Where does Murray go from here?

[Desertman]

Murray is on the right path. He needs that extra little bit of self belief which he earned in 2012/13 and he's back winning GS again. That'll come. I see him beating both Federer and Djokovic this year. Remember, it is not only down to him. This Wimbledon final is quite a watershed. Here's Federer thinking this may be his last great chance at glory in a GS playing against Djokovic, who has come off a demoralising defeat in a FO final he was favourite for and was expected to win. The winner tomorrow will feel great; the loser dejected. If Federer loses, he'll look at where he is and think "Twice in succession at my only real chance left at a GS and now another year to wait!" and if Djokovic loses, he'll think, "Christ, I can't buy a GS final win outside of the AO!". Either way, one of those two will leave SW19 very dejected. Murray leaves SW19 without the agony of a GS final defeat and looks back at a year of improvement. He's won a Masters event, beat Nadal on clay, won two clay finals, won Queens again, has risen to 3 in the world, is pretty much across the line for the WTF and is playing very well again. He cannot look back at this Wimbledon campaign as a failure but as a success. He played well yesterday. He was beaten by the better man on the day ...... and it is those last three words "on the day" which need to be drummed into him. On the day, he can win too. It has happened twice in GS finals and an Olympic final for him. On those days, he won. Yes, they have beaten him too on their day but I see his day coming again.

 

[Mainad]

Murray is on the right path. He needs that extra little bit of self belief which he earned in 2012/13 and he's back winning GS again. That'll come. I see him beating both Federer and Djokovic this year. Remember, it is not only down to him. This Wimbledon final is quite a watershed. Here's Federer thinking this may be his last great chance at glory in a GS playing against Djokovic, who has come off a demoralising defeat in a FO final he was favourite for and was expected to win. The winner tomorrow will feel great; the loser dejected. If Federer loses, he'll look at where he is and think "Twice in succession at my only real chance left at a GS and now another year to wait!" and if Djokovic loses, he'll think, "Christ, I can't buy a GS final win outside of the AO!". Either way, one of those two will leave SW19 very dejected. Murray leaves SW19 without the agony of a GS final defeat and looks back at a year of improvement. He's won a Masters event, beat Nadal on clay, won two clay finals, won Queens again, has risen to 3 in the world, is pretty much across the line for the WTF and is playing very well again. He cannot look back at this Wimbledon campaign as a failure but as a success. He played well yesterday. He was beaten by the better man on the day ...... and it is those last three words "on the day" which need to be drummed into him. On the day, he can win too. It has happened twice in GS finals and an Olympic final for him. On those days, he won. Yes, they have beaten him too on their day but I see his day coming again.

Hope you're right. I'll drink to that!

 

[decrepitude]

He seemed relatively relaxed about the loss in his interviews. He has DC this next weekend, and that always seems to raise his spirits - especially if GB wins, but even if we lose, if he can win both his own matches it will give him more confidence. Some rest, physio on his shoulder, and work with Jonas, then at the end of July he plays Washington where he is top seed. Hopefully he will win that which will set him up for Canada, Cinci and the USO. He usually does well in the Asian Swing. I think you can stop worrying, Mainad. He played well - not right at the top of his game, but well; Fed played a blinder, with serving that was immaculate - he won't always do that. One thing we can be sure of - Andy won't give up, he will keep on working.

I just hope Jonas can persuade him to keep working on the second serve. It has improved, but not enough to cope with the very top players yet.

 

[Rjtennis]

That said, he did actually play very well today!

Murray will definitely be a top contender for the US Open coming up shortly. He is playing good tennis so the results should come if the top guys falter a bit.

He played great tennis against Fed, but I do think he was a bit passive a times. Fed knew Murray wasn't coming forward in the match which I think took some pressure away. Not sure why he wasn't coming forward as he has the skills to do good things at the net.

 

[bjsnider]

Murray's playing as well as he was at his best but Fed and Djokovic have improved. Murray must also add things to his game if he wants to knock them off again. He may have to weaponize his serve to a much greater degree.

 

[Down_the_line]

He seemed relatively relaxed about the loss in his interviews. He has DC this next weekend, and that always seems to raise his spirits - especially if GB wins, but even if we lose, if he can win both his own matches it will give him more confidence. Some rest, physio on his shoulder, and work with Jonas, then at the end of July he plays Washington where he is top seed. Hopefully he will win that which will set him up for Canada, Cinci and the USO. He usually does well in the Asian Swing. I think you can stop worrying, Mainad. He played well - not right at the top of his game, but well; Fed played a blinder, with serving that was immaculate - he won't always do that. One thing we can be sure of - Andy won't give up, he will keep on working.

I just hope Jonas can persuade him to keep working on the second serve. It has improved, but not enough to cope with the very top players yet.

Is it confirmed he's playing Washington? If so, that's pretty cool. It's a pretty good tournament in my mind.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Down the Vic for a couple of pints.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

He should try and win Cincinnati. If Federer wins Wimbledon I don't think he will care as much if he loses there.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

He really needs to workshop the second serve... might not have helped yesterday though.

 

[heninfan99]

Well, Borg said he can see Fed retiring after the next Olympic games. Andrew needs to hold on a bit longer.
Nadal & Fed will be gone and Djokovic can lose to someone else or get injured.

Stan will also be well into his thirties.

well, everyone keeps saying he'll eventually get there but when is this eventually going to come around?

he almost always keeps getting edged by Fed/Djoko and just can't seem to find a solution to the problem and he's had ample chances to take them down after his back surgery of 2014 yet he just can't convert

by the time he "eventually" beats them they'll be both retired (and maybe himself as well) and it will just be theories on what could have been

 

[britam25]

Will you calm down? Murray s playing great tennis. He simply came up against a red-hot Federer. Come on, both players were serving at 75%+. Take it from a Rafa-fan, you've got nothing to worry about as regards Murray. He's having a fantastic season. He won a clay 1000 ffs. Relax, guy. Have a coke or something.

Did he come up against a red hot Fed or Novak the other 11 times that he has recently played and lost to them as well?

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Did he come up against a red hot Fed or Novak the other 11 times that he has recently played and lost to them as well?

Ah, britam25, I see I forgot to add you to my ignore list. Don't worry. I'll rectify that right now. Look out for your name on my signature.

 

[smoledman]

Amazing how it's turned around from 2009 when he was up 6-2 in the H2H and things looked bleak for Fed. Fed has gone 11-5 since then.

 

[6-3 6-0]

Amazing how it's turned around from 2009 when he was up 6-2 in the H2H and things looked bleak for Fed. Fed has gone 11-5 since then.

Fed won't allow another player to get into his head. Also the fact that Murray cannot break down Fed BH to a degree only the great Spaniard could. Shows what a special player Nadal is (was?)!!

 

[fps]

I have to admit, I do miss Lendl. Mauresmo has been doing a much better job than I gave her credit for (I was a little unkind about her at the start) but the fact remains that Andy hasn't won any Slams with her yet like he did with Ivan and until that happens, Lendl is going to remain the gold standard for all Murray's coaching relationships.

This is it. While he may be happy with his coaching set-up, but he blew a huge match having been distracted by Djokovic, as with Rafa and the feather at Wimbledon, and he's just been completely owned by Federer, as per AO final 2010, and yes Federer was brilliant, but I can bet whatever the outcome Djokovic will not allow him to look as brilliant today, no matter how well he plays.

Andy is currently back where he was 5 years ago. An incredible talent not quite capable of matching the top guys. No matter his achievements, with Rafa dwindling, this regression is a shame for him and for tennis.

 

[fps]

Murray will definitely be a top contender for the US Open coming up shortly. He is playing good tennis so the results should come if the top guys falter a bit.

He played great tennis against Fed, but I do think he was a bit passive a times. Fed knew Murray wasn't coming forward in the match which I think took some pressure away. Not sure why he wasn't coming forward as he has the skills to do good things at the net.

I feel Novak will find a way to change the way the match goes if Fed starts that well. Andy did nothing wrong, it was great tennis, but that passivity doesn't just cost individual points, it feeds into a mindset. Hey, what do I know.

 

[Pagoo]

I don't think Federer is as much of a problem as Djokovic. Unfortunately for Murray, Djokovic is always waiting at the end of tournaments. So nobody can win anything without going through him.

I'm not sure how he can overcome this challenge but he has to figure it out. He can't (actually no one) can just hope Djokovic gets knocked out. I mean, Anderson still managed to blow a two-set lead.

Yeah, it's must be frustrating for the rest of the tour.

 

[decrepitude]

Is it confirmed he's playing Washington? If so, that's pretty cool. It's a pretty good tournament in my mind.

He is on the entry list, so unless he withdraws beforehand, yes.

 

[torpantennis]

Murray will beat Djokovic in USO SF, so we'll have Federer-Murray final.

 

[JRAJ1988]

Barring the Rome Masters, Murray has equalled or bettered every performance he's made this year compared to last year.

This year he's lost to Djokovic (Numerous occasions), Coric, Simon and Federer (Goffin Walkover fatigue). That is pretty good but obviously not good enough.

 

[ruerooo]

Barring the Rome Masters, Murray has equalled or bettered every performance he's made this year compared to last year.

This year he's lost to Djokovic (Numerous occasions), Coric, Simon and Federer (Goffin Walkover fatigue). That is pretty good but obviously not good enough.

"Not good enough" for ... what?

 

[britam25]

Ah, britam25, I see I forgot to add you to my ignore list. Don't worry. I'll rectify that right now. Look out for your name on my signature.

Gee, I dunno if I'll be able to sleep at night knowing that I'm on that list.

 

[Underhand]

He must increase his haggis and Scotch intake to have a chance against Elderer and Joker.

 

[Mainad]

He must increase his haggis and Scotch intake to have a chance against Elderer and Joker.

Nah, he just needs to get Lendl back on board or some other all time tennis great, preferably someone who understands the men's game. Only with Lendl on board did Murray gain the confidence to go out and beat Djokovic and Federer on the biggest stages!

 

[Chace]

Murray's on the right path. He's playing great tennis and is fit. Hopefully he will be holding up the U.S. open trophy in a couple of months.

 

[JRAJ1988]

As far as I know Lendl is not coming back, he was close to coaching Berdych wasn't he?, us Murray fans have got Bjorkman from now on as Amelie is now on hiatus.

I wish Lendl would coach Andy again maybe there's a chance because Lendl really was the Yang to Murray's Ying

Murray may have to cut out the Haggis from his diet or maybe gluten free Haggis will suffice.

Muzz has to play Davis Cup come Friday at the Queen's club.

 

[Flint]

Nah, he just needs to get Lendl back on board or some other all time tennis great, preferably someone who understands the men's game. Only with Lendl on board did Murray gain the confidence to go out and beat Djokovic and Federer on the biggest stages!

I'd love to see how he would get on with Sampras as head coach and Bjorkman as assistant coach with focus on increasing 1st serve %, 2nd serve speed and attacking the net.

With half the year and 3 Grand Slams gone, he is still number 2 in the race, its very impressive. He has a real shot and getting to number 2 this year.

Is he still playing Washington this year? Seems like a odd choice with the Davis Cup post Wimbledon as well. I would have thought he could use that time to get in a lot of training.

 

[fednad]

Murray has a beautiful wife to go to every day ! heeeheee

Relax folks. He will bounce back at the US open

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Murray is on the right path. He needs that extra little bit of self belief which he earned in 2012/13 and he's back winning GS again. That'll come. I see him beating both Federer and Djokovic this year. Remember, it is not only down to him. This Wimbledon final is quite a watershed. Here's Federer thinking this may be his last great chance at glory in a GS playing against Djokovic, who has come off a demoralising defeat in a FO final he was favourite for and was expected to win. The winner tomorrow will feel great; the loser dejected. If Federer loses, he'll look at where he is and think "Twice in succession at my only real chance left at a GS and now another year to wait!" and if Djokovic loses, he'll think, "Christ, I can't buy a GS final win outside of the AO!". Either way, one of those two will leave SW19 very dejected. Murray leaves SW19 without the agony of a GS final defeat and looks back at a year of improvement. He's won a Masters event, beat Nadal on clay, won two clay finals, won Queens again, has risen to 3 in the world, is pretty much across the line for the WTF and is playing very well again. He cannot look back at this Wimbledon campaign as a failure but as a success. He played well yesterday. He was beaten by the better man on the day ...... and it is those last three words "on the day" which need to be drummed into him. On the day, he can win too. It has happened twice in GS finals and an Olympic final for him. On those days, he won. Yes, they have beaten him too on their day but I see his day coming again.

Murray is not winning another slam and most likely will never beat Djokovic in big match again.

 

[markwillplay]

back to the baseline unfortunately. Not guts to move forward again.

 

[Desertman]

Murray is not winning another slam and most likely will never beat Djokovic in big match again.

We'll see

 

[Gary Duane]

I have to face facts: Murray has not beaten either Djokovic or Federer for 2 years now! They are the current world # 1 and # 2 players.

The back surgery has proved to be the great divide in Murray's career. Prior to that, he had won his last matches against Federer (2013 AO) and Djokovic (2013 W0). Since the surgery (Sept 2013) he has gone 0-8 v Djokovic and 0-4 v Federer.

Where does he go from here? Has he just declined or have they got better? Will he ever get back to his pre-surgery level and start winning some matches against them again or has he simply become their gatekeeper?

Thoughts? (No troll haters please)

Murray needs to continue working on his serve. He won 90% of his service games on grass. Novak won 95. Fed won 96, and he was heading for 98 before he started losing serve in the final.

It's as simple as that. Mostly it's the second serve. Other than that he's been playing great this year.

 

[Mainad]

Murray needs to continue working on his serve. He won 90% of his service games on grass. Novak won 95. Fed won 96, and he was heading for 98 before he started losing serve in the final.

It's as simple as that. Mostly it's the second serve. Other than that he's been playing great this year.

No change there, then!

But he used to be good enough to beat Federer and Djokovic quite regularly. Since his back surgery towards the end of 2013, he hasn't been able to win a single match from them. Do we conclude that he hasn't yet got back to his pre-surgery level or have Federer and Djokovic just got better and left him behind?

 

[Gary Duane]

No change there, then!

But he used to be good enough to beat Federer and Djokovic quite regularly. Since his back surgery towards the end of 2013, he hasn't been able to win a single match from them. Do we conclude that he hasn't yet got back to his pre-surgery level or have Federer and Djokovic just got better and left him behind?

I truly think he is lagging on the serve. He's also 28 now, and that means he has to start winning more on offense.

Because of technology, rackets and strings, the top players are holding more regularly. That seems to be the trend.

Fed won Halle mostly with his serve. He ended up winning 12% of his return games. But that average went up to 21% by the end of Wimbledon, so his return at Wimbledon was probably as high as Novak's, 24%.

In 2003 Fed was 92/31 on grass. In 2004 he was 95/35, winning 65% of all his games on grass. That's just insane.

Murray was 89/30 on grass in 2013. He was 90/23 this year.

Because of his weaker serve he has to have stronger stats on return. Those stats are not quite strong enough this year.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

Murray will beat Djokovic in USO SF, so we'll have Federer-Murray final.

I would love that

overall Murray needs to improve that second serve... I say tinker with it and the layup of the racquet slightly. Maybe poly mains and gut crosses instead of the reverse he is using. Maybe he just isnt as good as Djoker?

 

[killerboi2]

Some absolutely pathetic attempts at comforting Mainad in this thread lol. Murray is in and around his prime and has been CLOWNED by Federer and Djokovic for the last 2 years. I don't think he has got 1 single win against either since wimbledon 2013. As a fan of Murray it is humiliating and awful that he is still losing to a past it Federer to be honest. Djokovic managed to break down the so called back to his best tennis god pretty convincingly and Murray should be doing the same.

Would we be allowed to feel dejected if and when he mugs up the US Open?

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

We'll see

he could win another one but he needs to make his own luck, that means a new dimension and tactic. Losing Lendl did hurt btw.

 

[Joseph L. Barrow]

Thanks for that but I will feel a lot better about it when I see Murray start to win matches against Federer and Djokovic again. I'm sure he will feel a lot better too!

I hope you're feeling better now. Like I said, Murray's win over Djokovic was a long time coming. Djokovic has been having a great season, and has consistently been in form when he's met Murray prior to yesterday's match. Murray also failed to beat Djokovic all year prior to the summer hardcourt season in 2011 (Djokovic's other legendary season). Federer and Murray have, as I noted, met only once this year, and Federer was in unstoppable form. Murray looks very likely to finish this year ranked #2 and having had one of the best seasons of his career.

 

[Desertman]

Murray is not winning another slam and most likely will never beat Djokovic in big match again.

You were saying?

 

[JRAJ1988]

 

[Mainad]

Lol....I think he kinda suits that hairstyle in the first pic. IMO he should wear it more often!

 

[marc45]

Applebees!

 

[LaZeR]

Who's the chic in the pic?

 

[Meles]

Murray goes to #1. Inevitable.

 

[Keizer]

Who's the chic in the pic?

Random twitter user who recognized him and took those pictures.

 

[JRAJ1988]

Welcome! (For one week only)

The Scottish-Finnish Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1976 to promote cultural relations between Scotland and Finland, and to encourage friendship and understanding between Finnish People in Scotland and Scottish people with Finnish associations and interests.

http://www.scottish-finnish-society.org.uk

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[JRAJ1988]

I pre-empted

 

[JRAJ1988]

I'm happy for Kevin as he's worked his backside off to succeed, Murray has had a tame US Open and deserved to go out to be frank. I want Murray to do well at the Davis Cup.

 

[Slice'n'dice]

I'm happy for Kevin as he's worked his backside off to succeed, Murray has had a tame US Open and deserved to go out to be frank. I want Murray to do well at the Davis Cup.

Well he's got time for a good, clearly much needed rest now before the Davis Cup. Shame about his US Open but as you say he never looked that good this year. Would love to see Anderson make a run at it now though, would be quite a story.