ATP 1000: Miami

snore bloody fest. One of the worst match ups out there!

Don't you just hate it when muscle kills flair....just not right!
good night

noleisthebest wrote:Don't you just hate it when muscle kills flair....just not right!
good night

Build better muscle, NITB. Ask Djokovic for help, if necessary.

laverfan wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Don't you just hate it when muscle kills flair....just not right!
good night

Build better muscle, NITB. Ask Djokovic for help, if necessary.

Cheap and nasty as usual...at least you kept it brief in this one,must be worn out after typing all those long replies on the other thread....looks like you need more muscle. Ask Nadal for help.

How on earth is saying that Djokovic has muscles cheap or nasty?

Have you seen his six pack? His biceps?

Hypocrisy to the extreme LOL.

Sorry nitb gotta agree I thought that was nicely timed there by LF.

Today in Miami:
4 PM UK time, women's final

Serena - Sharapova

Should be good, def better than the men's final tomorrow

It doesn't get more competitive than Serena v Sharapova....and this time Sharapova seems to mean business.
Terrible screaming.
Go Serena

After 11 straight losses Sharapova a set and a break up (just came from 0:2 down in the 2nd)

....but!
Serena would not be Serena if she didn't come back.
1:1 and serving for the title with a third set bagel.

Serena: Phenomenal woman

I believe the number one ranking was on the line as well and Serena was not going to let it go.
Brilliant going for Serena, 6h title in Miami, apparently only Agassi with the same success.

Miami men's final, 4.30 pm UK time (I hope I got the time right after I've changed it on all the clocks in the house!)

Murray- Ferrer

Does anyone look forward to hearing the winner's speech?
I think that Murray moves to number 2 if he wins tomorrow.

And it's men's final time...who would have thought it would be Ferrer vs Murray....

I really dislike both players...and it's one of those rare times when I want both to lose.... but kno wthat deep down inside as soon as I hear Murray yells out a loud "c'mon!" after a Ferrer's UE, it will be a no brainer

4:0 Ferrer. Bagel on the cards?

Despite being 0:5 down, according to Goodall & co: Murray so far has been: a genius, had moments of magic...

noleisthebest wrote:I think that Murray moves to number 2 if he wins tomorrow.

Yes, he would. He was very briefly at #2 in August 2009 but this time he would be likely to stay there longer. Also, throughout his career, he has only been ahead of Federer for six weeks in the fall of 2011. If he wants to stake a claim as a top player, it is just about time he moved ahead of Roger. Roger is well past his peak and, in reality, it is not clear how many more peak years even Andy has ahead of him.

Very odd start to the match, BTW.

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I think that Murray moves to number 2 if he wins tomorrow.

Yes, he would. He was very briefly at #2 in August 2009 but this time he would be likely to stay there longer. Also, throughout his career, he has only been ahead of Federer for six weeks in the fall of 2011. If he wants to stake a claim as a top player, it is just about time he moved ahead of Roger. Roger is well past his peak and, in reality, it is not clear how many more peak years even Andy has ahead of him.

Interesting. I've read somewhere, that he's past his peak. He is certainly a different player now. These extra muscles/weight are doing him more harm than good esp in the long run.

LOL.

What a match so far.

Ferrer's footwork really good. With these medium slow courts, he is in heaven!
Interesting that he is going for length down the middle rather than angles....and starts missing! Murray returns one break. 2:5

Murray warned about keeping time in the changeover by Cedric.

noleisthebest wrote:Interesting. I've read somewhere, that he's past his peak.

I do not know about being past his peak just yet, but traditionally tennis players tail off after about age 27. So that would give him somewhere between 1-2 more years. Some players last longer, but it is certainly not a given - more an exception than a rule.

The last few years the age at the top seems to have advanced a bit but I do not quite buy into the theory that we will now be seeing massive shifts in players top performance ages. I would definitely think that three more years of peak Andy (and Nole, and Rafa) is about as much as we can realistically expect.

And Ferrer breaks Murray for the 3rd time to take the first set. Terrible serving capped off by the final double fault point.

VAMOSSS DAVEED.

Summerblues, come on MTL?

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Interesting. I've read somewhere, that he's past his peak.

I do not know about being past his peak just yet, but traditionally tennis players tail off after about age 27. So that would give him somewhere between 1-2 more years. Some players last longer, but it is certainly not a given - more an exception than a rule.

The last few years the age at the top seems to have advanced a bit but I do not quite buy into the theory that we will now be seeing massive shifts in players top performance ages. I would definitely think that three more years of peak Andy (and Nole, and Rafa) is about as much as we can realistically expect.

His current game is physically unsustainable for Murray, I have a feeling it's taking worse toll on him than Nadal.

When I said peaked, I meant game-wise, wasn't he a lot more comfortable within himself in that USO final against Federer, or when he beat Nadal in that AO SF (that's the best I can remember him play)?
He chose to give himself extra belief by increasing fitness & muscle.

It did ultimately produce him a slam win (in a set of very alleviating circumstances), but you can see he is struggling to keep up with it.

Larry Ellison wrote:Summerblues, come on MTL?

Are you asking why I am not posting much on MTL?

Nah, I'm saying you should come on MTL.

The question mark was like 'do you want to'

I wonder if Murray used up that challenge just to catch some breath....the out was really obvious...

Goodall saying how he spoke to Judy who apparently is not happy with Murray's court positioning and wants him to be more aggressive and proactive...
Should've given him more hugs and kisses when he was little Judy....

noleisthebest wrote:His current game is physically unsustainable for Murray

Maybe but I do not see it. I would put this under your wishful thinking category. Players need to be pretty athletic to compete these days. I will grant you that Nole is more naturally disposed to do well in current conditions - after all he has always been doing better than Andy - but I do not see any signs that Andy cannot stay at his current level or thereabouts for a couple of more years.

Ferrer back to number 4 tomorrow, too. Which leaves seeding for Monte Carlo and Madrid very interesting....

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:His current game is physically unsustainable for Murray

Maybe but I do not see it. I would put this under your wishful thinking category. Players need to be pretty athletic to compete these days. I will grant you that Nole is more naturally disposed to do well in current conditions - after all he has always been doing better than Andy - but I do not see any signs that Andy cannot stay at his current level or thereabouts for a couple of more years.

He will struggle with consistency because of it at best.

Interesting to see Lendl kitted out in Nike stuff....

Larry Ellison wrote:Nah, I'm saying you should come on MTL.

The question mark was like 'do you want to'

Well, I am a member there (joined there before v2), I just do not post much. MTL is probably my favorite forum - the way I see it they picked up bulk of the best posters from the old 606. Also, on match days they are typically much more active than say v2. Plus I also quite like the way they run the forum.

My problem with MTL is purely technological. I do a lot of my forum reading on the go from my mobile phone, and I find MTL not very mobile friendly. Enough to mostly keep me away from there.

kl kl

I knew you were a member there, I was saying do you want to comment on the match thread today?

Murray's slowed the pace right down with his slices....and broke Ferrer's rhythm...which I believe is Ferrer's plan A,B, C and D!.

noleisthebest wrote:He will struggle with consistency because of it at best.

Well yes, I am more willing to believe that.

Larry Ellison wrote:I knew you were a member there, I was saying do you want to comment on the match thread today?

Nah, until I work out a good way to use MTL on my mobile (or until they make it more mobile friendly), I think I will venture there rarely only.

Finally, an hour into the match an all-court point!
but only because Ferrer had no choice this time and HAD to come forward to pick up that drop shot....

Murray is definitely looking more comfortable & natural in the rare attacking moments compared to this time last year.
But that's because he's got Ferrer across the net. Will be interesting to see if he can translate it to the "big three".

Robbie at the risk of sounding to repetitive: athletic, athleticism, athlete....he's said it way too many times for this one set and a half

Where are those sizzling breath-taking SBHs from Gasquet (sigh.....)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bX6JPZQiu9Q

Interesting to see the effect of the 25 sec rule: after that very taxing 28 shot rally and Murray being 40:15 up, Murray serves out fast, scores a quick point, but still catching breath, misses the next serve and sends the forehand long due to being a step too short in the following two points, instead of being 5:2 up now facing a break point. Ferrer breaks and it's 4 all.
Very interesting, indeed.

Pretty poor game from David here. Too bad. Normally I would be rooting for Andy but now I would like Roger to keep his #2 spot longer, if possible.

I really hope umpires, and more importantly, their boss ATP, persevere with enforcing the 25 sec rule, it could change the game for better and give us more entertaining tennis.

I am certainly not a Darwinist, but when it comes to a Murray-Ferrer match survival of the fittest looks the right answer....3rd set here we come!

noleisthebest wrote:I really hope umpires, and more importantly, their boss ATP, persevere with enforcing the 25 sec rule

I find it odd how much debate it even brings. It is a rule, so what is so controversial about sticking to it?

I think backhand volleys are a definite no-no for Ferrer....

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I really hope umpires, and more importantly, their boss ATP, persevere with enforcing the 25 sec rule

I find it odd how much debate it even brings. It is a rule, so what is so controversial about sticking to it?

Are you pulling my leg or you really can't see?

When was the last time David held? Pretty sad.

summerblues wrote:When was the last time David held? Pretty sad.

He's running on an empty tank, that's why.