did murray come back too early?

[dominikk1985]

He is still struggling against mediocre players and obviously not in top shape. also at least at the beginning of the season he still seemed to have pain (like in his loss against mayer).

did he come back before his back was fully healed? I think he should have taken a longer break until he is 100% pain free, his strongest part of the season is the second half anyway.

of course then he would have lost a few positions in the world ranking but being healthy and in shape should be more important than world ranking.

 

[rainingaces]

He set himself the target of the Australian Open and Davis cup and its not like he played bad in either, actually he is playing a little worse this week which is weird.

Playing his way back I think is the best way to do it. Maybe he needs another couple of months to be back to his best.

 

[insideguy]

I dont think he did. He has to play matches to get back into match shape. Thats just the way it is. Who comes back from long injury breaks and smokes the tour? Rafa? Thats it.

 

[newyorkstadium]

I'm watching the Raonic match and he is playing well. The problem is the first serve percentage and the weak second serve. If he can get back to how he was serving pre injury, he will be a contender at Grand Slams.

 

[Rob31]

Murray is an excellent player/counterpuncher at his peak but his level of play has always been overrated somehow.
Djokovic gifted him 2 slams (OK it's a bit of an exaggeration but it's almost that) by making (un)forced errors all over the place in those finals.
Any decent attacking player who make few errors on any given day can beat him if he plays his average level.
He's not in good form atm but certainly needs matches to find again his best tennis.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I'm watching the Raonic match and he is playing well. The problem is the first serve percentage and the weak second serve. If he can get back to how he was serving pre injury, he will be a contender at Grand Slams.

That's not the function of his back surgery, he's always had low 1st serve % and a weak 2nd serve.

 

[Russeljones]

In hindsight everyone can be a prophet. I don't think Murray is being advised by stupid people.

 

[dominikk1985]

I dont think he did. He has to play matches to get back into match shape. Thats just the way it is. Who comes back from long injury breaks and smokes the tour? Rafa? Thats it.

yes, you need matches to get back in shape but if his back is still hurting he is only making it worse. murray was clearly a top3 player before the injury even beating novak sometimes and now he struggles against vesely and rosol? really?

if he is just rusty that is no big deal but I feel that he is still trying to play through an injury.

 

[newyorkstadium]

That's not the function of his back surgery, he's always had low 1st serve % and a weak 2nd serve.

True. The second serve seems weaker then ever though. Lendl had made the first serve a weapon pre-surgery, albeit the percentages weren't great outside of important matches. Take the Aussie Open Semi against Federer and the Wimbledon Final against Djokovic. Murray's serving was on fire in those matches. It's what elevated him to grand slam champion in my opinion. That and his improved forehand.

 

[Flint]

I wish he had had the surgery staight after wimbledon, instead of going throught 2 masters, the us open and the davis cup. He could have had an extra couple of months recovery.

I also think Lendl should be around more, has he actually been with Murray since the Australian Open? because its clear he needs him.

 

[Roddick85]

That's not the function of his back surgery, he's always had low 1st serve % and a weak 2nd serve.

+1.
His 2nd serve has always been a liability and one of the main reason why he never really dominated the game the way Djokovic/Nadal/Federer have.

I don't think Murray cameback too early from his back surgery. I mean, he was able to make the QF at the Australian Open, his first tournament in many months, which is far from bad in my opinion. I think people's expectation were perhaps a bit too high, as some people were expecting him to just resume from where he left off, obviously not what's happening here. I think the more matches he'll be able to play, the more he'll get his game back. The only problem I see in his current situation, is that he's losing to players he used to beat with relative ease and he gets stretched to the limit against lower ranked players. That could definitely hurt his confidence which has always been his weakness in big matches.

 

[Goosehead]

He is still struggling against mediocre players and obviously not in top shape. also at least at the beginning of the season he still seemed to have pain (like in his loss against mayer).

did he come back before his back was fully healed? I think he should have taken a longer break until he is 100% pain free, his strongest part of the season is the second half anyway.

of course then he would have lost a few positions in the world ranking but being healthy and in shape should be more important than world ranking.

don't be silly.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

No... this is how players perform when they're returning from an injury lay off. If they were actually injured.

 

[TheMusicLover]

In hindsight everyone can be a prophet. I don't think Murray is being advised by stupid people.

Pretty much this.

The momentum of coming back to the scene after an injury/illness may always be a bit of a gamble.
Sometimes it turns out well immediately (a scarce minority of cases), sometimes it appears a player needs more time to get back into fine form (the usual), sometimes they will never manage at all anymore (ask Davydenko and Söderling, for instance).

Time will tell.

 

[chjtennis]

I think he shouldn't have gotten the surgery. Surgery is not the best solution for back problems, especially for the sport players. He could've just gone to other types of therapies.

I think he came back because he felt he was ready physically, so the decision was not a problem. Let's hope his full recovery will come soon.

 

[TheMusicLover]

I think he shouldn't have gotten the surgery. Surgery is not the best solution for back problems, especially for the sport players. He could've just gone to other types of therapies.

So you believe his doctors were idiots, or you believe in hocus-pocus therapies, or something the like?

I think he came back because he felt he was ready physically, so the decision was not a problem. Let's hope his full recovery will come soon.

Agree with you on this part of course. Just give the lad some time, certain fans expect great results after an injury just a mite too soon I think.

 

[Mainad]

Murray is an excellent player/counterpuncher at his peak but his level of play has always been overrated somehow.
Djokovic gifted him 2 slams (OK it's a bit of an exaggeration but it's almost that) by making (un)forced errors all over the place in those finals.

Hmmm.... I wonder how many Slams do you suppose Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were 'gifted' by their opponents' unforced errors?

Any decent attacking player who make few errors on any given day can beat him if he plays his average level.

Well, yes. But, again, I would argue that can easily be the case against any other top player who faces an aggressive on-form player whilst only playing at their average level!

He's not in good form atm but certainly needs matches to find again his best tennis.

He's definitely not on good form. I certainly agree with that!

 

[chjtennis]

So you believe his doctors were idiots, or you believe in hocus-pocus therapies, or something the like?

Some doctors prefer surgeries while other doctors prefer to use other methods, like physiotherapy. Not sure what kind of hocus-pocus therapies you are talking about(Are you talking about Nadal's stem cell therapy or Djokovic's Chinese Medicine?), but you can confirm with your doctor that surgery quite often does nothing to the back problem and in many cases, it makes the problem worse. That's why some doctors only use surgery as the last option for the back problems. Federer could've gone to surgery but chose not to, which was the right thing. Sampras got surgery and it seemed to be not a bad choice, so I wouldn't say surgery is always a wrong choice, but usually, it is better to leave that as the last option. I guess Murray's doctor gave him a few different options and Murray chose to receive the surgery, believing surgery would fix his back perfectly.

 

[rainingaces]

Hmmm.... I wonder how many Slams do you suppose Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were 'gifted' by their opponents' unforced errors?



Well, yes. But, again, I would argue that can easily be the case against any other top player who faces an aggressive on-form player whilst only playing at their average level!



He's definitely not on good form. I certainly agree with that!

Hi mainad, what was the best match he has played this year in your opinion and when are you going to change that disgusting avatar?

 

[Mainad]

I wish he had had the surgery staight after wimbledon, instead of going throught 2 masters, the us open and the davis cup. He could have had an extra couple of months recovery.

It does seem perverse that whilst the surgery seems to have lessened his back pain, it seems to have badly dented his confidence and ability to win matches in the way he did before.

I also think Lendl should be around more, has he actually been with Murray since the Australian Open? because its clear he needs him.

This, I agree with. I honestly thought Lendl would have been at Indian Wells. It seems to me that Murray badly needs some steadying advice from his coach. I'm really surprised that Lendl doesn't seem to appreciate this and be there more for him!

 

[Mainad]

Hi mainad, what was the best match he has played this year in your opinion

Funnily enough, the semi-final against Dimitrov in Acapulco, even though he eventually lost it!

and when are you going to change that disgusting avatar?

Oh, why can't you give him a break and just admit he was great when he won the US Open? Hatred can corrode the soul and make you a really unhappy person. There is more than 1 tennis player on the circuit. How boring it would be if it were otherwise! Try and appreciate the variety that the different players offer up. You may well prefer one player to another, but that doesn't mean the other player has to be demonised and run out of town! Variety is the spice of life. Try and learn to appreciate that!

 

[rainingaces]

Funnily enough, the semi-final against Dimitrov in Acapulco, even though he eventually lost it!

So from that short time to now he has gone backwards, that has got to be worrying for you fans. I thought he played well against Donald Young and was on the up after that match. He grabs his back and moans but he did that even before he was injured so you never can tell whats up with him.

Oh, why can't you give him a break and just admit he was great when he won the US Open? Hatred can corrode the soul and make you a really unhappy person. There is more than 1 tennis player on the circuit. How boring it would be if it were otherwise! Try and appreciate the variety that the different players offer up. You may well prefer one player to another, but that doesn't mean the other player has to be demonised and run out of town! Variety is the spice of life. Try and learn to appreciate that!

Hatred is hardly what it is not wanting someone to win a tennis match. Worry about own soul cheering for such a miserable, unlikeable Scottish windbag.

 

[Mainad]

So from that short time to now he has gone backwards, that has got to be worrying for you fans. I thought he played well against Donald Young and was on the up after that match. He grabs his back and moans but he did that even before he was injured so you never can tell whats up with him.

Yes, he seems motivated when playing DC ties, when he's playing for his COUNTRY! Are you going to pick holes with that too?

Hatred is hardly what it is not wanting someone to win a tennis match.

If you constantly and consistently don't want someone to win a tennis match, even when they're not playing against your personal favourite, which is understandable, then...yes...that is hatred, pure and simple and irrational as it is. What else could you possibly call it?

Worry about own soul cheering for such a miserable, unlikeable Scottish windbag.

But I don't find him unlikeable and he's about as far from being a windbag as it is possible to be (take Ernie Gulbis for instance....now THERE's a talkative windbag who certainly loves the sound of his own voice!).

But it's the 'Scottish' bit that gets me. What exactly have you got against the Scots and don't try and tell me it's nothing to do with that otherwise you wouldn't have termed him a 'miserable SCOTTISH windbag'?

You've clearly got issues, and I suspect it goes far deeper than hating on some sportsman you don't even have any personal knowledge of!

 

[rainingaces]

Yes, he seems motivated when playing DC ties, when he's playing for his COUNTRY! Are you going to pick holes with that too?



If you constantly and consistently don't want someone to win a tennis match, even when they're not playing against your personal favourite, which is understandable, then...yes...that is hatred, pure and simple and irrational as it is. What else could you possibly call it?



But I don't find him unlikeable and he's about as far from being a windbag as it is possible to be (take Ernie Gulbis for instance....now THERE's a talkative windbag who certainly loves the sound of his own voice!).

But it's the 'Scottish' bit that gets me. What exactly have you got against the Scots and don't try and tell me it's nothing to do with that otherwise you wouldn't have termed him a 'miserable SCOTTISH windbag'?

You've clearly got issues, and I suspect it goes far deeper than hating on some sportsman you don't even have any personal knowledge of!

Thanks for the lecture bud, I am going to bed.

 

[sbengte]

I don't think he came back 'too early', because he has a competent team advising him. The problem is with the unrealistic expectations people have after having seen Nadal's great "comeback" where he started performing better than when he left.

Anyone with a real injury and/or underwent surgery never just magically came back and start performing better compared to when they left. Think Delpo, Hewitt, Sharapova...Murray is no exception.

 

[Goosehead]

Thanks for the lecture bud, I am going to bed.

you can dream of djokovic winning the 2012 USO Final.. hahahhaaaa haaaaa arf arf arf arf,

..but then you will wake up..and murray will still have wasted djokovic..and you will carry on crying. :neutral:

 

[rocketassist]

He's actually playing worse than at the AO. At the AO he ran out of gas physically in the fourth after fighting back against Roger. Then he handled Davis Cup business.

His whole confidence is low. His serving is poor, return not what it was, physically he's not got the stamina for long matches for whatever reason and mentally he's very frail. This whole thing happened to Hewitt after 2005, which is concerning. But the time to worry is if he has a bad grass season. It's usually where he finds his game if he's had an iffy start to a year. 2010 and 2011 although he lost Wimbledon semis to Nadal, he began to play like a top 4/5 player again from there onwards in both years and in 2012, at a crossroads of his career, the Wimbledon and Olympics changed everything.

Either way it'll be a decisive moment for him.

 

[fednad]

No... this is how players perform when they're returning from an injury lay off. If they were actually injured.

LMAO....
Good contestant for "Post of the day" award.
I am wondering if everyone else paid attention to the bold part of your post.

 

[fednad]

I don't think he came back 'too early', because he has a competent team advising him. The problem is with the unrealistic expectations people have after having seen Nadal's great "comeback" where he started performing better than when he left.

Anyone with a real injury and/or underwent surgery never just magically came back and start performing better compared to when they left. Think Delpo, Hewitt, Sharapova...Murray is no exception.

Haha...I know what you are pointing at.
You make a valid point.

 

[Minion]

I don't think he came back 'too early', because he has a competent team advising him. The problem is with the unrealistic expectations people have after having seen Nadal's great "comeback" where he started performing better than when he left.

Anyone with a real injury and/or underwent surgery never just magically came back and start performing better compared to when they left. Think Delpo, Hewitt, Sharapova...Murray is no exception.

This is the truth

 

[Raz11]

Everyone expects Murray to perform well after his surgery because of Nadal's performance when he came back. Problem is that no player has ever came back from a surgery and started winning right away.

Nadal is different because he didn't have a surgery but only took some time off to rest his body. Very few players have the luxury of taking an extended break as they need to play whereas Nadal could afford to take some time off. He could have came back earlier but he was feeling sick during AO.

 

[syc23]

If Andy doesn't get back to winning ways by the grass season then there may be a problem so there's still time.

IW has never been a place Andy has done that well in anyhow like Paris indoors. Murray will always be more motivated in slams and DC and BO5 format seems to agree with him more these days.

 

[Vensai]

He had to come back eventually. Taking an extended break for too long can have serious consequences. Ask McEnroe.

 

[Sreeram]

To me Murray played great in patches against Ronic. Murray is always a kind of player who has different levels in him. He takes his prime level only when needed. So we cannot judge him by his game in 2nd and 3rd round of IW. Against the 10th seed he brought his A game many times, only the last 15 to 20mins was a let down.

To me his A game is there but he is struggling to keep it up for entire duration. This will happen only when he gets more match practice. Hope his familiarity of Miami brings him into form. I really want him to be back to form by Wimbledon, he is the best grass court player in the world when in form ATM.

 

[Mainad]

He's actually playing worse than at the AO. At the AO he ran out of gas physically in the fourth after fighting back against Roger. Then he handled Davis Cup business.

This is what's puzzling and a bit worrying. His game seems to be getting worse since the AO, not better!

His whole confidence is low. His serving is poor, return not what it was, physically he's not got the stamina for long matches for whatever reason and mentally he's very frail.

His return is still plenty good enough to get vital breaks against his opponents. He twice broke Raonic, one of the most difficult of all players to break when his serve is working, and had only to hold his own serve in order to win the match. But that's the problem. It always seems to desert him after securing a vital break. He can rarely consolidate. Lack of confidence then becomes a vicious circle. The more you keep stuffing up like this, especially on your own serve, the less and less confident you become.

This whole thing happened to Hewitt after 2005, which is concerning. But the time to worry is if he has a bad grass season. It's usually where he finds his game if he's had an iffy start to a year. 2010 and 2011 although he lost Wimbledon semis to Nadal, he began to play like a top 4/5 player again from there onwards in both years and in 2012, at a crossroads of his career, the Wimbledon and Olympics changed everything.

I sincerely hope you're right and he'll finally pull himself together in time for the short grass season. After all, he's got 2 back to back grasscourt titles to defend including the biggest of them all! But in the meantime, he's got a title defence looming straight ahead in Miami. A thousand ranking points are at stake and he's heading there low on confidence with his game and head all over the place. If he crashes out early again, his top 10 ranking will come under serious threat. Just think, after winning Wimbledon, tennis commentators were confidently predicting he could make a run for world #1 by the end of season. Less than a year on, and talk now is whether he can manage to stay in the top 10!

Talk about the ups and downs of being a Murray fan! No wonder poor Fedex couldn't take it any longer and left the forum. But I shall keep the faith and keep on believing and hoping....at the moment, mainly hoping! :wink:

 

[Deleted member 512391]

I think that the players have started to figure him out.

He has had a game of absorbing the pace of his opponent and sending it back as a creative junk which would make them losing the match. But the players now know what to expect and a good attacking player will approach the net more often and cut off the incoming sliced ball.

The other problem for him is that he just doesn't have a big forehand and cannot dictate the play (or finish the point) as the other top players. A junk game per se isn't enough, you have to either hit the winner or to force the error (actually, this is the reason why his results on clay are poor, he lacks of power - having a strong forehand).

But what he can do is to employ more offensive strategy, similar to what Nadal has done after all those loses to Djokovic.

 

[Mainad]

I think that the players have started to figure him out.

He has had a game of absorbing the pace of his opponent and sending it back as a creative junk which would make them losing the match. But the players now know what to expect and a good attacking player will approach the net more often and cut off the incoming sliced ball.

The other problem for him is that he just doesn't have a big forehand and cannot dictate the play (or finish the point) as the other top players. A junk game per se isn't enough, you have to either hit the winner or to force the error (actually, this is the reason why his results on clay are poor, he lacks of power - having a strong forehand).

But what he can do is to employ more offensive strategy, similar to what Nadal has done after all those loses to Djokovic.

All he really needs to do is sharpen up his serve and hold it better. If he had done that against Raonic, he would now be in the quarter-finals as he was able to break him at the start of the deciding set. It's his erratic serving and failure to conslidate vital breaks that has been letting him down.

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

Did Murray mention anything about curling up after a certain backhand during the match?

It made me queasy.

 

[mawashi]

To misquote Almost Human
'Murray should return to duty never.'

 

[PMChambers]

No, fans are expecting too much, Nadal's recovery was unbelievable, probably best after Muster's. Murray needs game play and lower expectations. If he's improving and getting stronger and fitter that is all important at this point.

 

[Goosehead]

good job murray is off to his usa base in Miami where he get together with lendl again.

 

[Mainad]

To misquote Almost Human
'Murray should return to duty never.'

My advice to you is never to misquote anybody!

 

[mawashi]

My advice to you is never to misquote anybody!

Advice not taken lol! Next witch doctor!

 

[Goosehead]

good job murray is off to his usa base in Miami where he get together with lendl again.

or not. :?