FO Semi Nadal v Murray

First topic message reminder :

Well a week ago before Murray's injury and Nadal's poor form, it woudl have been a no brainer. A week later and things are very different.

Nadal will certainly exploit that ankle's weakness but as Soderling proved yesterday, you can force Nadal to do the running if you can take the ball early.

I see Nadal winning there...especially if it stays windy.

He does. Come on Murray take the set.

The wind is not helping but would agree with Tenez it must favour Nadal.

This next service game from Murray is probably going to be the most important in the match for him. A must win.

Solid hold from Rafa Nadal. 5-5 in the second set. Again Andy MUST hold.

I would say that was the end of Murrays challenge.

Nadal breaks - 6-5 now.

Very tough match though.

A few games ago (mid set) there was a graphic showing Andy had taken 1 of 9 break points, Rafa 3 of 5 - so looks like a close contest but (as with last year's Wimbledon SF) Nadal just edging it on the crucial points.

Two sets to love down. No way back for Murray now.

People should remember that we are watching Andy pitting his wits againsy the 'King Of Clay' here and he hasn't been disgraced by any means as he goes two sets to nil down. Andy's weakest surface is clay but by this showing he has improved a heck of a lot on it.

Oh its nothing to be sneezed at CC. What ndy has done so far has been brilliant and its a great result for him that will give him confidence for Wimbledon.

I think those 1st 2 sets have only been that close cause Nadal is not at his best for some reason, but well played Murray.

CaledonianCraig wrote:People should remember that we are watching Andy pitting his wits againsy the 'King Of Clay' here and he hasn't been disgraced by any means as he goes two sets to nil down. Andy's weakest surface is clay but by this showing he has improved a heck of a lot on it.

Federer is playing him next, as it happens.

When Novak has won five French Opens he can be considered that.

It looks really over for Murray now

I have the feeling that Nadal is so lucky that Federer's going to win today!

A lot that Andy can take from this tournament though even though he looks set for a straight sets loss. It is his weakest surface but he has competed for long periods one of the greatest clay court players of all-time so no disgrace there. He can take a lot from it (along with strengthening his No.4 slot in the rankings) and use it to build on for the coming grass and hard court seasons.

Hello, whats happening now??? Murray breakback?

murray plays it close to nadal,,but when things get tough,,nadal prevails..
hmm

nadal..make it fast,,i want to watch fed-djoko match

murray disappoints, he can beat nadal but he won't.

Thats a shame, i still live in hope though but its going to be straight sets.

Murray is just too negative in his mental approach...too up and down. Nadal has been having some horror form dips of late but you'd hardly know to look at him. Hence one has 9 slams, the other 0. Can see that changing until Murray learns to control his inner demons that distract him at key moments.

Remember guys this is clay. Rafa owns it (okay bogbrush he lost twice recently on it) but you could count on the fingers of your hand the amount of players to beat him on clay in his career. This is Andy's weakest surface so I reckon he has hung in there well.

CC, Murray could easily have won this, it's not as if he's been getting beat up at all. He's just been wasteful on some big points (and his opponent has played well on others) plus a few bad bits of luck (the framed shot on bp that landed on the line...).

Murray will look back on this as a chance wasted; easily as good a chance as the finals he's lost.

Murray now 3 of 18 on break points. Rafa 6 of 13.

So a close match decided by who has played better on the biggest points.

CC - getting close to Nadal on clay is not difficult. Many players do it. Andujar was even 5/1 up against him. Federer won sets very convincingly against him as well.

It's winning 3 sets that is difficult against Nadal and Murray is very far from that for now.

Yes bogbrush and it is regarded as Andy's weakest surface whilst Rafa has owned it so Andy deserves credit for that. It is akin to horse racing and having Red Rum (a National specialist) running Shergar close in a flat race.

Well I think Andy has played very well !

Rafa has certainly had to work hard all through the match !

Lovely rally at 40-30 to close out the game, with a killer cross court backhand to close it out.

Too bad.

So, a repeat of wimby 10 semi final. Andy won more points but lost the match. I want DJoko to win now. Because Djoko owns Nadal.

Bad luck Andy but he really showed signs there that he is coming into some good form. I hope he does well at Wimbledon now.

For Andy it is a very good stepping stone on to stronger surfaces of his - grass and hard courts. The only area of his game that wasn't up to scratch was his break point conversions but apart from that he did very well to stay with the master of clay over all three sets.

Straight sets doesn't tell the story, and frankly if Djokovic beats Federer (as he should) I can see him winning the final very clearly.

Seeing Nadal's reaction at the end speaks volumes for how highly he rates Andy Murray. Celebrated like he had won the tournament. Credit to Rafa who played a great game there. Congratulations to him.

Tenez wrote:CC - getting close to Nadal on clay is not difficult. Many players do it. Andujar was even 5/1 up against him. Federer won sets very convincingly against him as well.

It's winning 3 sets that is difficult against Nadal and Murray is very far from that for now.

agreed with tenez,,taking sets from nadal r not that difficult (though not tht easy),,but to take 3 consecutive sets ,quite big task

bogbrush wrote:Straight sets doesn't tell the story, and frankly if Djokovic beats Federer (as he should) I can see him winning the final very clearly.

How many matches against Nadal were close 3 setters? Quite a few is the answer.

Djoko will have no problem beating Nadal but that's because Djoko has more agressive shots and he can cross the line so the 3 sets Murray lost closely, would be won by Djoko.

Yes I know that but in all honesty more break point conversions from Andy was all that was needed for a very different scoreline. That was the area that was the difference between the players today - nothing else and if you consider this is Nadal's (world No.1) his strongest surface and Andy's weakest then it shows how well Andy has done.

Federer wasted 10 BPs in that first set 2007 final which he ended up losing.

Andujar wasted 8 set points as well a week ago.

I have been there before but that are almost "normal" stats against Nadal.

Djoko is cool headed and makes Nadal panick so those stats are much less likely.

Sorry if you expect me to make a tirade against Andy for losing in three tight sets on his weakest surface but Andy did well today.

I would say that it's far from a "given" for Djoko to be in the Final. And I'm not sure that clay is Murray's worst surface as CC keeps repeating. I can actually envisage him winning RG one day, but can't see him winning Wimbledon.

Andy has a better chance winning Wimbledon than the French Open. He would only win the French Open if the seeds above them were eliminated.

And I suppose that doesn't apply at Wimbledon??

I think there are more players who are a potential danger to him on grass than on clay (Roddick, Isner, Gasquet, Raonic to think of a few).

Well considering that Murray has beaten Roddick and Gasquet on Grass at Wimbledon. I doubt Isner and Raonic will beat Murray on Grass.

There are more threats to Andy on clay than there is Grass

Ferrer, Almagro, Soderling, Del Potro, Bellucci

CaledonianCraig wrote:Sorry if you expect me to make a tirade against Andy for losing in three tight sets on his weakest surface but Andy did well today.

I wanted him to win! But he was pretty far from winning 3 sets. That's all I am saying.

michael_o wrote:I would say that it's far from a "given" for Djoko to be in the Final. And I'm not sure that clay is Murray's worst surface as CC keeps repeating. I can actually envisage him winning RG one day, but can't see him winning Wimbledon.

Of course it is his worst surface. Before this season he'd never really threatened on clay and the 4th Round was his best performance at Roland Garros until this year. On grass he won the Stella Artois and has already reached two Wimbledon semi-finals which is a marked difference from his record on clay.

Tenez wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Sorry if you expect me to make a tirade against Andy for losing in three tight sets on his weakest surface but Andy did well today.

I wanted him to win! But he was pretty far from winning 3 sets. That's all I am saying.

6-4 7-5 6-4 - pretty far from winning a set?? Okay

Conditions where dreadful otherwise victory margin would've been much wider

sonic_boom10 wrote:Conditions where dreadful otherwise victory margin would've been much wider

How so?? In the past in windy conditions it has always favoured Rafa (Indian Wells last year) and besides the wind today definitely came to Rafa's rescue in a crucial break point in the first set.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

Tenez wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Sorry if you expect me to make a tirade against Andy for losing in three tight sets on his weakest surface but Andy did well today.

I wanted him to win! But he was pretty far from winning 3 sets. That's all I am saying.

6-4 7-5 6-4 - pretty far from winning a set?? Okay

Yes 0 set is very far from 3 sets! I am not sure how you can see otherwise....but nevermind.

I misread your post there Tenez read it as pretty far from winning A set. Sorry about that.