Australian Open

[scott_jambo]

Murray needs to get this done in straights - can't see him lasting four/five sets fitness wise.

 

I cant comment as I am not watching the match, but is it not common knowledge that Murray's fitness is superior to Nadal's right now due to his knee problems?

 

Murray has stores of reserves left in the tank, especially in matches like this.

[Tazio]

Murray needs to get this done in straights - can't see him lasting four/five sets fitness wise.

 

Murrays stamina and strength are hugely superior to 2 years ago. HE needs to get Nadal running and turning as much as possible to put pressure on his knees. Maybe not very gentlemanly but whatever works.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Going with serve in the 2nd set

[redm]

Sounds like a game I definitely want to be watching. Grrr. Thanks for the updates Geoff & co...keep em coming

[Tazio]

First time I've ever seen a fireworks break in sport.

[Martin]

Break for fireworks?! That's a bizarre one

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Break for fireworks?! That's a bizarre one

 

It's Australia Day. Come on!!

 

And fireworks over Melbourne always look smart!

 

EDIT: The players were asked at the start about it and they wanted the break when the fireworks started.

[Prince Buaben]

Break for fireworks?! That's a bizarre one

 

Hoep the break doesnt affect Murray or maybe give Nadal time to focus,

[Tazio]

Hoep the break doesnt affect Murray or maybe give Nadal time to focus,

 

Looks like it has. Bugger

[Martin]

It's Australia Day. Come on!!

 

And fireworks over Melbourne always look smart!

 

EDIT: The players were asked at the start about it and they wanted the break when the fireworks started.

 

I know but considering all the stoppages in sport, that's definitely a first!

 

Break definitely hasn't helped Murray

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Nadal with the break serving to make it 5-2

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

But Murray broke back! 4-3

[Tazio]

Good mental strength by Murray to break straight back.

[Martin]

Great fightback. That was a huge game for Murray to break back to get the momentum back his way. Could easily have lost the plot after being broken

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

5-4 Nadal - Murray serving to save the set.

[Gards]

Umpire should be speaking to Nadal about the time he's talking to do challenges.

 

Wonder if anyone else (apart from Federer) would get such leniency?

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Huge save by Nadal there on break point. Deuce and 5 all

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Huge game for Nadal. Can Murray hold for the tie-break?

[Martin]

Umpire should be speaking to Nadal about the time he's talking to do challenges.

 

Wonder if anyone else (apart from Federer) would get such leniency?

 

It's not even just the challenges, it's the same with the time he takes between points as well.

 

Huge save by Nadal there on break point. Deuce and 5 all

 

Missing these chances could come back to haunt Murray

[vegas-voss]

Murray serving to save the set.The sheer will to win of Nadal is what is keeping him in this match.Murray has been great against the grit and determanation of Nadal.

[Say What Again]

Murray has a great chance to take this set, 5-1 up in the tie-break

[Everybody loves Baz]

Flawless tennis from the Hibs ****

 

2-0

[vegas-voss]

Brilliant tie break by Murray.What a difference a few years make Murray now looks the bigger more physically imposing player.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Murray 2 sets up - walks the tie-break

[Martin]

Superb tiebreak - to step it up at that point of the match says a lot about his game and his mental strength now.

 

Needs to keep the foot on the gas and not allow Nadal back into it

[Tazio]

Murrays stamina and strength are hugely superior to 2 years ago. HE needs to get Nadal running and turning as much as possible to put pressure on his knees. Maybe not very gentlemanly but whatever works.

 

Ahem.

[vegas-voss]

Nadal feeling the strain on his knee.This has to be Murray's match now or maybe a wee bit gamesmanship on Nadals behalf.

[Martin]

Ahem.

 

Great shout.

 

Shows how things have changed in the last few years. Considering this, even more important that Murray won that second set.

[Say What Again]

He'll never have a better chance to beat him than this 2-0 and 2-0 up

[scott_jambo]

I cant comment as I am not watching the match, but is it not common knowledge that Murray's fitness is superior to Nadal's right now due to his knee problems?

 

Murray has stores of reserves left in the tank, especially in matches like this.

 

Ahem.

 

(1 post above Tazio's I must add! )

[vegas-voss]

It's looking easy for Murray now.Nadal is fecked

[Say What Again]

It's over Nadal retires at 0-3 down in the 3rd set

[scott_jambo]

He'll never have a better chance to beat him than this 2-0 and 2-0 up

 

Apart from the other 2 times he has beaten Nadal?

[vegas-voss]

Nadal quits

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Game over. Well done Murray.

[Tazio]

It's a shame for Murray as he would have beaten him fairly and squarely in my opinion.

[Say What Again]

Apart from the other 2 times he has beaten Nadal?

 

Were either of them as easy for him as that?

 

That was, as proved, his best chance of all the times he's played him.

[billyboy38]

Good result for Murray...........should make the final now:biggrin:

[Martin]

Retirement or not, Murray was the better player all round.

 

With Nadal, could have been just as much the fact he was getting beaten than his injury was that bad. If it had been one set all, he would have played on.

 

Great chance now for Murray to make the final now

[Tazio]

Retirement or not, Murray was the better player all round.

 

With Nadal, could have been just as much the fact he was getting beaten than his injury was that bad. If it had been one set all, he would have played on.

 

Great chance now for Murray to make the final now

 

I don't think that's very fair on Nadal, he's had serious knee problems in the last season and doesn't want to risk the rest of his year. And even if he got through past Murray he wouldn't have completed the tournament.

[scott_jambo]

Retirement or not, Murray was the better player all round.

 

With Nadal, could have been just as much the fact he was getting beaten than his injury was that bad. If it had been one set all, he would have played on.

 

Great chance now for Murray to make the final now

 

On the contrary, Im really worried about Nadal and hope to god this is not the beginning of the end of his career. That would be a travesty.

[Ribble]

When was the last time someone made it to the semi's of the Oz Open without dropping a set?

[Martin]

I don't think that's very fair on Nadal, he's had serious knee problems in the last season and doesn't want to risk the rest of his year. And even if he got through past Murray he wouldn't have completed the tournament.

 

He's had a lot of problems but I never like to see a player quit, particularly when it's fairly close to the end. I know he wasn't 100% but a retirement takes the win a bit away from Murray because people will say Nadal was injured.

 

On the contrary, Im really worried about Nadal and hope to god this is not the beginning of the end of his career. That would be a travesty.

 

He's definitely in big trouble. His career was never going to be that long because the way he played the game, history tells you that people like that have shorter careers, particularly at the top.

 

He needs to take a long time off. I never understood why he rushed back about a month after missing Wimbledon last year.

[I P Knightley]

I cant comment as I am not watching the match, but is it not common knowledge that Murray's fitness is superior to Nadal's right now due to his knee problems?

 

Murray has stores of reserves left in the tank, especially in matches like this.

 

Very prescient of you Scott. The little I saw of the game looked like Murray was working on Rafa's knee weakness. At first, I thought he was mad letting Nadal have so many forehands but then realised that Murray was making him run and push off his right leg more than others might have. Slightly risky as I saw Nadal marmalise a few forehands past Murray but, clearly, all turned out well in the long run.

 

(p.s. I'm not wishing injury on Nadal. I hope he recovers and enjoys a great season. Tennis is great right now and it would be a shame for one of the finest competitors to be absent.)

 

It's a shame for Murray as he would have beaten him fairly and squarely in my opinion.

 

I can't find the stats to confirm this claim but I reckon that that's about the 5th time a Murray opponent has retired hurt in the last 12-18 months or so.

 

I'm fairly sure that Murray would have won without a Nadal injury but injury seems to be one of the risks in playing against someone who can pull the other player all over the court.

[shaun.lawson]

When was the last time someone made it to the semi's of the Oz Open without dropping a set?

 

Last year - that geezer from Majorca who Murray just whupped. Djokovic and Nadal both did it in 2008 as well. It's not a rare occurrence in Australia - but excitingly, is the sort of thing winners of the tournament do.

 

First, Nadal. A great player is in very serious trouble. He cannot shake off his fitness problems, and since his return, cannot beat top ten players. It's very sad, but I'm starting to think he's finished. Experts warned for years that no-one could take the punishment he'd put himself through from a very early age; and it's looking that way now I'm afraid.

 

But as for Murray: five matches played, no sets dropped. And more than that, the stars are aligning: the weather in Australia, usually sweltering at this time of year, is cool and pleasant. His next opponent is in the virgin territory of a first Grand Slam semi-final; Murray's in his third. Cilic has come through three long five set matches to get this far; Murray has cruised through. And if he wins - as he should - he'll have an extra day's rest compared to his final opponent.

 

I'm not saying he will win this tournament - Djokovic was my tip, so I'll stick with him - but no question, he has a fantastic chance.

[scott_jambo]

Last year - that geezer from Majorca who Murray just whupped. Djokovic and Nadal both did it in 2008 as well. It's not a rare occurrence in Australia - but excitingly, is the sort of thing winners of the tournament do.

 

First, Nadal. A great player is in very serious trouble. He cannot shake off his fitness problems, and since his return, cannot beat top ten players. It's very sad, but I'm starting to think he's finished. Experts warned for years that no-one could take the punishment he'd put himself through from a very early age; and it's looking that way now I'm afraid.

 

But as for Murray: five matches played, no sets dropped. And more than that, the stars are aligning: the weather in Australia, usually sweltering at this time of year, is cool and pleasant. His next opponent is in the virgin territory of a first Grand Slam semi-final; Murray's in his third. Cilic has come through three long five set matches to get this far; Murray has cruised through. And if he wins - as he should - he'll have an extra day's rest compared to his final opponent.

 

I'm not saying he will win this tournament - Djokovic was my tip, so I'll stick with him - but no question, he has a fantastic chance.

 

I tipped Davydenko for the final, he better not muck this up for Murray! I think Murray would prefer Djokovic.

[scott_jambo]

Last year - that geezer from Majorca who Murray just whupped. Djokovic and Nadal both did it in 2008 as well. It's not a rare occurrence in Australia - but excitingly, is the sort of thing winners of the tournament do.

 

First, Nadal. A great player is in very serious trouble. He cannot shake off his fitness problems, and since his return, cannot beat top ten players. It's very sad, but I'm starting to think he's finished. Experts warned for years that no-one could take the punishment he'd put himself through from a very early age; and it's looking that way now I'm afraid.

 

But as for Murray: five matches played, no sets dropped. And more than that, the stars are aligning: the weather in Australia, usually sweltering at this time of year, is cool and pleasant. His next opponent is in the virgin territory of a first Grand Slam semi-final; Murray's in his third. Cilic has come through three long five set matches to get this far; Murray has cruised through. And if he wins - as he should - he'll have an extra day's rest compared to his final opponent.

 

I'm not saying he will win this tournament - Djokovic was my tip, so I'll stick with him - but no question, he has a fantastic chance.

 

 

Have you noticed how much weight Nadal has lost in the last year or so. presumably he was advised to tone his muscular frame so that his knees were supporting less weight. Too little too late it would seem. He might need to take an Agassi style extended break from the sport with some specialists and come back with a different style of play.

[Ignoranus]

Great victory for Murray. He has a tough opponent next though, the big Croatian will be no walkover. However Murray has not dropped a set where as Cilic has been involved in 3 five setters!!

 

If Murray wants to play at the top of the game he has to beat the likes of Cilic!

[shaun.lawson]

Have you noticed how much weight Nadal has lost in the last year or so. presumably he was advised to tone his muscular frame so that his knees were supporting less weight. Too little too late it would seem. He might need to take an Agassi style extended break from the sport with some specialists and come back with a different style of play.

 

I'm not surprised, given how much time he lost, and that he can't train as he used to now. Trouble is, Nadal's whole game was based on him being a physical superman; an animal. I don't see how he changes his style and stays at the top. Which is awful for tennis - but good news for all his competitors.

[scott_jambo]

I'm not surprised, given how much time he lost, and that he can't train as he used to now. Trouble is, Nadal's whole game was based on him being a physical superman; an animal. I don't see how he changes his style and stays at the top. Which is awful for tennis - but good news for all his competitors.

 

Nadal, is no one trick pony. His forehands are deadly accurate. it could be a fresh challenge for him as he has one everything the sport has to offer with his original style of play.

 

Plus, I have seen Murray rinse Djokovic a couple of times on hard court. I think the best was Montreal final? (cant quite remember)

 

I know Djokovic is on form, but so is Murray. Will be an epic match.