RedWeb Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Think that match could be a defining moment in Murray's career. He cannot play that way again or he'll never win a slam. As Monster said last years semi-final against Nadal was the way Murray needs to play. He can be aggressive but on too many occasions is passive to the point of stagnation. Still have to believe something was up with Murray. No drop shots, no backhand winners, no forehand winners, no lobs, no pushing Cilic around. Was it pressure ? Was it injury ? Interested to hear what Murray has to say. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StewartyMac Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I have seen NOTHING from Djokovic, but his scores seem impressive. He played Ljubicic in the 1st round, a man who was once a decent player but who seems to have lost the will to carry on playing, then two qualifiers in the next two rounds, and then Stepanek in the last round, who almost never even competes against decent players, so he's not really broke sweat yet. It's Verdasco next mind, an altogether different proposition. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tryfield Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Cilic won the coaching battle. Constantly hitting in to Murrays back hand with the odd fore hand offer. You could see Murray's disappointment when Cilic had the serve. Did Cilic hear a whisper about Murray's right wrist? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StewartyMac Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Ach well, never mind, Scotland beating Holland tomorrow will lift the mood of the nation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWeb Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Cilic won the coaching battle. The more I think about it the more I think Murray needs to mix it up in his coaching team. McClagan is no doubt a nice bloke but can he take Murray to the next level. The evidence isn't looking good so far after a Grand Slam season of r4, Qf, Sf, and r4. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayrmad Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Needs to get rid of Team Murray and get a coach that he's willing to take advice and criticism from. If Stefanki can rejuvenate Roddick then someone can stop Murray going into a defensive shell when the pressures on. Greats rise to the occasion. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musketeer Gripweed Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 He really is the new Montgomerie/Coulthard of Scottish sport to be fair. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StewartyMac Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 He really is the new Montgomerie/Coulthard of Scottish sport to be fair. That was (I think) his 16th Grand Slam. Federer won his first slam at his 17th attempt, and didn't have as good a record as Murray has had in the previous sixteen. I think the Montgomerie comparisons are miles too early. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasnost Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 He really is the new Montgomerie/Coulthard of Scottish sport to be fair. Oh you dull cretin; you bigotted twat. Froth froth froth, rage rage rage 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds are Forever Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 There's no doubt he has to become more aggressive, his losses in the Slams this season have all been by 'big-hitters' who have been handed the initiative by his defensive play and have just blasted him off the court. It seems that he plays 'passively' and if he goes behind he goes into his comfort zone, which is being even more passive, which just makes it worse. That's the way he has always played so it might be hard to change, but I think it's a case of taking 1 step back and 2 forward for him here. His Grand-Slam results have been pretty poor, the French was decent, Wimbledon on paper looks good but he had an extremely good draw and even then was close to losing in the 4th round, and the Australian and US Open have been terrible. There shouldn't be any knee-jerk reactions but he needs to consider changing something. Physically he is in top condition, he has every shot in the book, so it has got to be a problem with the mental/tactical side. However, he does seem quite stubborn so will be interesting to see what he does. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantene proV Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 He's a smart guy, team Murray might be getting overhauled sooner rather than later. Mclagan might get ditched for a different coach. I was always in Murray's corner re his incremental development process but something major needs to happen now - tonight was a shocker. His favourite surface, his favourite slam and he gets blown off court by someone who up to this point hadn't beaten a top 5 player?! Stefanki was right. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayrmad Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) He's a smart guy, team Murray might be getting overhauled sooner rather than later. Mclagan might get ditched for a different coach.I was always in Murray's corner re his incremental development process but something major needs to happen now - tonight was a shocker. His favourite surface, his favourite slam and he gets blown off court by someone who up to this point hadn't beaten a top 5 player?! Stefanki was right. I hope you're correct,if he continues to fail in the slams that will develop into a huge mental hurdle,Monty still hasn't overcome that mental block regardless of ability and positioning in Majors. Stefanki was correct,sometimes ego ignores constructive criticism to the detriment of ability. He is only close to Federer on points because Federer knows that you don't peak for the lesser tournaments as they are just a means to an end. Phil Taylor used to play a couple of tournaments a year as financially it wasn't worth him playing anymore,now that the interest in darts has improved he plays in lots of them and is a better player for it. Edited September 9, 2009 by ayrmad 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_B Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 What a hideous performance Lethargic, no weight of shot, served poorly. Bad day at the office. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reynard Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 What a hideous performance Lethargic, no weight of shot, served poorly. Bad day at the office. It was horrendous. Didn't see that coming at all. Rethink time. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScarf Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) Surely now he has to take on board what Stefanski and others have said and stop being so defensive. Relying on others to make errors only gets you so far in tournaments. When you start playing top 20 players, they don't make many errors and you have to try and hit the angles with power. Murrays forehand is his major letdown I feel. He hits the ball far to short and my the time its reached his opponent, its high enough for them to cut right across it with power and put it across court, which leaves Murray stretching. Edit - His first service percentages over the last few months, have been laughable. Edited September 9, 2009 by TheScarf 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWeb Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Edit - His first service percentages over the last few months, have been laughable. Cilic served at 31% first serves in the second set and won it with a double break. In the same set Murray served at 81% first serves. His serve wasn't the reason he lost last night. I agree his serve can be extremely erratic but last night was more about poor weight of shot, poor length, poor returns and giving up mentally. Hopefully, he will use the sting from the defeat to move his game on before it's too late. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScarf Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Cilic served at 31% first serves in the second set and won it with a double break. In the same set Murray served at 81% first serves. His serve wasn't the reason he lost last night. I agree his serve can be extremely erratic but last night was more about poor weight of shot, poor length, poor returns and giving up mentally. Hopefully, he will use the sting from the defeat to move his game on before it's too late. I agree his serve wasn't bad last night, but recently it has been and he's had to rely too much on the second serve for my liking. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
printer Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Let me repeat again - Andy Murray - Scotland's tennis equivalent of Colin Montgomerie. Pity our football teams weren't the equivalent of Monty. Then we'd all have something to cheer about. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DomDom Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Marin Cilic started his match with Del Potro in terrific fashion, but his arse fell off and he looks like he could be going out. To be fair Del Potro is playing the best tennis I have seen from him in this open so far. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Springboard Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 (edited) No way in hell is Andy 'Majorless' Murray the second best Tennis player on Earth. No way in hell. It shows the ATP ranking system up as a farce that a player like Murray can rank ahead of a player the calibre of Nadal. They're like night and day. Nadal is by far the superior player. Murray lacks the winning mentallity. It comes with being British. It's even more potent in Scots. Edited September 11, 2009 by Springboard 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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