French Open Dish: Loser Murray Says Fear Me; Both Williams Exit

By Murray’s logic, I will be the one who should be feared by all the players. I can lose to all of them!

May 31st, 2008 at 12:44 am

Okay, I’m going to cut Murray a little slack; he did play Almagro, an excellent clay-courted, pretty close today. He fought back and evened the score in the 4th set but unfortunately he couldn’t hold his serve. He needs to be more consistent. I do believe he can be a good clay-courter, indeed good on all surfaces, and I hope for his sake he doesn’t let pressure get to him. He’s got the bloody British press hounding him; Dr. Death said it elsewhere – don’t read the papers.

May 31st, 2008 at 12:54 am

courted s/b courter

May 31st, 2008 at 12:55 am

To repeat some of my comments from an earlier string:

…the Hero of the British Empire, Andy Murray, bombing out again. He must have some talent but the attention, the rewards, the ridiculous support team created (when he had the services of the finest coach in the world) are making him into a never was. The solution is rather simple – live like Nadal, grounded in sound family principles and don’t believe the newspapers. Even better, don’t read them.

As to Murray’s comments quoted above, I suggest he let his racquet speak for him and not his mouth. Oh, his racquet did speak and it was rather hoarse. Best gear up for grass or watch those endorsements go away.

May 31st, 2008 at 3:39 am

I see Ginepri is still cruising and is in the round of 16; this is great for him. Be nice if he could make it to the quarters.

May 31st, 2008 at 10:28 am

“the all-mono match”
lmao

Oh as for Murray. His comments were almost as funny as Serenas ones. Sayin that it was HER FO this year. They should both let their rackets do the talking (as dr. death also said about murray)

Fools the pair of them.

May 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am

I am happy for Ginepri today. Stepanek is sailing smoothly. I could not believe Hewitt lost because of a couple of bad decisions. I was never sure which side I was between Gonzu and Wawrinka.
Sean, where ever you are, I am rooting for Monfils. It is 1 set all, and he is a broken at 2-4 now. Hope he will pull it off and make it to the quarter at least.

May 31st, 2008 at 10:52 am

Hi Shital,

Stepanek took out Robredo easily; I think he’s a major threat here. He proved in Rome he can kick it on clay.

I too am rooting for Monfils but who knows with him!?

Gonza is a more explosive player when he’s playing well so I was hoping he’d take out Stan. Felt the same as you re: both Ginepri and Hewitt.

How do you feel about Djoko’s next match up with Mathieu? Mathieu played really well against Schwank y’day and their H2H is 1 – 1.

Also, did you see the article called “Clown Prince” on Djoko? Just google it; I suspect you’ll enjoy it.

May 31st, 2008 at 10:58 am

jane:

I would love for Mathieu to have a break through year; but logic tells me Djoko will win. This should make you happy!

May 31st, 2008 at 11:02 am

Von,

I like Mathieu a lot; out of all the top Frenchies – Gasquet, Tsonga, Monfils – he may not be the most talented, but he has a nice game and he is the most “settled”. He doesn’t seem so up and down to me. So while I don’t necessarily want him to knock out Djoko I wouldn’t be weeping if it happened. Anything can happen in tennis, too. If Djoko does win, he’ll have his hand full again with, likely, Gulbis, and then with (and here’s where logic dictates) Rafa. That’s where his run will end if he gets that far. I just cannot see Djoko beating Rafa in 5 on clay. Maybe grass, definitely hardcourt. But clay!? Mon Dieu! If it happens I’ll be shocked.

May 31st, 2008 at 11:16 am

jane:

Only time will tell. One never knows, does one? Anything is possible. However, we have to go with the odds. Paul Henri is overdue for some good times.

BTW: Watch out for Dimentieva. Of all the Russians, I like her, Safina and Petrova. Petrova lost today. Dementieva has a great game, except for her serve. Safina has nerves of steel and has a fighting spirit. She says Marat talks about retiring everytime he loses a match. He’s funny as he’s cute.

May 31st, 2008 at 11:29 am

Hi Jane,
Last time Djoko played Mathieu was in 2006, a little earlier than he was beginning to real-ize his potential. Since then, we all know, how much he has evolved. Though not as big a leap as Djoko’s, Mathieu too has made progress: especially in 2007 his 2 titles were on clay, Casablanca and Gstaad. Last month, he made it to Semi at Munich, lost to Bolelli. He could be a threat. Djoko cannot afford to let Mathieu get into the match, meaning he will have to play aggressive from the beginning and try to take early lead. That is the key against Mathieu.
For now, I am impatiently waiting for Fed-Ancic match to begin.

Hi Von,
That “I would love for Mathieu to have a break through year” is not a very good pickup line. That could be a turn off to some. And “[L]ogic tells me Djoko will win” lacks heart to sound sexy. But, yeah, why would a “drop dead gorgeous” care?

May 31st, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Congratulations to Monfils ! He plays unhurried, hits artistically despite his muscular body. Even when he hits the ball hard occasionally, he shows his love for it. There is something gently erotic about the way he plays. A lot of girls must be crazy for this guy.

Ancic has not been able to return Fed’s serves, which are not fast paced, though well placed. When he does, they are weak returns. So he loses the match in straight sets. Against Ancic, Fed has been doing everything great. Fed gets another easy win in straight sets without expending much energy!

May 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pm

“Ancic plays Federer Saturday in the all-Mono match…”

LOL, that was good! :-)

May 31st, 2008 at 2:17 pm

You will all be happy to know that Andy Murray’s inspirational biography will be released next week (no joke). No doubt Andy tanked the FO so he could be back in London to promote the book. The actual title has not been released – “L” was one suggested.

Hidden away on the Times web site, one can find this headline: “Nicolas Almagro reduces Andy Murray to rubble” – a slight disagreement with Murray’s own evaluation of his performance.

May 31st, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Shital Green:

“Hi Von,
That “I would love for Mathieu to have a break through year” is not a very good pickup line. That could be a turn off to some. And “[L]ogic tells me Djoko will win” lacks heart to sound sexy. But, yeah, why would a “drop dead gorgeous” care?”

I didn’t think you would notice my faint-hearted stabs at pickups, but your post says otherwise. I’m laughing so hard. I suppose that even my good intentions are a turn-off. You’ve proved me wrong. Additionally, my ‘drop dead gorgeous” statements don’t go unnoticed despite your professorial mind and cerebral thinking, which tells me you’re not all bookish; there’s room left in there for some humor. I have to be careful in the future now that I know you’re reading my comments. LOL. I’m laughing so much, it’s unbelievable. :)

May 31st, 2008 at 7:18 pm

i’m not too sure where andy murray gets this notion that players should start fearing him on clay…or any other surface for that matter.

maybe he’s taking PR lessons from novak.

May 31st, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Dr. Death:

“‘Nicolas Almagro reduces Andy Murray to rubble’ – a slight disagreement with Murray’s own evaluation of his performance.”

My belief is that Murray’s using some sort of mood altering meds — maybe some of mine? How else could he come up with those statements is baffling to me. I look for some smidgen of humor in his statements, giving him the benefit of being facetious, but sadly, there’s nada. This kid is far removed from reality.

Question: Who would be so crazy as to buy his book? Are there die-hard, worshipping fans out there somewhere, who have nothing better to do with their money?

May 31st, 2008 at 8:19 pm

***
jane Says:
“Also, did you see the article called “Clown Prince” on Djoko? Just google it; I suspect you’ll enjoy it.”
***

I certainly enjoyed it! This was my favourite part, the thing I most admire about Novak:

“He takes pride, too, in the fact that he says what he thinks, rather than trotting out a more anodyne version of events that the authorities might prefer. ‘People ask me a question, I try to give an honest answer,’ he says simply.”

May 31st, 2008 at 8:29 pm

Well I am glad someone enjoyed it!

Does anyone know if Wilander coaches Mathieu? Maybe that’s old news but I not up on it.

May 31st, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Of the matches tomorrow, it’s the Upper Quarter of the Bottom Half that has all the intrigue. Gulbis – looking good bashing the ball from the back court as if this was a hard court!! Llodra’s constant coming in will give him the target. Gulbis hits with lots of pace, but pretty flat. If he had more spin on the ball he could get it dipping low and force Llodra to volley up all day. But hitting just hard & flat means Llodra should be able to take most of his volleys above the net, and then just stick the racquet out and angle it to cope with the pace. For Gulbis to win he’ll have to pass Llodra outright all day.

Djokovic & Mathieu have split their two meetings, both on hard courts, and both were in 2006. Both of them are also better now than they were then. And both also belong to a fairly exclusive club: they each have taken an entire set off of Nadal on clay!! Mathieu has a couple of things working in his favor tomorrow: he’s a little better on clay than a hard court; and he has Mats Wilander in his corner these days. Other than Brad Gilbert, Wilander might be the best at analyzing matchups in that “X”‘s & “O”‘s manner. It was Wilander who was behind Marat Safin when he won the US Open in 2000 pummeling Sampras in straight sets. If Mathieu can hold his nerve (no small feat) and not feel the pressure of the crowd that will want him to win, he’s got enough game on clay to ensure a long, draining match for Djokovic. And Djokovic will have to step it way up now – he’s only looked really sharp in one of his three matches so far (and that’s only because his opponent that day isn’t even ranked inside the Top 250 guys in the world). The most troubling statistic is this: he’s had his serve broken 7 times in the first three rounds. He’s gotten away with it to this point only because has hasn’t had to play anybody in the Top 50 yet: Gremelmayr #64; Lopez-Jaen #260; and Odesnik #106. If he doesn’t clean up the serve problem now he won’t even make it to Nadal in the Semis.

As for Nadal, Verdasco all but signaled the inevitable when he said he would “…play my best, but if I lose, so what?”. For all the talk of a Nadal/Almagro QF, but somehow I don’t think Nadal is that worried about it. :) Given that he had to play 3 straight days, he’s looked as good as he ever has here, and his dismantling of Niemenen was, well, what you’d expect from Rafa at the French Open: merciless.

May 31st, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Good evening all,

Venus is such a class act, both on and off the court. It’s difficult to fathom that she and Serena really are sisters. I am disappointed that she lost. Serena not so much. I hope Jankovic will embrace this great opportunity to nab her first slam.

Murray is an ugly foul-mouthed prat. If Andy Roddick were as verbally abusive and low class as Murray is Tennis-x and the rest of the media would never let us hear the end of it.

Federer’s match with Ancic was rather dull and predictable. I don’t understand why he felt the need to bully Ancic with fist pumps and screaming ‘Come on!’ all the time it’s not like he was in any grave danger of losing.

Happy to see Nadal finally get a day off from playing I hope he wins comfortably tomorrow.

May 31st, 2008 at 11:17 pm

TD(Tam)
*Federer’s match with Ancic was rather dull and predictable. I don’t understand why he felt the need to bully Ancic with fist pumps and screaming ‘Come on!’ all the time it’s not like he was in any grave danger of losing.*
Nadal does this all the time and of course for him is ok…I think you are the dull one here.

June 1st, 2008 at 12:15 am

angel,
your hatred for Nadal is so obvious. He doesn’t fist pump “all the time”. Only when he heas a great point after a big fight. How many fist pumps did he have against Federer in Hamburg?

Obviously for Federer beating Ancic was a big deal.

June 1st, 2008 at 1:19 am

for tomorrow, let’s hope the rain comes after the matches are over!

June 1st, 2008 at 1:21 am

Voicemale
I hope Djoko-PHM goes to 5 sets tomorrow!

June 1st, 2008 at 1:22 am

“I just missed some easy shots. I think that was the difference,” Serena said. “And she made hers…She was just making some shots I don’t think she’s ever made before, or she probably would be in the Top 2. But that was just her game today.”

I like how she says Top TWO. She assumes of course, that #1 would be her. So modest.

June 1st, 2008 at 1:38 am

“Rafael Nadal will play his fourth straight lefty on
Sunday when he takes on Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco. Twenty lefties in total began the field, Nadal will have played 20% of them…”

Not to mention Nadal himself is a leftie… sorta.

June 1st, 2008 at 1:43 am

It’s well known that our perceptions – which you might think are objective, just a matter of our eyes taking note of what lies before them – are in fact conditioned and hence selective. Thus I didn’t see Fed fist pump all the time, scream “come on” and so on. Pretty rare, actually. I’d bet on that – but I’m prepared to find I’m wrong, too. What I am sure of is that Federer did not “bully” Ancic, and nor was “beating Ancic a big deal”. Federer has one thing, and one thing only, in mind: beating Nadal in the final. Everything he does is preparation for that prospective match, and that includes very much the mental side. Federer has always had a tendency to be passive – fatal against Nadal.

It is a caste of mind which could backfire, since he may make the mistake of underestimating his opponent of the day. I doubt it though. And I fear it won’t make any difference, either. For a while, Federer will look amazing against Nadal. And then the Spaniard will gradually draw him into his web. To beat Nadal, you need to be not only phenomenally skilful, no problems there for Fed – but carefree. There lies the rub.

June 1st, 2008 at 2:59 am

well Grendel.. this year is a lil different that previous 2 years if fed does indeed meet Nadal in fianls. This year, fed wont be chasing a ‘Roger Slam’ unlike the prev 2 years.. also there is less expectations on Fed to win because of his average form this year. That would allow Fed to play a lil care-free.. also he knows when he played this way.. he was beating Nadal 4 or 5 games in a row more than a couple of times this year at MC and Hamburg. Somehow.. this might prove a break thru year for Fed at French this year.. if not.. he will atleast stretch Nadal all the way to a 5-setter.

June 1st, 2008 at 6:35 am

I admire your optimism, Tejuz. To be pessimistic, like me, is not necessarily to be realistic – sometimes, it’s just lack of imagination. You know, it’s always been like this sort of thing, therefore etc, etc. Trouble is – well, it always HAS been like this, hasn’t it? See, I’m stuck in a groove, can’t get out! Anyway,you may well be right, let’s hope so. I think we’ll know more if Fed gets to meet Stepanek. People might say – what relevance has a serve and volleyer got in terms of playing Nadal. Just this: Stepanek at the moment is full of confidence, he beat Federer recently on pure merit – Fed wasn’t playing bad at all – so if Fed can turn the tables convincingly, we’ll know something of his mindset. And that’s where the battle lies.

Look forward to Monfils/Ljubicic tomorrow. Isn’t it strange how you can be rooting for a player one day, and then against him the next. I was delighted for Ljubicic against dour old Davydenko. But I like Monfils even better – not just a highly unusual tennis player, unique, really,and tremendous athlete, but an amazingly quirky individual. He lights the scene up with his presence.

June 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm

I’d love to see Monfils through to the quarters; he’s very quirky, as you say, and so flexible and unpredictable. It’s always a pleasure to watch him play and a breakthrough to the Qs here would do plenty for his confidence and give him some momentum.

There’s a nice mix of the vanguard and the establishment in this final week.

June 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm

You know… sometimes Roger can’t get a break. Some fans say he’s too ‘robotic’, not showing enough emotion and that’s why they don’t like him.

Then when he show the ‘fire’ and says his “come on”, then some fans get on him for that.

Roger is in a no-win situation with 100% of the rans which is why some of his fans could care less what others think of him! *lol*…

As a fan, I’m glad he was showing that he cared and said the come ons, etc. It showed us that he really was in that match. And after the match some folks were saying ‘big deal, he just beat Ancic’. Yet before the match, I read a lot of other fans saying “this could be tricky for Roger. Ancic is playing great”. lol!

June 1st, 2008 at 4:54 pm

To Tejuz:

I like your optimism too, but still, I’m rather realistic on this one :) The fact is, it won’t matter whether it’s “Roger slam” or something different at stake for Fed should he once again advance to the final and meet his eternal rival there… He knows very well what would a win in Paris (especially against Nadal in the final) mean to him, so the pressure will be the same – if not even bigger… That he hasn’t played so well thus far in 2008 won’t help him at all… Anyway, even though I’m already fed up with their matches on the dirt (well, after a 1-8 score, who wouldn’t? :) ), I still like that challenge which Nadal and the possibility of winning that elusive FO title represents for Fed. It’s a deadly combination, and it’s only up to Fed overcome these 2 demons… You may think he has nothing left to prove (which he indeed hasn’t), but truly, just try to imagine what would happen in case he beats a (presumably healthy) Nadal in the finals…

P.S. Please, no more 5 set thrillers with Fed once again being on the loser’s end! Haven’t you had enough after that Rome 2006 final? :) I was about to jump out of the window once that one ended – and this despite betting cca 100 USD on Nadal (yes, on Nadal!) before the match!

June 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Skorocel:

“Please, no more 5 set thrillers with Fed once again being on the loser’s end! Haven’t you had enough after that Rome 2006 final? I was about to jump out of the window once that one ended – and this despite betting cca 100 USD on Nadal (yes, on Nadal!) before the match!”

I hope you’ll be smarter this time and hold on to your money. What’s a nice boy like you doing betting anyway? :) I have a package of tissues and a teething ring (to bite on instead of biting off your fingernails) to Fedex to you if Fed meets Nadal in the FO final. :)

“just try to imagine what would happen in case he beats a (presumably healthy) Nadal in the finals…”

This imagination bit is a no, no. Don’t let it run wild now, you’ll lose sleep. :)

June 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 am

Von said:

“This imagination bit is a no, no. Don’t let it run wild now, you’ll lose sleep.”

Yes, but at least we – Fed fans can still dream, can’t we? :) But seriously, let’s be realists. It’ll take all galaxies to fit into one perfect congregation if our man is to finally beat Rafa in the final – I can admit that :)

June 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm