Murray on clay

[NadalAgassi]

In 2011 Murray was actually a really good clay courter. He should have beaten Djokovic on clay at Rome, but let the match slip just near the end. He took a set off Nadal as well. He reached the semis of RG. Only Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer (back when Federer was still a really good clay courter) were better than him on clay this year.

I am surprised he has not kept up with that new progress on the surface, and instead has slipped back to being a second or even third tier clay courter, who half of the top 20 or more is seemingly better than on clay. This year so far is even worse than last. Yet he continues to make further progress on all other surfaces.

It is surprising with his game he wouldnt be a more effective clay courter. In many ways his game should be suited to clay, but except for 2011 it isnt turning out that way.

 

[tennisaddict]

Murray is a late bloomer. By the time he is 30 years, he will win 1 clay masters.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Murray peaked in 2011 on all surfaces. He's turning 26 soon so it's all downhill from here.

 

[papertank]

Lendl has been training Murray to play more aggressive, which doesn't exactly translate into success on clay. He's much more worried about his performance on grass and hard as of now, both of which have been great. I think Murray will focus on bettering his clay game once he is fully comfortable with his new game on other surfaces.

 

[tennisbuck]

I thought he played all right for most of the match today, Tomas was playing well, however he absolutely gifted berdych that break in the second set. And i think Murray should give up on being more aggressive on clay its obviously not working for him

 

[Breaker]

He can bother Djokovic anywhere, decent matchup for him. Not sure if his clay game really declined or anything even in 2011 he was destroyed by Bellucci and nearly was beaten by Troicki at RG (down 5-3 30-0 in the fifth) then got old man Chela in the quarters which is a good draw for any top 20 player.

These 'second/third tier' guys have had his number on the surface his entire career, only wins I even remember from him over decent clay courters are Davydenko and the multiple ones over Simon.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

He absolutely deserved to win the first set. Very unlucky not to close it out before the breaker.

 

[Fedex]

In 2011 Murray was actually a really good clay courter. He should have beaten Djokovic on clay at Rome, but let the match slip just near the end. He took a set off Nadal as well. He reached the semis of RG. Only Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer (back when Federer was still a really good clay courter) were better than him on clay this year.

I am surprised he has not kept up with that new progress on the surface, and instead has slipped back to being a second or even third tier clay courter, who half of the top 20 or more is seemingly better than on clay. This year so far is even worse than last. Yet he continues to make further progress on all other surfaces.

It is surprising with his game he wouldnt be a more effective clay courter. In many ways his game should be suited to clay, but except for 2011 it isnt turning out that way.

Just thank your lucky stars you're not a supporter. The guy absolutely drives us nuts!
Someone years ago made a funny thread about Murray being an evil troll genius getting into winning positions then throwing it all away doing the opposite of what everyone expects for his sadistic kicks. It actually feels true.
Yesterday was torture. In that first set he was playing fantastic tennis practically toying with Berdych then somehow inexplicably manages to lose the set. Credit to Berdych sure he played well throughout but Murray still blew it.
In the second set he's down a break then breaks back then goes ahead then again throws it all away.
Same at AO'13 up a set and love 40 on Djokovic's serve in the second with all the momentum then throws it all away!. Wimbledon semi against Nadal a few years back, one set up another easy put away shot to take control in the second then throws it all away. Murray is truly evil I'm telling you.
Sorry I've had enough of the roller coaster.
I'll watch other players with minimal emotional investment and just enjoy the tennis.

Murray I hope you're reading this. We're onto you.

 

[veroniquem]

Depressing subject is all I can say.

 

[newyorkstadium]

I've had this feeling, since the clay season started, that he will peak at the French open. Call me a deluded Murray fan, but it's just my hunch.

 

[Crisstti]

I've had this feeling, since the clay season started, that he will peak at the French open. Call me a deluded Murray fan, but it's just my hunch.

I certainly expect him to do better than he's been doing in these tournaments.

 

[Relinquis]

Lendl has been training Murray to play more aggressive, which doesn't exactly translate into success on clay. He's much more worried about his performance on grass and hard as of now, both of which have been great. I think Murray will focus on bettering his clay game once he is fully comfortable with his new game on other surfaces.

i find the opposite. you have to be able to play aggressively on clay as mid court spinny balls turn into sitters if they don't have enough pace. your regular rally ball needs to be stronger on clay than on hardcourts.

that's one of the reasons why nadal is so good on clay. his rally balls hit around the service line, but are still rising when they cross teh baseline. they're like kick-serves... on every shot.

murray should try for more depth on his shots as well as more angle. he should also come in more and punish any short balls he receives instead of spinning them back. there are many better movers than him on clay, he needs to become the aggressor.

 

[tennis_pro]

The problem with Murray is that he's not sure what to do when he's out on a clay court - whether it's being aggressive or defending. Also, I don't think he cares about it. Usually, when things aren't working for him he curses, talks to himself or grabs his body but I haven't seen much of that from Murray this year (except the Berdych match which was by far his best match on clay this year).

I think that Murray's best puts him as a top 10 clay courter but for whatever reason he's not willing to play anything close to his best.

 

[Fedex]

The problem with Murray is that he's not sure what to do when he's out on a clay court - whether it's being aggressive or defending. Also, I don't think he cares about it. Usually, when things aren't working for him he curses, talks to himself or grabs his body but I haven't seen much of that from Murray this year (except the Berdych match which was by far his best match on clay this year).

I think that Murray's best puts him as a top 10 clay courter but for whatever reason he's not willing to play anything close to his best.

This is why: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=330668&highlight=murray+evil+troll+genius

 

[jaggy]

Scottish people self-destruct. Its a national trait.

 

[mightyrick]

The problem with Murray is that he's not sure what to do when he's out on a clay court - whether it's being aggressive or defending. Also, I don't think he cares about it. Usually, when things aren't working for him he curses, talks to himself or grabs his body but I haven't seen much of that from Murray this year (except the Berdych match which was by far his best match on clay this year).

I think that Murray's best puts him as a top 10 clay courter but for whatever reason he's not willing to play anything close to his best.

I saw an interview with him where he says he just needs more time playing on clay. He wasn't raised with it. It isn't like grass/hardcourt where he has been playing on them since he was a very small boy.

The other thing is that clay venues are in different climates/altitudes. This also plays into how differently the ball behaves. So not only do you have to get accustomed to the differing movement on that surface, you also have to get used to to how differently the ball flies/moves on that surface. It's very tough.

 

[Mainad]

Murray peaked in 2011 on all surfaces. He's turning 26 soon so it's all downhill from here.

A bit like Djokovic, you mean?

 

[PCXL-Fan]

Scottish people self-destruct. Its a national trait.

If the events surrounding Mel Gibson's personal life and the 1st War of Scottish Independence is any indication. /jk

 

[Mainad]

In 2011 Murray was actually a really good clay courter. He should have beaten Djokovic on clay at Rome, but let the match slip just near the end. He took a set off Nadal as well. He reached the semis of RG. Only Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer (back when Federer was still a really good clay courter) were better than him on clay this year.

Letting matches slip seems to be becoming a bad habit for Murray and not just on clay. In 2012, he roused himself to win the Olympics and the US Open, which proves what he can do when he really puts his mind to it, but since then he has squandered numerous match points in the final of Shanghai, the semis of Tokyo and in Paris-Bercy. At this year's Australian Open final he had a golden opportunity to go 2 sets up like in last year's USO final but got distracted by a falling feather in the 2nd set tie-break and then curiously just faded away in the last 2 sets. In the final of Miami, he should have served out the match but let it go to tie-break and narrowly averted a match point from Ferrer. He again squandered early oportunities to close out the match against Simon in the 3rd round of Madrid and failed to capitalize on several breaks of serve against Berdych in the next round. It's become a bit of a depressing pattern from him lately.

I am surprised he has not kept up with that new progress on the surface, and instead has slipped back to being a second or even third tier clay courter, who half of the top 20 or more is seemingly better than on clay. This year so far is even worse than last. Yet he continues to make further progress on all other surfaces.

He has said he was going to concentrate on improving his clay performance this season. Have to say that I haven't seen much sign of it so far.

It is surprising with his game he wouldnt be a more effective clay courter. In many ways his game should be suited to clay, but except for 2011 it isnt turning out that way.

I am surprised too, the more so as he spent 3 years training on Spanish clay courts when he was a teenager and once actually claimed that clay was his favourite surface. I think he probably made a mistake by not playing more small clay tournaments in the past and maybe winning a few 250s. It would at least have given him valuable experience at winning matches on that surface. As it is, he seems to be constantly trying to play catch-up with the other top players with not very successful results so far.

 

[JackReacher]

It will be awesome when Nadal and Murray meet at a slam final. I don't mind which. It will be a very unique atmosphere.

 

[BeHappy]

He hits the ball so incredibly softly. I mean, even Chang (the Murray of the 90's) hit his rally balls deeper and with more pace than Murray. The problem Murray has is he can either hit his forehand 120mph and miss 50% of them, or he can push it like Martina Hingis and give his opponent a short ball that sits up to be attacked on clay. He has no other options on that wing.

Against Ferrer in the FO last year when he was hitting bombs with his forehand, Ferrer knew if he just got 3-4 of them back Murray would make an unforced error. He knew if Murray went back to pushing he could hit winners off the short ball with his own forehand.

Murray would need to completely overhaul his forehand technique (like Stich did the year he got to the FO final) to become a threat on clay. The vast improvement in his first serve % and the free points he now gets with it has covered up the forehand weakness on other surfaces, but on clay it's even worse because his weak shots are even more attackable with the high bounce and his laser beam flat forehands are less likely to be winners.

Not to mention, even though they get less bites at the apple now his first serve percentage isn't 35% like it used to always be, his second serve is so attackable on clay because it's just like his weak forehand.