Steveg is less dead than thought anyway.

The forums are ongoin and ther's a cryptic notice about maybe getting going again

What's with Rafa playing the RLA night match for the 3rd round in a row ??! 

Andy vs Dolgoplov is on RLA 3rd after the two women's QFs, the first starting at midnight GMT and the 2nd at NB 1.30 am GMT

I kind of thought after Rafa had played the last 2 rounds at night, fair enough they've looked forward and Andy vs Soderling looks a good night match. And I still think a Murray vs Dolgopolov match would have held good interest as a night match in its own right as against the Spanish contest between Nadal and Ferrer.

Quite apart from just give your no 5 seed and last year's finalist experience again under lights at night in the RLA. 

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 10:02:21 PM

Not great scheduling it has to be said but clearly they thought Andy would be playing Sod which I assume would have been the night match. Not overly worried about it though as Melbourne temperatures have been on the cool side this year taking away most of the advantage of playing night matches. At least playing during the day you get to go to bed at a sensible hour, unlike potentially if you play late into the night playing a night match.

wolf wrote:

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philwrig wrote:

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Not great scheduling it has to be said but clearly they thought Andy would be playing Sod which I assume would have been the night match. Not overly worried about it though as Melbourne temperatures have been on the cool side this year taking away most of the advantage of playing night matches. At least playing during the day you get to go to bed at a sensible hour, unlike potentially if you play late into the night playing a night match.

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Yeah but fans are selfish - we want the matches to take place at a time that suits us and not the players.

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Nice one, wolfie!   Still reckon it's a fiendish Aussie plot to derail Andy's chances, though...

 

Goodf start to Beeb commentary informing us that George Morgan won his junior match 10 - 8 in the "super decider",  no it was actually 10 - 8 in games in the final set.

OK, kundalini, you've got agreement this time ( and that was with your original longer version too   ), that errr wasn't very good at all !

Andy said beforehand that the pressure in this match was on him and he played like that, basically **** scared.

Whenever he got up playing reasonably normal tennis he seemed to go into ultra passive mode, like Dolgo you've been making mistakes so I'm going to just hit the ball back to you and please pretty please make some more so I can cross the line in whatever set.  I was actually amazed at one point when Andy went for a perfectly reasonable backhand winner attempt which he netted then he berated himself apparently saying "just make him play it".  Terrible mindset !

No Andy, the guy makes most mistakes when you play at a quicker pace and when he is rushed.  Then he makes many mistakes because he makes rash choices when forced to think quickly.  But hey if you want to let him get in rhythm so be it then leave a few a bit shorter so he gets back into blasting rhythm as well again.

Gee, Andy even said in interview at the end that he realised after the 3rd set he needed to step up the pace and so started the 4th set well ( helped a bitty by Dolgo ).  Then his mind started playing tricks again, especially when Dolgopolov got one break back.  It was back to I'll just hit it back, pleese just let me win. Gee if Dolgopolov had maybe had more belief and got the other break back in the 4th set ( and he was a bit unlucky on a couple of shots returning at 2 - 4 ),  I think Andy might have turned into a quivering wreck !!

Well, it's out of the way I guess.  And from what we've seen during most of the tournament Andy is hitting the ball well enough when he let's himself go and plays positively without this mixed up mindset he was in today.

I am totally convinced that he will be back playing so much better, especially if it's Rafa. Hopefully too if it's Ferrer who he will know won't donate points. Loved the Beeb guy's question at the end, "what do you know about David Ferrer ?"  as if he was some unknown.  No wonder Andy gave him a look before basically saying "quite a lot really !"

Anyway forget that rubbish.  Time to be positive now, 5th Slam QF win in 7 attempts, a possible semi with Rafa who he really likes playing against especially on hard courts.  Or a semi with Ferrer, which you wouldn't complain about.  Could be worse 

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 09:29:55 AM