So Andy takes the aggressive game which helped him get over the line and win the US Open, and which is the only way to beat the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer, and which helped him waltz through Queen's and 4 rounds of Wimbledon without dropping a set.............

.......and reverts to an extreme version of the old Andy Murray from 3 or 4 years ago, but even more passive.......the days when he would sit back and let Gasquet get 2 sets and a break up on him, hoping the opponent would run out of conditioning or start to panic.

The first set Verdasco didn't even play well, but he was gifted the aggressors role from the first game. The 5 points Murray played from 3-5* 0-40 (i.e. 3 BPs) in set 2 were a disgrace......literally nothing but push the ball back in play and retreat 10 feet behind the baseline waiting for Verdasco (a man with nothing to lose, so bound to attack) to make an error. I thought he'd put all of this behind him, and that he believed in himself and his new approach completely. Obviously not.

Of course his fighter's spirit can still help him dig himself out of this, and I really hope he wins, but what an earth is going on in his head? His aggressive approach was WORKING!!!!!!!!

Would guess that Mr Murray had a plan, which he had worked out with Mr Lendl. Given that they're two of the greatest tennis minds/players ever, seems more likely that there's an issue with execution for some reason than with thinking. Though who knows?

Still very, very much hoping.

NID. Never worried for a minute.

 

 

It is ok to lie in your teeth if you cross your fingers while doing so, isn't it?

I thought that in this instance he was very unhelpful. (Don't normally listen to BBC, so haven't heard him on other occasions, and will take your word that he is smarter than most). Asking Mr Murray whether this was "a warning" to him when he alone has been saying repeatedly how good Verdasco is and how dangerous it is to write him into the final? The comments about Sir Alex Ferguson laying into his players ... and asking whether Mr Lendl would say things to him or whether he "knows it all"? Rude, ill-informed and uncalled for. Mr Murray's responses were excellent, but it must have been intensely frustrating when he had a real need to start the recovery process.

Anyway, he won. Ugly, but he won. Probably good that he had a long match before getting to Janowicz. And a fightback like that when he's playing badly is probably a good thing more generally.

I think Garry richardson's a bit of an arse. I used to like listening to sportsweek on bbc radio 5 on a Sunday morning, however I got fed up with the obsession with football (and formula 1- Berne ecclestone was on virtually every week) and his rude style of questioning.
Thought some of he comments/questions were really out of place after 3.5 hrs of tough tennis, and think AM really put him in his place.

I do agree with the comments on here though, he was far too passive, and let mr verdasco into the game far too much- but he played a great game

Garry Richardson has a very strange manner about him. He comes across as badgering and Paxman-like, and has a habit of putting things to sportsmen which come from left field and aim to catch them out. 

A typical line of questioning might be. 

- Well done for the win against Verdasco

- He hasn't been playing well in the last few years, but he seems fitter than ever, and is getting more power on his shots. Do you think he's on drugs or using an illegal racquet?

- You don't know. So you think it's possible then. You're really saying that it's a possibility aren't you. Maybe a 30% possibility. Is that about right Andy.

He comes across as rude, intrusive, and a little bit creepy.....but he certainly knows his stuff.

Richardson is an absolute moron. A few years back Roddick played one of his finest ever matches to beat Murray in the SF and in his post match interview all Richardson could do was ask him about Murray. Roddick was polite but his expression made clear exactly what he thought. As for Andy's performance today. It showcased yet again why I find him so frustrating. His play was awful for much of the match and his tactics were ridiculous but yet again he showed what a tremendous competitor he is. Even at two sets down I didn't think the result was ever really in doubt.