Murray, Ferrer Meet In Crucial Clash; Federer, Djokovic Also On Tap In Shanghai

Roger is very candid indeed in his post match analysis. He ofcoure was very lucky to survive and all it took for Leonardo Mayer to finish the match was an easy backhand cross court short to execute and he inexplicably missed it and that was the turning point for the outcome of this match. Even in the break, Leonardo was having the upper hand but he just could’nt convert the momentum to a victory and he woefully lost the match. This was a day when rather unexpectedly Leonardo was dominating the match and Roger was playing the second fiddle unable to match the gruesome power and ferocity of his opponent’s serve. Especially the second serve of Leonardo was something extraordinary and he executed it with awesome pace and variety making life difficult for Roger. But in the end, all that seperated the two was a wafer thin single point in the tie break and understandably Leonardo was heavily disappointed and that showed when he came to hand shake with Roger at the net when we could see tears in his eyes. I think Leonardo looks like a good prospect only if he can maintain this consistency in future contests.

October 9th, 2014 at 2:06 am

Andy is playing like a dream. Everything is working sublimely. Ferru has to work so hard just to get a point. 6-2

October 9th, 2014 at 3:23 am

The DA well he was,but he aint now?it wont be much of a contest if Ferrer faces Novak,so i hope he turns it round,not looking good as hes a break down in the third set now….

October 9th, 2014 at 4:21 am

i was just tracking scores, not watching. did andy fade, perhaps, from tiredness? he does seem to have tight/long matches with ferrer often, though. maybe it’s match up.

October 9th, 2014 at 4:51 am

Ah well, no need to wonder how Andy will do against Nole, ‘cos he won’t play him.

Andy is in a bind. In order to play at his best again, he needs to regain full confidence in his game, but every shot he misses, every rally that doesn’t quite go according to plan, eats away at that confidence.When you are in that spot, Ferrer is the last guy you want to play.

One of the ATP commentators, asked about that second serve, said Andy probably never would improve it now, at this stage in his career, and I’m inclined to agree.

Next year’s Australian Open will show where Murray is going, and I fear it will mark the end of his position as a top player, or one likely to win another slam. I only hope I’m wrong.

October 9th, 2014 at 4:55 am

Congrats to Ferrer.
Don’t quite know how Andy can go from the sublime to the ridiculous in such a short time, however.
Koenic said confidence. Fleming said tired from too much match play. Who knows? Only clue, first serve brilliant in first set, then c**p.
Only consolation would NEVER have beaten Nole playing like that..
After I heard about back surgery, I wrote off 2014. How right I was.

October 9th, 2014 at 5:25 am

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/andy-murray-baffled-by-loophole-that-could-see-him-replaced-at-atp-world-tour-finals-9783152.html
Very baffling indeed. Could somebody put some light on this scenario?

October 9th, 2014 at 6:23 am

Pftt from the sublime to the ridiculous in the blink of an eye,congrats to Ferrer,i agree with Colin i doubt very much he would have beaten Nole playing like that,but i think at least he wouldve had more of a test than he will against Ferrer(sorry David),as James said the other day i think only Kei if he had been fit enough wouldve had a chance,although thats not even an issue as hes now out,Federer possibly?although he would need to play better than yesterday against Mayer?….

October 9th, 2014 at 6:32 am

Margot yeah me too,Rafa also had a crap year,but at least he won a slam,wish Andy had too :((….

October 9th, 2014 at 6:35 am

I dont know how this affects his chances as regards qualifying for the WTFs,maybe its a blessing?i wouldnt want him getting whitewashed….

October 9th, 2014 at 6:41 am

I did not see the match so no real comment on that but considering the final score, the suggested narrative by reports elsewhere and comments here: I am inclined to agree 100% with Colin’s comment on Andy’s future. John McEnroe- a 7 time Grand Slam winner- said it usually takes a player the same amount of time off tour back on tour to get back to his old rhythm. Andy went off in September 2013 and returned in January of this year. 4 months off. One of which was off season for everyone in which Andy enjoyed a complete traing block. Come May of this year Andy had his 4 months on tour and was saying certainly now- thankfully so- the back is not a issue no more. So now the focus was solely on what matters: Tennis. Now when you consider he’s posted Slam results of: SF QF QF QF, it would be ridiculous to say he’s been playing rubbish full stop this year. And when you see him pushing Rafael Nadal to the brink on clay in Rome you think: hang on, he’s fully fit, registers atleast good Slam results and pushes Rafa to the brink on Clay- this story of him being injured, this is a write off year due to comeback etc all of a sudden looks like a BS yarn. And I’m a guy who roots for him. I think the real issue with Andy is: complete REGRESSION in his game. He lacks real confidence, does not know genuinely what his game plan is on court, has the most-frankly speaking- awful 2nd serve I have seen from a Slam winner and is inconsistent in big matches: be it for a drop in level in a match, suddenly feeling physically spent in match or just randomly playing horrible (Wimbledon QF). Andy-put simply- is not a intimidating player for top players on court right now. Put yourself in the shoes of a opponent and ask yourself: what am I to be scared off? What has Andy Murray shown in the last 16 months that should intimidate me? Quite frankly: little or close to nothing. I am a eternal optimist by nature. I still harbour private hopes that sees Andy winning more Slams let alone another. And by no means do I intend to write him off. But when I consider his scenario with the absence of emotional favouring, bias in his favour quite frankly speaking: it looks very, very dim. Especially when you consider that whilst he’s looking like this the likes of Nishikori, Cilic, Dimitrov and Raonic have improved greatly. Sooner rather than later even the likes of Thiem will be a factor etc it really does not look good right now. I think should things continue as they until Clay season next year he could be reduced to a Berdych type: QF’s galore, odd SF’s and expect a implosion in big matches. That too a Berdych without one single telling weapon on court. I seriously fear that he could be on the slide.

October 9th, 2014 at 6:59 am

Brando i agree and unfortunatly i dont want to agree,long gone is the player that pre surgery outplayed the guy whos world number 1 in that wimbledon final last year,hes a mere shadow of that now,like yourself and Colin im also a big fan and hope for a turnaround,the scales will tip one way or the other hopefully in his favour next year, he even struggled to beat Robredo and was match points down in that final the other week,IMO hes the most talented player on tour after Federer it would be a shame to see it all go to waste….

October 9th, 2014 at 7:19 am

Anyone watching kukushkin-djokovic match? Djoker is a set up and a break down. And kukushkin is playing pretty much great tennis so far

October 9th, 2014 at 7:39 am

http://www.sportdw.com/2014/10/andy-murray-statistical-analysis.html

For Andy fans. It’s encouraging, promise!

October 9th, 2014 at 7:47 am

Sirius i am,will Kuku get tight now serving for the set?

October 9th, 2014 at 7:50 am

@Brando
Just read yours, but the above analysis of Andy’s stats doesn’t support your argument.

October 9th, 2014 at 7:50 am

Its not gone to waste Hippy Chick, he’s won two slams and beaten some of the greatest players of all time.

I’ve been saying for some time: this is not a comeback any more. Andy was only ever out of training a couple weeks to begin with. There is no physical or training hangover, and if you look at his results in the winter, there never really was. His game has regressed, as Brando said, and he needs a coach who can put him right. Until he gets that, he is a talented outsider like Berdych.

October 9th, 2014 at 7:51 am

Alison,

he got tight. But credit to djoker. He showed great in defence to break back in that game

October 9th, 2014 at 7:55 am

^”Great defence” with no “in” in it

October 9th, 2014 at 7:56 am

Im not a hater but why the need for that OTT celebration when breaking back from Novak?and yeah,yeah i know Rafa does it too,and next time he does it i will call him out for it too before anyone calls me out for it,bit disrespectfull to ones opponents,i wish he and Rafa were a bit more like Roger whos generally a bit more sedate with his celebrations….

October 9th, 2014 at 7:57 am

Having said that i thought the time violation was rather unfair,and i agree with Nole a little common sense shouldve been applied after such a long point,so i do defend players when i think they are right,not when i think what they are doing is wrong,and that goes for all of them….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:00 am

Wow kuku takes the set! Entertaining match!

October 9th, 2014 at 8:01 am

Although i dont think he will win it was great to see a player like Kuku taking it to Novak and been aggressive,he deserves a third set,great match….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:04 am

Alison,

to be honest, i don’t like those type of celebrations very much, but i wouldn’t mind roger doing it

biased fan ;)

October 9th, 2014 at 8:04 am

Sirius thanks,i get tired sometimes of been pigeon holed say something against a rival must= hater,im not a Roger fan but i do like his sedate celebration,guess we differ there lol….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:07 am

Massive groundies from kukushkin to save the bp

October 9th, 2014 at 8:08 am

@Alison: I LOVE it when Rafa and in this case Novak do OTT celebrations in key moments in a match: it shows passion and gets the crowd going. I want more of it. Both of them are brilliant in this regard. The only time Novak peeved me on this front was with the AO shirt ripping. I found it tasteless at the time but in hindsight he probably was blowing off some steam from winning a heavyweight contest. I do not think he would ever disrespect Rafa at all since he respects him huge, but at the time I did. Likely sour grapes from the loss, lol. But generally though: if ANY player wins a important break they are entitled to OTT celebrations since its a key moment and shows they are passionately engaged. As long they don’t reach into their bag, pull out some daffodils, stick them up where the sun doesn’t shine doing some cartwheels to celebrate the moment then it’s all good.

October 9th, 2014 at 8:13 am

Brando LMAO,to each his or her own….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:17 am

Great to see these players having a pair of bollocks and not been scared of a challenge against these top players,Klizan,Kukushkin,Mayer,Rosol,Nishikori etc,unlike Berdych,Ferrer etc….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:25 am

Djoker broke there But kukushkin whatever just chilee as Always Vs Top players.. here is hoping for a nole Vs fed semi

October 9th, 2014 at 8:27 am

Just chileee??? Hahaha i mean imploded

October 9th, 2014 at 8:29 am

Shouldve put Kyrigios i there too….

October 9th, 2014 at 8:29 am

@TV
“Andy was only ever out of training a couple of weeks.”
What the heck are you talking about? Two weeks after the op. Andy was BEING DRIVEN to hospital appointments.
Absolutely unbelievable that anyone should belittle the effects, physical and mental, of a back operation.
I see you haven’t bothered to read the link I gave either.
But why let facts get in the way of opinions?

October 9th, 2014 at 8:31 am

Hippy i think It is great to see that yeah but it is the belief of some fans that their player is invincible that is hard to take at times.. nole and nadal are just players and simply not that good to win them all all of the time. It is totally normal to see them lose from time to time to no names aged over 25

October 9th, 2014 at 8:34 am

Margot, you must relax or you will throw out your back. I apologize for getting Andy’s return incorrect. He began rehab in 2 weeks, returned to practice after 2 months, and played his first match after 3 months.
If he ain’t recovered from it by now, he will never recover. More likely the problem has nothing to do with his back.

Witness the fact that his results in winter last year were as good or better than they were this fall.

However if you’d like to predict that Andy is still just mending and will likely dominate 2015, be my guest.

October 9th, 2014 at 8:48 am

Another great match, Kukushkin, like Thiem, threw everything at Nole, I have never thought that Kukushkin can play so well.

October 9th, 2014 at 8:54 am

Kukushkin is no joke as a player. I remember at Wimbledon in round 3 v Rafa he was seriously good in the first set. Extremely good. Most of the players are in tour: just that they cannot sustain it for a prolonged period of time or in the most pressure moments.

October 9th, 2014 at 9:00 am

Is ot me pr Djolo’s serve seems more potent andmore fast racquet swingseem s he changed somethong a bit? Felt it was more fluid like if he gets the ball more on the rise.

October 9th, 2014 at 9:11 am

@TV
Andy didn’t play last Winter, so again, what the heck are you talking about? Some other player perhaps?

October 9th, 2014 at 9:12 am

Margot: Was thinking of you during that match. He started so well and then did a typical Andy in the 2nd set. I was so sure he would pull the stops out for the decider but Ferrer dug his heels in and won the match on sheer willpower. Hate the way so many so-called tennis fans enjoy kicking players when they are down. Even the commentators are squawking like a load of vultures :-(

October 9th, 2014 at 9:18 am

@Honfleuraise
Thanx darling. It makes me so cross when even the facts are ignored.
Koenig and Fleming were OK. K said confidence issue. F said needs tough matches.
K also said Andy was striking the ball as well as ever in the first set, so that’s encouraging.
I think match fitness is an issue against players like Ferrer and Nole. They just retrieve and retrieve and retrieve.
Whereas against Gabashville Andy deffo looked the fresher.

October 9th, 2014 at 9:29 am

Margot,sorry, here you are incorrect. Andy played Qatar in December, Oz in January, 2 more tourneys in February, and Indian Wells in early march. Plus Davis Cup. So, in fact, he played a full slate during that time.

October 9th, 2014 at 9:35 am

Wog boy
Agree about kush, very surpised to see him take Nole to 3.
Meanwhile Fed takes the first against Bagut.

October 9th, 2014 at 10:06 am

Great win for Fed.
Will face Bennetau next who gave him trouble in the past.
Looks like a Fed x Djoko semis with this mat h pitentially determining Year End #1. If Fed wins he still has a chance if not Djoko will virtually close it out. I am assuming of course, that the winmer of this semifinal clash wins the title beacuse the next big thing in the final will be Berdych and we all know he chokes in finals and don’t deiver hence his awfull final record.

October 9th, 2014 at 10:27 am

In indoor condition the best player ever to not win a title can defeat the swiss, in outdoor no so much, but Shanghai is not Miami, so he obvously has a chance, a good chance.

October 9th, 2014 at 10:31 am

@TV
Andy did not play from September to end Dec, begin Jan. Can’t remember when his first match in Quatar was?
So which “fall” are you comparing this year’s results with?

October 9th, 2014 at 10:41 am

Andy reached quarters USOpen 2013. Quarters USOpen 2014. Still not getting this “better last fall.”

October 9th, 2014 at 10:59 am

@Margot……just got through reading this thread….I’m wondering what in the heck TV is talking about too! People need to learn when non fans of our favs are talking trash……they will be straightened out in a hurry……we know our favs playing history better than anyone……He was barking up the wrong tree! Bottom line, don’t mess with us gals over our beloved favs! Right?? Hang in there girlie. I believe what you have to say on the matter, cuz I know you know more about Andy than most.

Well, I was going for Andy, but now I’m not really interested who wins…..but will go with Novak as the champion.

October 9th, 2014 at 11:11 am

Hahaha ok ladies, have it your way! Andy didn’t play last winer! Nope, not in Decembe (Qatar) or Australia (Open) or February (Roterdam and Mexico).

Never happened. Sorry for barking up the wrong stark raving mad tree. Glad you straightened me out. Winter of 2014 never happened! We have always been at war with Europa.

October 9th, 2014 at 11:21 am

benneteau struggled in his first match but then he beat dimitrov in straight sets and sock (who beat nishikori) in straight sets. it’ll be interesting to see how he matches up with fed as they haven’t played since last year, before fed made adjustments. julienne’s 2 wins were both on hard.

didn’t see nole’s match but it looks like he really struggled. hopefully he is sharper next round. ferrer is not always an easy out. even though he may lose in the end more often than not against the top players, he seems to make them work for their wins often.

i think it’ll be interesting to see if andy stays with mauresmo. since they’ve paired he’s not had great success, so one wonders if there are still “growing pains” there?

October 9th, 2014 at 11:56 am

@TV…….I’m gonna quote a line from a movie called “Cool Hand Luke”…….the prison warden said to a prisoner…..”What we have a here is a failure to communicate”……we have a lot of that on this forum!! LOL

October 9th, 2014 at 12:06 pm

Yes Okiegal. Please don’t bite my head off over such things. No man can eat fifty eggs.

October 9th, 2014 at 12:11 pm

If Novak’s tired or off his game, Ferrer would be an extremely dangerous opponent. But he seems to be neither, the way Novak is playing I think he’ll take Ferrer out in two.
I’m more worried about Beneteau, he can definitely upset Fed, especially if he plays like he did against Kukushkin.
Simon also is no gimme for Berdych, so we may not get who we expect in the final. Of course, Berdych can choke before the finals too, he’s not a one trick pony!

October 9th, 2014 at 12:16 pm

@TV…..Oh, didn’t mean to sound as if I was scolding you…..u r teasing, I think?? If you saw the movie when it came out, you’re telling your age! Lol I watched it just the other day and its still an all time classic for me……the egg scene was OTT, as my British friend Chick would say.

October 9th, 2014 at 12:21 pm

@Okiegal:

You have been raised immeasurably in this posters estimation by referencing the film COOL HAND LUKE!

What classic that film is! If you like PAUL NEWMAN and those kind of films then I hope you have seen-if not I strongly recommend watching it- the masterpiece that is known as:

HUD.

It’s not as celebrated as THE HUSTLER or COOL HAND LUKE but is such a brilliant film with Newman giving his most defiant, best performance.

October 9th, 2014 at 12:24 pm

Hud happened.

October 9th, 2014 at 12:25 pm

Jane no disrespect here,i saw the match and yes Nole did struggle mis timing some of his shots,but i must say much of that had to do with the quality of his opponent,whom actually played the match of his life, by being aggressive going for his shots and not being intimidated by an elite player the commies here even said how refreshing it was to see a player doing that against Nole, anyway he still managed to raise his level in the third set by playing the big points better….

October 9th, 2014 at 12:37 pm

@Brando GOAT Poster…..So, you’re old too!! Lol
“Hud” was so awesome…..also a fav of mine. My daughter-in-law was going to dental hygiene school in Amarillo Texas which was very close to the town where they filmed Hud, Claude, Texas. I made hubby drive a little out of the way to visit the very small town. They had a museum at the old movie theater with lots of Hud memorabilia. Yeah, ole’ blue eyes was a real box office draw. He was my very first love…….before Rafa, that is…..which makes me a very old cougar!! Lol. Have a nice day…..you 2 TV!

October 9th, 2014 at 12:49 pm

Oh, TV…..just now saw your post….Yes, Hud happened, hadn’t forgotten that line or the one where Patricia Neal said “You want an orange?” in her fictitious Texas drawl…Yes, good movie, don’t make um like that anyone!

Wonder if they liked tennis…….?? (thought I should mention our favorite sport)

October 9th, 2014 at 12:59 pm

Tennis isnt my favorite sport(blasphemy to say that here lol),its merely one of them….

October 9th, 2014 at 1:03 pm

@Okiegal:

LOL: Thankfully I am not old. I think after Giles I maybe the youngest regular poster on here! I am a young gun on here, thankfully so!

p

I just have great, serious appreciation of the past and former, by gone eras and the folks who inhabited such a time.

‘They don’t make em like they used to’:

Spot on!

Paul Newman is one of my all time favourite actors. He cracks my top 10 personal list. The likes of Brando- numero uno for me- Pacino, De Niro, Bogart, Cagney, Mitchum etc make some of the rest of my favs. So I love his work and I am very familiar with it.

Newman belonged to a bygone era when the men where men. Their masculinity was possessed and never in need of stating. Cool, tough by nature with effortless ease.

They commanded respect without having to ask for it. A completely different breed to what my fellow brethren have to offer the world today:

A collection of wimpy manchilds who are prone to more tantrums than a little girl. A lot of posing with little character to back it up. A big fat nothing basically!

And the woman of the past: Wow! Some genuine beauties who were class acts all the way. They commanded attention without begging for it as some do today. Today’s famed beauties:

Get a whole lot of credit when they don’t deserve it and don’t know about class even if it bite them up their you know what!

I think today’s world has alot of things going for itself in a positive fashion. But in many ways the past generations of a bygone era- both men and women- leave me and my generation looking like a bunch of tools. Their personal conduct, integrity and above all else- self dignity and respect for others- embarrasses what we see in our present time.

Their conduct and ways have me wishing I was born in their era. Oh well: tis the way the world goes on!

October 9th, 2014 at 1:55 pm

hippy thanks for the feedback on the match; i didn’t see it. good to hear his opponent played well and that it’s not just nole sucking, ha ha.

okiegal, i liked your quote. :)

October 9th, 2014 at 2:13 pm

@Brand GOAT…..I thought if you saw Hud in the theater when it was released you would be a Sr citizen….but they’re shown on TV all time, so I am tickled you’re not on the golden years road yet! The only gold in “golden” years is your urine!!

@Jane……that quote has been around a long time, one of my favs…..yeah, say this quite often to Okieguy…..he’s a “real” cowboy, btw….not a drugstore one like Hud!! Lol

October 9th, 2014 at 2:25 pm

@Chick….I like lots of other sports too, but “Rafa Tennis” is the only sport I will set the alarm to watch the Aussie Open……you can understand that, can’t you?? LOL I don’t care for soccer…..I can’t get into that, I guess it’s because I don’t understand what the crap is going on!! I love Sooner football and the Dallas Cowboys……My son played baseball…..yeah love most sports! Sports makes the world go around, imo!

October 9th, 2014 at 2:39 pm

Okiegal i stay up through the night to watch AO,providing i dont have to go to work the next day,the other tournies exactly the same depends on the time,have to say though british football is my absolute favorite sport,when i used to live in Yorkshire i used to go and watch York City football club play every Saturday when they were at home….

October 10th, 2014 at 5:29 am