Andy Murray strolled for two sets yesterday before Tsonga rallied. He still had plenty in the tank and did the job in the fourth. His movement and larger armoury of shots was too much for the Frenchman and tomorrow he gets a crack at Federer in the final.
Federer will start as hot favourite but he is the one player in the top three who Murray knows he can beat. His career record against "Fedex" is eight wins to seven. Andy's biggest challenge will be the occasion. If he can settle quickly like he did against Tsonga, we could be in for a five setter.
Murray has crumpled in finals previously but he has never made it through to a Wimbledon final and he knows this could be the defining moment in his career. He is a winner and despite his dour persona at times, he gets a hard deal from the majority down south which is unfair. If you saw that interview when he said he would be cheering on whoever England played you would know he meant it in jest and it was a riposte to being teased by Tim Henman and a journalist because Scotland hadn't managed to qualify again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqQsHBwkDgQ
Come on Andy Murray!
Federer will start as hot favourite but he is the one player in the top three who Murray knows he can beat. His career record against "Fedex" is eight wins to seven. Andy's biggest challenge will be the occasion. If he can settle quickly like he did against Tsonga, we could be in for a five setter.
Murray has crumpled in finals previously but he has never made it through to a Wimbledon final and he knows this could be the defining moment in his career. He is a winner and despite his dour persona at times, he gets a hard deal from the majority down south which is unfair. If you saw that interview when he said he would be cheering on whoever England played you would know he meant it in jest and it was a riposte to being teased by Tim Henman and a journalist because Scotland hadn't managed to qualify again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqQsHBwkDgQ
Come on Andy Murray!
If Murray gets a raw deal down south it is largely of his own making.His comments about England were both naive,and ill judged,especially when the vast majority of the support base is south of the border.At the time it seemed he was trying to be clever in response to a question from a journo,but i am sure he has since realised he should have chosen his words much more thoughtfully.
ReplyDeleteSorry Dave. All this 'evidence' to get him off the hook doesn't wash with me. Murray, sadly like so many Scots can't bear the thought of England being successful at anything.
ReplyDeleteAnyone but Murray for me...........
Anon - I think it suits some people?
ReplyDeleteDaggs - I have no vested interest. If Murray is an England-hater that's his problem, but I listened to the original interview all this sprang from and it was all very much tongue-in-cheek because he was being ribbed by Henman and a journalist. He was simply trotting out the obvious old line. The "evidence" thus far doesn't stack up.
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeletethe thing about Murray is that he's just too bloody grumpy. He NEVER smiles! But here's the thing; do we prefer the cold-blooded winner, or the plucky trier that we all warm to? Surely for us Addicks, it's the latter....
Anon - he is a miserable sod. A classic "dour" Scot. I smiled at your comment because all my life the frustration with British tennis has been the fact that we can't produce *cold blooded" winner, just a succession of good losers. Murray's monotonous tone and shortness with the media doesn't help himself, but I think he does have a sense of humour under all that but the bloke has learnt that he has to be uber-caustious when talking to the press. I have a sneaking feeling he can "do the impossible" today and win the bloody thing. That might endear him to the majority instead of the minority, and maybe, maybe, we will get to know him a bit better. Otherwise, he's a just a miserable sod.
ReplyDelete