Murray - I can win Roland Garros

[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by batz

Bit of a myth this mate. His formative years were spent on hardcourts - many of them indoors.

He was at Sanchez-Casal for just under 2 years from the age of 15.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

[Anaconda]

He has zero shot to beat Nadal and Djokovic on clay in best out of five matches, and only has a slight chance against Federer at 30. I'd wager at least one of those guys will be in the final. Let's not even talk about Ferrer, Berdych, Almagro or JMDP who are also capable on clay. At least he's being optimistic, I guess.



Has he even won a clay title btw?

[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by Anaconda

He has zero shot to beat Nadal and Djokovic on clay in best out of five matches, and only has a slight chance against Federer at 30. I'd wager at least one of those guys will be in the final. Let's not even talk about Ferrer, Berdych, Almagro or JMDP who are also capable on clay. At least he's being optimistic, I guess.



Has he even won a clay title btw?

Nope. Hasn't even reach a final, to my knowledge.

[raging]

Originally Posted by Carsomyr

Murray really should be better on clay than he is. Weren't his formative years spent training on clay in Spain?

yes, spent thousands of hours grinding on the clay at Sanchez Casal!
I was out there coaching a visiting group & shook my head at this thin,pale little scottish kid burning in the midday sun...
How he has changed.
Still loves grinding on the dirt but there are a few guys who like it more...
Ferru is definitely one!

[Warmaster]

He's the fourth favourite for me, ahead of Ferrer. And yes, I'm aware he lost to Ferrer last year.

To be honest, I can't see him winning it this year but he will have chances in a few years. Federer and Nadal will likely be gone and by then he should have improved on clay as well.

[ctjpm]

Can't knock his attitude.
Maybe he should concentrate on winning a clay tourney first, or beating a player from the top 5 on the surface before aiming for the big one though! Pity he's skipping DC.

[batz]

Originally Posted by mariecon

MC is highly overrated since it lost it's Masters1000 status. Rarely do all of the top 4 show up. So he took a set off Nadal. He still has never won a clay tournament, nor has he even made it to a clay final. The only way he could win RG is if Djoker, Nadal and Federer are all in the same half and none of them make it to the final. I'd say the chances of that happening are probably a gazillion to one.

Over-rated by whom - you? I love it when people on this forum pull assertions out of their @rse and present it as fact. It was Nadal - on clay - only 3 other current players have done so - and 2 of them are Nole and Roger.

Murray hasn't won a clay title or even made a final - that is true; but I'm sure if he entered Estoril or Cassablanca regularly, then that would change.

The fact is that Murray's record where it matters on clay i.e. at RG, is relatively decent. For example, his record matches Ferrer and is much better than 'King of the SA Swing' Nico Almagro.

He would need to avoid Nadal and Djokovic both (no chance of him beating those two in a best of 5 on clay IMO), and would need to pull an upset if he plays Federer, Ferrer, or Berdych, who would all be favored over him on clay. Would also need to avoid the possible upset to a number of other players who probably believe they can beat him, and a long list who have beaten him before, on clay. Not totally impossible, Schiavone winning was a bigger upset, but not at all likely.

[Carsomyr]

Originally Posted by batz

Over-rated by whom - you? I love it when people on this forum pull assertions out of their @rse and present it as fact. It was Nadal - on clay - only 3 other current players have done so - and 2 of them are Nole and Roger.

Murray hasn't won a clay title or even made a final - that is true; but I'm sure if he entered Estoril or Cassablanca regularly, then that would change.

The fact is that Murray's record where it matters on clay i.e. at RG, is relatively decent. For example, his record matches Ferrer and is much better than 'King of the SA Swing' Nico Almagro.

This is honestly what he should be doing. Maybe not much in the way of prestige, but it would surely boost his confidene on the surface.

[batz]

Originally Posted by Anaconda

He has zero shot to beat Nadal and Djokovic on clay in best out of five matches, and only has a slight chance against Federer at 30. I'd wager at least one of those guys will be in the final. Let's not even talk about Ferrer, Berdych, Almagro or JMDP who are also capable on clay. At least he's being optimistic, I guess.



Has he even won a clay title btw?

No - but he's won 4 consecutive matches on clay at RG on 3 occasions - if he'd done that at 3 250 clay events he'd have 3 titles.

Murray doesn't enter any clay 250s.

[Anaconda]

Hmm, Ferrer has quite a few titles on clay, I wouldn't say Murray's record is better, although I believe both to be better on the hard courts. As for Almagro, I think if they met at the FO, Almagro would be able to win and would certainly have his chances - but he's also a choker, that also cancels out when you're the underdog (which he would be).

[batz]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

He would need to avoid Nadal and Djokovic both (no chance of him beating those two in a best of 5 on clay IMO), and would need to pull an upset if he plays Federer, Ferrer, or Berdych, who would all be favored over him on clay. Would also need to avoid the possible upset to a number of other players who probably believe they can beat him, and a long list who have beaten him before, on clay. Not totally impossible, Schiavone winning was a bigger upset, but not at all likely.

I tend to agree - yet bookies have him as solid 3rd favourite.

Murray would probably beat Almagro at the French, either through Murray just outplaying him which he is fully capable of even on clay, or Almagro choking the match away if he does outplay Murray, the same way another choking dog Troicki did vs injured Murray in 2011.

[The Bawss]

Here is the list of people who would beat him should they meet at RG:

Ferrer
Almagro
Berdych
Federer
Djokovic
Del Potro
Nadal
Gasquet
Wawrinka (maybe)
Monaco (maybe)

His draw is going to have to seriously open up for him to not end up playing one or more of these players but we know there's no chance of that happening. No, wait...

[batz]

Originally Posted by Carsomyr

This is honestly what he should be doing. Maybe not much in the way of prestige, but it would surely boost his confidene on the surface.

I'm sure it's something that is under consideration - I think you're right.

Originally Posted by batz

I tend to agree - yet bookies have him as solid 3rd favourite.

Well I cant imagine anyone not named Nadal or Djokovic winning the French anytime until 2017 atleast (well atleast not this year, I shouldnt project too far ahead as someone might improve alot be that Murray or someone else, some new clay demon might emerge, or Nadal or Djokovic might both get injured some year) so who they have as 3rd favorite is pretty much a moot point for me. I said the same thing when some **** justified all the Federer votes for winning RG this year by calling him 3rd favorite. Who is 3rd favorite really doesnt matter at that event, as the first two are chasms ahead of everyone else, as long as Nadal still has a pulse and plays that is.

In the event Nadal doesnt play then the other guys can hope for some choke or freak loss for Djokovic, in which case it becomes the most wide open RG in decades, and atleast a half dozen men, Murray included, could win it then. Djokovic would be the 95% likely winner with Nadal out somewhow, but would also be in a pressure filled spot, as it would be so far his tournament to lose with Nadal out, which is a tough position to be in for a player at an event they havent won yet.

[Anaconda]

Originally Posted by Carsomyr

This is honestly what he should be doing. Maybe not much in the way of prestige, but it would surely boost his confidene on the surface.

He won't, the clay season, if you have no chance at the FO (as Murray nearly does) and a big chance at winning Wimbledon (which Murray does), is a big hindrance. He wants to be as fresh as possible going into the clay season. Playing small tournaments which he might not even win aren't going to help him for the French Open or his longevity.

Originally Posted by The Bawss

Here is the list of people who would beat him should they meet at RG:

Ferrer
Almagro
Berdych
Federer
Djokovic
Del Potro
Nadal
Gasquet
Wawrinka (maybe)
Monaco (maybe)

His draw is going to have to seriously open up for him to not end up playing one or more of these players but we know there's no chance of that happening. No, wait...

You think all those guys are safe to beat Murray. Pleeeese. Gasquet hasnt beaten him in a slam since atleast 2007 now, if he ever did that is. Del Potro hasnt beaten a top player in a slam since 2009, and is clearly not fit enough to do so, especialy on a slower court. He also has a godawful bad record vs Murray, which doesnt improve significantly on clay like it does for Ferrer. Almagro as already noted is a huge choking dog so is definitely 110% not going to close a match out vs a top 4 player like Murray at Roland Garros, even from a winning position.

Eliminate Monaco, Almagro, and Gasquet from your list altogether, and move Del Potro to a maybe along with Wawrinka (being generous) and maybe that makes sense. Maybe be generous and give Gasquet a maybe, only since he seems to be making strides this year. RG is not his best slam or surface, but it is the only one he might ever beat Murray again at.

[batz]

Originally Posted by The Bawss

Here is the list of people who would beat him should they meet at RG:

Ferrer
Almagro
Berdych
Federer
Djokovic
Del Potro
Nadal
Gasquet
Wawrinka (maybe)
Monaco (maybe)

His draw is going to have to seriously open up for him to not end up playing one or more of these players but we know there's no chance of that happening. No, wait...

Would? OK Mystic Bawss. Any chance of the lottery numbers for Saturday?

Some stonking names on that list of 'woulds'. You do realise that Gasquet is 0-2 versus Murray at Roland Garros? And Delpo is no certainty to beat him with his 1-5 H2H - I'd even stick my neck out and say that the GOAT wouldn't be a certainty either. Nole? maybe - but Murray was a dead netcord away from 2 MP against him the last time they played on clay, so again, some doubt.

I'll give you Rafa.

But hey - you usually haver a load of pysh so I don't see any reason why today should be any different.

[Goosehead]

i cant see why murray cant win..he isnt favourite but he could win..i think his results on clay so far have been way below his clay potential..lendl will help his sliding and he needs to not get agitated on clay and R E L A X.

also wilander and chang won against all the odds at the french..it must have been those two's 1st clay titles seeing as they were 17yrs old at that time.

it can happen. ..He must dream the undreamable dream.