Andy Murray and Gasquet and superstars in Rennes challenger this week.

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster


Does murray need this ? he needs more points i suppose to get his ranking up. Gasquet likely to play him in quarter i believe. Pouille is also in it.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Muzziah is playing the great Russian Roman Safiullin, at one time considered on a level with contemporary teens Rublev and Medvedev as top Russian hope. This included winning the Boys title at AO’14.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Muzziah is playing the great Russian Roman Safiullin, at one time considered on a level with contemporary teens Rublev and Medvedev as top Russian hope. This included winning the Boys title at AO’14.

Poille wins,, very nice win but i can see why he's not his old self. He's making ton of UE's at crucial points of the match. He's lucky to hold his serve and serve it out, had to face break point and he played medicre point where his opponent made a silly UE to save the break point for him.

Anyway, Safuilln is dangerous player for Murry, russian has ton of power. But looks like Murray is playing well right now, his 1st round was easy win for him
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Muzziah is playing the great Russian Roman Safiullin, at one time considered on a level with contemporary teens Rublev and Medvedev as top Russian hope. This included winning the Boys title at AO’14.

I think you are right, Saufillin blowing out Andy like he's a cheap rented player
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Looks like there's no chance for Murray to get back into the 100s at this rate.

Maybe he should seriously think of calling it a day. Second round losses in a Challenger to some nobody is just plain embarrassing. Where does he think he should go from here? :(
 

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
Looks like there's no chance for Murray to get back into the 100s at this rate.

Maybe he should seriously think of calling it a day. Second round losses in a Challenger to some nobody is just plain embarrassing. Where does he think he should go from here? :(

Henman Hill with Red Rick.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Looks like there's no chance for Murray to get back into the 100s at this rate.

Maybe he should seriously think of calling it a day. Second round losses in a Challenger to some nobody is just plain embarrassing. Where does he think he should go from here? :(

Let's not write him off here. He lost to Saffiulin,, this guy is extremely talented player, sold of like Karatsev, just waiting for that breakthru. Andy's body had a off day and this guy Saffuilin was playing lights out power tennis. These things happen.
This guy is very similar to Karatsev another russian, just waiting to break thru.

Roman-SAFIULLIN-RUS-vs-Emilio-GOMEZ-ECU7-4.jpg
 

toby55555

Hall of Fame
Looks like there's no chance for Murray to get back into the 100s at this rate.

Maybe he should seriously think of calling it a day. Second round losses in a Challenger to some nobody is just plain embarrassing. Where does he think he should go from here? :(
Become Emma’s super coach or team up with Jack Sock and win a few GS doubles.
 

Picmun

Hall of Fame
Looks like there's no chance for Murray to get back into the 100s at this rate.

Maybe he should seriously think of calling it a day. Second round losses in a Challenger to some nobody is just plain embarrassing. Where does he think he should go from here? :(

As ever Mainad you are needlessly negative about Andy. Do you even see the Match ? @Nostradamus is absolutely right in his assessment "Andy's body had a off day and this guy Saffuilin was playing lights out power tennis."

Reminds me of when Andy played a certain bum loser nobody (to use TTW parlance) called Mevedev a while back. I'm not sure what happened to Medvedev ( don't think he’s ever won anything, complete loser Bum to use TTW parlance, Mevedev will NEVER be any good etc )........

Anyway even you @Mainad said Andy played well vs Med at that time - As I say he did against Saffuilin. Andy was clearly not red lining it, he has to preserve the limited life time of his metal hip!!!

Murray will put in some stunning performances before it's time to Finnish.

It is NOT the end yet. Have some faith. Andy would not be playing if he was not enjoying himself !

2YWAMRDA7RBF7GIN4O5W4XPW3I.jpg
 

Zardoz7/12

Hall of Fame
Murray is very up and down, one minute he shows flashes of his former self then the next he moves like a slug.

I think slugging it out in the challenger tour could help his confidence especially if he wins a title. Quite amazing seeing a former world number 1 playing challengers.
 

Picmun

Hall of Fame
Murray is very up and down, one minute he shows flashes of his former self then the next he moves like a slug.

I think slugging it out in the challenger tour could help his confidence especially if he wins a title. Quite amazing seeing a former world number 1 playing challengers.
What is amazing is how much the our Muzziah loves tennis !

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Mainad

Bionic Poster
As ever Mainad you are needlessly negative about Andy. Do you even see the Match ? @Nostradamus is absolutely right in his assessment "Andy's body had a off day and this guy Saffuilin was playing lights out power tennis."

Reminds me of when Andy played a certain bum loser nobody (to use TTW parlance) called Mevedev a while back. I'm not sure what happened to Medvedev ( don't think he’s ever won anything, complete loser Bum to use TTW parlance, Mevedev will NEVER be any good etc )........

Anyway even you @Mainad said Andy played well vs Med at that time - As I say he did against Saffuilin. Andy was clearly not red lining it, he has to preserve the limited life time of his metal hip!!!

Murray will put in some stunning performances before it's time to Finnish.

It is NOT the end yet. Have some faith. Andy would not be playing if he was not enjoying himself !

2YWAMRDA7RBF7GIN4O5W4XPW3I.jpg


As you well know, I'm the last person to be needlessly negative about him. But his ranking has been lingering for a long time now below the 100s which means he constantly requires WCs for entry into tournaments. When is he going to be able to qualify for these events (their patience won't last forever)?

I don't understand why his form has declined so much since he won Antwerp back in 2019 just a few months after his re-surfacing surgery. At that point I was elated and super-hopeful he would become competitive again even if he never got back to his top form but, since then, it's been all downhill. He isn't now able to play more than 1 or 2 rounds (3 at a pinch) at any event before getting eliminated, too often in humiliating fashion like yesterday. :unsure:

I really don't know where he goes from here. Trust me, nobody would be more thrilled and happy to be proved wrong but I am beginning to lose hope and I do wonder what he and his team are now thinking and planning to do?
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
As you well know, I'm the last person to be needlessly negative about him. But his ranking has been lingering for a long time now below the 100s which means he constantly requires WCs for entry into tournaments. When is he going to be able to qualify for these events (their patience won't last forever)?

I don't understand why his form has declined so much since he won Antwerp back in 2019 just a few months after his re-surfacing surgery. At that point I was elated and super-hopeful he would become competitive again even if he never got back to his top form but, since then, it's been all downhill. He isn't now able to play more than 1 or 2 rounds (3 at a pinch) at any event before getting eliminated, too often in humiliating fashion like yesterday. :unsure:

I really don't know where he goes from here. Trust me, nobody would be more thrilled and happy to be proved wrong but I am beginning to lose hope and I do wonder what he and his team are now thinking and planning to do?

I wonder how much is mental (or even age). Not that Tsitsipas played his very best tennis in that opening round, but I still think Murray probably gave it his all because he knew it was going to be a challenge. Meanwhile, it's hard to prepare mentally for a player you have never played before. Or to play someone when you don't expect a challenge.
 

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
just watched the highlight.. Saffuilin also made around 20 excellent droppers..
he's really good at it.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
I wonder how much is mental (or even age). Not that Tsitsipas played his very best tennis in that opening round, but I still think Murray probably gave it his all because he knew it was going to be a challenge. Meanwhile, it's hard to prepare mentally for a player you have never played before. Or to play someone when you don't expect a challenge.

Not too long ago he could handle guys he'd never played before or power players with his usual customary patience and skill. Doesn't seem so any longer. He has played just 9 events this year and only once made it past the 2nd round (Wimbledon) and in only 2 of those events did he manage to go the distance (US Open and this Rennes Challenger) in his final round. The US Open match was by far his best effort (taking a top 5 player to 5 sets) again giving hope he could start to be a real threat again but it seems to be a constant case of 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Even 2019 Antwerp seems a long time ago now.
 

Picmun

Hall of Fame
As you well know, I'm the last person to be needlessly negative about him. But his ranking has been lingering for a long time now below the 100s which means he constantly requires WCs for entry into tournaments. When is he going to be able to qualify for these events (their patience won't last forever)?

I don't understand why his form has declined so much since he won Antwerp back in 2019 just a few months after his re-surfacing surgery. At that point I was elated and super-hopeful he would become competitive again even if he never got back to his top form but, since then, it's been all downhill. He isn't now able to play more than 1 or 2 rounds (3 at a pinch) at any event before getting eliminated, too often in humiliating fashion like yesterday. :unsure:

I really don't know where he goes from here. Trust me, nobody would be more thrilled and happy to be proved wrong but I am beginning to lose hope and I do wonder what he and his team are now thinking and planning to do?

Hi Mainad, neither Andy nor his team have mentioned anything about quitting, I see no indications that he is considering it. He's always loved the game and I think "the taking part" atm is what he wants to do, whilst balancing the fragility of the surface of his metal hip, and other possible injuries after such radical surgery.
Contrary to your view of "all down hill" - a vastly negative appraisal I'd say, I think he has often show many many flashes of his old genius, beating Zverev and Wawinka etc to name just a few. Yes he's had some losses, and I can think of only a few times in his career where his performance has been consistently stellar

With Andy there are ALWAYS the up and downs of the Murray go round, and I think there is no chance of a multi slam run anytime soon. However it's clear he's playing for the joy of competing in sport that he loves ( no matter how taciturn he may appear ) and I'd be surprised if he does not produce the odd upset beating a top ten player soon.

He's clearly eyeing the success of Fedal and Djoke and wants some of that for himself in the latter years.
Even if it only means giving a hiding to some "Next Gen" "Weak Era" "Nobody Bums" the arm chair experts of TTW love to pour their scorn and vitriol upon.

If his damned hip had not given out, he'd have been challenging Djoke and others very strongly for past few years.

I think adding fuel to fire of haters and doom mongers and the 'Murray should retire' brigade is just unfair to the great man. It's not what he wants obviously, so speculating about is not in his interest, or what he'd appreciate.

Let us show a little faith in our Muzziah and be positive about his future - has he not eared that ?
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Picmun

Hall of Fame
Not too long ago he could handle guys he'd never played before or power players with his usual customary patience and skill. Doesn't seem so any longer. He has played just 9 events this year and only once made it past the 2nd round (Wimbledon) and in only 2 of those events did he manage to go the distance (US Open and this Rennes Challenger) in his final round. The US Open match was by far his best effort (taking a top 5 player to 5 sets) again giving hope he could start to be a real threat again but it seems to be a constant case of 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Even 2019 Antwerp seems a long time ago now.

>>with his usual customary patience and skill.

It's still there, he needs time and Lendl. I think that both are in short supply sadly.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Let's not write him off here. He lost to Saffiulin,, this guy is extremely talented player, sold of like Karatsev, just waiting for that breakthru. Andy's body had a off day and this guy Saffuilin was playing lights out power tennis. These things happen.
This guy is very similar to Karatsev another russian, just waiting to break thru.

Gasquet (whom Murray beat at Cincinnati), seemed to handle him well enough.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Challenger level players that never make the big break have one obvious common trait…they can redline for a match or two but rarely string a bunch of convincing performances together. Safiullin is a perfect example with one lone final/title at Challenger level since turning pro five years ago.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, that was his 6th title of the season, tieing a single season record. Assuming he stays in the Orleans and Mouilleron-le-Captif draws, he'll have another shot or two to break the record.
 

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
He still handled him though.

i think that Murray had extra bad luck because the Russian is no clown, and his game opposed Murray better than VS Gasquet.
besides that, yea Murray didn't look good regardless.
i think he gave so much mentally at USOPEN and that Tsitsipas incident just got under his skin.
so this is the result..
 
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