Stupid British Tennis I love You

Tags

Andy Murray, Heather Watson, Jamie Murray, Johanna Konta, Laura robson, Naomi Broady, tennis

The near future of British tennis is looking pretty good – at least for the ladies. Johanna Konta is closing in, fast, on the world’s top 20, Heather Watson, between injuries, is constantly flirting with the top 40 or 50 – and Naomi Broady, with her BIG serve, has surged into the top 100 over the last year or so. And, possibly, the best talent of all, Laura Robson, is only out of the top 50 due to a phenomenally poor run of serious injuries 😦

However, the men’s game is not so well served. We have Andy, for sure, and Jamie – the world’s best doubles player now … but once you leave Dunblane the men’s game thins out dramatically.

One puzzle is this: we’ve been strong contenders are junior level for – if I understand it correctly – several decades. From that point on, our players (rankings wise) run away and cry in the toilet. A couple guys, right now, are trying to cement a place in the top 100, but the strength in depth of the men’s game is staggering. Not that this is the only reason – that doesn’t explain why our junior players drop off so.

Who knows. I sure don’t. I’m now bored of typing for no reasons.

Sports Personality of the Year

Tags

Andy Murray, Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Rory McIlroy, SPOTY, Tim Henman

Many people have said that, this year, SPOTY will be harder than ever.
A WONDERFUL year certainly, but not a hard choice.

If you know me at all, you’ll not be surprised when I tell you that I think Andy Murray should get the nod. I will now attempt to justify myself.

(1) Strength of opposition: Murray is playing tennis in what is widely regarded as the period of highest quality of men’s tennis ever. Let’s face it, Rafa and Roger are regarded as two of the VERY BEST players in tennis history. Right now, those two are BEHIND Novak and Andy! That is a serious statement; if you’re not a tennis fan, you may struggle to appreciate its significance. In this regard, only Rory McIlroy can hold a candle to Andy; having put Tiger Woods firmly in his place.

(2) Burden of expectation: Murray has had the pressure heaped mercilessly on his shoulders. It started as soon as people realised there was another Brit after Tim Henman. Added to this, are idiots who keep on about him being British (when he wins) or Scottish (when he loses). An American after-match commentator even called him English. Since he was 17 people have been telling him that the time a Brit won a slam was in 1936. To shut some folk up he has (nearly always) displayed a winning record against Roger Federer (the greatest ever player ever, they say) … but he’s only done that in 3 set matches, so it doesn’t really count (they say). He has been ridiculed for failure and chastised for success.  No-one else on the SPOTY has come close to this level of irk.

(3) Not “only” the Olympics: A few athletes have achieved mighty feats this year, to be sure. But only Murray and Wiggins, that I’m aware of, have really achieved the majestic as well as an Olympic gold medal (incidentally, the only “singles title” Roger Federer hasn’t won). Bradley’s Tour de France win, the first Brit in 109 years, was completely spectacular. And I do realise that it is really hard for Olympic athletes to shine as brightly in non-Olympic years; but as acknowledged before, this has been a special year!

(4) Stunning Good Looks: OK, Murray does not win this, and for this title I can’t see past Jessica Ennis. But really, it’s a personality contest, isn’t it?! Well, that’s what it’s laughably called, but so far as I know a good sense of humour hasn’t won anyone this prize yet.

(5) The Double: Mo Farah was awesome .. no doubt. Two gold medals. Incredible. Murray only got one gold, one silver. But to be fair, Mo’s gold double was astonishing and he does seem like a top bloke.

Basically, whatever argument I use, Murray comes out near the top. Cumulatively, that must put him on the very top of the pile.

He’s brilliant, enjoy him.

Murray: US Open win via the tweets of a madman

Tags

Andy Murray, Cats, Epic, Fear, Grand Slam, Lendl, Mayhem, Novak Djokovic, Pain, tennis, US Open

Please be advised, my language is prone to deterioration
at times of extreme pressure, like this event. Sorry 😦

My tweets are on the left, explanatory comments are grey in brackets,
re-tweets are on the right.  Let’s go!

Djerkovic yet to win a point, he’s clearly hopelessly out-classed. #USopen.

Amazing from @Swannyg66 #EngvSAt20
Grace Duffy @xgrace
(Graeme Swann takes a wonderful one-handed catch, not at the US  Open.)

 Not a single point won on serve yet. #USopen.

Until now. #GoAndy.

The bad Murray … bit of brilliance, then throw it away. #USopen.

Whatever the length of the cricket match, England will still drop Amla. #ENGvSA.
(What was I thinking? Switching over to the cricket, really?)

Amla wouldn’t frustrate me so much if England didn’t keep dropping him. Grrr.
(more cricket, don’t worry, it won’t last!)

Andrew, please cut the fuck out those enforced errors. #Sorry. #USopen.

Unforced … bloody auto correct.

Djerkovic has played crap, yet leads 2-1. Not a good sign for MAndy. #USopen.

Murray serving into the sun and blinking furiously as he steps away to
gather himself. If only he had a cap that stays on his head. #usopen
Dan Quarrell @Dan_Eurosport
(Murray ‘s cap flew off in the previous round!)

 Some sort of order now please, gents. #USopen.

He’s stopping me play games, but given that he’s a stray, I don’t mind …

If Djokovic wins this set, it will feel like he’s gotten away with murder. #USopen.

Rain in the cricket. Maybe I can focus on Murray now!

Lol … Djokovic.

Serves Gruntovic right. Uh ah oh.
(Three distinct phases to the new Djokovic grunt, never heard it from him before, very werid and extremely annoying!)

Aw, Novak has poorly knees! #USopen.
(After sliding, he has tiny matching knee-burns.)

Djokovic is so clutch.
Umar @Umar_Khan10
(I don’t know what that means either, but I chortled.)

 And Murray’s slam goes into the net.

Djokovic’s grunting is putting me off and I’m just watching. #USopen. Ridiculous.

Please tell me this is best of one set. I am in bits.

I want my mum. #USopen.

In your grunting face Djokovic. Nobody said I had to be impartial. #USopen.

In your grunting face Djokovic. Nobody said I had to be impartial. #USopen. Hahahaha.
(Yeah, I enjoyed it so much I said it twice.)

Judo needs to run down and slap Murray, make sure he starts FAST this set. Federer would #pounce having lost or won that set.

Judi. Bloody auto correct. Judi, damn it.
(Actually, I’m a double-idiot – her name is JUDY!)

That moment when you think everyone is ignoring your tweets … then you make a mistake 🙂

Djokovic getting ready for an injury retirement and a good moan … his real top skills. #USopen.

Too scared to look …  #andTheySayCatsDontLikeTennis.

I am shattered. Chance of sleep? A big fat zero. #USopen.

Lendl looking tense, excited, chewing his nails. OK, I’m lying. He’s more emotional when farting. #USopen.

Yeah, love it! QT @monkeypawgames: Space shooter fans shouldn’t miss #GaiaSeed on #PSN w/ an amazing soundtrack: http://youcanplaythis.com/ycpt-gaiaseed/  — #PS3
(Huh, what? That’s not about the tennis!)

Djokovic, please keep making me laugh. #USopen. #UnforcedErrors.

I am going to give Murray a Glasgow kiss. You know, a head-but. I love him that much.

BAGEL HIM!!!!!
Tim @tennistem

 And Djokovic wins the second set. #FutureTweetFromMyWorstNightmare.

Sorry if you don’t like tennis folks, but if I restrict this tweeting to grand slam finals, you should be OK.

Andrew, you need a Jedi mind slap again.

Come on Andy, get this set and I can listen to the 3rd in bed on the radio. Highlights taped. Taped?! Sure, why not.

Henman was always a little better than Murray. Because I said so. #Fact.

If Murray wins this, he’ll go from Scottish, through British, and wind up English.

Geoffrey’s mum could have beaten Djokovic today. Murray still hasn’t won a real slam. And other bullshit.
(Geoffery’s mum – the mother of a famous cricketer whose son keeps telling us how she could do better than this rubbish lot. She could bat with a stick of celery.)

I am burning myself out, hope Murray has more in the tank than I do.

Does Murray have South African roots? #Choker.

Dear Djokovic, knob the eff off.

Murray has recently made more unforced errors than Mark Petchy has teeth.
(Mark Petchy, who I normally like, has a face that looks like a piano got stuck in it.)

I’m blaming this all on Mark Petchey.
Hannah @hannah_itfc

I hate when I’m doing well in a match, and then I start  thinking
about how I’m gonna spend my winnings, and then I suck.
Rachel Bird @TheSportBird

 Novak bouncing again. Give me strength.
(When stressed he bounces the ball between 20 and 6,000 times – I like it not.)

I was -37 when a Brit last won a slam, I can’t wait that ling again. #GoAndy.

You forgot beautiful! QT @seismicshed: C’mon you sour faced bastard

These two guys are fairly useful. Federer is glad he lost in the semi. #USopen.
(Of course, I really meant the quarter finals!)

That’s it Andy, boss the buger in blue!

Bugger. I can’t spell. At all.

If Murray wins in three, there is no way back for Novak. #Fact.

What’s the time? Oh, it’s I don’t give two shits o’clock. #USopen.

Djokovic is sliding as much as Kim Clijsters on ice. #USopen.
(Worldy renown for stretchy legs.)

Djokovic pulls out the roar, Murray unimpressed. So juvenile, that Novak.

Hahaha, Murray’s reaction.
Tim @tennistem

Okay, yeah. That rally was the shit so you can act like a beast
for 3 seconds, Nole. But that’s it.
Rachel Bird @TheSportBird

 Since when has a break meant anything in this match so far? #USopen, get a grip people!

Mark Petchy. Please be quiet.

New discovery: cats cannot jump off a swivel chair and retain their dignity.

Merlin isn’t worried about a 4th set …

Djokovic leads 17-16. Game score. Most pointless tennis stat ever. #USopen.

Bad Andrew.

At this grand-slam-final rate of improvement, Murray will win the #AusOpen … in 2017.

I’m staying up, but it’s not because of the tennis.
It’s because of your tweets.
Tim @tennistem

Harder Novak, harder – bash your head harder. Here, use this chair.
(In frustration at an unforced error, he was hitting his head far too gently.)

That’s it Murray. We’re through. I’m off to bed … with a radio. #USopen.

Would love Lendl to stand up and start fist pumping.
Nows the time. Fire up andy!
Sarah Borwell @sarahborwell

Please Andy, spare us!!! QT @tennistem: If Djokovic wins surely he’s going to rip off his shirt again or do some other tasteless shit.

Astonishing.
(Yet another insanely good rally, probably of around 50 shots or so.)

Novak has now won 10 of the last 13 games 😦 #USopen.

Apparently US tely is upset Andy Murray is swearing.
Forget guns, it’s Scottish men cursing that is the true evil in the USA right now
Adam Carroll-Smith @ACarrollSmith

Murray and Djokovic trying to pull a Tendulkar and kill twitter.

For those concerned, Wickmayer leads Riske 5-3 in Quebec.
(Not surprisingly, no-one else knew there was another game of tennis going on.)

Only Murray can look this good and … no. Just no.
(I couldn’t say the unthinkable I wasn’t considering.)

If he wins of course, he’ll be the first British winner since 6000 BC.
Tim @tennistem

 If Henman had won a grand slam, Murray would have had this one sewn up by now. The power of mental baggage.

That’s it. 5th set. Can’t tweet anymore. Too tired. Good luck everyone. Except Novak.

Murray complacent now. #BigFatNot. #USopen.

Ravi Bopara still leading on my BBC Sports personality score-sheet.
(Sorry. When I’m terrified my mind wanders and finds comfort in sarcasm.)

Just to remind you, even if, this slam won’t count in the British media because MAndy hasn’t faced Rafa or Roger. #BritPsyche101.

This is the best tennis I’ve seen in years….#grippingstuff
SEGAotaku @SEGAotaku

Murray needs to find his inner Afridi.
(The lovable mad cricketer from Pakistan should only harnessed in dire circumstances.)

‘Retrieving the impossible’ #Murray #usopen
Dan Quarrell @Dan_Eurosport

I can’t look. No, really. I have a radio. #USopen.

Please be careful! QT @Sarah_Taylor30: Come on Murray!!! It’s your time surely!!!

Stopppittttt!!! QT @TheSportBird: Guess what? Andy Murray’s gonna win the US Open!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If … by some Kipling chap, not the cake dude, the other one.
(I have clearly lost it, not that I ever had that much.)

This! QT @hannah_itfc: STOP SAYING THINGS, EVERYONE.

Fuck you, said the pendulum.
(Djokovic breaks back to shut people up!)

The Commonwealth’s Andy Murray is on the verge of a great win
Sports Freak @Sportzfreak
(Dude from NZ trying to claim some of Andy, love it!)

 Some BBC radio dude thinks that waking up & not knowing a sporting result is worse than the plague. He has a point.

Usain Bolt, you are not my sporting hero. #USopen.
(10 seconds just does not cut it mate, give me FIVE hours!)

Murray just needs 10 big first serves.

Murray holds to love. Fair to say I think we all needed that.
Dave Tickner @tickerscricket

 Not many Novak fans on my timeline.
(Understatement, don’t think there’s even one!)

Djokovic loves to play act. Don’t believe it.

Andy has always has the skills. This will, we hope, prove that to everyone.

Novak classy as ever. Twat face.
(At 5-2 down in the 5^th, calls for a timeout, probably for cramp which you’re not allowed to do.)

Murray should request a massage too … seriously.

Go Andy! I always believed in you!
Tim @tennistem

4 aces please so I can stop cleaning the kitchen.
Starting to get high on the cleaning fluid fumes!
Sarah Borwell @sarahborwell

 Eyes glistened, no tears. I am a man.

Stop being gracious Novak, you’re the villain.
(At least he was proper nice in his after-match speech, good mates these two; no, really!)

Great Scot! etc.
Tim @tennistem

Did Murray really say he’ll buy every Scottish resident a whisky? Decent chap.
(Yes, I lied, but I was thirsty all of a sudden.)

I couldn’t sleep before the match, no way I could sleep during it, and I certainly can’t sleep now. #Buggered.

Goodnight all, the monkey is finally of the back of Murray.

It’s OK Lendl, you can fart now.
(Still no hint of life in the man, it simply must be trapped wind.)

…
the morning after
…

Time since a Brit last won a grand slam: 1 day.

I don’t think Murray could have done it without the support and love of Piers Morgan. #USopen.

Seemingly, Murray’s utterly fantastic victory will be celebrated up in Scotland with 76 years of rain.

thend

Andy Murray – Canadian Butcher

Tags

Andy Murray, Grand Slam, Milos Raonic, Muzza, tennis, US Open

Yesterday, well this morning, Andy Murray was awesome. I woke up, rather handily, early on in the first set. Raonic was serving big – and he was serving well. It didn’t really matter though, Muzzle was able to give him a hard time in most of his service games.

As the match went on the ridiculous quality of Andy’s defence, and his winners, increased from the sublime to the insane. I think that, by the end of the match, a large part of the large Milos must have been glad it was over. I mentioned above that he served well, and he did, yet he won only 70% of points on his first serve – this guy has one of the top 5 serves out there. To make matters worse for Milos, Murray’s serve was working well. He won a very impressive 88% of his first service points.

Andy maintained his phenomenal quality and consistency throughout and, by the end, he had hit only 12 unforced errors but had amassed 31 winners, and did not have to face a single break point.

A 6-4 6-4 6-2 win for MAndy was a fair reflection of a comprehensive victory over a very high class opponent, he won 94 points, and Raonic won just 68, which demonstrates again the severity of his victory.

If Andy plays that well against Roger Federer,
he will win – of that, I have no doubt.

Laura Robson – A Flash in the Pants?

Tags

Hot Streak Over, Laura robson, Leftie, Top 32, US Open, WTA

Obviously, I mean flash in the pan … but in my head, pants was funny.

So, she lost to Sam Stosur having beaten Li Na. She wasn’t a long way from beating three grand slam champions back-to-back, and she would have faced a 4^th (Azarenka) had she beaten Stosur. To illustrate what a tough draw that is, when Sharapova won Wimbledon aged 17, she only faced two grand-slam champions – in the semi-final (Davenport) and final (S. Williams). Not many players ranked down in the 80s & 90s beat two grand-slam champions in a row.

So why should you be excited about her? Well, Paul Annacone thinks that Laura already has a serve and a forehand in the top 10 of the women’s game. That is high praise by any standard; and these days it is weapons that win you grand slam titles on the WTA tour. Even in a 6-4 6-4 loss, in which she did not play her best, Laura hit 17 winners compared to 18 from the big-hitting powerhouse that is Stosur. Sadly Laura’s unforced error count was almost double that of Sam (41 to 24) and was the main reason for her loss. Fear not though, it is easier for a player to reign in unforced errors from an aggressive style, than it is to manufacture winners from a solid game.

Also worthy of a big mention is further evidence of Laura’s mental strength. She, from a relatively hopeless position in the match, refused to give in. She saved 8 match points and broke back once to demonstrate that she will not give in – this is another skill that cannot be taught. Another point I’d like to make is that, after her victory over Kim, she was asked about her form and quality of play. She remarked that it was wasn’t a drastic improvement of late, only that she had been injury free.

For me, there are two areas she needs to improve:
(1) to continue to reduce her unforced error count while maintaining her aggression, and
(2) to be able to perform, to this level, in lesser tournaments with smaller crowds (her best victories and performances have all been a big events).

I predict that, buy this time next year,
she will be deep inside the world’s top 32.

Laura Robson – Hot Streak

Tags

Kim Clijsters, Laura robson, tennis, US Open, Wimbledon

A little over four years ago I watched Laura Robson’s final three victories that she needed before lifting the Wimbledon Junior title. She was fourteen; she was the youngest in the draw. She impressed all with a big game – a strong leftie serve, and a powerful forehand that she’d often run around – much like a certain Steffi Graf. I could never hit my own backhand with any venom, and this trait was one I liked about Steffi, factor in that I’m left-handed and English – I liked Laura immediately.

There was quite a lot of hype around her; people talking big, people saying we should be patient, people saying she’d fail like all other Brits. I was full-on mad. I figured she had a chance of being the best British female for some time. I did acknowledge that it would take time.  So I watched, and I waited. I loved it when she played Hopman Cup with Andy Murray.

Her next big (huge) moment was the Olympic Silver Medal, in mixed doubles, with Andy Murray. I hoped that their time together in the Hopman Cup would help them, as the rapport between double-players in tennis is very important. It certainly can’t have hurt as they defied the odds together round after round, beating more experienced players and losing out in the final by the smallest of margins. Laura did make a few mistakes at crucial times, and appeared upset with herself – understandable as in any team game you feel you’ve let others down and not just yourself as in singles. 
In round one of the US Open 2012, Laura Robson had the unusual task of playing someone younger than she was. She won, predictably enough, against the lower ranked player – after all “Robbo” is the youngest player in the WTA top 100. Round two she faced Kim Clijsters. Kim Clijsters who was awesome in round one thumping an impressively aggressive young American named Duval (remember her name).

Kim, you should know, has been playing well. She has beaten plenty of good players this year. However, two recent losses were what I would call unexpected: two close sets against Yanina Wickmayer, and a 6-1 6-1 thrashing by Angelique Kerber.  Laura clearly has no chance, I surmised. I thought she could, and would, give Kim a scare but her game (usually) features too many unforced errors for her to beat someone as seasoned and high class as Kim. Unless Kim plays badly, I hoped. Seldom am I as happy to be wrong!

In each set, Laura had to fight back from a break down. In each set Kim’s retrieval skills were jaw-dropping. In each set Laura won the majority of games that went to deuce … a statistic that Sam Smith says she considers to be vital; and she is a very astute commentator. Laura saved 3 sets points late in the second set. One of these was caused by a smash. Robbo had already won the point (against mortals) three times; Kim though, had other ideas and hit up an OK defensive lob when well out of court. Laura hopelessly miss-timed it and the ball crashed into the bottom of the net – to much hilarity on Twitter. To Laura’s immense credit, she dipped her head briefly but showed no other signs of the discontent she must have felt. She won the next three points and forced the tie-break. That was a moment of maturity beyond her years; it’s not only winning shots that tell you how good a player is – to be able to cope with disappointment is essential.

So Laura won the second set tie-break too, and now faces Li Na (in great form) in the 3^rd round. Can she win that? Well, yes – providing she can play to that level again. One of the hardest things for young players is to be consistent at the highest level; one great scalp is not enough. I know she could win, but no-one yet knows if she will.

A crazy stat that will never change: Laura vs Kim — Head to Head.
“Laura Robson is in full control … of my breathing.”

Jarka the Hotter

Tags

gorgeous, lovely, tennis

Last night I woke up with back pain. It’s a new special type of pain – think of nicely buttered scones, then stick that blunt knife in your back, just below your shoulder blade, twist. Works perfectly, assuming you desire consistently poor sleep.

I went downstairs, switched on my laptop, and logged into twitter. Shortly after I had begun reading tweets, a new one from Jarmila Gajdosova popped up:

“Ok guys in the car on my way to the hotel. since I have about 45 min I can talk to you! so ask me whatever you guys want I am here for you :)”

Now this sort of thing is not rare on twitter. Two points usually arrive in my mind:
(1) What can I ask that is a little different?
(2) It doesn’t really matter, they don’t reply to me.

To my shock, Jarka answered more than one of my daft questions. Consequently I have a new tennis crush. Here, in full, is the tiny conversation:

Me: Do Olympic shot-putters scare you?
JG: no 🙂
Me: What does scare you? Anything? 🙂
JG: snakes, spiders, any bugs, bad plane trips and scary movies!!…
Me: Wow, glad cars are OK!

Me: Why can’t lady pole-vaulters go as high as the men? I really have no idea.
JG: no idea sorry

Me: Did you ever play Pokémon?
JG: no I didn’t I just never got along with pikachu or how you spell it!!
Me: hehe, no worries and spelling is perfect.
Me: Thanks for your time, I’d better go to bed now, it’s after 2am. Only up because of back-pain, but you’ve helped 😉 Take care!
Me: Can’t tear myself away … who’s your favourite Aussie? (Not family!)
JG: as athlete or?
Me: anyone at all!
JG: all my fellow Aussie Olympians! they are all awesome and I been honoured to meet them !! hope to see them all again soon
Me: great answer!
Me: (one of my top Aussies has to be Lleyton Hewitt .. didn’t like him at first (I’m a pom) but his tenacity wore me down!)

So why is Jarka nice? Is she riding a wave of success?  Sadly not, she has struggled a bit this year. Has she lost heart? No! A public tweet from her:
JG: Should I get it or shouldn’t I get it?! 🙂 is it true or isn’t it?! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/tZYqtz4P
 (Yes! It is true!)

So, tennis fans, please support this lovely girl, the WTA benefits hugely from great characters like Jarka!

Murray’s Gold is Pointless

What does the Olympics win mean for Murray?

I have this feeling that people, who are not obsessive tennis fans, do not fully appreciate the huge significance of Andy Murray’s gold medal win.

Federer is widely regarded as the best tennis player ever.
Federer is widely regarded as the best grass-court player ever.
Federer has won 17 Grand Slams – more than anyone else, ever.
Federer has beaten Murray in 9 out of 10 Grand Slam final sets played (over 3 five set matches).
Murray beat Federer 3 sets to 0.
Murray beat Federer on grass, 3 sets to none.
Murray beat Federer as Wimbledon, three sets to zero.
Murray beat Federer three zip (over five sets) without losing his serve once.

This win has answered many of Murray’s critics. I know it isn’t a Grand Slam, but Federer was DESPERATE to win. He has won every other tournament, of significance, on the planet. He has won doubles gold at the Olympics, and back then he stated how much he’d like the singles medal. He fought like a man possessed to beat the Giant Argentine 19-17 in the 3rd set. Two years ago Juan Martin Del Potro beat Federer from 2 sets to 1 down at the US Open final. The guy is a serious player, and to prove just that, he beat a slightly demoralised Djokovic (Murray’s semi-final victim) for the bronze medal.

Furthermore, Federer hasn’t lost a 5 set match to Murray. Certainly not at Grand Slam level, and “double-certainly” not at Wimbledon – his second home. Federer doesn’t like Murray, he is normally a very decent man, so when he chose to publicly criticise Murray (a while back) people took note. In short, Federer didn’t like Murray’s defensive game because it worked well against him. At one stage Murray lead their head-to-head 6-2. After that, Federer went on the attack – supremely. He reeled off several crushing wins against Andy, including one utter thrashing in a Grand Slam final.  Needless to say, he would not just “hand over” this gold medal to Andy.

Murray now leads their head-to-head 9-8.

It was a proper thrashing, and as such I believe it will be a massive boost to Murray’s mental state regarding “big” matches. Some people are making him favourite for the US Open. I am now one of them, but I bet it won’t be without drama. Read carefully what some, very knowledgeable, people have said about him:

Henman: “For Murray to win a best-of-five sets gold medal match against the greatest player that’s ever lived is just amazing”

Wilander: “It has to be a huge stepping stone in terms of confidence. We all know that, physically, Andy Murray is a specimen. He is stronger and fitter than any other player. If he takes the ball as early as he did today, he’s also got more variation in his game than any other player. We all knew that, but he had to improve on the mental side. Today, he perfected a game plan and then executed it to perfection.”

Croft: “I wouldn’t say he’s got more talent than Federer, but he definitely seems more talented than Djokovic. He can do more with his hands. And as for Nadal, he’s certainly lost ground having been off the tour for so long.”

Murray Fails Again

I don’t think Murray failed at all. However, I expect that is exactly what many people will think, and what some will read. I remember reading a paper after Tim Henman lost a wonderful 4-set semi-final against Pete Sampras (winner of 7 (seven) Wimbledon singles titles) “Henman Fails Again”. Sampras was largely recognised as the best player ever on grass, now Federer has equalled him with seven (7) Wimbledon singles titles. So clearly these players are “proper good”, yet the minute they beat one of our British folk, our guys are failures.

This. Is. Madness.

If it isn’t madness, then everyone who has ever been beaten by them is also a failure. Federer lost to Henman at Wimbledon once, after Sampras lost to Federer, so both of them are failures too. Therefore everyone is a failure.

Why am I writing this incoherent bullshit? Because I am vexed. Mad-vexed about the crap I’ve been hearing about Murray all day.

One chap I heard was clearly happier that Murray lost so he could say “I told you he was crap”, and “he’ll never win anything”, and “he missed a ball in the second set, and that was his only chance”, and “I told you so”. Chuff the chuff right off. The failure here is that we stupid British seem to enjoy our sporting heroes losing .. ESPECIALLY if it’s not “your” sport. I’m guilty myself, in part. I couldn’t give a toss about the success of our football team in Europe. But, secretly I wanted them to win. SECRETLY?! What the chuff? Why are we programmed like that? Who made us be such a bunch of tits?

Murray is a GREAT tennis player. Federer is probably the best EVER tennis player in the history of the universe. Players from other planets are not yet permitted by the ATP, there are a few rule differences. Sorry, I digress; Murray’s head-to-head with Jolly Roger is now 8-8.

So, if Murray has beaten the best-player-in-history-ever-ever-ever as many times as he has lost, that’s a pretty good record, right?

If Murray is 4th, in the last 12 years (and 12th in history), in terms of Masters series titles won that’s pretty good too, right?

If Murray has won over $20 Million dollars in prize money alone, that’s pretty handy, right?

You might think so, and I bloody well do. Those of you who think otherwise can bog off (which, incidentally, is what I wanted this blog to be called).

What Murray had done poorly in his previous three Grand Slam finals was show a mental ineptitude that I’d not seen him show anywhere else. Today he utterly banished that and was edged out by the better player. Well done Jolly Roger, you played great, well done Andy, don’t listen to the pricks; you played great too …. and you WILL win a slam soon!