapers or just focusing on other things?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, just try and do normal things, don't get caught up in, you know, watching too much of the TV or reading too much of what's going on the in press.
But you also have to go about your days as you would normally. If you start doing different things, it might throw you off. So I do most of the same things I always do. It's not like if there's a newspaper there, I don't try and you know, it's not like I won't read it. I'll have a flick through. I don't actively go out and put the TV on just to listen to myself or listen to people talking about me, so...
But if it's on, I'll watch.
Q. How do you think you played?
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't think I played that well, but I didn't get broken. I served well, especially when I was behind in games. It was quite windy on the court which made it tricky, and I thought he hit the ball very well from the back of the court. Could have returned a little bit better.
But straight sets, so I've got to be pleased with that. But got to improve for the next match.
Q. Is there a slight contradiction on your serve at the moment, in that you said you served well, but you're serving at 54%? Is it that your second serve is better or the position of the ball is better?
ANDY MURRAY: 54% isn't relevant if you're winning 90% of the first serve points. If I wanted to, I could serve 90% of the first serves if I just rolled them in, but you wouldn't win as high a percentage. You have to use it as a weapon. Today, like I said, because it was quite windy, it was difficult.
But if you look at the percentage of serves when I was breakpoint down or behind in games, I definitely upped that. I focused a bit more on it and put in a higher percentage. In the first round I served well, up into the high 60%, I think. That's good.
Conditions were different today, and I felt like I served very well. If you don't get broken, you can't be disappointed with the way you served. It was more the rest of my game that needs work.
Q. Do you wonder when you're in a match like that about how much energy you're expending? As you look to the tournament as a whole, obviously you don't hold back on what you put into it, but do you try and save some energy through the match?
ANDY MURRAY: No. Well, you want to try and win the match as comfortably as you can. When you get ahead, obviously I got up a couple of sets. It was a tight third set, so it was nice to win that third set because obviously you get off a little bit earlier, you get a bit longer to recover.
You never know what might happen with the guys you play against. They might have to play an extra day or they finish later, so it's all just a nice little extra if you can get off the court as quickly as possible.
But when you're out there, you're not worrying about that. You're just trying to get the job done and win.
Q. A bit was made about you playing on Court 1. Does it bother you?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it doesn't bother me. I think all of the players would rather be on Centre because of the roof because you know you're going to get on, but the court's still the same. You know, it's a little bit different in terms of, like, how it looks, because now with the roof it feels very enclosed; whereas Court 1 seems quite open, like Centre Court used to. So that's slightly different.
But I don't mind playing on any court, Centre, Court 1, Court 6, I don't care. I just want to try and win.
Q. One of the commentators was saying that you were drug tested at 7:00 a.m. last week. Is that true?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah.
Q. 7:00 a.m. in the morning they came to your house?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah.
Q. What did you think about that?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I give one in the hour in the day when they can come to test me. Every single day of the year, you give one hour, and I choose 7:00 in the morning because I know I'm going to be in bed and I know I'm not going to miss. If you miss three tests, that counts as a fail.
So at 2:00 I have no idea of where I'm going to be, and when I wake up in the morning, the last thing I think about is where I need to be for a drug test or be on time for a drug test. If you put 7:00 or 8:00 at night, you might go out, do something, go out for dinner.
All of the players that I know put first thing in the morning so they're going to be in bed. Also if you put 10:00 at night when you know you're going to be at home, you know, you're not thinking about it, so if you go to the toilet after dinner or just beforehand, you end up having to wait for an hour to go once they arrive.
So it's best just to do it first thing in the morning, because I normally need the toilet then as well (smiling).
Q. Would you be happy to see Scottish players in this British Olympic team, the football team, that's been talked about?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't want to get into any of that political stuff. I've been involved in the Olympics, played under Great Britain, and it was an unbelievable experience. I loved it. It's not for me to decide. It's up to the Federations, that they can decide.
Certainly not getting drawn into any political stuff around this time of year, because we know what happens with that (smiling).
Q. Are there any other benefits to playing at home, apart from the support from the crowd?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, loads. You get to go home in the evening, sleep in my own bed, be around my friends and family, which isn't normal. Yeah, that's it. That and obviously home support always helps.
Q. You said you watched Scream last night to relax. Do you normally watch horror films to relax?
ANDY MURRAY: I wasn't watching it to relax. You normally pick the one thing that will stop you thinking about tennis. Scream did a pretty good job of that.
Q. As you progress in the competition, do you find the pressure increasing?
ANDY MURRAY: It's a bit different. The pressure is nicer in some ways once you manage to get through a round or two. Now, you know, you're not necessarily expected to win the matches easily or whatever. The matches are going to get very tough.
I play Ljubicic now. You know, I've lost to him a few times. A tough player. So I expect that to be a difficult match. Hopefully raise my game for that one.
Q. Is it quite nice you're not the only Brit left in Wimbledon? Different to last year. How pleased are you for Laura and Elena?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's good. Any time any British players win, it's a good thing. It doesn't change my mentality or the way I go into my matches. You know, if I'm looking at it in terms of British tennis, it's great. I think that's Laura's first win at Wimbledon.
She struggled a little bit this year with some injuries, so that will be a big win for her, a good confidence boost.
Elena's, you know, done well the last few years. She's established herself in the top 100, and she deserves to be here. So it's good.
Q. Have you picked a film to relax to before your next match?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not yet. I'll see whatever is on Sky Movies. I mean, the movies on Sky aren't great, I don't think. There's about 20 movie channels, and you're normally struggling to find a good one. Wait and see tomorrow what they've got.
Actually, I did hear yesterday at the end of Scream they have Scream II on tonight and Scream III on on Thursday. Maybe I'll watch one of them.
Q. Do you think Wimbledon should keep the big television screen on Murray Mount when it rains?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I think they should keep it on if they can. I heard it was something to do with health and safety. That's the most important thing.
If they can get it on, I'm sure everyone would rather they had it.
Q. What makes Ljubicic so dangerous, so difficult to play?
ANDY MURRAY: He serves well. That always makes it difficult. His best results are on grass, which is surprising for someone that serves like him. Yeah, so that obviously makes it tricky.
Obviously, when you play against Roddick, sometimes you feel like once you get into rallies you know you can control him and dictate. But, you know, they can take some chances on your serve if they're holding comfortably. That can put a bit of pressure on you.
So I have to make sure I return well, which I did very well at Queen's. I'll need to do the same thing again on Friday.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3 rundzie
A. Murray bt. I. Ljubicic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6
Q. How you feeling?
ANDY MURRAY: I feel good, yeah. Feel good.
Q. Tougher than you expected?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not at all. I thought it was an excellent match. I thought both of us played very well. I thought it was very high standard. Played one bad game, well, the first game of the second set was a bad game. Apart from that, I thought it was a very high standard.
Both of us played well. A lot of good rallies. I felt like I hit the ball from the back of the court way better than the last match. I thought Ljubicic played very well, too.
Q. Did you slightly turn off at the start of the second set?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, no. I played a bad game. That happens sometimes. You do play bad games. I was disappointed with that game. Both of us were struggling a bit behind our second serves. Very heavy conditions.
I think, you know, I probably won about 40, 45% of my second serve points, and he won 35 to 40%. We were both just the ball was sitting up nicely on the second serve for both of us. He was going for huge returns. That was obviously his game plan, and he returned well off the second serve.
But, uhm, yeah, I didn't serve particularly well the beginning of the second set.
Q. You said you'd give us a hot dog shot here at Wimbledon when you were at Queen's and you did.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I did. You know, doesn't happen that often when you get yourself in that sort of position. I went for it and made it. I'm sure at some point I'm going to miss one and look silly.
Q. Got a name for it?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, no. I've never really seen anyone do it before. So I don't know. Don't know what it's called. I'd never done it either in any matches or anything until Queen's.
Q. Was this better than the last one?
ANDY MURRAY: Different. They're different, because this time Ljubicic was sort of at the net. I don't know. I don't know. They were both good.
But I don't know which one was better, because the shot tonight, his ball was coming it was maybe an easier height to do it off; whereas Tsonga's one was coming a bit higher and I got a better angle on it. They were both good.
Q. You felt you didn't have any option but to play that shot?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, it's like when someone goes for a through the leg shot. You always can try to do other things. You just kind of do what's most comfortable or what you feel. It's like sometimes you're taught how to move a certain way, but when you actually get on the court, you tend to move whatever is the most efficient way.
Like, you know, some guys feel like going for the through the leg shot is the easiest shot for them at that time. I very rarely try a through the leg shot the other way. I always try to put up a lob.
But, yeah, for that shot, if the ball is sort of coming towards you and you've got a chance to do it, yeah, I just went for it. I mean, I'm sure I could have played a different shot.
Q. Laura and Elena lost today. You're the last Brit sort of standing yet again. I guess you're used to that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. Yeah, I'm used to it. It's been like that the last few years.
Q. Did you see any of Laura's match today?
ANDY MURRAY: I actually saw a little bit of the end of the first set. I was warming up for my match when she started. But I heard she played well.
Q. Very encouraging to push somebody like Sharapova on a big court like that.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it's good. That's a good sign that she's able to do it. But, you know, to get to that level, you need to do it at the challengers and at the smaller events and get your ranking up that way. So that's what the challenge is for her and for James Ward, you know, to get up and play in these tournaments all the time.
You know, they can play at this level clearly, by Laura's result today and the way she played, the way James played at Queen's. You know, they need to sort of carry on and maintain that level when they're playing when there's no one watching when you're playing the futures and the challengers. That's the best way to get up in the rankings.
Q. Does it feel slightly strange that three matches in you haven't actually played on Centre Court with the roof open?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, it is different. The conditions are, you know, obviously different. That's why the next couple days' practice will be more to make sure I get some hitting outdoors. The serving and stuff is very different when you're sort of under a roof.
So, yeah, I need to make sure the next couple days' practice I get enough time on the court, and I'll play some points probably on Sunday.
Q. How big a bonus is that, to have two days before you play on Monday? You're the only one of the top four already through to the second week. Rafa has to come back again tomorrow.
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I don't know. I don't know how much of an advantage it is. Most of the time on the grass, the matches aren't too physical, you know. So one day off is normally good.
But have to wait and see if it's an advantage or not. But, uhm, you know, the next couple days, like I say, it's important to keep the intensity up, make sure you keep focused, do all the right things the next couple of days, because we're used to sort of getting into our routines of playing one day, day off the next. Obviously now I've got a couple days. I need to make sure I do the right things.
Q. Gasquet, how do you see that?
ANDY MURRAY: Tough match. He's won all his matches pretty comfortably so far. He plays very well on grass. He's comfortable on the surface. It's going to be tough.
Q. Where does that match you played against him three years ago rank in your sort of great matches?
ANDY MURRAY: It was up there in terms of just for the way I came back and I was pretty much, yeah, out of the match. I think he served for the match at 5 4 in the third set, up two sets to nothing.
Same thing at the French Open actually a couple years ago. It's good to have in the back of my mind when I go in against him in a match like this. Even if I go behind, I can come back against him.
You know, that will be, I think for him, a tough thing. It's happened twice in big matches against me. So, uhm, I expect it to be a very difficult match. But the one that I played with him here was one of the most memorable for me. It was a long time ago now, though.
Q. (Question regarding the relationship with the crowd.)
ANDY MURRAY: It was the first match where I really, yeah, had to come back from a big deficit. There are matches that I think the crowd and, you know, people tend to remember here. There's been a lot of them obviously over the years.
Tim played a lot of long sort of five set matches. That was really the first one when I was sort of coming through and playing on Centre Court, getting the chance to sort of get comfortable on that court.
That was probably the first one that really was, yeah, a big comeback from me. I think there was a lot of sort of interaction with the crowd. They really got behind me. It makes a big difference.
Q. Is Gasquet somebody that you maybe would have expected to have done better at the slams?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, for me, knowing how difficult it is, you don't expect anyone to do anything. You know, guys like him, he's obviously very, very talented. He's an excellent player.
On his day, he can play great tennis. But the consistency is something that's been difficult for a lot of players. I've had problems with it the last couple of years at certain tournaments, certain periods of the year.
You can't really take anything for granted just because he has really nice strokes and he's very talented. You've got to have more than that to get the whole way deep into Grand Slams on a regular basis. It's a very tough thing to do.
Q. But clearly somebody who has got the talent to go all the way?
ANDY MURRAY: He's a very talented player, yeah. I played him many times. I grew up playing with him. He was always one of the best juniors growing up. He's been in the top 10 in the world before. He's beaten Federer a few months ago in Rome. He's given guys a lot of problems in the past.
Like I said, two times I played him in slams, I was down two sets and a break both times. He's a tough guy.
Q. How pleased were you today with the way you reacted to the difficulties that the match presented?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, I think I did a good job of keeping my energy high for most of the match. Third set was very good. Went away and had a toilet break between sets, thought about what I was going to do.
Got up early in the third set. Played a very good third set. Obviously when I served for the match and didn't get it, you know, I think I did well in the tiebreak to stay focused and come through the fourth set. Because it's always tough when you serve for matches, and then to finish the match off after that is difficult, so I think I did well.
Q. If you get through on Monday and López keeps winning, I'm curious who you think your mum might be supporting if you meet Deliciano?
ANDY MURRAY: I think it's about time she stopped with that nonsense. Makes me want to throw up. It's disgusting. Yeah, it's disgusting.
I was practising with him before the tournament. It's quite funny because she'd been writing about it on, you know, Twitter like all the time. And I was practising with him before the tournament and my mom was on the side.
I said, when we were warming up, I shouted across the net, I said, Feli, if we sit down for a drink, if you could take a picture with my mom, because she thinks you're beautiful.
She went bright red. I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it. Refused to take the picture. Quite funny. Not like her.
Yeah, I hope she'll still be supporting me.
Murray Lifts His Game To Dismiss Gasquet
Andy Murray will contest the
Wimbledon quarter-finals for
the fourth time.
Under the watchful eyes of His Royal Highness The Duke and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, home favourite Andy Murray advanced to the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row as he dismissed Richard Gasquet 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2.
World No. 4 Murray hit 44 winners and broke serve three times to defeat Gasquet in just over two hours, avoiding a repeat of the five-set marathon they contested at the All England Club in 2008, when Murray won from two sets down.
"[The tie-break] was very important," said Gasquet. "The first set we played almost one hour. I had some opportunities to win the first set, but he served very well, especially in the second set. I tried to keep my serve, but he played well."
The 24-year-old Murray is on an eight-match winning streak, having won the AEGON Championships title in the lead-up to Wimbledon. The Scot is bidding to become the first British male singles winner at The Championships since Fred Perry triumphed in 1936. He has lost out in three major finals, most recently against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January.
For a place in his third consecutive semi-final at Wimbledon, Murray will face either Poland’s Lukasz Kubot or Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w 4 rundzie
A. Murray bt. R. Gasquet 7 6, 6 3, 6 2
Q. In previous matches obviously it seemed much tougher. Today you were very assertive. Looked pretty straightforward in the end.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, the second and third sets were much better. First set I returned poorly, so I wasn't able to get into any of his service games at all. I definitely didn't get to deuce. I had no breakpoints in the first set, but managed to string a few good points together in the tiebreak. I served well throughout, which helped.
But, yeah, first set was tough 'cause I hardly made a return in the court.
Q. Were you struggling to get a read on it at the start?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it wasn't that. I was reading it fine. I just was making bad contact with the ball. Puts a lot of slice on his serve. It was very different conditions also today. It was very quick compared with a couple days ago under the roof.
So it took a while to get used to that, too.
Q. How did you find the heat out there?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was hot. I mean, we haven't played I do a lot of training in Miami to try to get used to it. The last few months pretty much all of the tournaments, the French Open wasn't particularly hot, and obviously the last few weeks here has been cold, too. So it was definitely a bit of a shock.
Q. After three matches, what's pleasing you most about your game and what's pleasing you the least about your game?
ANDY MURRAY: Serving well. As I say, there's not been anything I've been really unhappy with. Today, like I said, I didn't return well the first set. Uhm, but serve's been good. I haven't got broken too many times.
Return is normally one of the stronger parts of my game. If I can keep returning well, keep serving like I have been, I give myself a chance in a lot of matches.
Q. The third set, the way you played, that's what you need to go all the way?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, you need to hold on to your own serve on grass when the conditions were playing like they were today, when it's quick. I've been told it's meant to be hopefully warming up a bit.
But you need to serve very well. The court gets quicker, too, the more it's played on, so serve becomes more important as the two weeks go on.
But, yeah, I need to play my best tennis if I want to win.
Q. What was it like playing in front of the Royal couple? Do you feel any extra pressure when you have such high profile guests in the crowd?
ANDY MURRAY: No, you don't. You have to try and, you know, focus on what your job is. That's trying to get the job done on the court. You can enjoy it afterwards.
I didn't know they were coming. I wasn't told. So as I was walking to the court I don't know if he's, someone from the Evening Standard told me. Is he here? Yeah, he told me that Kate and Pippa were coming. I didn't know if it was true, because no one else had heard anything. Yeah, obviously I saw them when I went out.
Yeah, it's obviously great to get the chance to play in front of them. But when you're playing the match you're not focusing on that.
Q. You had the wherewithal to make a bow.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. Well, I was obviously very happy after the match. I think that was the right thing to do.
Q. It came across as very funny. William and Kate laughed; you smiled. It was an amusing thing. Was it something you planned before?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I hadn't planned on doing it before. When the queen came to our match last year we were told she was coming and that we would bow when we went on and off the court.
But today we weren't told anything, so it was just, yeah, sort of off the cuff. Yeah, didn't think too much about it. If it was funny, that's fine, but I wasn't intending it to be funny.
Q. Did you get to meet them afterwards?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I did. If I'd known they were coming, I would have shaved (smiling). I was thinking to myself as I came off I was sweaty and very hairy. I said to them, I'm sorry, I'm a bit sweaty. But, yeah, it was really nice.
Like for me those things are always quite difficult because there's a lot of people around, so it's not the most natural way to be introduced to people.
But it was very nice to get to meet them.
Q. What did they say to you?
ANDY MURRAY: Just, Well done on the match. Asked me how it was out there. That was it. Wasn't a long conversation.
Q. Any superstition behind your not shaving?
ANDY MURRAY: No, not at all. No. I might shave tonight.
Q. Do you have any actual superstitions that you do before a match?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I used to be more. No, I don't. The problem with having superstitions is, you know, you become very sort of attached to them. Then, you know, if you always go in the same shower and then you finish your practice and you go to have a shower and someone's in it, you're not obviously going to jump in there. Well, you could, but I choose not to. (Smiling.)
So, yeah, I try not to have any superstitions.
Q. You used to?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I didn't. I think Tim said he used to always go in the same shower. A few people said to me, Maybe he should have changed when he got to the semifinals (smiling). Just meant to be a joke.
But, yeah, I try not to have any superstitions. When I'm on the court I sometimes have my bottle, my water bottle, facing the way that I'm like sort of going. It was more to remind myself how much I've drunk rather than anything else.
But, yeah, don't have too many superstitions.
Q. Given the unreliability of Royal arrivals here, do you think you should shave every match just in case they turn up?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, yeah, I've been told to shave by a few people the last five or six days, and I just haven't got round to it. It's at the length now where it actually hurts a little bit, so I always put it off a wee bit till I have a bit of time.
Q. Until you're brave enough?
ANDY MURRAY: It hurts around here. My hair is starting to get more manly now. It hurts a little bit. (Smiling.)
Q. Is that a cry for a Gillette sponsorship deal?
ANDY MURRAY: Maybe, yeah. The thing is, I wouldn't have the discipline. I think all the Gillette athletes have to shave every day. I think they have to be clean shaven. I probably wouldn't be able to keep that up.
Q. If you have to play Deliciano next, do you think your mum would be barred from the box?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't know what the score is. I think it was two sets to one. I'm not sure if he's going to come through. Looks like a tough one.
Q. What do you have to do to win the tournament in terms of improving your game from here now?
ANDY MURRAY: You just need to keep improving each match. I think the match in the third round, for me, was a really good test. It was a tough match. I thought both of us played well. You just need to just keep improving a little bit each round. It all comes down to taking your chances when you play against the best players.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po zwycięstwie w ćwierćfinale
A. Murray bt. F. Lopez 6 3, 6 4, 6 4
Q. For a quarter-final, couldn't have gotten any better, could it?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was good. I got off to a good start in all of the sets. That helps against someone like Feli because he serves well. Normally against the big servers, they like to put pressure on you towards the end of the set.
But because I got ahead early in all of them, I was able to dictate the points from the back of the court and played a good match.
Q. There were four teenagers who were so keen on seeing you play, they waited in queue for three days. What do you make of that?
ANDY MURRAY: It's amazing. I mean, most years here there's so many sort of stories like that. It's great. The tickets here are very difficult to get, especially for the big courts. Yeah, it's dedication, isn't it, to stay around that long to wait for a ticket.
Yeah, it's obviously great that they managed to get in.
Q. Your injury in the third set, what did you do? Do you know more about it in the last hour?
ANDY MURRAY: No, it's just sort of a change of direction thing. Little bit sore at the top of my hip, my hip flexor. It was a little bit sore after that, but I was still moving okay, you know. Have a better idea of how it is in the morning.
Q. Out of the four semi-finalists you were the only one who didn't lose a set. Are you surprised about what happened in the other matches, especially Federer's defeat?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, I was following the match after Federer, so I was sort of following it a little bit on the TV. It's a surprise for him to lose from two sets to love.
I think Tsonga's an excellent player. When he plays well, he's very, very difficult to beat, especially on this surface. Not necessarily surprised that he lost the match. But having watched quite a bit of it, to come back from two sets to love is a very difficult thing to do. Against Roger at Wimbledon, it's even tougher.
But he served really well and took the game away from Roger. He just served great.
Q. When you look at playing Rafa on Friday, what do you think has changed from a year ago that gives you hope that you can improve on what you did last year against him?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I believe I can win against him. I had chances last year. I was up a break in the third set; had breakpoint on my serve in the second set. I think there was only one break in the first set. We both played good tennis.
But, you know, I just have to have a better game plan. Sometimes it comes down to strategy. Sometimes it comes down to having more experience. Yeah, just have to go out there and play well and serve well and believe and I'll have a chance.
Q. You've kept the beard after saying you weren't superstitious on Monday. Do you think we'll see it on Friday?
ANDY MURRAY: I'm not thinking about it at all. It's not something that keeps me up at night, or when I wake up in the morning I'm not really that fussed about it.
Q. It was painful on Monday, though.
ANDY MURRAY: Painful?
Q. Yes. You said it got to that stage.
ANDY MURRAY: No, it gets to a length where it's sore to shave it for me. So it would be sore for me to shave it. That's why I sort of put it off a little bit.
Q. So we could see it Friday?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Yeah, there's a chance that I might still have some facial hair on Friday, yeah (smiling).
Q. Can you describe what it would mean to you as a British man to win Wimbledon if you got to that point?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what it would feel like. I don't know how I would feel. I don't know 'cause I haven't been there before, haven't done it.
So, you know, I know that it's something that I've thought a lot about, something that drives me to work hard and keep training hard. I'm glad I'm in a position to have a chance of doing it.
But, yeah, I don't know how it would feel. I can only answer that once it's happened.
Q. Did (indiscernible) enjoy the experience of watching you today?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I didn't see him after the match, so I don't know if he did or not. I don't know.
Q. This is your third consecutive semi-final. Does it get easier to deal with, sort of the hype around it?
ANDY MURRAY: The hype is not something I don't know. That doesn't make a difference. It's more, you know, the task that's in front of you becomes something that you know, I've obviously played Rafa a lot of times at Grand Slams and I've beaten him before at Grand Slams.
I haven't done it at Wimbledon. That's something that I'd like to try to change on Friday. But it's still an incredibly difficult, difficult task. I understand that. I know come Friday I'll have to play great tennis if I want to win.
Q. Back in March, would you have backed yourself to win Queen's and be in the Wimbledon semi-final?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, maybe. You know, I was not in a great position mentally. But, you know, I was trying to say all along I didn't feel like I was in sort of a crisis. I needed to make some changes, needed to think about some things.
But as soon as Monte Carlo came round, I'd spent some time training, I'd made some changes, got my head in the right place, and my tennis wasn't that sort of far behind. It didn't take that long.
It's not like you lose your game overnight. It doesn't go away. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to find it. I said the last couple of years that I'm trying to prepare for the slams as best I can. I'm trying to play my best tennis at the slams.
And, you know, a lot of people were saying to me like, Yeah, it's great that you're winning Masters Series, but when are you going to start performing better in the slams. Start playing better in the slams, don't play all the Masters Series, and all of a sudden I'm in a crisis.
You can't do everything all the time. It's very difficult to be consistent throughout the whole year. That's what separated, in terms of the ranking Rafa and Novak this year are going to be 1 and 2, because they've been consistent the whole year. That's something I need to improve on.
Q. If you had to pick a surface to play Nadal, which one would you pick? I guess not a clay court. Between grass and hard court. A few minutes ago Nadal said grass is his second favorite surface after clay with the results he's got.
ANDY MURRAY: Probably hard court, I would have said. I played well against him on hard courts in the past. Also indoors, I think. Indoor hard court would be a good surface to play him on.
Q. In that same press conference, Rafa disclosed a growing friendship between you two. You see each other a little bit more off the court. But he said that he consistently beats you at PlayStation. I was wondering what your thoughts on that are.
ANDY MURRAY: He actually isn't very good at PlayStation. His partner is very good. He plays with Juan Monaco, and Juan Monaco is very good. Rafa's not that good at PlayStation, but he plays with Juan Monaco. As a team, they play well (smiling).
But we were actually talking about it before we went out to play our matches today, because I was playing this putting game and I missed the putt. I blamed the putter, and he said, You always have an excuse on the PlayStation.
Because we always play with their rules. Like there's different camera views, and we play with one camera view and they play with a different one. But we always play with their one. They play with Inter Milan, and we're not allowed to play with Inter Milan even though they're the best team in the game. We have to play with a different team.
Once the game starts, you're not allowed to make substitutions. It's just all their rules. So when we lose, we're a little bit like, Yeah, we blame the rules that they have.
I did play them once with our camera view and we won, but that's the only time we got a chance to play them.
Q. Who is your partner?
ANDY MURRAY: I play with Danny, yeah.
Q. Do you think this is part of the way he messes with your mind?
ANDY MURRAY: I think it winds them up when we make excuses and blame other things rather than just saying that they were better than us. We think we're better and just blame it on other stuff.
But, yeah, come Friday, obviously all that stuff is irrelevant. Just need to put, you know, friendships and stuff to one side and play.
Q. Can't you play him at singles?
ANDY MURRAY: At PlayStation?
Q. Yes. Is that not possible?
ANDY MURRAY: It would be very comfortable for me, so they only play on a team. (Laughter.)
Q. You thrash him at PlayStation singles then?
ANDY MURRAY: We've never played. But I think I'm better, yup.
Q. Which players do you use on PlayStation tennis?
ANDY MURRAY: We don't play tennis. It's football.
Q. Just football?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. We never play tennis. Just football, yeah.
Q. Will you look back at matches against Rafa tomorrow? And if so, which particular matches will you look back to see? Ones where you played particularly well?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I'll watch a little bit of matches I played against him. Also, like Danny will watch matches that Rafa's played here, 'cause obviously everyone makes changes from time to time.
I don't know exactly which ones. Probably make sense to watch some of the ones on grass and also some of the ones on the quicker surfaces 'cause that's, you know, what grass is, one of the fastest surfaces.
But I don't know which ones in particular.
Q. Obviously you've practiced with Feliciano López in the past. Any chance of you practicing with him?
ANDY MURRAY: No. I might hit with Daniel Nestor, who I practiced with the last couple of days. But I'm not sure if López will be leaving as soon as he can.
Q. Is there a person, place, or thing that you would queue for three days to see?
ANDY MURRAY: Good question. We were actually talking about this the other week.
Yeah, I mean, I'd probably for a big heavyweight boxing fight I'd probably queue for that. I don't know if I'd manage three days or not.
Q. Coming into this particular semifinal, mentally do you feel in as good a place as you've been with the way you're playing, the confidence you have, the way you're in control?
ANDY MURRAY: I feel good. I get asked that stuff all the time before the tournament. Are you feeling better than ever before?
You don't know. I feel good. I played well so far and I feel comfortable. But, you know, I don't expect to feel comfortable in the next match. I know I'm going to have to go through moments where I'm struggling, where Rafa hits some unbelievable shots, and have to come back from behind sometimes. You have to be prepared for all that stuff.
But I feel good.
Q. Obviously a bit of banter between Feli, your mom, and you. I wonder whether your mom was embarrassed by it or whether she thinks it's quite good fun.
ANDY MURRAY: I haven't spoken to her about it, but I was embarrassed by it. If you fancy not putting it in the papers tomorrow, I'd appreciate that (smiling).
Q. Did Jamie feel the same way?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I actually haven't spoken to Jamie about it. I don't know.
Q. Your progress so far has been fairly straightforward. Would you prefer that going into a semi-final? Would you have preferred being tested in some longer matches?
ANDY MURRAY: I'd rather be fresh and ready mentally to play against Rafa. You know, it's not like I go into the match with Rafa, like I say, expecting an easy match or expecting to be comfortable.
I know how difficult it's going to be. I know what the task is. So I'll be ready for it.
But, uhm, it's going to be difficult.
Wimbledon 2011 - wywiad po porażce w półfinale
A. Murray def. by R. Nadal 7-5, 2-6, 2-6, 4-6
Q. A lot of the commentators are talking about that forehand that you missed in the fourth game of the second set as being the turning point. Is that how you see it in your mind?
ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, I mean, it was a big point. I was playing very high risk tennis for most of the match. I went for it today, and I started to make a few mistakes after that.
But it's not like yeah, I mean, you can't talk about a match that goes almost three hours being, you know, decided based on one point. Again, like I say, I was going for it. Against Rafa you have to go for big shots. I slightly overhit that one.
But, again, they would be the same ones that would have said a year ago that I would have been playing too defensively. Today I was going for all my shots, and I started to make some mistakes afterwards.
But, yeah, that point was one that I should have won for sure.
Q. Are you proud of what you've done over the last fortnight, Andy?
ANDY MURRAY: It's been a good tournament. I think it could have been better today. I wish I didn't make as many mistakes afterwards. But that's the thing. Sometimes I've come off the court and thought, Hmm, maybe I should have taken a few more chances.
Then today it's kind of the other way. I went for it and started making mistakes. It was good for a set and a little bit, then went the other way.
But the tournament as a whole has been good. I would have liked to have finished better.
Q. Looked like you moved back a little from the baseline after the first set.
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. I was still going for my shots. I don't know if I did. Normally against Rafa or against any top player you can't dictate the whole match. The first set Rafa struggled a little bit on his backhand side.
Once he started hitting his backhand better, naturally I wasn't going to be able to play right next to the baseline like I was in the first set.
But you're going to have to go through periods in matches against the best players where you're having to do a bit of the running. I thought for the most part I was trying to dictate the play.
Q. Is this one harder to take because you were ahead?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I don't think so. They're all tough. But I don't think so. I mean, no, I don't think it is.
Q. A couple of times you clutched your hip, your stomach, grimaced. Did it play any part today? Were you feeling it at all?
ANDY MURRAY: My hip was sore like right at the beginning of the match. After I saw the physio, took like a painkiller, it was fine. I hardly felt my hip after that.
But, yeah, I mean, sometimes like on the grass and on a lot of surfaces, you know, once you play a lot of tennis on it, it gets quite sore in the knee. Rafa's I think had quite a few problems on the grass with his knees.
It's more sort of when you're stopping suddenly rather than sort of during the points. It's maybe when you're like a full on stretch, but it's nothing serious.
Q. Do you feel you threw it away today, Andy?
ANDY MURRAY: Threw it away? No, I don't think so.
Q. Can you put into words what makes it so difficult playing against Rafa, especially on grass, and the pressure you're constantly under?
ANDY MURRAY: Every time I play him I explain the same thing. It's tough. He makes a lot of balls. He's very good when he's behind. He's one of the best players ever, and a great athlete on top of that.
So, you know, even when he's not hitting the ball unbelievable from the middle of the court, he gets to a lot of balls, makes you play an extra ball all the time. And eventually today, like after the first set and a half, when I started making mistakes, he raised his game and started playing better and capitalized on it.
Q. What did you think of the crowd support?
ANDY MURRAY: I thought it was good. I mean, when you're in the middle of the match, you know, you hear it more sort of like at the end of a set or if you get a break of serve. You know, it's not like you're focusing on it sort of every single point.
So I'm probably not the best one to judge. But I thought it was good.
Q. Could you talk about what it's like to get so far on these big stages and just not be able to push it through to the end?
ANDY MURRAY: It's tough. It's tough. But, you know, I'm giving it my best shot each time. I'm trying my hardest. That's all you can do. So I don't know. It's a difficult question to answer. I can't explain exactly how I feel.
I'm disappointed. But normally, like after four or five days bar after Australia the last couple years I've recovered relatively quickly from losing because I'm just trying to get better.
I feel like I'm playing better tennis than I was last year at this point. I don't know. It's difficult.
Q. Do you ever cry?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I've done it before in front of probably most of the people in here in Australia. But not today.
Q. There's been a lot of chat from the Nadal camp about his injury problems. There was no evidence of that today. Mardy Fish didn't see any in the previous round. Did you think Nadal was injured?
ANDY MURRAY: Rafa doesn't feign injury. Everyone has problems this stage of the season because it's so like going from the French to the grass. And Rafa obviously in the last few months has played so many matches on the clay. I think he played the maximum amount of matches he could have played.
Yeah, probably rather than it being like a huge injury, he's going to be feeling pain because his body's tired, like everyone is. Yeah, sometimes it's worse than others.
I don't know. You have to ask him exactly how bad it is. I don't know.
Q. Tactically it was going great for you first set and a bit. Is there any other way you could have done it?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. You can beat him by playing patient. When I've beaten him in the past I've beaten him at the US Open and the Australian Open I played a little bit more patient. You know, and today, yeah, I maybe got the balance a little bit wrong.
But, yeah, you need to try and find a way. Each time you play against one of the best players you need to play slightly differently each time because they're going to change their game against you. You have to make adjustments.
Q. Does it get easier or more difficult to handle, getting to this stage?
ANDY MURRAY: No idea. I don't know.
Q. You're saying you're going to take a few days, you generally can recover from something like this quite quickly. Can you explain what you'll do over the next coming days and what you can learn from today?
ANDY MURRAY: Work harder than I ever did before. Try and improve my game and get stronger. Be more professional. Yeah, try and learn from what happened today. Yeah, think about the things that I need to improve.
Yeah, that's all you can do. You've just got to work harder than you have done in the past to get better. It's a very tough era I think in tennis. Tennis right at the top of the game is exceptional.
So not only to get level with those guys, but to push past them, you need to work harder than them. That's what I need to try to do.
Q. Will you try to go to the fight tomorrow or will you just watch it on the box?
ANDY MURRAY: That's the last thing I was thinking about. I have no idea. I don't know.
Q. What one stroke do you think you could improve?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. It's a tough one. My forehand today at the start of the match was excellent, and then for a set and a bit I was going for the shots but just missing them.
So I need to have a bit more consistency there. 'Cause if I hit it like I did in the first set throughout the match, I think it probably would have been a slightly different story. At the same time, when you're playing high risk tennis you're going to make mistakes.
I don't know which one shot in particular I need to improve. But today I would have cut down on some of the unforced errors.
Q. You and Rafa have spoken about your friendship. Does it take even a slight edge off the fact that you've lost to a friend?
ANDY MURRAY: No. No. Same feeling. I mean, I always support Rafa when I watch him, but when I play against him I want to win. So it doesn't change regardless of really who you're playing against. It's still just as bad.
Q. What are your thoughts on Novak rising to No. 1?
ANDY MURRAY: He deserves it 'cause he's hardly lost a match this year, so... He's played great tennis and deserves it.
Q. Will you think about your coaching situation?
ANDY MURRAY: No idea. No idea. I'll practise hard. I've got Davis Cup next week. Then, yeah, I've got a training block before the American stretch. Things have been going pretty well the last few months. The way they've been now, I've got a good, good chance.
Since I started working with Darren and Danny together, I haven't really had much time to do like a training block or do any sort of long periods with them because you've been playing tournaments the whole time.
Now I've got four weeks after Davis Cup before Montréal. See what I can work on.
Q. Who do you think will win the final?
ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Depends who plays better on the day. But they're both playing great tennis. Rafa's got probably a bit more experience than Novak, so that will help him.
But, yeah, it depends who plays better.
Q. You said you need to work harder. Do you feel like maybe you don't work hard enough?
ANDY MURRAY: I work hard. Really, really hard.
Q. So what do you exactly mean when you say you feel you should work harder?
ANDY MURRAY: I need to work 2, 3% harder than I do just now and push myself to be the best athlete that I can be. Every week, every month you learn something new in your training, in your matches, in practice, your diet, the gym, the training that you do. I just need to try and get better.
But I work really, really hard, so that's not been the problem. I just need to work a little bit harder, get better.