Murray Wins Beijing China Open Over Dimitrov, Who Says The Brit is the Best This Year

“Andy’s pretty much the greatest player this year,”said Dimitrov,apparently unaware of a player named Novak Djokovich..

Ha ha..agree with staff..maybe Dimi made unintentionally mistake there..To me,Andy and Nole both share the greatest player this year so far with Nole conquered the first half of the season while Andy conquered the 2nd half of it,although there’s still Shanghai,Paris and London which Nole usually will do very well..But with his level is still below his usual standard and Andy very determined to keep rattle Nole’s high pedestal,things will be very interesting indeed for the next two months between these two greats..Can’t wait to see who’s going to come out strong and deservedly so..

October 9th, 2016 at 9:43 pm

In several interviews including some that go back a few years, Djokovic said he hoped Andy would get #1 ranking some day. Noting a player at Andy’s consistent high level normally does make it, but Murray has faced very tough competition rom other Big 4 players that has stopped him so far.
It stands to reason that Murray has some chance to catch him this year and a very good chance next year, where Djokovic will lose points off his rolling 365 if he fails to win the AO or 3 of the 1st Masters 1000s played.

October 9th, 2016 at 10:59 pm

Darn it Grigor – we don’t need you to jinx Andy with those types of statements! (Plus as much as I love Andy, I have a hard time agreeing considering that Novak has won 2 slams to Andy’s one)

October 9th, 2016 at 11:20 pm

First things first people :))) – Congrats to Andy for winning Beijing! Well done. Interesting race at the top.

Dimi – it’s calling “giving oneself some praise” :)). It’s much better being beaten by “the greatest this year” than by world #2.

Andy is maybe the best player atm (we’ll see how Shanghai plays out). But Nole’s season is still stronger.

October 9th, 2016 at 11:34 pm

@RZ..Do not forget,although Nole got 2 and Andy got 1 slam..but Andy got 2 gold at Oly[he’s the 1st man to do that in history as you’re already know] while Nole got none[sorry Nole fans,not try to discredit Nole on this]..To me,that put Andy on the same level in terms of greatness with Nole this year..Although like i said above,there’s still a few tournaments that will determined who’s the greatest this year..But whomever come out on top,i will applaud very hard and appreciate them very much because they deserve it..

October 9th, 2016 at 11:59 pm

Agree with Danica. Gorgeous Grig should’ve just said “Andy’s a great player” and left it at that. Bigging himself up a bit. But honestly, post match defeat interview…..probably he just wanted to beetle off to the locker room and smash some racquets.
Meanwhile, hoping Andy’s FSP will improve in Shanghai.
C’mon!

October 10th, 2016 at 1:48 am

Andy’s bete noir is usually the year-end finals – he has never shone there and that’s usually where Nole does what Nole does. Will be interesting.

October 10th, 2016 at 3:44 am

Congrats to Andy for winning the Beijing title! He intends to keep the battle for Nr.1 alive at the end of this season and that’s good.

October 10th, 2016 at 4:41 am

Just to help decide who the greatest player of this year is…

Djokovic vs. Murray in 2016:
Grand Slams 2-1
Master titles 4-1
Total titles 7-5
ATP points 10240-8410
Top 10 wins 26-15
H2H 3-1
Novak clinched historical 4 GS in a row this year – Murray clenched his mouth many times…

These are the facts. Of course, these numbers do not have to mean much and one could decide on greatness based on something else – artistic expression or grace of movement, etc… The numbers are but one measure to decide – mostly used by sane and rational people.

Sure we can have people with questionable mental abilities or folks filled with irrational hate for Djokovic ignore the numbers I listed above and STILL claim that Djokovic and Murray are on the same level of greatness this year.
But not much could be done regarding such folks. It’s a free internet forum and they can say whatever they want here – like Murray is faster than Usain Bolt in 2016 and on the same level of greatness in swimming with Phelps for this year. Why not? Bolt’s and Phelps’ numbers may be better than Murray’s in running and swimming, but numbers are not everything as some Nadal fans turned Murray fanatics on this site would suggest ;-)

October 10th, 2016 at 5:49 am

Just to say i never was a Nadal fan turned Murray fanatic, i have been here for years, and everyone knows right from the very begining that Murray was always my second favorite, he is also Janes( whos a Novak fan), Daris, Kimmis ( who are Federer fans), theres no written criteria on who people should have as a second favorite ….

Anyhow Murrays had / having an amazing year no doubt, but when it comes to whos been the best then its a no brainer as that would be Novak without a shadow of a doubt, i respect him and his achievements, and i have no doubt he might go on to be the greatest ever if he aint already, he will most likely win Shanghai and the WTFs, but thats not to say that i or any other tennis fans shouldnt want other players to win something now and again, people sometimes get tired of one man shows, whether thats Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or whomever ….

October 10th, 2016 at 6:18 am

J-Kath i think its like RZ said, the interesting thing is the getting to London, the ones that do get there will have killed themselves too much to make any headway or impression ….

October 10th, 2016 at 6:49 am

In general Novak fans are pretty nice when it comes to Andy, i just wonder though, if he actually became more of a threat whether they would actually be so nice, personally i would like Andy to become more of a threat, then we would see how they really feel then hmm ….

October 10th, 2016 at 6:53 am

@Willow 6:18 am..He he..that’s alright sis,TB’s post was directed at me personally as i’m sure you’re already knew that,although why he refer as a Nadal FANS and not Nadal FAN is beyond me considering his IQ is 300 or so..

Yeah..i’m really really impressed how high Andy’s standard this year,win Wimby and then Olympic gold 2 times in a row,back to back..a feat that NO ONE in our history be able to do that..Not even the Great Roger Federer,not even the Great Rafael nadal and not even the Great Novak Djokovic..ONLY THE GREAT ANDY MURRAY who successfully did that..That’s not the result of the greatness?Hmm..Oh well..Btw..I’m already aware of the stats that you’re listed above TB before i posted my comment up there..I knew you’re going to flipped as soon as you saw it..As usual..WHATEVER YOU SAY BOSS!!!!

October 10th, 2016 at 8:16 am

AndyMira although Rafa has a gold medal in singles and doubles now, and before all and sundry say anything, no it doesnt compare with Novaks year blah blah ….

October 10th, 2016 at 8:23 am

Travis, dear “boy”:
Don’t worry about multiple moments of greatness. As Andy’s more an osprey than a robin – he dives for the biggest fish he can reach and let’s the rest go.

He’ll have this one great moment at the EoY tournament when he takes out Nole – but he won’t be around at the final so Nole will meet a different player whom he’ll beat.

October 10th, 2016 at 8:27 am

Other than Dimitrov, i dont think anybody was actually claiming that Andy has had /was having a better year than Novak, Novaks head and shoulders the best player this year, but why the hell shouldnt Andy be given credit for also having a great year too, i mean god forbid ….

October 10th, 2016 at 8:44 am

Murray made GS finals on 3 different surfaces this year, something hes never done before ….

October 10th, 2016 at 8:55 am

Who is “currently” the best player in the world? Thst is new category introduced by few posters who try hard to hide their dislike of Nole and can’t wait to see him knocked off his perch) the category still not accepted by the ATP, but I have no doubt it will be. They are so softly spoken like “nothing against Nole but..”, usual sweetener;)
So who is “currently” the best player, Andy or Nick the Kid, they both just won 500 tournaments?
I know it is not Nole, that is soo obvious..

October 10th, 2016 at 9:07 am

Willow – Re: making Slam Finals on 3 different surfaces in a year.
I believe Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal have done it before Andy.

October 10th, 2016 at 9:08 am

Long live Willow!Love you sis!

October 10th, 2016 at 9:20 am

Chris Ford1 when i said Andy had made 3 GS finals in a year, what i actually said was that it was something “HE” had never done, i didnt actually say that it was something “ONLY HE” had done !….

October 10th, 2016 at 9:23 am

Trais Bickle – While I agree with you that Djokovic still has had a better season than Andy, your conspicuous omission of the Gold Medal trophy at the Olympics in your comparison shows you are rigging the deck somewhat.
Djokovic would give his left nut for an Olympic gold medal in singles. Would trade any one of his 2016 titles save the French for prevailing in Rio instead. Yes, that even includes a holy Slam, the AO.
2016 is reminding me of 2013, in the sense that two players had brilliant seasons and one must finish second. Novak-Andy is likely to finish with an enormous gap between themselves and the field. Much as in the 2013 Djokovic-Nadal rankings outcome. Nadal a skosh over 13,000, Djokovic 12,260 and the next guys David Ferrer and Andy Murray, ~5800 points each.

October 10th, 2016 at 9:26 am

Wogboy i never used the world currently the best player in the world, i just dont get you or why your getting so annoyed about certain things when theres no need, the hatred i have for Novak only exists in your head, but if you believe otherwise theres squat i can do about it, on the other thread where he was touring around where he was brought up, i actually said how great it was that he hadnt forgotten his roots, and how a once terrified little boy had grown up to become the best tennis player in the world, you really do read too much into everything, all im doing is giving Andy credit too, or should that only be allowed when its Novak ? ….

October 10th, 2016 at 9:32 am

Willow – You are correct. I misread what you said.

And it is from Lendl and then Andy working on correcting one of the greatest mysteries in tennis – why Andy with a perfect suite of skills to excel on clay – sucked on clay. Now if no if no improvement happens to Rafa’s condition, he vies with Djokovic for best on clay in 2017. We shall see. But Andy arrived as a full all-court threat to take clay titles in 2015 in addition to being great player already on hardcourt and grass.

October 10th, 2016 at 9:35 am

Wogboy:

Back from Wales? Or not been yet?

October 10th, 2016 at 10:01 am

Nole no question best player of the year. Grand Slam alone clinched that for me.

Murray the best post French Open. Most points and Gold medals hard to debate.

But Nole will turn that around as I think he’ll win Shanghai and WTF.

Aside: RIP Fedal

October 10th, 2016 at 12:03 pm

^^^ How about you RIP??
Tongue wagger!!

October 10th, 2016 at 12:07 pm

JK,
I will be on my way to Wales tomorrow, I have to buy some warm clothes first, no?

October 10th, 2016 at 12:15 pm

WB:

I daren’t say (somebody might be listening)- except it’s a great start to Autumn north of Hadrian’s Wall..not sure about Wales. However, good bowl of leek and potato soup will be as good as an extra sweater.

Enjoy.

October 10th, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Elina: You left out Paris….

October 10th, 2016 at 12:34 pm

I think Andy’s best chances to surpass Nole are starting with next year. Paris and YEC are played indoors, and Andy hates that. Nole has to defend a lot of points at the beginning of next year: Doha, AO, IW, Miami. We’ll see. It is up to them, after all.

October 10th, 2016 at 12:53 pm

Wog boy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2644127
Have a great trip. No-0ne can drink quite like Welsh rugby players!

October 10th, 2016 at 1:25 pm

@Kath
Cawl the traditional soup of Wales.

October 10th, 2016 at 1:29 pm

Margot:

Didn’t know the name but knew it was a leek & tatties (with a tasty bone providing the taste).

Didn’t check your weather – but will do so now – sometimes is so local…..(PS: Just phoned my fireplace Gentleman to come and clean my fireplace – these people are rare – plus am a bit ashamed of my global pollution).

October 10th, 2016 at 2:29 pm

VP:

One of the most sensible statements ever made on Tx.

PS: Just in case: Have seen Andy respond well to indoor tournaments as well. Give him one out of three. But Nole? Has he got his joie de vivre for tennis back?

October 10th, 2016 at 2:38 pm

Hehe JK,

Have to admit. Have watched Andy playing only Paris and YEC as indoors, and we know the results. Well, perhaps I he does not hate indoors that much, but he’s not at his best there for sure.
My feeling is that Nole wants to the Nr.1 until the end of the year at least, otherwise he would not play Shanghai. Andy’s determination has motivated him, I think. If he has got la joie de jouer tennis, on verra tomorrow :)

October 10th, 2016 at 3:15 pm

VP:

OK. But saw him recently at Davis Cup (yes, he lost to DelPo) but,- he was stunning. He makes these little grunts when surprised by a shot and rushes successfully over to it – he is pretty much all seeing, – only occasionally does the returning shot be a whisper too long. Following Del Potro he played doubles and then he again played singles against an inspired (what’s his name Argentinian) and made crushed peanuts of him. Del Potro did not have the steam left/or recovery to play another single match. In short, Andy has layers of stamina.

October 10th, 2016 at 4:03 pm

If Murray wins Shangai, the race for #1 is on. If he beats Djoko in finals he will be 1200 pts behind Djoko. If Djoko loses in semis Murray will be 935 pts behind and if Djoko loses in QF Murray will be 750 pts behind. All this scenarios force the decision to London. Don’t believe neitger Djoko nor Murray will play Basel or another tourney before Paris, spceially Murray if he wen deep again, he just played 5 matches.

As WTF awards 1500 pts the race most likelly will ve decided there.

But any scenario where Djoko goes further than Murray in Shangai and race is basically over and Djoko holds #1 ranking every week of the year for the second straight time and tie Fed’s with 5 year end #1.

October 10th, 2016 at 4:04 pm

Kath, it has lamb in it, Welsh natch.

October 10th, 2016 at 4:09 pm

J-Kath no I didn’t.

Nole won’t need Paris to clinch.

October 10th, 2016 at 5:20 pm

JK & Margot,

Thanks for the tips, I certainly won’t try to match Welsh players in drinking:) I’ll try to enjoy my time as much as I can.

October 10th, 2016 at 5:31 pm

Elina

Tempting Fate?

October 10th, 2016 at 6:03 pm

Rest peacefully, Nole Fans:

I don’t seriously believe Andy will take No.1 by end of year. Even if he wins sufficiently at Shanghai & Paris, Andy will be too bust to blow by the time he gets to O2. And isn’t there a blooming Davis Cup somewhere in-between??????????????? Without any points, of course.

October 10th, 2016 at 6:10 pm

Margot:

WB means he certainly won’t try to match the Welsh players in the beer drinking contest, he’ll easily surpass them. He’ll need several bowls of Welsh Natch to recover before his wife hears about it.

October 10th, 2016 at 6:14 pm

Whomever gets it will be deserving, but it seems everything i say gets misinterpreted, or posters believing i have some ulterior motive, SO IM OUT ! ….

October 10th, 2016 at 6:26 pm

I’M OUT TOO WILLOW!WHY DON’T WE OUT TOGETHER GETHER!Hey..why don’t we take Rafa with us?Let’s say go fishin’ somewhere?Besides Elina declared that Fedal has RIP already..

October 10th, 2016 at 7:56 pm

The talk of the WTF and how it advantages Novak over Andy because it is indoors had me thinking about Fedal as well. How much Federer enjoys playing indoors, how terrible the otherwise supremely talented Nadal is indoors and losing to players there he beats in open air arenas.
While both Djokovic and Federer are awesome outdoors, their precision games (serve and flattening inside out forehands for Fed and Djokovic’s 1 inch inside the lines to open the court to his command) excel indoors.
No sun, wind, or brutally hot temps as variables. The advantage of the slop in clearing the net Nadal has with his high RPM shots to account for those variables is gone when he is indoors. And his history of underperforming indoors is in his head.

October 10th, 2016 at 8:06 pm

Indoors is for ping pong.

Tennis is an outdoor sport.

cf1 probably prefers indoor baseball and artificial turf.

October 10th, 2016 at 9:03 pm

Agree CF1, the huge top spin has no where near to 50% of the effect, wen Nadal uses outdoors. Also, it’s usually faster courts and players who can controle the ball better and take time away succeed (basically every aggressive top hitter out there today). Nadal’s only chance this indoor season is Basel, and that a big maybe because I think DelPo and Wawa will be there too, so Raonic and a few others. No way he was Shangai or Paris having just lost to Dimi.

I am more curious to see Djoko’s return and Murray after Beijing. They have to be extra careful in first 2 rounds, if they survive that and are in QF, than we can have another match between them, long time without one. Curious to see Murray plays Djoko again after winning Wimbledon. Maybe that was a small step for him to overcome his latest Djokoites;-)

October 10th, 2016 at 11:33 pm

elina: was just gonna add “indoor rugby” to your list but remembered the Millenium Stadium can get a bit indoorsy…….oops ;)

October 11th, 2016 at 1:34 am

J-K,

“OK. But saw him recently at Davis Cup (yes, he lost to DelPo) but,- he was stunning. ” Ok, he was impressive at the Davis Cup in Glasgow. I still think, he does not like indoors events very much. At the US Open this year he did not lose because of the Gong sound, the problem was more, that they have closed the roof there, my POV.
Djoko won also several titles on clay, but I still think, Djoko does not like clay courts as much as he likes playing on hard.

October 11th, 2016 at 1:58 am

Elina you sound like Nadal on playing indoors. Alas, a good part of the world is very cold or rainy much of the time, so for much of the year, if you want to play, it’s outdoors.
I like outdoors clay the best, but in 3 countries I was in for any length of time, clay was hard to find locally.

The indoor/outdoor title ratio of Nadal vs the rest of the Big 4 is pretty amazing.

Federer
22 indoors, 66 outdoors
Djokovic
12 Indoors, 54 outdoors
Nadal
2 indoors, 67 outdoors
Murray
11 indoors, 29 outdoors

October 11th, 2016 at 2:06 am

Willow: Don’t you dare Vamos….so what if you touch a few nerves – there’s always tranquilisers and if you raise dandruff I’m reliably informed that there are special shampoos that will take care of it.

October 11th, 2016 at 3:29 am

Thanks J-Kath lol nah when i said out, i just meant out of that particular topic, rather than out of this rotten forum, i mean hell !, its not as if i even said one derogatory word about Novak anyway, YEP just looked over all my posts on this thread before posting this, and NO not one derogatory word, it seems posters want to interpret things the way they want to interpret things, theres nought i can do about that unfortunatly, but im not about to stop rooting for my favorites that is for sure ….

October 11th, 2016 at 3:54 am

AndyMira lol cheers ….

October 11th, 2016 at 4:14 am

@Willow..he he..okay now buddy?See?You’ve got your personal Guardian Angel..You’re safe now..Looks like i’m going fishin’ alone with Rafa..Heh!heh!..Adios sis!

October 11th, 2016 at 4:51 am

See what I do for you, AndyMira, I’ve managed to arrange for you to go fishing ALONE with Rafa. My bill is in the mail – if you pay by credit card I will charge an additional 2%.

October 11th, 2016 at 5:15 am

@JK..He he..Yeah..As for pay by credit card..Err,can i pay you by cash?And i have to ask for a delay because we’re heading towards flood season here and i can’t plant paddy anymore..

October 11th, 2016 at 7:09 am

Good win for Nole, Foggy is a tricky person to play, hopefully there is no more bother with the wrist, but then again im only saying this as i have an ulterior motive, only pretending to be polite , and any other conspriracy therories that are brandied about etc ….

October 11th, 2016 at 7:45 am

AndyMira

You should be harvesting by now, tut, tut.

However, seeing Willow is back on the trail, and will be joining you on the fishing trip with Rafa, I’ll cancel your debt this time.

October 11th, 2016 at 8:20 am

Sounds like Nole is enthusiastically back. Hiccup is over, we return to normal and matches get interesting again.

October 11th, 2016 at 8:25 am

Damn!! Back to the vile boob celebration! Geez!
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

October 11th, 2016 at 9:13 am

Been away for a few days…….behind on my congratulatory wishes! To J-Kath, Margot and other Andy fans….A big CONGRATULATIONS to Andy on his last title. He has had an awesome year and as fans, doesn’t it feel great?? The year is coming to a close. It’s been great for some fans not so good for others. When we get into 2017 it will be to do all over again. All the ups and downs of being a faithful fan of our favorites! I am hoping for lots of improvements for my guy…..a roller coaster ride this year for sure! Good luck to the guys who make it to the year end finals!!

October 11th, 2016 at 12:29 pm

Hi Okie, glad your here, hope you had a lovely break ;-)), agree with your post, i think i will be glad of a break from tennis TBH much as i love it ….

October 11th, 2016 at 1:25 pm

Good to have you back Okie. I sometimes feel strange being congratulated for an Andy tournament win – I console myself with the fact that I do clutch the crystals when he seems to stall – daft as it may seem. But still, it is nice and thoughtful. Nole has found form again, so here’s hoping Rafa joins him.

October 11th, 2016 at 1:52 pm

I wonder how Fed clowns and Nadal fiends feel if Murray
was truly playing a weak era of western uncivilized ‘players’?
I’m not a fan of a couple of his interviews but hopefully Murray never gets into Federina’s deluded egomaniac territory.
It’s not like Fed had any real fight for #1 against the Blakes & Roddicks of the world.
Fed could only talk trash and clench his jaw for beatings by Novak. Not so bad for an elderly injured 30 year old Swiss man!

I’m sure Murray isn’t protected by US tennis rules and has the billions of brain cells advantage over Andee Wienerdick,
so there won’t be locker room violent rubbish from Murray.

October 11th, 2016 at 2:53 pm

@khb
Watch this, Andy and Richard are auditioning famous celebs for various parts in a film about Andy. For Cancer relief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR-LLVZYBMU
Part 2 is less funny but still good.
Unlikely Andy ever turns into a “deluded egomaniac.”

October 11th, 2016 at 3:50 pm

For the record, I brought it in here that Andy is maybe currently in the best form no matter what at this moment the lists say (which DO say that Novak had greater year) but that we would see how this masters plays out. So, Willow shouldn’t be blamed for what I said although I don’t see what’s wrong with it :).

October 11th, 2016 at 4:15 pm

Thankyou Danica, i dont believe in blame anyway, people are entitled to an opinion whether thats you, me, or whomever ….

October 11th, 2016 at 4:41 pm

Margot: Andy wants Ewan MacGregor to play Andy – for the accent!!! The wee timorous beastie et al…my goodness gracious me.

October 11th, 2016 at 6:34 pm

Ewan MacGregor oh my ;-)) ….

October 12th, 2016 at 4:24 am