Poll: Who’ll Win The Wimbledon Men’s Final Between Andy Murray and Milos Raonic?

Don’t know.

July 8th, 2016 at 2:44 pm

First GS final where murray is the favourite?

July 8th, 2016 at 3:22 pm

First GS final where Andy hasn’t faced a previous GS winner.

July 8th, 2016 at 3:49 pm

Murray, was a break he was needing to not face Fedovicin finals. And he has that Queens march where he just came back as a mental boos in case things don’t go his way.

The bad is Milos will have some chances to break him, specially if he kees attacking second serves as he did agaisnt Fed, he made a few return winners and some great returns.

But overall, Mureay will just moe Raonic more side to side as Fed wasn’t able to consistanlty do it, plus Murray has better passing shots and he retunr serves faster than Fed who blocks a lot.
Think Murray comes thriugh in no more than 4 sets, but if Milos wins firat set than we can be set for another 5 set match after QF (Fed x Cilic) and semis (Raonic x Fed).

July 8th, 2016 at 3:51 pm

Milos can also join a few who won first Slam final (DelPo, Wawa, Cilic) and keep the trend since 2014 of somebody outside Big 4 winning at least 1 Slam a year.

July 8th, 2016 at 3:53 pm

because we all need “mental boos”
er, wait a sec… ; )

July 8th, 2016 at 4:00 pm

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, I am likely to end up in tears.

July 8th, 2016 at 4:12 pm

Hopefully Raonic, so he can keep the unlikable Murray on track for the Calendar Year Runner-Up Slam.

July 8th, 2016 at 4:33 pm

^ And crawling out of the woodwork they come…

RZ: you’re making me water up already! I will sit on my virtual sofa and clutch your virtual hand as we listen to your virtual radio together!

July 8th, 2016 at 4:50 pm

@Margot – here’s a thought to continue our good cheer:

Trenton Jocz ‏@TrentonJocz
Andy Murray now has as many Grand Slam finals as John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander. More SF+QF than them too.

July 8th, 2016 at 5:09 pm

RZ is forgetting the one slam final stat that counts: Wins. Murray may have as many finals as McEnroe, Edberg, and Wilander, but they have 7,6, and 7 wins, respectively. Murray has as many wins as Wawrinka, Kafelnikov and Safin.

July 8th, 2016 at 5:23 pm

RZ is not forgetting anything, Dennis. Grand slam counts might be tops in tennis, but that doesn’t take away how impressive Murray’s career has been, especially considering he’s played alongside 3 guys who are all in GOAT consideration.

July 8th, 2016 at 5:26 pm

One of the things I have against “Slamcount” as the ‘sine qua non’ of ‘greatness’ is that it s blind to the level of competition.
As RZ said, all his career Murray has had to contend with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic. In fact, in every Masters 1000 and above event he has played in his career. Remove Fed, give Andy a chance to be the only Big Fish 2003=07 (save teen Rafa on clay) and Andy would likely have 10-12 Slams to pad his stats, instead of Fed.

July 8th, 2016 at 6:00 pm

Dennis: Do you mean “unlikable”? (US spelling) or “unlikeable”
(British spelling). Congratulations you have won the jackpot YOU FIT BOTH.

July 8th, 2016 at 6:07 pm

@cf1

Surprise, surprise. The troll came out of his hole to talk about the weak era again….I would take what you say seriously if post prime Fed hadn’t won 9 of his last 12 matches against Andy going back 6 years.

July 8th, 2016 at 6:38 pm

On picks, I see this as 60=40 to Andy. But a few years back I picked Milos to win Wimbledon in a few years more, as I added him in 2014 to my “faves” selected back in 2007-8 of Djokovic, del Potro, and Cilic. I don’t think Raonic will ever be a GOAT candidate or anything – but he has outstanding intelligence and work ethic to go with that live arm of his.
Either way it goes is good for me.
An Andy win at least puts him in the hunt to maybe grab #1 from Novak at some point, and he deserves to get #1 ranking sometime in his career. Join his brother.
And Milos because I predicted he would win Wimbledon one day if he kept up the hard work. And he has..really worked for this opportunity.
Now is the time, while Djokovic recuperates.

July 8th, 2016 at 6:44 pm

kjb: I didn’t see a match between Andy and Roger….so not sure about the relevance of your remarks…sounds a bit sour milk?

July 8th, 2016 at 6:49 pm

kjb – Speaking of trolls, you must be crying rivers underneath your toll bridge, on how Fed choked away his last good chance. Oh,well. Too bad for you. But I do feel sorry for the regular fan sort of Fed backers vs. Fed cult guys like you.
As for Andy, he played Fed very hard in the past. Under Lendl, he reached a positive H2H with Federer before even Nole did, at 11-9. Then in 2014 on, Fed took 5 straight, putting the H2H back to bis favor at 11-14.
Andy has a shot, in the form he is in, to take 4 of 5 from Fed and tie things up again..Then move ahead, if Roger plays long enough.
It sure would suck for Fed cultists if Andy joined Nole and Rafa with a final positive H2H over Federer, wouldn’t it?

July 8th, 2016 at 7:09 pm

Murray got a “break” that he “needed”? I guess it’s important to discount the victory in advance, should it happen, and assume he would have lost otherwise – despite the fact that he’s beaten Djokovic and Federer both in slam finals.

July 8th, 2016 at 7:22 pm

I am predicting murray and each set will be easier than the last.

If Raonic gets a set it will be set 1 in a tiebreak.

Murray will win
6-7 6-4 6-4 6-2

or in straights

7-6 6-4 6-2

July 8th, 2016 at 8:33 pm

My one big question is why Murray, who is every bit and maybe even more talented than Djokovic, does not capitalize as much as the latter in winning majors in this era when the only main contenders are one old man almost six years older, and the other one hampered by knee and all other sort of injuries as early as 2009. I am sure, CF1, the biggest proponent of the weak era theory agrees with me about this, unless, of course, he is blind and biased and sorry to say, too stupid to figure that out. I hope Murray can take advantage of the absence of really strong competition like Djokovic and pick some slam wins.

July 8th, 2016 at 8:39 pm

@cf1

Fed is 10 years past his prime, its all gravy. He just made a semi at 35 after being out all year after surgery and sickness. I really didn’t see him even making it that far this year. One thing I did count on was that you would definetely show up here talking about weak era again. Been listening to it since 2008 from a bunch of jealous fans of Nadal and now Djokovic but when it comes down to the brass tacks Fed is still making finals and semis at 35 and your guy is losing in the third to nobodys in his prime.

July 8th, 2016 at 8:45 pm

Kjb,
No offence, but having your match interrupted 5 times and being forced to play on wet grass when even the pigeons there know you slip more often than not, is a great obstacle that favors the weaker player. Roger and Novak did not have the equal treatment and in fact, it is a shame how Nole was treated at the All England Club. The two time defending champion at that. So, it is unfair for you to make such silly comparisons. Because, even though Novak is NOT in his prime at the moment, you know very well that he would just blow Sam off the court had he the opportunity to play his matches under the roof.

July 8th, 2016 at 8:52 pm

Let’s take a poll of ATP players and see how many would accept losing in the third round to a nobody after winning 4 majors in a row.

July 8th, 2016 at 8:56 pm

Markus,
re: Andy. It’s all in the head. Simple as that. Between the ears. He is a joy to watch. I see him equal to Novak in many departments, he may even defend better. He is fast. Novak himself was saying that between a few tens of the top players, the only difference is mental stability and playing the bigger points calmer. We all know that.

July 8th, 2016 at 8:58 pm

I think Sean should open a thread “it’s official:2003-07 is the weakest era in tennis” and everybody will congratulate cf1 there..i mean,cf1 has dedicated his whole life to prove this “theory” like Farage dedicated his whole life for brexit..cf1 really deserves it..please,sean,make it happen..

July 8th, 2016 at 9:00 pm

After Djexit all the Novak fans disapearred. After Fed lost they all came back to remind us of the weak era.

@Danica

I think what Djokovic has done over the past few years is amazing and I don’t think playing on court 1 had much to do with him losing as Querrey had to deal with the same conditions. I think he is just spent and needs a break, he will be back to his winning ways soon enough. I was just addressing cf1s constant weak era talk and the fact that he disapearred for a week and came back as soon as Fed lost to remind us all that Fed is just an average player that onlt has any achivements because Djokovic wasnt old enough to compete with him in the mid 2000s

July 8th, 2016 at 9:15 pm

Seems that Andy’s mentally stronger when Lendl’s in his camp.

July 8th, 2016 at 9:23 pm

kjb, some of us hung around.

July 8th, 2016 at 9:23 pm

Anyway, in regards to the actually thread, I think Murray will win. Hes been playing great. As a canadian its cool that Milos made the final and would be big for him to win I just dont see him being able to deal with Murrays defense. If he serves out of his mind, anything can happen though.

July 8th, 2016 at 9:28 pm

Kjb,
I do think that conditions play huge part in a match and I do not think it was fair to Novak to be scheduled to play on that court if others were not given the same treatment. Having said that, I still believe that a more deserving player in that match won. Sam adapted better, was more focused and calm while Nole may have been thinking about a possible injury if he slipped yet again.

As far as weak era talk is concerned, I am not going to go there. You simply play who is on the opposite side of the court. That applies to Roger and that applies to Nole. You pick trophies, if you’re good enough, in the pool of players around you.

July 8th, 2016 at 9:29 pm

Active players outside the Big Four who have made Grand Slam singles finals:
Stan Wawrinka (AO14, FO15)
Marin Cilic (USO14)
Kei Nishikori (USO14)
Tomas Berdych (W10)
Juan Martin Del Potro (USO09)
Marcos Baghdatis (AO06)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (AO08)

Also, Raonic is the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam *singles* final. Canadian Daniel Nestor has reached many Grand Slam doubles finals.

July 8th, 2016 at 10:45 pm

Some were afraid #18 could actually happen, they were in disbelief. The moment Fed lost and it became clear it wouldn’t happen they were relieved…and voila, showed up again.

July 8th, 2016 at 11:58 pm

kjb – Something called summer vacation. 4 day canoe trip in Minnesota. I was going to bring a radio so I could follow Wimbledon. But Novak lost and that was then uneccessary. Most time, cell phone didn’t work.
Wonderful!
Northern Pike were everywhere. Made dinner with them 2 of 3 nights. Wild greens.
Came back and saw Raonic had made it to Roger’s semi and picked him.
As for weak era, it is the natural response to Fed cultists who are brainlocked on Slam Count! – How many decorations you get in sport on any level is a function of the level of competition. Spouting on and on about Slam Count! just means you draw criticism for failing to account for the level of competition Leyton Hewitt (75 straight weeks as #1 !!!) and Fed enjoyed as they padded their resumes.

Learn to appreciate Federer for what he is. A great player, but no GOAT. More than Djokovic, Rafa saw to that – bringing the overinflated reputation of Fed back to Earth. Soon ending that nice 3-year rivalry with ownership of Roger in 2008. Roger unable to beat Rafa at a Slam the last 9 ears.

Remember that Steve Tignor, solid as a Federista goes, still had to say that Fed showed the same hollow eyed, no hope left look with Raonic in the 5th that he once only showed to Rafa getting clubbed down…then Djokovic.

Anyways, on to Raonic and Murray, where I have Andy as the 60-40 favorite. Hope he makes a run at Novak’s #1 ranking because Andy deserves a stint, even if it is a small one, as number 1. But I also predicted years ago that Raonic would find hardcourt and clay championships rare, but he would get Wimbledon in a few years. So I’ll be happy either way..

July 9th, 2016 at 12:11 am

CF1,

Learn to appreciate Novak for what he is. A great player, but no GOAT.

July 9th, 2016 at 1:58 am

Two words spring to mind straws and clutching ….

July 9th, 2016 at 2:17 am

Right on, Willow.

July 9th, 2016 at 4:47 am

Danica @ 9.29pm

In an interview, Nole stated that he knew he would be playing 90% of the time on Centre Court. It is usually the case for the top 4 players. As Nole and Stan went out early Roger and Andy benefitted – otherwise they would have had to play at least one match on CC1. The lower ranked UK players were only on CC because of who they were drawn to play….not because of their nationality.

Rest easy – Nole will be back, stronger and successful again.

July 9th, 2016 at 5:03 am

Chrisford 1

I have Andy and Milos at 50% each. In other words…no blooming idea who will win.

July 9th, 2016 at 5:06 am

PS: If the roof is closed then Milos 52% and Andy’s odds drop.
Unfortunately there is a strong likelihood that the roof will need to be closed.

July 9th, 2016 at 5:14 am

people might say murray is unlucky to play in this era, but he’s clearly extremely lucky with his physical advantages. 6’3, fast and coordinated. He should have a much bigger serve (esp second) and spent half his career with relatively poor forehand power for his size. he clearly didn’t capitalise on his physical advantages over even the other ‘big 4’. i have no pity for him. he was a mentally weak brat for most of his career and played pitty pat in those early finals.

July 9th, 2016 at 5:43 am

Danica, I will agree with you on courts distribution. Nole was sent to Margaret Court for the 4 round at the AO 2016. Roger played only on Rod Laver arena. It is interesting, that Novak is always due to play also on other courts.

July 9th, 2016 at 6:34 am

Cathy i know you said active players, Soderling in 2009 and 2010, beating defending champions both years, and also losing to the same two players in finals in reverse years, curious to know if this has ever been done before, err RZ /Jalep help me out lol ….

July 9th, 2016 at 11:33 am

@Danica

I agree with you regarding Nole.
Where are you from or where do you live?

Tomorrow Andy deserves to win and Milos has time for that.

July 9th, 2016 at 12:18 pm

“all the Novak fans disapearred”

not all… some of us were still here. :)

July 9th, 2016 at 12:30 pm

Emilia,
I am Serbian living in the States. Currently in Belgrade for a month stay. Thanx ;).

July 9th, 2016 at 7:49 pm