ATP Masters Series 1000 Rome - Second Round
4 Andy Murray d David Nalbandian - 61 46 75
Andy is becoming an old man! But... and this is a big but...
Only 13 men in the Open Era won their maiden Slam after their 25th bday.
I hope he becomes the 14th.
Photo: Andy's Facebook
Let's start with the funny first...
Jamie Murray: What’s the 1 thing you would save if your house was on fire?
Andy: Oh, save. I was going to say, don’t think I could get away with that.
I would save my dogs, probably.
Is that wrong that I said that over my girlfriend?
I’d take my dogs, I’d take them for sure.
Well ok then. Read the entire interview HERE.
And now something much more weighty...
David Frost: And when you win the Grand Slam you’ll feel that all those sacrifices in the last few years were hugely worthwhile?
Andy: Yes, and that’s the thing. There have been bad moments, like last year after losing the Australian Open. I had a very low point in my career where I was struggling and I was really down, wasn’t believing in myself, and the results were bad for a few months. And then when I started to work hard again, started to spend hours on the court and in the gym, the results picked up very quickly, so I understand now there’s nothing special you need to do, it’s purely hard work and believing.
Read the full interview HERE.
ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Quarterfinals
1 Novak Djokovic d Robin Hasse - 64 62
6 Tomas Berdych d 3 Andy Murray - 67(4) 62 63
1 Novak Djokovic vs 6 Tomas Berdych - H2H: 8-1/ND
This is Novak's 4 trip to the M-C Sf's (1-2) - he was runner-up in 2009.
If you don't know who beat him in that final then leave this blog now!
At the Masters 1000 level this is Nole's 28th Sf: 18-9.
As for Tomas - this is his second time in the M-C Sf's: 0-1.
His previous Sf was a loss in '07 - and if you have to ask...
At the Masters 1000 level this is his 8th Sf: 2-5.
This has the makings of a great match.
Photos: Reuters
ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Second Round
3 Andy Murray d Viktor Troicki - 60 63
This is Andy's 6th trip to M-C - he's been to a pair of Sf's: '09 & '11.
Remember, he lost a memorable 3-setter to Rafa last year.
About the new do... he says he cut it himself.
If this tennis thing doesn't work out he can always barber.
Photo: Getty Images
ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - Final
1 Novak Djokovic d 4 Andy Murray - 61 76(4)
Again with the bubbles.
This marks Nole's 3rd Miami title and 11th at the Masters 1000 level.
This is the first time he has successfully defended a 1000 title.
It also represents his 30th career ATP title and 2nd on the 2012 season.
Nole's entering the stretch last year where he grabbed a lot of points but -
He passed on Monte-Carlo in '11 - I hear he's eager to play it this year.
And he's really eager to complete the career Slam by winning Roland Garros.
In a few weeks things are gonna get really interesting on the men's tour.
The big 3: Nole is dominant; Rafa is hurting; Roger is surging.
Get some rest boys - see you in M-C.
Photo: Getty Images
ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - Quarterfinals
4 Andy Murray d 9 Janko Tipsarevic - 46 63 64
By all accounts this looks like it was a thriller. I didn't see it.
In fact, I haven't seen Andy strike a ball in Miami - seems our timing is off.
This is the '09 champions 4th Sf at Miami: 1-2.
This is also his 18th Masters 1000 Sf: 8-9. Those 8 Sf wins became titles.
He'll next play 2 Rafael Nadal - H2H: 13-5/RN. Hard courts they're 6-5/RN.
This will be their first meeting at Miami. Both nearly their lost Qf matches.
Andy: Today's match was really important for me to get through...
[Fighting] back after being a break down a few times in the second set.
"And then also, at the end of the third set when I was up a break...
He had break point in a tight game, and I came up with some big serves...
And served my way out of trouble, which is important.
Photo: Reuters
ATP Masters Series 1000 Indian Wells - 2nd Round
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez d 4 Andy Murray - 64 62
Second straight year Andy's lost in the 2nd round - Donald Young last year.
Since finishing runner-up in '09 his W/L at IW is a dismal 3-3.
Interesting: He's off to Miami where he's lost back-to-back 2nd R'ers as well.
Hats-off: Garcia-Lopez played out-of-his-mind tennis.
That, and Murray couldn't keep very many balls between the lines.
Hmm, something about the California desert not agreeing with him?
Well, he still has doubles with his brother. So yea, there's that.
Photo: Reuters
ATP 500 Dubai - Semifinal
3 Andy Murry d 1 Novak Djokovic - 62 75
In only his 2nd tournament of 2012 Nole loses his first match of the year.
Remember he didn't lose his first match in '11 until the Sf's of Roland Garros.
But another run like that was always going to be nearly impossible.
Nole was looking for a 4th straight title at Dubai.
Andy previously has played Dubai twice falling in the Qf's in both occasions.
He becomes the first Brit to reach the final in the touney's 20 year history.
This is the 1st meeting in an event lower than a Slam or Masters 1000.
Andy improves his H2H against Nole to 5-7. They are 1-1 on the year.
Who can the forget that incredible Sf 5-set classic they produced at the AO?
He will face the winner of Federer/Del Potro in the final tomorrow.
Andy wins title Bangkok over Donald Young - check.
Then he takes the Tokyo trophy away from defender Rafael Nadal - check.
Then he makes it a hat-trick in Shanghai over David Ferrer - checkmate.
His reward - Andy will take over as the #3 player in the ranking.
Dumping Roger Federer outside the top 3 for the 1st time since 2003.
This is Andy's 2nd Shanghai title ('10) and 8th Masters 1000 title.
He has now won 2 Masters 1000's titles per year for 4 years running.
And if 3 titles weren't enough - he won the dubs in Tokyo with his brother.
Ok dude, time to win a Slam in 2012.
Montreal Masters Series 1000 - Second Round
Kevin Anderson d 4 Andy Murray - 63 61
Andy has yet to win a match on North American soil this year.
He also lost his opening round matches at Indian Wells & Miami in March.
Whoops: Andy was the 2-time defending champion in Canada.
Shocking that he could only manage 4 games...
Even more shocking - he lost his serve 3 times in the 2nd set.
Completely lackluster. Hmmmmm.
Photo: Getty Images
1 Rafael Nadal d 10 Mardy Fish - 63 64 57 64
Rafa moves into his 5th straight Sf: 4-0 & his 16th trip to a Slam Sf: 12-3.
He is the 2nd youngest (by two days) to reach 16 Slam Sf's - after Borg.
Rafa had a little lapse of concentration in the 3rd set before closing it out.
He sets up 2nd straight Sf against Andy Murray: 11-4/RN.
2 Novak Djokovic d Q Bernard Tomic -62 36 63 75
Novak is one match win away for being #1 in the rankings.
I'm very close to reaching the #1, but I try not to think about that too much.
He got a really tough workout from 18 year-old future star Bernie today.
This is Novak's 5th straight Slam Sf & 12th overall.
He will face nemesis Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - H2H: 5-2/JWT.
This should be a great match.
4 Andy Murray d Feliciano Lopez -63 64 64
Yesterday Andy met PGA US Open winner Rory McIlroy with John McEnroe.
This is Andy's 3rd straight trip to the Wimbledon Sf: 0-2.
Andy is the only Sf'ist yet to drop a set.
Andy is in the final 4 again - one of these days he'll be the last one standing.
Just have to go out there and play well and serve well...
And believe and I'll have a chance.
12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 3 Roger Federer - 36 67(3) 64 64 64
Jo-Willy came up with the win of his lifetime.
This is his 3rd Slam Sf: 1-1.
This is the 3rd time Roger lost with a 2 set lead - 1st time at a Slam.
Jo-W: The feeling is like maybe beating Nadal in Roland Garros...
So it's just amazing. And for me it will be, for sure...
One of the best memories in my career anyway.
Photos: Getty Images
Here we go again. Will the British finally get their a champ?
This will be Andy's 6th attempt at SW19 - he has a W/L of 19-5.
He has been a Sf'ist the last 2 years - losing to the champion Rafa in '10.
This morning, as expected, he was seeded #4.
Grass title: He is coming off of a win last week at the Queen's Club.
Can Andy become the latest man to win the Queen's-Wimbledon double?
The pressure mounts.
Photo: Judy Murray's Twitter
The grass season is way too short.
Fragile: Fern's year - Andy's ankle.
Rafa no rest for the champ - yesterday clay today grass.
Play at Queens Club began today. Sadly, Dmitry lost.
Roland Garros - Men's Semifinal
1 Rafael Nadal d 4 Andy Murray - 64 75 64
Rafa turned 25 today with a win into his 6th Roland Garros final.
He has never lost in an RG final: 5-0.
Rafa moves into his 12th Slam final and is looking for title #10: 9-2.
He started this RG shaky but his form has improved with each match.
Rafa: Being in the final of Roland Garros you can't have problems.
You cannot have doubts. If you compare from now to one week ago,
[my form and confidence] is completely different.
He is also looking to tie Bjorn Borg's record of 6 RG trophy lifts.
Rafa: [I have] a lot of respect for the great Bjorn,
But I am focus[ing] on try[ing] to play well.
For me, is much more important [to] win ROland Garros than equal Bjorn.
Happy birthday Rafa.
Photos: Reuters
Roland Garros - Men's Third Round
4 Andy Murray d Michael Berrer - 62 63 62
Andy went over on his ankle early in the 2nd set.
He had it taped and was able to finish the match (un)comfortably.
But how it reacts in before his next match on Monday is still unknown.
Andy: I don't know if I will be 100 per cent fit.
I don't know if I will be playing the next match. Maybe I will be.
And with his beloved Wimbledon just weeks away... Well, you get the idea.
Tough luck: Just as Andy seemed poised for a Sf run.
Photo: Getty Images
Rome ATP Masters Series 1000 - Semifinal
1 Novak Djokovic d 4 Andy Murray - 61 36 76(2)
36-0
That folks is the very definition of an instant classic.
And talk about an escape artist - Andy should have had this one.
Instead we are looking at our 4th MS1000 final with Rafa vs Nole.
H2H: 16-10/RN.
Of course you remember Nole won the last 3: Indian Wells, Miami & Madrid.
Tough ask: Hard to see how Novak is going to bounce back tomorrow.
Seems fitting that the guy to end Novak's run should be Rafa - on clay.
But wait, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves...
Photo: Getty Images
Rome ATP Masters Series 1000 - Quarterfinal
4 Andy Murray d Florian Mayer - 16 61 61
Slow start there but we all know Andy is not much of a morning person.
Suddenly a clay court specialist too - he was also a Sf'ist at Monte Carlo.
This is his 3rd Sf on an otherwise poor season: 1-1.
Andy became the 1st Brit to go this far in Rome since 1932!
Andy: I want to be playing at the latter stages of these events...
If I want to get to No. 1 in the world then you need to play well on all of the,
Surfaces because Roger, Rafa and Novak all play well on all the courts.
Speaking of Novak - he's next and will be a considerable test. H2H: 5-3/ND.
Will Andy be the one to hand Novak his 1st loss this year?
Photo: Getty Images
Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Semifinal
1 Rafael Nadal d 3 Andy Murray - 64 26 61
Rafa won thru to the final in a 2:58 thrilling near-instant classic.
Murray did so well to take a set - only the 3rd Rafa has lost on clay in 2 years.
This was Rafa's 200th Masters 1000 match win. He has only 40 losses.
Tomorrow he will be going fo an unprecidented 7th consecutive title in MC.
If he loses tomorrow it'll be his latest into a year without a title since '04.
He'll play Ferrer in the final - who'll be eager to win his 1st Masters title.
Their H2H: 11-4/RN but David won the previous match at the Aussie.
8-1 on clay: David's one win came way back at Stuttgart in '04.
This will be their 3rd meeting in M-C and David has yet to take a set.
Remember, Rafa beat him here last year in the Sf's 62 63.
Will Murray have given Ferrer enough of an assist today? Hmm...
This is Rafa's 3rd straight Masters final (0-2) & he's going for #19 overall.
This has all the makings of a very interesting match.
My sleeping pattern is so jacked.
Photo: Getty Images
Monte-Carlo ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal
3 Andy Murray d Q Fredrico Gil - 62 61
This is the 1st time Andy has won 3 matches in a row since the Aussie Open.
Hell, this is the 1st time he's won 2 matches in a row since the Aussie Open.
Andy moves into his 14th Masters 1000 Sf: 7-6. And his 2nd in MC: 0-1.
Tough task ahead: He next faces Rafa. On clay. In Monte-Carlo.
Andy and Rafa both have only lost 14 games on route to their Sf clash.
Andy has won 6 Master 1000 titles - the most by a man without a Slam.
Oh and, mum Judy is a complete hoot to follow on the Twitter.
Haha, can you tell that I ran out of things to say.
Photo: AP
Andy Murray into 3rd Round at Roland Garros even with Lower Back Drama
Roland Garros - Men's Second Round
4 Andy Murray d Jarkko Nieminen - 16 64 61 62
Strange match. In the 1set Andy could bare move.
He was dinking his serve in and going for broke early in points.
The trainer came out and then the back loosen up enough to roll.
He said he was a couple points from pulling the plug at on point.
After the match Andy tweeted:
Thanks to everyone that supported me through a really tough day today.
#alwaysbelieve
With Wimby & the London Olympics on the horizon what will he do?
Carry on or get better for Great Britain's sake.
Decisions. Decisions.
Posted at 02:51 PM in Andy Murray, Commentary, French Open, Grand Slam Tennis, Injury, Mens Tennis, Roland Garros, Scores | Permalink | Comments (0)
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