2014 ATP Finals Profile: Andy Murray

Hoping Murray does well in London. And congrats to him for being named ATP’s Humanitarian of the Year!

On a similar note, Andy has been named a global ambassador for the WWF (World Wildlife Fund, not the wrestling federation – which would have been awesome! LOL)

http://www.andymurray.com/news/andy-becomes-global-ambassador-for-wwf/

November 5th, 2014 at 7:23 pm

BTW, since the Big 4 vs Big 3 debate has come up a few times this year, here is an article I came across today that shows that Murray is head and shoulders above the rest, even if he isn’t at the same level as Fed/Rafa/Djoker. http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2011/10/the-big-4-and-the-super-1/41420/#.VFrAB_nF-So

November 5th, 2014 at 7:26 pm

Anyone who doesn’t see that Andy has been ahead of the non-Big 3 field for years is willfully blind.

But he’s still not getting out of RR play. Fed will beat him- this is one of Fed’s best tournaments. Nishikori will be close, but I think Raonic will beat him.

November 5th, 2014 at 7:30 pm

I dunno, I said Milos was the weakling of the group, but I’ve talked myself out of it.
I think Kei and Roger emerge here.

November 5th, 2014 at 7:33 pm

I’m pulling for Andrew…..Love to see him win this…he’s my second fav!

C’MON ANDY!!

November 5th, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Also think Murray will qualify. Nishikori agains’t Djoko seemed totally out of fumes. And Raonic is too unpredictable.

November 5th, 2014 at 9:02 pm

RZ is doing such splendid work I don’t have to write anything! Except he didn’t lose to Ferrer in Paris.

November 6th, 2014 at 1:22 am

yes, congrats to andy, and good luck!

November 6th, 2014 at 1:24 am

Andy is always a force to reckon with vested with a versatile and strategised match play. He is one of the most stylish player after Roger and it is always a delight to watch him play with elegance, grace and the aura of unpredictability which always keeps his opponents guessing as to his next move on court. Despite his many positives he has not made it big basically to his flawed temperament and impatience.now the question is “will he rediscover himself at the Tennis prestigious venue ?

November 6th, 2014 at 2:44 am

@Margot
I’m confident Andy will make it to the SFs and optimistic he will get to the final. If he does this could just be his year. Hope my crystal ball is in good working order. lol.

I agree he didn’t ‘lose’ in Paris. Just before Andy embarked on the final sprint to London did you hear big mouth Koenig pontificating: ‘in his opinion Murray no longer belongs in the Big Four. It’s now now the Big Three.’

November 6th, 2014 at 4:42 am

Michael he has not made it big?but hes won two GS or so i thought??anyway Rafas my favorite,but i agree i have always thought Murray was actually more talented than Rafa and Novak,with more variety,anyway i dont know how he will fair at the WTFs,i see semis at best,but i dont see him winning the thing,i only wish i had more belief in him,i dont see him beating Roger and most likely Novak in the final,the other two i think he probably will beat if he brings his A game….

November 6th, 2014 at 5:32 am

Anyway congrats on been made a Global embassador for the WWF,and although i dont care for celebrities and Humanitarian gestures i will congratulate him on been the Humanitarian of the year too….

November 6th, 2014 at 5:54 am

Ive never expected Andy to reach the heights of Roger/Rafa/Novak,but it would be great if he was just regarded as been a pretty terrific player in his own right….

November 6th, 2014 at 6:36 am

Congrats on the award I guess but giving anyone a award for contributing to those unfortunate souls who need our help is farcical for me. It’s behaviour that ought to be expected and considered the norm rather than having a millionaire stick his finger out and the rest going ” hey, he gives a —-! Good on him, let’s toss a award his way and continue not giving a —- in our way!”

November 6th, 2014 at 8:05 am

I don’t think the loss to Ferrer was a throwaway. It was at a Masters event. The two times Murray did beat Ferrer were at smaller events, although one was for a final.

Two months ago Murray could stand a chance of going 0-3 or 1-2 in any group. But I don’t think he does worse than 2-1. Where he actually ends up ranking in the group depends on a lot of other things but 2-1 in matches for sure. He can will himself to a win if need be. But he still has a lot to prove against the cream of the crop.

November 6th, 2014 at 8:29 am

Alison, ANdy has won just two majors and for a fla.voyant player like him that is an under achievement. I do not want to compare him with the likes of Rafa or Novak and claim that he is more talented than them. That just cannot stick because of the achievements of these legends for which Andy has still miles to go. But what cannot be denied thatAndy is just a beautiful player to watch in court and when he plays well, sky is the limit for him in terms of variety. Ofcouse nothing is certain at WTF. But I get this inner feeling that Andy is going to make it big this time around. Let’s wait and watch what unfolds ?

November 6th, 2014 at 8:37 am

BGT i dont know if that was a dig at me?but ive said the same thing be it about Andy,Rafa who are my favorite players,and Roger and Novak whom i like but are not my favorite players,and i have had Margot,Grendel and Colin who are on the same level as me,let me make myself clear,i have nothing against charities,or any humanitarian stuff etc,and i have nothing against celebrities promoting it either,its all worth while and noteworthy,but what i find irritating is all the fawning that goes with it,and that everybody seems to think we should all say how great and fantastic they are etc,to me it all comes across as rather self congratulatory and all rather pretentious,i bet most of us on this forum give to charities all the time,especially this time of year with Amistace day coming up,do we all make a big thing about though no we dont?….

November 6th, 2014 at 8:44 am

Michael read my post @6.36am please….

November 6th, 2014 at 8:49 am

And i meant more talented,not more successful,the two are not the same thing,for what its worth i think Gasquets mor talented than Rafa,Novak and Andy but not Roger,but as for been more successfull,hes nowhere near,not even remotely close….

November 6th, 2014 at 8:53 am

More not mor,damn typos….

November 6th, 2014 at 9:11 am

A couple of points:
1) Murray didn’t lose to Ferrer in Paris, he lost to Djokovic
2) About the humanitarian awards, I get what some are saying about it, but the reason these types of awards are given are to reward those who do give (because not everyone who can does) and encourage others to give as well.

November 6th, 2014 at 10:56 am

Murray’s a contender but he has to serve well. I’d like to see Andy get this thing done and set up a really nice lead in for 2015. I believe Andy will win a slam in 2015. I don’t have any clue which one, but I think the stars will align for him again.

November 6th, 2014 at 12:51 pm

SG1 lol these were Jamies pyschic friends predictions for 2015
AO Rafa.
FO Novak.
Wimbledon Andy.
USO Raonic or Dimitrov.
TBH I think if he gets these right,Rafa fans,Novak fans,Andys fans,will all be happy people,sorry Roger fans but the guys nothing left to prove anyway,so it doesnt really matter that much,i hope he is about the AO and Wimbledon,and i expect Nole fans will be delighted lol….

November 6th, 2014 at 1:18 pm

^Hope he is right,should say^….

November 6th, 2014 at 1:23 pm

@HC – I can see that happening (well, maybe not the USO) but it seems a bit too good to be true: Rafa getting the 2nd career slam, Nole getting the career slam, Andy getting another Wimbledon (which to the Brits might as well be a career slam).

November 6th, 2014 at 1:24 pm

RZ too good to be true,but if you look back it was rather spooky how accurate those predictions were this year,if Rafa does win the AO next year,one will indeed begin to wonder lol….

November 6th, 2014 at 2:44 pm

RZ its nice as your always quite approachable,and you dont jump on your high horse if someone disagrees with you,in other words you agree to disagree lol,just to say with the humanitarian stuff i dont have a problem with it,i just dont care to fawn over people who do it,same with Autobiographies and players private live,its just not something im interested in….

November 6th, 2014 at 2:54 pm

I can’t understand why some think Fed is bound to beat Andy in London. Andy still leads the head-to-head in best of 3, doesn’t he? Also, he did once beat Roger in the end of season event, when it was held in Shanghai I think. He has a useful ability to irritate the great man, and it’s fun to see the usually calm Federer getting a bit ratty!
Honfleraise, I like your dig at Robby Koenig. Have you noticed when he refers to a win having an asterisk against it, he always says “asterix”?

November 6th, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Alison @6.36, I endorse yr opinion.

November 6th, 2014 at 7:19 pm

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/amelie-mauresmo-makes-mark-as-andy-murray-puts-back-into-it-9844922.html

Really nice interview with Amelie. I think her approach might just be a little different from Ivan’s……

November 7th, 2014 at 2:31 am

happy chiklet
Roger has nothing to prove? If that is your main reason he will not win a slam then your forcast can be thrown in the bin.
his eagerness and his desire to win another slam are greater then ever.

Do not think you understand how the psyche of the greatest player of all time works.

November 7th, 2014 at 7:02 am

@Hippy Chick – thanks. I try to be as reasonable and sane as possible. :-) It doesn’t make sense to me to bash people who don’t agree with me over the head. That would make them less inclined to agree with me!

November 7th, 2014 at 10:20 am

Sienna my post was a tongue in cheek response to Jamies pyschic prediction sent in some weeks ago,i never said he wouldnt win a GS,as i firmly believe he might eek out another,so no need to get your knickers in a twist….

November 7th, 2014 at 5:37 pm

Thanks for the link Margot….

November 7th, 2014 at 5:39 pm

Sienna i like the Happy Chicklet name BTW so thanks,even if you didnt mean it as a compliment ;))….

November 7th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Andy has tweeted IHHO the best non active player ever is Martina.
OMG… just when I think its not possible to like him more!

November 8th, 2014 at 2:34 am

“Andy has tweeted IHHO the best non active player ever is Martina.”
That must be Mauresmo influence (for obvious reason), Is Andy having midlife crises…prematurely. That is what happens when you are growing up without father, not by father’s choice.

November 8th, 2014 at 3:15 am

@Wog Boy
By no stretch of the imagination did Andy grow up “without a father.” When their parents split up the boys lived with their father.
It’s just he prefers to keep in the background.
Extremely cheeky of you to assume too, that Andy can’t make his own mind up and doesn’t know anything about the women’s game. . He’s always followed the WTA very closely and regularly tweets about matches.

November 8th, 2014 at 4:35 am

@Margot,
I remember very well picture of his father in his box at Wimbledon, will not make any further comment.

As for WTA, Andy is 27 years old, how come he didn’t declare Martina best evere before but only just now when he is with Mauresmo.

Best ever around and you stil have Graf, Court, Serena still playing (18 GS titles out of 22 finals), Evert, just check wiki and you will find out that Martina is not best ever, but then again if Andy says so, she must be best ever..and you agree.

November 8th, 2014 at 5:13 am

@wog Boy
Andy was asked a question and gave a response. It is his opinion and nobody else’s. Surely he is entitled to an opinion?
And, as jane said to Hippy, please don’t put words in my mouth. You have no idea who I think is the best non active player.

November 8th, 2014 at 6:54 am

@Margot, fair enough but this is what made me think you agree with Andy, my mistake:

“OMG… just when I think its not possible to like him more!”

November 8th, 2014 at 7:16 am

wog boy, don’t you think martina was one of the best ever, though, female or male? she was astounding in doubles, for her net play, and i can see why andy would like her because she’s such a natural at net, just like he is, and, for example, johnny-mac too.

i actually don’t think andy is the type to give lip-service, i.e., say something just to appease mauresmo. he’s always been fine with saying what’s on his mind, kind of like nole! i like that about both of them. they’ve grown more cautious over the years due to backlash and political correctness, but they both seem honest to me.

i also like that both andy and nole were very strongly influenced by women coaches early in their careers – nole by jelena jencic, of course, and andy by his mom. both of them are better men because of it, imo. :)

November 8th, 2014 at 3:27 pm

Jane behind every great man lies a great woman….

November 8th, 2014 at 3:46 pm

^ or in front of… ;)

November 8th, 2014 at 3:52 pm

Lmao at some comments here, classic stuff. Makes me think of that classic saying “believe whatever that makes you go to sleep well at night, even if its a load of BS”.

November 8th, 2014 at 4:05 pm

Jane lol ;))….

November 8th, 2014 at 4:13 pm

Re 4:05 post.
Wow, you just described yourself. Excellant!

November 8th, 2014 at 4:34 pm

Steffie Graf??????

she should be stuck at 14 slams…I dont care for the #22 shegot from the stab.
we know how was the better player.

Seles is GOAT. Do not forget what happened!

November 8th, 2014 at 5:07 pm

@Brando GOAT…….What is so funny about these comments?

November 8th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

jane, “one of the best ever”, yes, but not the best ever, I just was’t fan of her, that’s all. If we take a numbers, as we do for Federer and include players before open era and in open era, as we do with Laver there is only one woman that is The Best Ever, male or female, the woman that played before and in the open era, the woman whose life and achievements in tennis and in life I admire, the woman that stand for what she believe in and represent that without any fear regardless of being sidelined by WTA since begining of 90’s because of her stands and statements, that was during Martina’s peak and because of Martina. Her name is Margaret Court and though she represents Pentacostal church and I am Orthodox faith I do enjoy to listen her preaching. She is just a Lady in every sence of that world, have a look:

http://youtu.be/IP-C7RhcJpM

PS Subject closed:)

November 8th, 2014 at 5:43 pm

thanks for the video.

i agree with her about having a great coach, wog boy. i like that she went into the men’s gym too! “good on her,” as they say down-under. ;)

don’t you think jelena gencic was awesome for nole? i do.

November 8th, 2014 at 6:39 pm

jane, absolutely, she was his mentor, she shaped him as a player and as a person. He wouldn’t be what he is today without Jelena. Don’t get me started, I can talk about Jelena Gencic 24 hours a day:)

November 8th, 2014 at 6:43 pm

i know! i hope he wins the french someday – just for her.

November 8th, 2014 at 7:08 pm

hippy C.
I happen to like the nick happy C.

Graf choked her way to #22 slams as far as Im concerned.(litle bit over the top) but still she cannot be womens GOAT.
Navratilova on the otherhand took the womens game and brought it on par with the mens game.
if anyone earns GOAT hood it should be her.
Graf was handed at least 8 slams after the Seles stabbing. She was getting crushed over and over probably she wouldhave lost the lust andWill to carry on.

2 cents….

November 8th, 2014 at 7:12 pm

Graf has 22 majors. I don’t remember how many Seles has. Seles never even won Wimbledon. In her one and only final appearance at Wimbledon, she was beaten by Graf 2 and 1. The other finals they played where Seles won were all very close. It was not Graf who stabbed Seles and it is rather unfair for penalizing her for a crime she had norhing to do with. Did she benefit from it. Maybe yes and maybe no, because it is also entirely possible that she could have won 22 with Seles there and have greater glory. Who can tell what the future holds? One cannot make valid conclusions based on conjectures. Are we going to say now that Nadal would have had more majors than Federer now had he not missed those majors? And what about Del Potro who was on his way to winning more when he was sidelined? Shall we deduct majors from Federer, Nadal and Djokovic because Del Potro could possibly have won some of those? Be fair people, all these players do their best. Don’t diminish what they worked so hard for to achieve.

November 8th, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Loved Seles and Graf. They both brought there own styles to the game. Seles brought power from both wings holding with 2 hands, and Graff brought a wicked offensive Slice and a FH powered whip.
Too bad a whack job ended Seles career early, them 2 would have had plenty of epic battles to talk about.

November 8th, 2014 at 8:11 pm

agree skeezer. both had unique strengths and sadly we were all deprived of seeing that rivalry grow.

okie, i am curious about what was so funny too.

November 8th, 2014 at 8:24 pm

@Jane…..no answer either…..just like I figured!! Lol

November 8th, 2014 at 8:38 pm

Wogboy i believe Seles won 9 GS?although people can be free to correct me if im wrong?anyway i dont care much for GOATdom,but i must admit to never seeing Margret court play,but she has 24 GS so she must be the GOAT of tennis,never mind just womens tennis,although Steffi,Martina,Chrissy are definetly in that conversation,agree with Skeezer shame about what happened to Monica,as she played fantastic tennis outplaying Steffi at times,and she was on her way to been in that conversation too,still an all time great though,as for Serena shes the best of this generation and still the one to beat,but without the likes of Henin,Clijsters,Venus whos a mere shadow of her former self,theres not much competition for her,and its not like shes won slam after slam the way Steffi,Martina etc did,my two cents….

November 9th, 2014 at 5:14 am

Sienna im Hippy Chick with an I,not Happy Chick with an A,but if you want to call me that its fine and i dont mind its all good ;))….

November 9th, 2014 at 5:19 am

Jane i think he will win the FO,although its considered as the inferior GS for the 1 dimensional players apparantly,so i dont know why Novak or you want it??….

November 9th, 2014 at 5:40 am

HC,

I think you addressed the wrong poster, I wasn’t talking about Seles, Dutch lady was talking about Seles and Graf.

As for Margaret Court it is JMO, based on numbers and some other things that I like about her but of course for most people it is Graf, Serena, Navratilova maybe even Evert, that was just my 2,3,4 cents:)

November 9th, 2014 at 6:08 am

Wogboy i know but i thought you said you didnt know how many GS Seles had won?but the rest of the post was actually for you as you brought Margret Court in the conversation ;))….

November 9th, 2014 at 6:38 am