Andy Murray

Might be a good omen. The year he won Wimbledon he had a few very tough matches. The year after he cruised through to the last 16 without losing a set than got his arse handed to him on a platter. I still can't see him getting past Nadal or Djokovic over 5 sets though unless those two batter each other into submission in the semi final.

(24-05-2016 18:09 )setter1000 Wrote:  Might be a good omen. The year he won Wimbledon he had a few very tough matches. The year after he cruised through to the last 16 without losing a set than got his arse handed to him on a platter. I still can't see him getting past Nadal or Djokovic over 5 sets though unless those two batter each other into submission in the semi final.

That can be Andy's plan then....sorted.

He showed some courage to fight through that one today. Just two points from first round oblivion and you have to hand it to him, he pulled victory out of the fire when all seemed to be heading to a humiliating exit.

The trouble with playing a guy like Stepanek is he drives you absolutely nuts with his drop shots, trick shots, net play and outrageous habits of mimicking moves his opponent makes. The thing is it can be really awkward because there's not many guys on tour who play the way he does anymore. He's also a legend in doubles with eighteen titles including two grand slam doubles titles, and he has troubled Murray before in previous meetings. To fight through it took almost four hours so he obviously could do with a couple of straight set or four set wins to see out the week, then he'll have more left for the business end of the French Open next week.

You can't keep toiling like that on clay for seven matches. On grass it's hard enough, but its magnified so many times more on clay, its such an unforgiving surface with far less free points and gruelling, lung busting running. He'll obviously hope for easier passage tomorrow against home player Mathias Bourgue.

(24-05-2016 22:49 )sandals1963 Wrote:  

(24-05-2016 18:09 )setter1000 Wrote:  Might be a good omen. The year he won Wimbledon he had a few very tough matches. The year after he cruised through to the last 16 without losing a set than got his arse handed to him on a platter. I still can't see him getting past Nadal or Djokovic over 5 sets though unless those two batter each other into submission in the semi final.

That can be Andy's plan then....sorted.

Yep P

(24-05-2016 23:06 )Regenerated Wrote:  He showed some courage to fight through that one today. Just two points from first round oblivion and you have to hand it to him, he pulled victory out of the fire when all seemed to be heading to a humiliating exit.

The trouble with playing a guy like Stepanek is he drives you absolutely nuts with his drop shots, trick shots, net play and outrageous habits of mimicking moves his opponent makes. The thing is it can be really awkward because there's not many guys on tour who play the way he does anymore. He's also a legend in doubles with eighteen titles including two grand slam doubles titles, and he has troubled Murray before in previous meetings. To fight through it took almost four hours so he obviously could do with a couple of straight set or four set wins to see out the week, then he'll have more left for the business end of the French Open next week.

You can't keep toiling like that on clay for seven matches. On grass it's hard enough, but its magnified so many times more on clay, its such an unforgiving surface with far less free points and gruelling, lung busting running. He'll obviously hope for easier passage tomorrow against home player Mathias Bourgue.

A very good point. Clay is a totally different proposition to grass. Howver, I have lost count the amount of times someone has been on cruise control all the way through the tournament suddenly come unstuck in his first tough match. At least he will be battle hardened even if he must do better in terms of quality if he wants to be challenging for the title.

Murray is through to the 3rd round but only after another tiring 5 set match.

Murray seemed to disappear for sets 2 and 3 and reappeared for sets 4 and 5. I didn't expect to struggle against Borque, Stepanek was a stinker of a 1st round opponent not surprised Murray struggled against him on clay

That is 9 times Murray has recovered from a 2 set deficit in his career

At least he can be safe in the knowledge that his next match won't be a physical toil with loads of running.

Quite the opposite - the ball might fly unreturnably past him on several occasions thanks to Karlovic's aces, but Murray always defends well against him. Andy has mastered a block return against giant servers like Karlovic and Isner. Karlovic isn't going to make him run everywhere and I think Murray will find the key to break that serve - in their previous meetings you always had the feeling that it was only a matter of time before Murray breaks him down. Once the serve is broken, Karlovic doesn't have a lot left to trouble Murray...

... I hope.

Just hope clay will Neutralise the power of Karlovic's serve. He is not the greatest athlete so hopefully Murray should have an easier time of it. Famous last words I know.

Easy 3 sets win today over Karlovic 6-1, 6-4, 7-6