Murray Muddles Through; Nadal, Djokovic On Tap Friday at French Open

by Staff | June 1st, 2017, 6:57 pm
  • 89 Comments

If world No. 1 Andy Murray is going to win the French Open this year, he’s going to do it the hard way.
ADHEREL
The Brit, who played poorly on the red dirt heading into Roland Garros, on Thursday narrowly avoided a five-setter with a late surge, coming from a break down in the fourth to defeat Martin Klizan 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3) to move into the third round.

“I certainly didn’t want a fifth set,” said Murray, who will next face No. 29 seed Juan Martin del Potro, who advanced when opponent Nicolas Almagro retired in the third set of their match. “At the end, there were some entertaining points. The atmosphere was great, as it always is out here. Tennis is a huge sport in France, they are very knowledgeable — they don’t like when we behave badly! I try to behave as good as I can but I can always do better.”

Murray berated himself and his players’ box much of the match, and will have to tighten-up against the fear-hand of the former US Open winner Del Potro.


“It will be very tough,” Murray said. “Juan Martin plays better than his ranking. He’s come back from his injuries and he’s had a lot of tough matches this year, playing lots of Top 10 players early in the tournaments. I am sure we will get a good atmosphere.”

Del Potro consoled his opponent Almagro on the sidelines after the distraught Spaniard was forced to retire with a knee injury.

“I tried to find a good words for that moment,” Del Potro said. “Try to be calm. Try to think about your family, your baby. And sometimes the heart is first, more than the tennis match or the tennis life. Hopefully he can feel better very, very soon, because he’s a great player and we love to have him on tour.”

The three other Top 10 seeds in action Thursday all eased through in straight sets as No. 3 Stan Wawrinka caged Alexandr “The Dog” Dolgopolov 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5, No. 7 Marin Cilic beat Russian Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, and No. 8 Kei Nishikori held off France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-0, 7-6(5).

Orchestrating upsets Thursday were Russian Karen Khachanov who straight-setted No. 13 Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; South African Kevin Anderson who came from a set down to defeat No. 18 Nick Kyrgios 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2; and Feliciano Lopez who won the all-Spanish battle with No. 30 David Ferrer in five sets 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

“I feel like each week I’m playing better and better tennis,” said Anderson, who didn’t start his year until February due to various injuries. “My body feels really strong and healthy, which is the biggest focus. For a while I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball as well as I’ve ever hit it in my career. It took me a little bit of time to try to find that same form on the match court. When you’re just away from competition it’s impossible to simulate that.”

Also into the third round among the lower seeds were No. 15 Gael Monfils, No. 21 John Isner, No. 22 Pablo Cuevas, No. 24 Richard Gasquet, and No. 28 Fabio Fognini.

Monfils and Gasquet will next meet in an all-French affair.

“The next match will be very important,” Monfils said. “What I like, especially when I play in Grand Slam tournaments, is that momentum where match after match you not only play consistently but you play better and better.”

Nishikori will next face Korean Hyeon Chung in an all-Asian meeting.

“Today was a very good match, especially winning 12 games in a row,” Nishikori said. “I think I was feeling very confident, so I was dictating a lot with my backhand and forehand.”

Matches to look for Friday on the grounds of Roland Garros include (4) Rafael Nadal vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili, (2) Novak Djokovic vs. Diego Schwartzman, (11) Grigor Dimitrov vs. (20) Pablo Carreno Busta, (6) Dominic Thiem vs. (25) Steve Johnson, and (5) Milos Raonic vs. Guillermo “G-Lo” Garcia-Lopez.


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89 Comments for Murray Muddles Through; Nadal, Djokovic On Tap Friday at French Open

RZ Says:

“If world No. 1 Andy Murray is going to win the French Open this year, he’s going to do it the hard way.”

When does Andy Murray do anything the easy way?


J-Kath Says:

Andy Murray did not play his best level – but he did not play poorly.


chrisford1 Says:

One thing with Andy. I sense that in no way does he enjoy ‘Being Champ! No. 1!!” the way Federer or Djokovic (until he got the Roland Garros title) – did.
Of course he liked getting it and joining the other Big 3 as the top ranked player at some point in his career. Like being Sir Andy, intros 30 years from now as “Mr. Murray, formerly the #1 ranked player in the world”, will still elicit pride in him.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

CF, I think there’s a lot to that point. Some players relish being #1, others find it more sour than they expected.
This is just an amateur hack psych guess (Gonz?), but I think that its not a coincidence that Murray and Rafa each chased #1 for so long, each had such a hard time keeping it, and each has such involved family.
I believe that is the difference between inner pressure and outer pressure. Andy and Rafa had pressure from their families.
Maybe Andy and Rafa felt at some level a pressure to make their families proud by reaching #1, and then lacked the need to follow that up. Maybe Roger and Novak had more internal drives to be the best they could be, and so cherished the chance to be and stay #1.

Just a hypothesis!


Tennis Vagabond Says:

OTOH, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams were both obviously pushed by their parents yet internalized their drive to stay #1.
So, I mean, some players thrive at #1. Some don’t (e.g Becker, Safin). Then we can make guesses why. The above is mine.,


JM01 Says:

Schwartzman has the game to trouble Novak. Wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a set or two against Novak. Rafa to have a straight sets win, he has been serving well the last two matches.


chrisford1 Says:

We are already seeing one phase of the passing of the guard, the steady “world’s Top 10” play of Jo Tsonga, David Ferrer, and Tomas Berdych. These 3 were about as steady in the Top 10 as the Big 4. They could beat everyone else, but regularly lost to Fed, Novak, Rafa, and then Andy.
Now they seem to be losing the sort of battles they usually won. Slowed a bit, less stamina..


Margot Says:

What a rude headline! Andy didn’t “muddle” through at all. Did you “staff” actually watch the match?
Andy had never played, or practised even with Klizan before, always difficult. He lost the first set by a whisker, owing to a double fault, elbow still not quite right, and then proceeded o think his way through the match by altering his court position to receive serve and by generally outfoxing him.
Please give credit where credit is due.
And please stop with the amateur psychology. Andy has been injured and ill. Quite difficult to play well and defend No 1 in those circumstances.


J-Kath Says:

Margot:

Andy played Klizan once – which Andy won – too lazy to look up detail – but think it 2014..evidently Klizan has improved since then.


Van Persie Says:

Hello,

Andy was much better yesterday,than in Madrid or in Rome this year.

J-K,

the both played in Wien last year, and Andy won :)

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-martin-klizan/MC10/K966


Willow Says:

So Andy and Rafa dont enjoy being world number 1, the way Roger and Novak do ? eh are we all mind readers here that know all that for sure ? *ROLLS EYES* ….


Willow Says:

Margot yes irritating isnt it ? ….


Willow Says:

Goffin retired :-( ….


FedExpress Says:

Considering what a good start dimitrov had this is just horrible. It all started with the sock loss at IW.

How many matches did he choke this season?

how do you lose a set from 4-0 up?

pathetic.


Markus Says:

That’s the funniest thing, Andy and Rafa who work so hard and fight so hard don’t like being number one. It’s like saying fish don’t like water.


Markus Says:

OMG, I didn’t know it is so tough being number one. I should train less and not fight too much from now on until I slip down in ranking. I would really love to lose so I can stop being number one.


Willow Says:

Markus we are on the same page ;-) ….


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Haha, I’ve touched a nerve!

Here’s Becker on Murray:

‘I think he is going to start to feel it in May. It’s one thing playing up with nothing to lose but it’s a whole new ball game when you’ve got something to lose, the consequences of being world No1. There are responsibilities and expectations so it becomes more strenuous. But I think he will be fine until the clay court swing.’


Margot Says:

Oh dear, Kath and VP. Well, I blame Inverfail for the miss-information. Another reason to dislike him, if I needed another.
Well said, Markus! Too many mind readers on here.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

After Becker won #1, in Australia, he disappeared. He ran away. He grappled with what it meant to his idea of himself, and he was open that he found it difficult to be #1. He made it to #1 a few times, but never stayed there long. Believe it or not, he ranks below Roddick, Wilander, Kuerten and MURRAY in weeks at #1.

So, it is a fact that some players struggle with being #1. Is it so crazy to ask if that might apply to Andy or Rafa, who remained at #1 a MUCH shorter time than he chased it? Novak’s time at #1 has far eclipsed Rafa’s.


Margot Says:

!, 2, 3, OK Kath let’s start shouting now:
ANDY HAS AN ELBOW INJURY, ANDY IS RECOVERING FROM SHINGLES. LAST WEEK ANDY WAS ON ANTI-BIOTICS AND COULD HARDLY PRACTISE AND IS STILL COUGHING!
Enough of this absurd narrative already.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Sorry, I didn’t catch that, come again?


Margot Says:

I SAID…………………………………….!!!!!


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Meanwhile, Rafa is destroying a fellow human being, mercilessly, in front of thousands of people.

Dmitrov out to one of the acronyms. Those acronyms are hot right now, Rafa has one coming up, and I think he’ll give him a good match.

And whats with all the retirements?


Daniel Says:

What happened today with this bunch of retirements?!

Goffin and Dimitrov out. Glad to see Raonic having a sting of good wins. He can make QF to play Nadal. Basilashvili doesn’t have any weapons to hurt Nadal, so the match is a fancy practice.
Gut next for Nadal.

Them already 6-1, looks like Thiem Djoko QF is close.


Willow Says:

If it was a boxing match, the referee wouldve stopped it by now, im a Rafa fan, but im happy when he wins easily, but this is painful to watch ….


Navdeep Says:

Rafa should have shown some mercy to him. I am happy he actually won a game because their was a time I thought….. you know !


Markus Says:

Since we are into mind reading in this site, I might as well do some mind reading of my own. Becker was giving some ego-driven excuse for not being able to hold on to being number one. His big ego precluded him from accepting and acknowledging that there were players who did better to displace him from the top. Do people really think that all it takes to remain number one is to continue to like being number one? Ooh! I like being number one, I will stay here until I don’t like it anymore. Very easy, isn’t it? I wonder why Nadal and Murray never thought of that. Who cares about the rest of the field? Who cares about getting injured or being sick? All one needs to stay number one is to like it.

And that “nothing to lose” phrase, it is crap, pure crap. All athletes regardless of ranking have a lot to lose when they play, like the match, and the money that goes with it since it is their profession. A loss is a loss to anybody, they hurt just the same to anyone. Do you think anybody goes out there thinking,”I am number 100, so I have nothing to lose against Mr. Number one. I can lose and go on my merry way back home.”


Willow Says:

Markus well said ….


Willow Says:

Navdeep i dont think Rafas in any mood to show anyone any mercy ATM, and i hope he carries on at this level, nice way to celebrate his birthday tomorrow ….


RZ Says:

Shame about Goffin. I wonder if they will get rid of that tarp next year. From the video looks like that’s what caused his injury, otherwise he would have continued sliding


Tennis Vagabond Says:

That’s an old school beatdown.

Markus, nobody believes all it takes to be #1 is to like it.

However, countless champs and #1s of various sports have testified that the pressure is DIFFERENT as a champ/ #1. It follows that some athletes will handle that pressure differently than others. Handling that pressure is ONE factor of the many you suggest, that determine whether one remains the champ.

Do you believe there is no mental aspect to sports success? Or that every situation in sport is the same as every other in terms of the athlete’s mental pressure?


Margot Says:

RZ: As chief Team Thiem cheer leader just want to tell you the more I see of him, the more I like him. a) He seems really good natured, never seen him have a strop b) so gutsy c) really good when he comes forward, seeing some fab volleys and feather light touches. Wish he’d do that more often. Does not need to whack the ball from 5 miles behind the baseline.
Markus: You are on a roll honey. Keep rolling!


Tennis Vagabond Says:

I can understand saying, Nah, Mr. Vagabond, you’re way off. Rafa and Andy never had issues with being #1, just circumstances.

Yeah, could be.

But to say that pressure on each athlete is always the same, and has nothing to do with the situation, and they all deal with it exactly equally… that’s absurd.


RZ Says:

@Margot, on behalf of Team Thiem I thank you for the compliments. He’s a good guy and seems intent on improving his game. But I also wish he wouldn’t stay so far back behind the baseline


Willow Says:

TV I Think the thing is posters assuming to know what the players are thinking, like they seem to know better than the rest of us, no disrespect ….


Daniel Says:

Thiem needs to be far behind to find his margin, hos big swung and smack the ball. Currently, he is on top 5 on power, very feel can hit harder than him (Wawa and DelPo) if any.

He is a break up in third heading for another straight set victory. Curious to see how he will fare against Djoko this time. Can’t see him losing to Zebalos. And even with Djoko surrendering the 4-2 lead he was up this set can’t see Swarts beating him here also.


Daniel Says:

Humm, looks like Djoko will have to playba little more, lost first set 7-5


Tennis Vagabond Says:

None taken!
I don’t know presume to know what the players are thinking. But I can make guesses.
I said at the top that it was just a theory!

I still think I’m right, though!


Markus Says:

Does anybody out there honestly think Nadal does not know how to handle pressure and is too mentally inept to handle being number one?


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Thiem is a beast. What he did to Rafa in Rome was just incredible- and again from so far behind the baseline. His muscle on those shots, deep to the opposite corner, 20 feet over the net, was incredible.

Yeah, I’d like to see him closer to the baseline, but I haven’t seen anyone else hit that well that far back since Rafa!


Markus Says:

…and Murray too, for that matter. Shall we disregard that he had some illness and injuries and just blame mental weakness for his current form?


RZ Says:

Staying far back works for Thiem now, but in a few years time he doesn’t have quite so much bringing his stuff it’s going to hurt him.

I don’t know how much it shows on TV, but between last year and this year in Indian Wells come I notice how much bulk Thiem has added.


J-Kath Says:

Margot @ 8.00am

GOT YOU.

PS: Am busy digesting the names of the new members of Team Thiem and their Honorary positions.

VP: Many thanks for supporting lazy posters – if you knew what trouble I’ve been in on the computer today you’d grin and cry at the same time.


RZ Says:

@J-Kath, I’m still ratifying membership for new Team Thiem members. Applications are open.


J-Kath Says:

Marcus – I’ve got my eye on you and it is not smiling.


J-Kath Says:

What is going on with Nole as we all decide to start posting?


Daniel Says:

TV, you are right. tyou can see it on their faces. Federer and Djoko were born to be #1, they really liked the part.

With Nadal and Murray you never felted they were confortable on it. one must have a kind of self awareness and bit of arrogance to be fully fit as #1, hence I think Fed and Djoko ‘phisique du role’ were suitable.


Daniel Says:

Thiem got at least 4 kg(10 pounds) on muscle. He is the same size as Fedal at 1,85 m (6’1″), also my height.

He probably build more muscles to protect some joint, but he must be careful to not overdo it.


Daniel Says:

Marckus, not that they doesn´t handle pressure the same, theyr were just not confortable with it.

In Nadal´s case, being #1 actualyy ddidn´t fit with his approach of “I am never the favorite’ and I will do my best to try…” bla bla. If you are #1 you are the best, no need to be “humble” about it.

With Murray seems it was just a thing of ‘being there done that’, kind of: OK, I am no longer the best player to have never reached #1. As if it was just a goal, and not actuially BE the best tennis player in the world.


Markus Says:

I guess I am not good at reading faces. They all look the same to me when they play. Nadal looks the same to me as number one and number less than one. It was very difficult for me to tell whether Nadal was “comfortable” playing when he was number one. But I know for sure he had injuries which intermittently took him off the game. Maybe he did not look comfortable because of the pain.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

In addition to the Pushy Parent Theory I pushed earlier, to expand on Daniel’s point, Federer and Novak are clear extroverts. They love attention. Rafa and Murray, not so much.

Being #1 also involves a MUCH bigger public spotlight- media, endorsements, opinions sought on everything from player politics to geo-politics. Becker was uncomfortable with this. It takes time away from the court and (for some people) a lot of stress.

Again, to Daniel’s point, I think Rafa loved thinking of himself as the plucky underdog, daring to challenge the Great One. Becoming the Great One himself must have involved a huge mind-switch.

I’m not saying this HAS been a factor for either players. I’m saying its POSSIBLE it was a factor, and here are some reasons why its possible.


Markus Says:

I guess they felt so uncomfortable as number one and decided to take the easy way out: lose the rank as soon as possible. Then why do they even try again? Are they masochists?


Daniel Says:

Damm it Djoko, several BP’s to break and serve for the set. Long game


Markus Says:

Steffi Graf. She hated the limelight. Extremely introverted. She also had a pushy parent. How long was she number one?


RZ Says:

Crazy prediction time!!! Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson are going to win the doubles title. (Now that I said that,they will probably lose in the next round)


Daniel Says:

TV, mu thoguths exactly. It goes with their personalities as well.

C’mon Markus, say the look exaclty the same is a bit too much just to argue.

What we are saying is mostly off court. Federer and Djoko embrace all aspects of being #1. Some even said Djoko could run for president in serbia and he would have won back in 2011-2015.

Murray and Nadal are different, more introvertid in thos regards.

Reagridng injurt, the same could be said for Federer. Had ge not have Mono in 2008 things could be different, so…

What we are arguing is bracong all aspects of being #1 and players past and present who dealt with ot differently.


Daniel Says:

Graffi loved to be the best. You just corroborate our point. Maybe Nadla and Andy doesn’t like beijg the best as much as Steffi did, even with her hating the outside part of it?😜


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Yes, Markus, I said way above that Steffi (and Serena) were good counterpoints to the Pushy Parent Theory. It doesn’t have to be universally true.

Where’s Gonzalowski? He’s our psych expert!


Markus Says:

Oh, OK, Nadal and Murray train so hard but don’t like to be the best. And where did I corroborate your point? You said (or was it TV) who said Federer and Djokovic are extroverts which explains their longer duration as number ones. That implicitly says Nadal and Murray are introverts (which probably they are). TV also said the latter two don’t love attention as much as the former two. Doesn’t that make Nadal and Murray more like Steffi? Where does it corroborate my point?Are you reading my post or are you reading my mind? On both counts you are wrong.


Markus Says:

…should be “Where does it corroborate YOUR point?”


RZ Says:

I’ll agree that both Nadal and Murray seem to be more humble/modest than their counterparts, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t like being #1. It just means they don’t like to brag about it.


Markus Says:

Following the trend of mind reading by TV and Daniel, Nadal and Murray now continue to play to become mediocre. They have known what it was like to be number one. They felt so uncomfortable that only a fool would try to experience the same agony again.

Poor Nadal, if he wins the French, he will be in danger of becoming number one again. Maybe, he should do as he did when he was number one, start losing once the game moves to the faster surfaces…or get injured again. I would hate to see Nadal suffer as number one again. He may have a nervous breakdown.


Daniel Says:

Markus,

You said that Graffi hated the outside part of being #1 and have pushy parents but even tough she was #1 for an eternity.

I said that maybe it is because she wanted to be the best more, that´s why she was #1 longer, even not liking some parts of being #1 she really wanted to be the best tennis player.

Don´t need to be childishy, they are all competive elite tennis players, is just that some are more prepared all around with all aspects that needs to be at the top than others, and more confortable on it.

To even increase the argument to a new range one can say that the mind sometimes sabotage and impact the body, no better example for tennis where you must have mental fortitude all year long.
I for example, everytime I am about to go on vacation (very strssfull job in oilbusinees, when evertyhitn worth a lot of time and money) I get sick.

As if deep down my mind knows I am only “allowed” to be sick when I am on vacation. I lost the inner killer instinct and let loose because I know I will be off a few days and my body relaxes after months of stress and voilká, I am sick. Maybe this affect my immune ssytem, there is proven correlation of stress and decrease immuse system. I don´t know, I just know is recurrently.

Maybe Nadal and Murray are selfsabotagers, they got sick injury when on top (stress). I mean, how many different injuries, healthy issues one can have in a spam of 6 motnhs, in Murray´s case?! it´s bizarre.


Daniel Says:

Talking about strees, Djoko about down 2 sets to one. He will have to dig and win in 5.

If Djoko loses here, can´t see anyone stopping Thiem from reaching semis to play Nadal, that could be a cracker of a match.


Daniel Says:

Anyone watching the match, is he playing poorly? I am checking scores adn he was winning far more points on serve than Schwatrz, so probably must have a few bad games to lose serve so many times already.


Navdeep Says:

Schwartzman playing in no fear mode. Going for everything.


Daniel Says:

“Following the trend of mind reading by TV and Daniel, Nadal and Murray now continue to play to become mediocre. They have known what it was like to be number one. They felt so uncomfortable that only a fool would try to experience the same agony again.”

Markus,

Following this logic, any player that are still playing who was ever ranked higher than he is now and have no realistic chances to return to their best ranking should stop playing, meaning, all 995 players except top 5.

Do you think Robredo, Ferrer, and many others who were once solid top 10 play because they know they will be top 10 again? give me a break.

They play, week in week out, top ranking is a consequence, you have to win Slams in the first place to be in the conversation, bar Rios in mens tennis. Once you wins the big prizes, than you´ll start thinkng on #1.


Markus Says:

Poor logic and poor use of analogy, Daniel. We are talking about the number one rank. Only those who have been ranked number one will know what it feels to be number one. The argument is about why some people stay longer as number one and some do not.So invoking players who have never experienced being number one is not part of the equation because they do not meet the parameters of the topic under discussion.


RZ Says:

For the #1 discussion, keep in mind that it’s not one player’s performance alone that decides who is #1. For example, last year Andy got a lot of help by the fact that Djokovic packed it in mentally after last year’s French Open, Federer and Nadal were injured, Stan is inconsistent, and no one else stepped up. A different set of circumstances could have resulted in him never achieving the top ranking, or not having it at the end of the year (which adds a lot more weeks to the total of weeks at #1)


Daniel Says:

Yes RZ,

This year for example if Murray and Djoko flater we can have a scenraio whwre federer wins wimbleodn and even so won’t be #1. Nadal can win RG, somebody else USO amd Nadal can be #1 with less slams because Federer skipped clay.

Markus,

OK, aplly the same standard for Safin, Kuerten, Ferrero, Roddick and many others who continue to playo after they would no longer be #1 or have any real shot at it.

The point is, Murray and Nadal don’t fit the part as Fed and Djoko. Even Roddick were more confrtable on it


Willow Says:

Dont agree but thats just me ….


Daniel Says:

Djoko seems to righten the ship. Hope he gest an early break in fifth to relax more


RZ Says:

Looks like Schwartzman began to fizzle after winning that 3rd set. I don’t see Djokovic losing now.


Van Persie Says:

Nole did not win a 5 setter since AO2016 against Simon, so he needs one, if I am not wrong. Sour grapes, perhaps. Hehe


Van Persie Says:

Also, he lost all his matches in the last months, when he did not win the 1 set, I guess? Would be a good start ro stop this now!


Daniel Says:

Unnecessary five setter. But at leat he was more tested, could be good long term. Bottom half is playing a day earlier so if the semis against Nadal indeed happens will be on Thursday with 2 days rest for finals.


SG1 Says:

Had to look twice at Rafa’s high carb score line. Two bagels and a bread stick. Wow! He must have played remarkably. Had this weird feeling Schwartzman would push Novak. In the end though, he won it decisively.


J-Kath Says:

I take it the next heading from Tx-Staff will remember their heading – “Murray Muddles Through” – perhaps they will even recall the following:
“The Brit, who played poorly on the red dirt heading into Roland Garros, on Thursday narrowly avoided a five-setter with a late surge.”

Nobody get excited – this is not against Nole personally, it’s the prejudice against Murray that pisses me off.


J-Kath Says:

Daniel

Re: Your pressures working in the oil industry – try changing from vodka to Scotch whisky – it isn’t called the “water of life” without reason!


Humble Rafa Says:

Today is national doughnut day, apparently in some countries. Good for Skeeze and some of his cats. They get free food.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Another acronym gets through! Congrats, ARV, on joining PCB and RBA in the 4th round. Will JMDP make it 4 for the 4th?


chrisford1 Says:

Daniel = “With Murray seems it was just a thing of ‘being there done that’, kind of: OK, I am no longer the best player to have never reached #1. As if it was just a goal, and not actuially BE the best tennis player in the world.”

Precisely.

The feeling I had with Andy was that he had to have a wildly successful Fall season to put the “gong” behind him and achieve what no one imagined Andy could do at the beginning of 2016 – take #1 from Djokovic and get that monkey off his back of being the best player never to reach #1 in the Open Era. And in this, a sense that Djokovic was cool with losing #1 so he could hug more people and settle down his marriage – if it was to Andy. If it had been to Fed I imagine Djoko would have fought tooth and nail at the WTF Final to block Fed. Not what he did against Andy at Barclays.

As for J-Kath, sorry but once the media grabs a meme and narrative line, its like in Stalinism. The line is promulgated, and all press lemmings are expected to stay in line. Pete was boring, Andre edgy. Roger was God in the eary less competitive 1st part of the 2000s. Then Roger became King Arthur attended by his squire Rafa, who glorified the King by being better on clay but always humbly saying he was nothing as great as Roger – as Fed smiled and nodded his head.
Then the media meme in use changed to some evil interloping Dark Knight born in Commieland and properly bombed by the Forces of Freedom – arriving and stealing what was Noble King Fed’s deserved glory. And his adoring squire’s glory as well….

And Andy was treated as the weak-minded ginger uncle locked in an upstairs bedroom not talked about except in his shortcomings compared to the 2 Greats and the uncouth spoiler upstart. “Poor Andy”, “Even Andy”, “Shame given he is so talented”, “maybe his fans will see Andy muddle through somehow”. As media creates the Andy, tsk, tsk.. narrative and feeds it to the masses.

Murray deserves better. Somehow Jim Courier was not relegated into the “loser” pile or called “poor Jim” as he had a great pro career but one not as illustrious as Sampras and Agassi’s careers.

There will be a statue of Sir Andy next to Fred Perry at Wimbledon after Andy retires. Andy will be a unanimously voted in Hall of Famer. He will have made 150-175 million in prize and endorsement money. I laugh at the dissing.

And tennis is just a microcosm example of the whole trend the media has embraced of abandoning straight news reporting and objective analysis for fitting events into pre-shaped and accepted narratives and causalities fed to the sheep.


Willow Says:

2ND Match in a row, where i dont believe Rafa faced a BP ? ….


Willow Says:

LOL Scratch that yes he did, didnt the last match though …


RZ Says:

No change in the lead in the Tennis-X ATP bracket. Ryan/blurop is still in the top spot. I’m in 2nd by only 1 point.


Daniel Says:

Thanks J-K. Sometimes alcoohol is the answer😜

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