2014 Wimbledon Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Dimitrov

[Kieran]

You were better off out of it, sister. He was caught muttering darkly about something that went down "five minutes before the ****ing match." He wasn't combative or aggressive and he went out meekly. I thought Grigor handled himself well, but this was one of those slow starts from Andy that picked up speed...going slower....

 

[nehmeth]

Just so disappointing after he was in such good form in the first four rounds. Didn't see this coming at all. Could have seen Dimitrov winning narrowly for sure, but not straight sets with only one of them really being contested by the looks of it.

TF7, he didn't really play anyone who could put him off his game. I thought Anderson had a chance, but that was just wishful thinking. Dimitrov asserted himself early, and sure enough, Murray's first serve went away, then his groundstrokes went, and the next thing you know he's ranting to himself during the changeovers. It was a typical pre-Lendl Murray meltdown.

Sadly for his fans, I think this will be more his norm than his Lendl form. For your sake, I hope that I'm wrong.

 

[Moxie]

Those commenting on Mauresmo are being slightly harsh in my opinion. Murray hasn't exactly been tearing it up in the last 12 months anyway and Lendl was around for much of that time.

Overly harsh in more ways than one, IMO.

Just so disappointing after he was in such good form in the first four rounds. Didn't see this coming at all. Could have seen Dimitrov winning narrowly for sure, but not straight sets with only one of them really being contested by the looks of it.

TF7, he didn't really play anyone who could put him off his game. I thought Anderson had a chance, but that was just wishful thinking. Dimitrov asserted himself early, and sure enough, Murray's first serve went away, then his groundstrokes went, and the next thing you know he's ranting to himself during the changeovers. It was a typical pre-Lendl Murray meltdown.

Sadly for his fans, I think this will be more his norm than his Lendl form. For your sake, I hope that I'm wrong.

I hope you're wrong, too, and I think it's way too early to say that. Andy said he started poorly, and gave Dimitrov too much confidence. He had a bad day, for sure, and Grigor is a rising star. I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

 

[nehmeth]

I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

Keep believing. He needs it.

 

[Kieran]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

 

[Moxie]

I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

Keep believing. He needs it.

For sure. It's what we do, as fans. You do, too, I'm sure. Why not? Murray has won a Major more recently than Djokovic, though, and had back surgery in the interim, so I wouldn't say it's more of an act of faith to fancy Andy's chances going forward than Novak's. (Well, ok, except in this Wimbledon. :snigger )

 

[Fiero425]

I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

Keep believing. He needs it.

For sure. It's what we do, as fans. You do, too, I'm sure. Why not? Murray has won a Major more recently than Djokovic, though, and had back surgery in the interim, so I wouldn't say it's more of an act of faith to fancy Andy's chances going forward than Novak's. (Well, ok, except in this Wimbledon. :snigger )

I've said many times, his only move would be down going with that stupid defensive way of playing! He inevitably would start to break down just grinding out matches every round against absolute nobodies! It works out for a while, but he's put many miles on that body unnecessarily! Grigor took it to him and attacked the net to put away easy volleys again and again! Murray should have been doing that; esp. at Wimbledon! I have no sympathy for his boneheaded way of playing; add Nadal to the mix! :nono :angel:

 

[Moxie]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

How about "she looks like Deliciano?" There have been more than a few snide comments just referring to the fact that he hired a woman, at all. That's what I was referring to. Lendl had a very positive effect on Andy, and I'm not sure who can replace that. Maybe not Mauresmo, but not because she's a woman.

 

[Kieran]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

How about "she looks like Deliciano?" There have been more than a few snide comments just referring to the fact that he hired a woman, at all. That's what I was referring to. Lendl had a very positive effect on Andy, and I'm not sure who can replace that. Maybe not Mauresmo, but not because she's a woman.

She does look like Deliciano! She's pretty, in other words. But that was funny. I don't see what she can bring to him. As I said elsewhere, Virginia Wade caught some incoming flak cos she wondered why Andy replaced the intense discipline of Lendl with the nourishment of Amelie. But I think Ginny was correct. This appointment puzzled me. I just don't see it succeeding. Is it because she's a woman? Andy's ma is a woman, and she coached him.

It's just a wrong fit, far as I can make out...

 

[nehmeth]

I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

Keep believing. He needs it.

For sure. It's what we do, as fans. You do, too, I'm sure. Why not? Murray has won a Major more recently than Djokovic, though, and had back surgery in the interim, so I wouldn't say it's more of an act of faith to fancy Andy's chances going forward than Novak's. (Well, ok, except in this Wimbledon. :snigger )

Murray is not Nadal, and he's not Djokovic either. Rafa's fought back from injury, from being surpassed by another player and come back stronger each time. Novak was at 14 consecutive slam semifinals until the eventual winner knocked him off in the quarters of Oz. Back in the finals of the French and in the semis here. Nope, he hasn't punched one through in a year and a half and I've been way more critical of that fact than you have.

Murray was only ever on the cusp of winning before Lendl. Under Lendl he made it over the hump and entered the rarified air of a multiple slam winner. Then the injury, and then Lendl moved on. He played well all week until he ran into someone who wasn't afraid to stand up to him and he did not have the wherewithal to step it up. To me, it was vintage pre-Lendl (even the expletive filled rants with himself during the changeovers) It is my opinion that you will see more of the same. If I am wrong, I won't hesitate to admit it.

 

[Fiero425]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

How about "she looks like Deliciano?" There have been more than a few snide comments just referring to the fact that he hired a woman, at all. That's what I was referring to. Lendl had a very positive effect on Andy, and I'm not sure who can replace that. Maybe not Mauresmo, but not because she's a woman.

She does look like Deliciano! She's pretty, in other words. But that was funny. I don't see what she can bring to him. As I said elsewhere, Virginia Wade caught some incoming flak cos she wondered why Andy replaced the intense discipline of Lendl with the nourishment of Amelie. But I think Ginny was correct. This appointment puzzled me. I just don't see it succeeding. Is it because she's a woman? Andy's ma is a woman, and she coached him.

It's just a wrong fit, far as I can make out...

I mentioned a while back, only one male pro had a female coach while he was on tour; a Russian called Andrei Cherkasov! Plenty of players allowed their moms to get them started; even Jimmy Connors with Gloria, but you need a firm hand if you expect to get anywhere and move up the rankings! :nono :angel:

 

[TennisFanatic7]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

Criticising a coach based on two tournaments where Murray hasn't played conclusively better or worse than he was before is harsh in my book whatever way you spin it.

After Wimbledon last year, still with Lendl as coach, Murray lost badly to Gulbis in Canada, to Berdych in QFs at Cincinnati, badly to Stan in US Open QFs, disappointingly to Florian Mayer in Doha, pretty convincingly to Federer in Melbourne, then to Cilic in Rotterdam, Dimitrov in Acapulco, and a match he should have won against Raonic in Indian Wells, then came the split.

 

[nehmeth]

As I said elsewhere, Virginia Wade caught some incoming flak cos she wondered why Andy replaced the intense discipline of Lendl with the nourishment of Amelie. But I think Ginny was correct. This appointment puzzled me. I just don't see it succeeding. Is it because she's a woman? Andy's ma is a woman, and she coached him.

It's just a wrong fit, far as I can make out...

This is exactly what I was referring to when I posted earlier. When you feel your resolve slipping and your confidence is gone and look up to your box to see the withering gaze from the scowling face of Lendl - you know there will be untold pain later if you tuck tail and fold.

 

[Moxie]

I don't see that it's time to write Andy off.

Keep believing. He needs it.

For sure. It's what we do, as fans. You do, too, I'm sure. Why not? Murray has won a Major more recently than Djokovic, though, and had back surgery in the interim, so I wouldn't say it's more of an act of faith to fancy Andy's chances going forward than Novak's. (Well, ok, except in this Wimbledon. :snigger )

Murray is not Nadal, and he's not Djokovic either. Rafa's fought back from injury, from being surpassed by another player and come back stronger each time. Novak was at 14 consecutive slam semifinals until the eventual winner knocked him off in the quarters of Oz. Back in the finals of the French and in the semis here. Nope, he hasn't punched one through in a year and a half and I've been way more critical of that fact than you have.

Murray was only ever on the cusp of winning before Lendl. Under Lendl he made it over the hump and entered the rarified air of a multiple slam winner. Then the injury, and then Lendl moved on. He played well all week until he ran into someone who wasn't afraid to stand up to him and he did not have the wherewithal to step it up. To me, it was vintage pre-Lendl (even the expletive filled rants with himself during the changeovers) It is my opinion that you will see more of the same. If I am wrong, I won't hesitate to admit it.

I know you've been critical of Novak. The point is hope and faith, though. I don't see why Andy needs it any more than Nole does. The times, they are a-changing, and Andy lost to a guy breaking through, and playing especially well on grass. And yes, I know you'll admit it if you're wrong. I know you don't like Murray, so it's easier to see glass half empty, whereas I still see it half full.

 

[nehmeth]

I'm not too sure anybody is being "harsh" regarding Mauresmo. I mean, she was hired short term until Wimbledon and he's just lost heavily, in the quarters. What should we say? That she's made him better? We can only measure a short term contract by the results, even these are also short term.

It'd be up to him if he keeps her, but I don't see why he should. I don't blame her for the defeat, by the way, but by the same token, I don't see anything to praise. He did better in Paris on clay without her...

Criticising a coach based on two tournaments where Murray hasn't played conclusively better or worse than he was before is harsh in my book whatever way you spin it.

After Wimbledon last year, still with Lendl as coach, Murray lost badly to Gulbis in Canada, to Berdych in QFs at Cincinnati, badly to Stan in US Open QFs, disappointingly to Florian Mayer in Doha, pretty convincingly to Federer in Melbourne, then to Cilic in Rotterdam, Dimitrov in Acapulco, and a match he should have won against Raonic in Indian Wells, then came the split.

He only hired her for the grass season TF7. No one is blaming her for the loss, just saying that she didn't help.

Trying to blame Lendl on Andy's play post Wimbledon is ridiculous. Andy himself stated that after attaining the crown, he was distracted. I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the reasons why Lendl decided to move on.

 

[Moxie]

I mentioned a while back, only one male pro had a female coach while he was on tour; a Russian called Andrei Cherkasov! Plenty of players allowed their moms to get them started; even Jimmy Connors with Gloria, but you need a firm hand if you expect to get anywhere and move up the rankings! :nono :angel:

And clearly you think a woman wouldn't provide one. That's my point.

 

[Kieran]

Criticising a coach based on two tournaments where Murray hasn't played conclusively better or worse than he was before is harsh in my book whatever way you spin it.

But...she was only hired for two tourneys. So what else should we look at? I'm not blaming her fir his defeat, by the way...

 

[nehmeth]

The point is hope and faith, though. I don't see why Andy needs it any more than Nole does. The times, they are a-changing, and Andy lost to a guy breaking through, and playing especially well on grass. And yes, I know you'll admit it if you're wrong. I know you don't like Murray, so it's easier to see glass half empty, whereas I still see it half full.

Believe me, I was delighted to see Andy have his backside handed to him on a platter on Centre Court. I've had a smile on my face every time I think about it. The thing that makes me as a non-fan even happier is all the pre-Lendl behavior I saw today when things got tough. From my perspective, the glass is brimming over.

 

[Front242]

His main problem was not meeting anyone particularly good till today and then not being ready for that onslaught. Not Mauresmo's fault the draw panned out like it did but what any coach should do is work VERY HARD on his 2nd serve as it's crucifed him for years and will continue to do so till rectified and improved.

 

[Fiero425]

I mentioned a while back, only one male pro had a female coach while he was on tour; a Russian called Andrei Cherkasov! Plenty of players allowed their moms to get them started; even Jimmy Connors with Gloria, but you need a firm hand if you expect to get anywhere and move up the rankings! :nono :angel:

And clearly you think a woman wouldn't provide one. That's my point.

Well he could look up Renee Richards; maybe she could smack him around a little! :snigger :lolz: :laydownlaughing