Posted: 13.05.09 22:14. Post subject: Madrid: Bolelli reac..
Madrid: Bolelli reaction 13 May, 2009 | 19:05
Q. Considering how hard you had to work for the first set was that a particularly satisfying win?
I felt really good on the court; I hardly mishit a ball in the whole match. The first set was tough. I was very very sure the serve I hit was in but when I went round and saw the mark I was even more certain. So it was tough to come back from that but I played some good points. Overall, I was very happy with the way I played and especially the way I moved.
Q. Do you think there is a case for having hawk eye on clay courts?
No, it doesnґt happen very often where thereґs mistakes. Thereґs the odd time where there will be two marks very close to each other like on one of his serves in the first set where you donґt know which one it is and the referee has to decide. That sort of stuff doesnґt happen too often. If itґs costing money to do it I donґt think that itґs that necessary but the TV normally has that option. I watch matches on the TV and theyґll have the hawk eye on clay and what not so I donґt know if itґs already there for the television so if it is they might as well use it for the players, I guess.
Q. In the early stages of the match you were way behind the base line and he was really attacking you standing on the base line; do you feel comfortable back there or were you forced back there?
From being on the court the guy is hitting the ball huge. He hits the ball harder than most guys and itґs tough on new court conditions to be playing right up on the baseline as the start of the match and towards the end of the start I got to work my way closer and closer to the baseline but thatґs kind of the way, if you watch someone like Rafa at the start of matches on clay, youґll see him a long way behind the baseline making a lot of balls, trying to play solid and the more confidence he gets heґll move closer and closer to the baseline and thatґs what I did today.
Q. Robredo is up next. What more can you tell us about him? What are your preparations going to be like tomorrow?
Practice for an hour and a half or something. It was a relatively long match and a late finish so I will try and recover properly. He is one of the top ten clay court players, for sure. He won a couple of tournaments on clay in South America and he is playing at home so heґs going to have good support but itґll be a very good test for me but hopefully I can play like I did tonight and give myself a good chance.
Q. Is your knee ok? You clearly whacked it on the board where you put your name and everything, you appeared to be holding it a bit in the second set?
The thing is that with my knee, because of the thing I was born with, the bipartite patella, I canґt go past 90 degrees and thatґs not good when my knee goes over my toe; if I am standing up and I fall forward and I hit whatever it was, the name board that caused my knee to go forward and that gives me some sharp pains. Itґs a little bit sore, on clay itґs worse than on other courts because there is more sliding and what not. You get much lower to hit the balls and youґre having to hold in wide positions especially when you slide out to your forehand and stuff so Iґm going to have a bit more pain on clay that on other courts.
Q. Where we were sitting is considerably closer to where we normally get to on a clay court but that ball did seem to be quite close in. Are the courts, the run-off, as wide?
Actually, when were playing football tennis, when we got here the first day, the chairs are very close to the side of the court, so when we were heading the ball off to the side we couldnґt get the ball up because it was pretty tight. So yeah, maybe it is closer and the name boards were a good 3/4 ft in front of the chairs.
Q. There has been some talk about the Sun reflecting off the metallic executive boxes, you know they are all metallic rather than the wood, it was quite late in the day but did you notice any of that?
It was tougher when it got dark and the flood lights were on for me. I found it harder to see, the plastic seats and stuff as well reflects the light; a lot of people got up and left at the end of the first set so there was more seats free and it tougher to see but I wasnґt playing when the sun wouldґve been making a huge difference.
Q. The courts, there are a few iffy bounces on it. Is it just because they are new?
Yeah I think so, itґs just around the lines. Normally on clay courts the ball doesnґt bounce particularly well when it hits the lines but itґs very extreme here when it does hit the line. I hit one return where the ball hit the back edge of the line and it just started rolling and if you hit it in front of the line it really jumps up high. I think just because they are new the lines sit a bit higher than normal. The tournament has obviously got a lot of potential, I think that because itґs the first year it just takes a bit of time to get everything right, not just the courts but all the other bits and pieces.
Posted: 14.05.09 08:54. Post subject: Мышь про скоттинку с..
Мышь про скоттинку состряпала материал, а Дисулька нафоткала: Маррей: на грунте можно скользить 13 мая 2009 года, среда. 15:20 Автор: Светлана Штейн из Мадрида, Андрей Скачковский, "Чемпионат.ру" Фото: Екатерина Солдатова, "Чемпионат.ру"
Новая третья ракетка планеты и действующий чемпион турнира серии "Мастерс" в Мадриде Энди Маррей (правда, в прошлый раз это соревнование проходило не на грунте) одержал свою первую победу в розыгрыше-2009 над итальянцем Симоне Болелли – 7:6 (11:9), 6:4. Внимание к шотландцу сейчас повышенное, и среди тех, кто выслушал признания нового игрока топ-3, были и корреспонденты "Чемпионат.ру".
— Учитывая ту работу, которую вы проделали в первом сете, можно ли сказать, что вы удовлетворены победой в матче? — Мне было комфортно играть, я едва ли пропустил хотя бы один мяч. Первый сет был тяжёлым, особенно мне было трудно, когда не засчитали подачу, которая точно попала в корт. Я даже пошёл проверить след и убедился, что подача попала.
— Может, это тот случай, когда бы на грунте не помешала система Hawk eye? — Нет, судейских ошибок на грунте не так много. Иногда случается, что на корте остаются две отметки близко друг от друга, причём совершенно непонятно, какая из них правильная. Тогда решение принимает судья. Но ещё раз повторю: это не частое явление. Если на установку системы нужны деньги, я не думаю, что она нужна, тем более что по телевидению показывают повторы. Если они есть на ТВ, можно использовать их и для игроков на корте. — В начале матча вы больше играли на задней линии, вернее сказать, Болелли оттеснил вас далеко и постоянно атаковал. Вы нормально себя чувствуете, находясь так далеко, или это была вынужденная мера? — Этот парень очень сильно бьёт по мячу, возможно, он один из самых мощно бьющих в туре. Входить в корт при такой игре соперника невозможно. Но если вы заметили, с самого начала матча я старался с каждым геймом подходить всё ближе. Например, Рафаэль Надаль, если вы вспомните его игру на грунте, также начинает далеко от задней линии, но в процессе матча он продвигается вперёд. Сегодня я делал то же самое.
— Следующий ваш соперник – Робредо. Что можете сказать о нём? Как будете готовиться к матчу? — Потренируюсь час-полтора. Сегодня у меня был тяжёлый матч, который поздно закончился, поэтому мне нужно правильно восстановить силы. Робредо – один из топовых игроков на грунте, он выиграл пару грунтовых турниров в Южной Америке, поддержка мадридских трибун ему гарантирована. Для меня это будет хорошая проверка. Надеюсь, буду играть так же, как сегодня, и у меня будут шансы.
— Как ваше колено? Вы налетели на табличку с именем в первом сете, и казалось, что берегли его во втором сете? — У меня проблемы с коленом с рождения, раздвоенная коленная чашечка, я не могу согнуть ногу до 90 градусов. Если я резко и сильно сгибаю ногу, налетая на что-либо или нет, я чувствую боль. На грунте это не так опасно, как на других покрытиях, потому что есть возможность скользить. Но играя на песке, приходится подсаживаться под мяч, особенно под удар справа, поэтому я буду испытывать немного больше боли, чем на других покрытиях.
— Некоторые отскоки мяча на корте были довольно странными? Это из-за того что корты новые? — Да, думаю, именно поэтому. Вообще отскок на грунте не очень высокий от линий, но здесь он вообще экстремальный. Я играл на приёме такие мячи, они были кручёные и, наоборот, имели высокий отскок. Думаю, корты новые, и из-за этого линии не идеальны. Но у турнира есть огромный потенциал, он проводится первый раз, и нужно просто немного времени, чтобы всё пришло в норму, не только корты, но и другие мелочи. — Что скажете про теннисный комплекс? — Корты имеют раздвижные крыши, и её можно закрыть во время дождя. Это прекрасная возможность в первую очередь для болельщиков, которые собираются посмотреть теннис. У этого турнира большой потенциал.
— Вы довольны тем, что стали первым британцем, который вошёл в первую тройку мировой классификации? — Дело в том, что если вы будете фокусировать своё внимание на рейтинге или том, что делают другие игроки, то перестанете концентрировать своё внимание на мяче. Нужно сосредоточиться на собственных матчах и постараться выигрывать их как можно больше. Важна концентрация и хорошая игра, а не рейтинг.
— Раньше из британцев только Тиму Хенмену и Грэгу Руседски удавалось занимать 4-ю позицию в рейтинге, а сегодня перед вами остались только Федерер и Надаль. Но у них на двоих – 19 титулов "Большого шлема", а у вас только выход в финал US Open в прошлом году. Сможете ли вы их обойти? — Чтобы приблизиться к этим двоим игрокам или вклиниться между Роджером и Рафой, нужно решить непростую задачу. Они, вероятно, являются двумя лучшими игроками за всю историю, но я не буду удивлён, если они когда-нибудь подвинутся вниз.
— Что для этого нужно предпринять лично вам? — Необходимо найти тот баланс, который бы позволил найти правильное решение – тренироваться не слишком много и не слишком мало. Его надо правильно находить каждую неделю, а это сложно. Например, на неделе перед Мадридом мы провели на тренировочном корте гораздо больше времени, чем перед предыдущими двумя турнирами. У меня была пара выходных дней после Рима, а потом пришлось работать кое над чем на тренировках, чтобы вернуть чувство уверенности в своей игре. А это лучшее из того, что можно сделать. Поначалу у меня была задача выиграть свой первый матч, а затем уже можно думать о последующих матчах, шаг за шагом. Приехав сюда, я получил сложную сетку. Здесь совсем другие условия, и пока нет никакого смысла говорить о финале или полуфинале. Думаю, что пока я не играю достаточно хорошо на этом покрытии, чтобы заглядывать дальше ближайшего матча.
Post №: 647
Joined: 22.03.09
Location: Киев
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Posted: 14.05.09 11:08. Post subject: Стихийное бедствие ..
Стихийное бедствие Вика, я эту статью выложила двумя постами раньше (тема на ней закрылась). Но постеснялась афишировать имена авторов (вдруг деуки хотели остаться неузнанными ).
Posted: 14.05.09 21:01. Post subject: хруня не могу, хрун..
хруня не могу, хруня, не могу, рука не поднимается - ни на твой пост, ни на Бедствия... к тому же Света написала
а чего ты такая экономная, скоттинка и так меньше всех места занимает я англ. статьи размещаю, даже не знаю - читают, не читают , а по-русски от своих людей пусть два раза будет
Posted: 15.05.09 15:30. Post subject: Madrid: Robredo reac..
Madrid: Robredo reaction (ПК после матча с Робредо) 14 May, 2009 | 17:05
Q: Up in the stands where we were sitting it seemed like there was a whirlwind blowing around the court, was it actually as bad on the surface as it seemed from upstairs? And if it was as bad as it seemed, how please are you with how you coped with it today?
It was windy but it wasn’t swirling, you know, a lot of times like in Indian Wells and Miami, it can get very windy as well but it kind of swirls… from the end where I won the first set it was a tough end to play because the wind was blowing right into your face and Tommy was dictating a lot of points from that end in the first set, I was just a little bit tense when I had my chances, I had a lot of them in the first set, I didn’t take them and then I played a little bit too passive and in the second set it was much better, I started to dictate a lot of the points.
Q: Do you feel being aggressive is the way for you to go in clay? I mean, whenever you do start being more aggressive and positive you seem to get good results.
It’s very easy setting from the side to say “you should take more chances” and whatnot, I mean, a lot of it depends on who you are playing against and the situation, like against someone like Tommy, who normally puts a high percentage of the first serves and on this surface he plays with kick, it’s difficult to attack and if he gets the first hit with his forehand he can make you run, so, I’m not going to start trying to slash winners from behind the base line but on my own service games I gave two break points right at the end of that set. I was serving well and played some more on my serve but the returning could be a little bit better but I broke the only ones in the match and even though in the first set I was struggling to make the breakthrough I managed to play aggressively on the second set, but it’s easier to do that when you’re ahead in the match.
Q: It’s a pretty close match between your two prospective opponents for your next match. Could you just talk about the prospect about talking against either of them?
Well, Del Potro, I think he is number 5 in the world right now, so he is obviously playing very well. He’s starting to play better on clay even though he was obviously brought up playing on it but because of his height and because of his game style he’s played better on hard courts on the tour but he’s a tough player on all courts. Wawrinka, this is probably his best surface, he had a good tournament in Montecarlo and a close match with Djokovic there. I’ve lost the two times I’ve played with him on clay, so, it will be a good test for me.
Q: You said that Tommy was in the top ten on clay and he’s won eight clay court titles this year too, so how satisfying is it to have won pretty comprehensively in the end?
I’m very happy with the result, I mean, he’s one of the top clay court players, He’s made the second week on the French Open cay quite a few times, he’s obviously not at the same level as Nadal, but not many guys are, you know, he gives lots of guys tough matches and I know he’s stopped working with his coach for the last few weeks, so maybe he’s struggling a bit with that but at the start of the year he was playing very well on clay. So, it’s a big win for me.
Q: I didn’t understand you well, do you consider the court part takes from a windy day or was there a strange wind inside the court because of the architecture?
I don’t know about the architecture or what difference it makes to the wind but it wasn’t swirling, it was kind of going in the same direction the whole time, it was much easier to get into the rhythm when it’s windy like that than when it’s swirling, you lose a lot of confidence in your shots when its swirling.
Q: How much are you enjoying working out the complexities of playing on clay?
Well, it’s not… obviously I have to find the right sort of game style; I’ve been watching guys like Djokovic and even Federer, to a certain extent, when they play on clay it’s not like their games changes a lot, it’s just the movement that’s important and being patient, I need to try to play, I mean, a lot of times when I’ve played my best tennis has been on slow hard courts so some of the clay, especially this week, can be a bit quicker so it’s just getting used to the moving and choosing the right shots to play but I need to play similar to how I play on the hard courts.
Q: Yesterday Djokovic said that the ranking system is cruel, that you have to fight to defend points but you can only earn a few and then Rafa said that it could be better if it was a two year ranking. What is your opinion, do you agree with this system? Would you prefer a change?
I mean, there always seems to be a problem, whether it is with the schedules, the calendar or whatever, now it is obviously the rankings. Rankings have been like this for however long, 37 years, I don’t know, it wasn’t a problem two or years ago, I don’t think that nobody disputed when Federer was number one in the world, I think that now nobody can dispute that Nadal is the best player in the world. I think the ranking systems are absolutely fine, I think that Nadal is the best and I think that the rest of the rankings reflect who has played best in a 12 month period, I mean, it’s great that Novak has done very well the last few weeks but the first three or four months of the year I played a lot better than him. I think that they reflect very well how the guys are playing. I understand what Rafa’s saying with the two year thing, it’s kinda like in golf, it’s not like there is so much pressure every single week to play and sometimes guys can be carrying injuries and you need to go to the tournaments because they are mandatory and it forces you to play and sometimes you’re not in the best shape. I must admit that, overall, I like the ranking system, you could just extend it a little bit more but I don’t think it was a problem for the last few years, I think that it has only become a problem for Novak in the last few weeks.
Q: Don’t you think it’s necessary to change it?
No, until this week I’ve never heard anyone complain about the ranking system. The only thing is if they want to make it in to a longer, more extended period. You have your ranking and I’m happy with that, I don’t think that it is necessary to change the point structure anymore; they do new things with it all the time, so just leave it how it is for a while.
Q: You mentioned all those chances on the first set, particularly, the high four hand volley at the 3-3 but you coped with it, is it part of the maturing process? Do you feel more in charge of your emotions? Are you better at dealing with things when they are not going your way these days?
I could have been better at dealing with them, like I said I had my chances, I didn’t really change the way I playing when I had them, you know, I was still waiting for him to miss and the conditions didn’t necessarily help. I just need to learn that when you do have a few chances… if I’m not winning because is because I’m playing too defensive or too aggressive to get that sort of balance right and knowing what shots to hit at the right time, on this surface that is something that I need to improve on but I’m definitely getting better, it just takes a little bit of time.
Q. With the time you spent here, did you get in to any of the of playing in high altitude, that the speed here is slightly higher?
I increased my tensions, I put on a few, on some of the clay courts, especially when they are wet, the balls get kind of heavy and you have to make sure that yo use enough spin to keep the balls Your timing needs to be spot on here, and the courts have a few bad bounces here.
Posted: 16.05.09 12:25. Post subject: ПК после матча с Дел..
ПК после матча с ДельПо:
Q: Maybe you could reflect on the first set and maybe about serving for the set and how you’ve played not one of your best games there. Do you think that that was the significant turning point?
A: Well, I still had chances after that. In the tie break, I just got away from playing my game, I mean, I started taking balls on that weren’t there to be hit and I was hitting the ball with not a lot of height over the net, so therefore I made more mistakes but, yeah, I didn’t play my best game. I bust a string at 5-2 and then I pretty much lost eight points in a row. It was a bit disappointing but, I mean, from the back the court I’m hitting the ball well, it’s just that my returns weren’t good today and that sums it up. I need to improve before the French starts.
Q: But would you say it’s been a positive week for you?
A: Yes, it’s been great. Juan’s a very good player, I should have probably taken the first set and in the second set I had all the chances at the beginning and I didn’t take them. I came to the net like three times in the one game where I got broken and lost a point, so that’s means that I need to find the right balance between being aggressive and not getting away from my game style, I mean, I don’t play like Federer plays, so, I need to make sure that I stick to my game and I plan on having a good French Open. This week was good I had, probably, my best game on clay against Robredo and I thought I was hitting the ball well, it’s just that my tactics weren’t great.
Q: If you looked at the clay season at the start, would you have settled for going to the French Open for one quarter final or one semi?
A: Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to be making finals every week, I mean, there’s definitely been an improvement compared to last year. I wouldn’t have beaten someone like Robredo last year, and I beat him comfortably yesterday. I feel confident going in to the French, better than I have done in previous years, I just need to work in a few bits and pieces but my game is definitely better on clay this year than last.
Q: Are you at the stage where you would consider yourself a potential winner in Paris?
A: No, I think that Rafa’s a definite favorite and there are a few guys ahead of me. I think I’m behind the very top ones and they can do well, you know, Juan’s five in the world and I didn’t feel outclassed or like I wasn’t holding my own at any point in the match. It’s just a matter of getting that confidence when it comes to playing matches on clay and taking my opportunities, which he did and I didn’t and that’s the difference between winning and losing matches against the top players.
Q: Andy you once had a 3-0 against Del Potro. What was different about him today? What did he do different compared to Miami and other situations you have had?
A: He served well, he hit a few aces and served quite a lot from the line, especially in the second set and in the tie break. You know, but from the back of the court he’s always been solid, he’s movement is still the same and just before when I played against him I played more solid. I think I made too many mistakes today, and that’s what I need to cut out to make sure that I play like I played at the beginning of the match the whole way through.
Q: He said yesterday that he’s the best of the bad ones, meaning that Novak, you, Roger and Nadal are in another league, in another level. Do you agree with him? Is he the best of the bad ones? Or is he already as good as you four?
A: He plays well, obviously. I think in terms of ranking points and stuff he’s quite a long way behind but he’s played consistently well in the tournaments. He just hasn’t had a breakthrough where he’s made semi finals of the slam or made finals of the master’s series but he’s got a chance this week.
Q: Are you happy with the Alex work and why?
A: I’m feeling better on clay this year and we haven’t had that much time together but the time we have spent is good and I looke forward to the practice week before the French open, you know all the thing that we’ve discussed I’ve tried to do, these weeks have been a learning process I wasn’t expecting to play final
I’m going to paris on Tuesday so I’ll go back and take a day off and celebrate my birthday and go back to Paris as soon as possible.
Posted: 17.05.09 15:42. Post subject: May 16, 2009 Andy M..
May 16, 2009
Andy Murray unable to take bull by horns as Del Potro ruins birthday party
On the feast of San Isidro, Madrid’s patron saint, the Spanish bullfighting season officially opens. An extremely tall, very powerful, exceedingly sharp-horned species from the Argentine pampas struck last night and Andy Murray, the nearest thing that Britain has to a tennis toreador, was dutifully speared.
One of these days he will more than likely win a clay-court championship but not just yet. He came close — not as close as in Monte Carlo, much closer than in Rome, but not close enough.
Murray will be kicking himself at losing to Juan Martнn Del Potro, a player whom he had beaten in their three previous matches. Even more so because Roger Federer, who is not completely settled on the surface and who Murray relishes playing almost more than anyone else, awaited in today’s semi-finals.
There is one championship remaining of this particular part of the campaign, the daddy of all clay-court events, the French Open, with its five-set, hour upon hour endurances — two weeks of sheer brutality. If Murray’s 7-6, 6-3 defeat by Del Potro in the Mutua Madrileсa Masters embodies his Paris expectations, it may not be a long campaign for him, for it will not be possible to let so many break points slip, or fritter away 5-2 leads, serve for a set and not win a point, haul yourself back into a tie-break and then make routine errors.
Every time Murray threatened to make a decisive move, Del Potro clawed him back, striking out in the manner that brings him so many rewards: thumping forehands, aggressive double-handed backhands that, when he is in the groove, are exceptionally deep and very difficult to pick.
Del Potro has described himself as “the best of the bad ones”. He thinks the world’s top four are streets ahead and that he, ranked No 5, is not in their class. Perhaps he should reassess.
Once he realised that Murray was having one of his off days — the Scot, 22 yesterday, has not enjoyed the best of fortune on his past three birthdays — the Argentinian pounced with nerveless assurance, though he choked a little on his first three match points. The 20-year-old often gives the impression of being a bit of a plodder but, at courtside, you can get a real sense of how hard he clubs the ball and he is much better than that. Murray simply could not measure up to his zeal. There is plenty of work to be done with his team these next few days.
There may not be many folk who follow tennis with a passion who would say, hand on heart, that Federer has any more chance of winning a French Open singles title than Amйlie Mauresmo. Yet, nine days before Roland Garros opens its doors and the spring clay-court season reaches an engrossing climax, it would be hard to find a couple of more contented folk.
Between them, they have played 24 French championships, Federer’s three runners-up plates in the past three years edging Mauresmo’s quarter-final brace, the last of which was five years ago. Swallowing their pride, enduring their frustrations, they have scampered to the grass, in the certain expectation that their opportunities for success are that much greater. And so it has proved.
When it all flows, there is little in the women’s game to beat Mauresmo’s utter grace. The same can be said of Federer. He was having a ball yesterday but he might have expected little else considering Andy Roddick, whom he defeated 7-5, 6-7, 6-1, had won two of the previous 19 matches between them, is just back from his honeymoon in Costa Rica and this was clay, not a surface on which he would consider laying a tennis court should he build one in his back garden in Texas.
Posted: 17.05.09 15:44. Post subject: MURRAY SEES PARTY PO..
MURRAY SEES PARTY POOPED
ANDY MURRAY has probably had better birthdays than this. On the day that he turned 22, he was dumped out of the Mutua Madrilena Open by Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6, 6-3.
From playing the best clay-court tennis of his life on Thursday – and continuing that form for half a set last night – the Scot was frustrated and outfoxed by the tall Argentinian.
It was not the sort performance Murray wanted to put on in front of his family.
His mother, Judy, and grandmother, Shirley Erskine, had made the trip to the Spanish capital in the hope of a night out with the birthday boy. Alas, the schedulers put a stop to that idea and the Scot did not get on court until 10.45pm. Once there, he had his work cut out, too.
The presents – a day out go-karting with his friends, and a boxed set of the American TV thriller ‘The Wire’ – would have to wait for the moment.
Del Potro is still only 20 but in the past nine months he has muscled his way up the world rankings to the No5 spot and won five tournament titles.
Tall at 6ft 6in, he is big, powerful and, these days, extremely confident. He had never beaten Murray before but he had caused the Scot problems.
For the first half a dozen games, it seemed as if Murray was going to sprint into the last four as he skipped into a 5-2 lead. Leaning into his backhand, he was bossing the Argentinian around and making him look flat-footed and clumsy.
But then, in the space of a few seconds, all the momentum changed.
Murray began a losing run of 11 consecutive points, a miserable spell that cost him his lead and forced him into a tiebreak. Once there, he was backed into a corner as Del Potro took the lead. And all the while, Murray was becoming more and more frustrated.
Posted: 18.05.09 17:35. Post subject: ANDY: I'LL BE PE..
ANDY: I'LL BE PERRY GOOD May 2009 By Mike Donovan ANDY Murray last night revealed he will be inspired to win Wimbledon this year by the late Fred Perry.
Perry, the last Brit to lift the men’s crown in London SW19 73 years ago, would have celebrated his 100th birthday today.
And the current British No.1, who was at the testing of Wimbledon’s retractable Centre Court roof yesterday, believes it will be appropriate if he can end the long wait for a home hero at the Championships.
Murray, the world No.3, said: “The fact that it would have been Fred Perry’s 100th birthday makes this a special year to win Wimbledon. вот такие заявы
“I’ll try not to put too much pressure on myself but I will give it my best shot.”
Posted: 19.05.09 19:03. Post subject: Andy Murray: World N..
Andy Murray: World No. 1 or British Obsession Gone Mad?
Andy Murray is a fantastic tennis player.
He plays with excellent variety, his serve has improved in leaps and bounds, he has become a master of the drop shot, and he can hold his own from the back of the court. When he is playing well, he can be an absolute joy to watch.
He started 2009 by saying he could be World No. 1 by the year's end. And yes, technically he could have. But realistically? Not a chance. Not with Rafael Nadal's iron grip over men's tennis.
Despite this, the British media all too happily jumped on the bandwagon, and ever since I have regularly heard Murray described as "the future World No. 1 hope"—by commentators, news reporters and fans alike.
Rafael Nadal has stated that he believes Andy Murray will, at some point become the World No. 1. He did not, however, specify when.
There is a high possibility that Murray will, at some point in the future, get to that coveted top position. Whether that future is near or distant, is difficult to say. Particularly with Murray's difficulties on clay, and Nadal's complete dominance on every surface.
Really. It's a tough one to call.
Murray has improved in ways I could never have predicted. There was a time when he was almost embarrassingly bad on the red dirt, and now he goes deeper into those clay court tournaments than he ever has before.
His prowess on hard courts has been incredible, and lifted him to No. 4 in the ATP World Tour rankings last year.
Now he sits on the position of No. 3. And if we're being honest—he got there by default.
His hard court points from the end of last season and the start of this season have carried him thus far. Despite being knocked out in his first match in Rome, because Novak Djokovic did not retain his title, the pair swapped ranks.
Novak Djokovic has reached the finals in Monte Carlo and Rome, he won Belgrade, and reached the semifinals in Madrid.
Andy Murray reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo, went out in R32 in Rome, and reached the quarterfinals of Madrid (He did not play in Belgrade)
Murray has never reached a clay court final. To be a World No.1, you must be versatile enough to win on all surfaces.
Had it not been for Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer would long have been the best clay court player in the world. Perhaps not the best ever, but the best of the generation.
Novak Djokovic is currently playing like the World No. 2, yet has been bumped down to fourth in the world because of Murray's previous successes on hard courts.
So yes—Murray may well become World No. 1 one day, but it will only happen when Rafael Nadal releases the world of men's tennis from this lockdown, and Murray improves his own game further on clay.
The British media, however, has different ideas.
Blinded by patriotism and the fallen dreams of previous tennis players from our country, they pile all the broken hopes and unfulfilled expectations of past generations onto the shoulders of whichever poor soul happens to be talented enough to make people outside of Britain see the potential they have.
Of course, because of this we get second-to-none tennis coverage on the TV, but that is not the point.
The obsession of the media in Britain extends far enough that they do not mention the epic encounters between two champions in their daily news reports—namely Nadal and Djokovic in their Madrid semifinal—preferring instead to talk about Murray's hopes for the French Open.
The way Andy Murray is talked about in Britain, you would think he already was the World No. 1. Higher even, if that is possible, because it would be insanely difficult for anybody to deserve the kind of praise he gets.
And this is without even winning a Grand Slam.
It's not fair on the British people who are loyal fans of other players, it's not fair on the people who have to play against Andy Murray in front of a home crowd—and it's not fair on Andy Murray, because that kind of pressure is not something anybody ever wants to have to deal with.
Posted: 19.05.09 19:06. Post subject: Scot is looking for ..
Scot is looking for A grades at Roland Garros, not for feet of clay
17 May 2009 By Alix Ramsay in Madrid IT IS exam season and not even tennis players are exempt.
A week today a hopeful Scottish bloke will begin the first major assessment of his career development since he took up residence at the No 3 spot in the world rankings – subject: clay-court progress; candidate: Murray, A. The venue will be the French Open, the ultimate test for the kings of the clay courts.
Murray completed the last of his mock-exams on Friday night, losing 7-6, 6-3 to Juan Martin Del Potro, the world No 5, in the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrilena Open. It was a disappointing end to what had been a good week for the Scot. To get to the last eight, he had beaten Tommy Robredo, a vastly experienced clay-court specialist who had already won 21 matches on the slow surface this year, and he had showed every sign that his crammer course with Alex Corretja had served him well.
For the past month, Corretja, twice a French Open finalist, has been trying to pass on all the tricks of the clay-court trade to his charge. So far the Scot has proved to be an A-student, reaching the semi-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters in his first outing of the season and the quarter-finals in Spain, but there is still some work to do.
When it came to facing Del Potro, a man Murray had beaten on three previous occasions, Scotland's finest could not quite keep up the delicate balancing act between being patient and being aggressive, the combination that had allowed him to play his natural game on the alien surface in the previous rounds. From a 5-2 lead, Murray started to press too hard and that gave Del Potro the chance to pounce.
"I just got away from playing my game," Murray said, cutting himself no slack. "I started taking balls on that weren't there to be hit and I was hitting the ball with not a lot of height over the net, so therefore I made more mistakes. I didn't play my best game. I bust a string at 5-2 and then I pretty much lost eight points in a row. It was a bit disappointing but, I mean, from the back of the court I'm hitting the ball well, it's just that my returns weren't good and that sums it up. I need to improve before the French Open starts."
Murray had made a rare mistake – he actually lost 11 points in a row from 5-2 up and that rapid change in momentum changed the match for good. But at least Murray had done his homework – he knows what he has to do to win on clay and now it is just a case of doing it instinctively.
The French Open is the ultimate goal for the hundreds of men who grew up on the slow red clay courts of Europe and South America. It is an event that requires lung-bursting stamina, super-human strength and infinite patience. For Murray, who thrives on the faster surfaces where the footing is secure and he can clatter his ground strokes for clean winners, the new discipline is a complex challenge. He can cope with the physical demands of clay, but mentally he is still adjusting to the surface. A rally that Murray could polish off in six shots on a hard court will take 15 or 20 shots on clay and, at times, that is not so much frustrating as just damned annoying.
"I wasn't expecting to be making finals every week," he said on Friday night. "There's definitely been an improvement compared to last year. I wouldn't have beaten someone like Robredo last year, and I beat him comfortably here. I feel confident going in to the French, better than I have done in previous years, I just need to work in a few bits and pieces but my game is definitely better on clay this year than last."
In order to give himself the best possible chance in Paris, he will head to France in the next few days. On Friday he was supposed to be celebrating his 22nd birthday but the family knees-up had to be postponed as his match dragged on until the small hours of Saturday morning. Instead, he will allow himself a couple of days at home and then it he will be off to Roland Garros for practice, practice and yet more practice.
"There are a few guys ahead of me at the French Open," he said. "I think I'm behind the very top ones. It's just a matter of getting that confidence when it comes to playing matches on clay and taking my opportunities – that's the difference between winning and losing matches against the top players."
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Posted: 23.05.09 15:56. Post subject: Энди Мюррей: «Я пере..
Энди Мюррей: «Я перестал воспринимать грунт как другое покрытие, из-за которого надо полностью менять свой стиль игры»
Британец Энди Мюррей в преддверии «Ролан Гаррос» рассказал, что постепенно обретает свой стиль игры на грунте.
«Что я сделал правильно в этом году, так это перестал воспринимать грунт как другое покрытие, из-за которого надо полностью менять свой стиль игры. Против грунтовиков нужно стараться играть, как на харде, более плоско, с выходами к сетке, стремиться к тому, чтобы розыгрыши были как можно короче.
В этом году я чувствую себя намного комфортнее, я прибавил в физическом плане. В прошлом сезоне отрезок перед «Ролан Гаррос» был не очень удачным для меня, так что уверенность много для меня значит. Но есть вещи, которые я мог бы делать лучше, например, игра на приеме», – цитирует Мюррея TimesOnline.
Posted: 25.05.09 08:21. Post subject: Sunday, May 24, 2009..
Sunday, May 24, 2009
A. MURRAY/J. Ignacio Chela
6-2, 6-2, 6-1
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You're obviously pleased with that?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, no, it was a very good win. Like I said before, he's a tough player, and knew I needed to play well. I didn't make too many mistakes, and I think I hit over 60 winners, which is a lot,considering it wasn't the longest match.
Q. What do you think about the reception you got both at the start and theend? Seemed like the locals were really warming to you?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I mean, a lot of times I've done interviews with French journalists that said they enjoy my game style. You know, I fancy they like it when guys play with a little bit of flare. I got a great ovation when I got on to the court and played really well, and they showed their appreciation afterwards. That was nice. Q. Very contrasting experience, Andy, to this time same day 12 months ago when that was a struggle, wasn't it?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, it was. But different player now than I was then. Physically much better, way more focused. You know, I understood, you know, what I had to do today. I didn't take Chela lightlyat all, and I had to play very well.
And I did that pretty much right from the start, although I lost my first service game, but after that, I was very happy with the way I played. Q. Were you surprised how comfortable it was, seeing as Chela was a claycourt specialist?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, but, I mean, I guess, but I wasn't expecting to play that well on the first match.
You know, I got, like I say, hit a lot of winners, you know. I dictated most of the points and when the rallies went long which he normally likes. I was coming up on top of a lot of the rallies, and if I played that well in all my matches, I've got a good chance of winning comfortably, but I wasn't expecting to play that well, and it was a bit surprising. Q. You talked a year and a bit ago about tanking and match fixing, and how everybody knows that it goes on.
ANDY MURRAY: I didn't say that. Q. I just listened to the interview an BBC podcast. That's pretty much exactly what you said. What do you feel about it now? Do you feel that's still the case? Do you think the sport's efforts have had an effect?
ANDY MURRAY: What I was saying at the time was basically I was asked whether, you know, whether or not there's, you know, people tank matches and match fixing goes on, and I was saying, you know, after there was four, maybe four or five times that week people, players had come outand said they had been offered money to lose matches and what not, and I was saying, you know, whatever.
Maybe I used one wrong word. I was saying, everyone knows what's going on just now, because everybody, every day there was a new player that had been coming out and been offered money to lose matches. I don't necessarily believe players are accepting money, but there is people out there that are, yeah, probably going to try to make players do it, but I don't necessarily think that there has been a huge, huge problem in tennis. I don't think it ever will be.
Q. I'll just explain why I asked you. Today we had a French lucky loser in here, Mathieu Montcourt, who is about to start a five week ban for placing small online bets. This was in 2005, but the ban is just about to start. He feels he's been hard done by it, he's being made an example of. But he's also said that betting by players is fairly common, especially online betting, making a few bets here and there. I guess all of that is the fine for himand the five week ban for him is part of trying to keep tennis integrity.
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, the one thing I will say about that,I'm not saying betting in tennis should be tolerated. I don't think it should be. But there is a difference between a guy actually doing it to make money, you know, placing, you know, £100,000 on himto lose a match and going out and tanking and putting a £10 bet on a match,which is not really making a whole lot of difference to his bank account.
It's more to have more fun watching the matches, I guess, but I don't think that it's right. I would never do it, but all of the guys that have been fined and suspended, hasn't been, you know, for making huge bets onthe game. It's been, you know, making like, you know, 5 Euro bets, 10 Euro bets. It's not like I think tennis is one of the few sports where you're not allowed to bet on your own sport. Q. Could you just say a few words about your potential second round opponents, Starace and Zverev?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I haven't played either of them on the tour before. Zverev, I've known him since we're very young. We're the same age and played a lot as juniors. They're both very different players. Zverev is lefty, plays a lot of serve and volley. Likes to come to the net.
Starace is a righty and plays a long way behind the baseline, but both are top players. They're probably more of a clay court specialist, but should be an interesting match. Q. There was one game today when I think you hit three of those forehand cross court passes in the same game, and you obviously liked that shot a lot. Have you always played that pass in that particular way?
ANDY MURRAY: Ah, yeah, well, I had my racquet strungvery my racquet's weighed very heavy in the head, so it's much easier to control that shot cross court, and if I'm a long way behind the baseline,you can kind of swing as hard as you like and provided you time it well, good chance it's going to go in.
In doubles, I used to play all the time on the deuce court, and all the time it was my second shot, was like a forehand angle. So, yeah, I played it a lot since I was young. I haven't used it as much in the seniors, but it worked well today.
Q. Looking at the draw in general, do you think you've had a kind draw when you look at it overall?
ANDY MURRAY: Ah, I mean, I don't really focus that much on the draw. I mean, you know, you look at somewhere like Australia or in, you know well, the last two years in Australia, you know, guys can play great matches they haven't expected to. It's happened to me a couple of times in Slams.
Zverev is 22 years old and he could come out and play great and take off this week. I don't know. So I just focus on each match, and especially on this surface. It's not like I can take anybody for granted, because my results don't really merit me doing that.
Posted: 26.05.09 09:10. Post subject: Andy Murray closes i..
Andy Murray closes in on world number two slot May 25 2009 Alix Ramsay
ANDY Murray yesterday made a blistering start to his French Open challenge.
The Scot clobbered Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2 6-2 6-1 to reach the second round at Roland Garros in Paris.
There is a long way to go between now and the semi-finals but if Murray can claim a place in the last four and remain one round ahead of Roger Federer he will overtake the Swiss as the world No.2.
Even Murray was shocked at his early form.
He said: "I wasn't expecting to play that well so maybe it's a little bit surprising. If I play that well in all my matches then I've got a good chance.
"It was a very good win. Chela is a tough player and I knew I had to play well. I didn't make too many mistakes and I made nearly 60 winners, which is good.
"The difference between me now on clay and last year is that I'm physically stronger and I understand what I need to do. I knew today that I had to play well and I pretty much did that from the start.
"The crowd was great. In France they like when guys play with a bit of flair and I got a great ovation when I walked on the court and when I won the match."
The fact the current world No.3 beat the world No.205 was no surprise.
Yet the manner of his victory over a man who until last year was a regular fixture in the world's top 30 and who had had his greatest moments on clay was still impressive.
At 29, Argentine Chela is not the player he was but, until he picked up a serious back injury last summer, he was still able to unsettle anyone on a slow court.
Now on his way back to fitness from the herniated disc that forced him to miss six months of last season, he has a reconstructed service action that takes any sting from his first delivery.
Murray stated before the tournament began that he had to be "switched on" from the very first ball to achieve his goals.
Against Chela, he took a couple of games to assess the quality of the opposition then set to work.
What will have pleased him most is that he did not appear to concern himself with the court surface - he simply played his game his way and took Chela apart.
The serve was both accurate and powerful, his touch was as deft as ever and his ground strokes were rattling into the corners and pasting the lines.
Better still, his confidence in his ability to move on the loose clay top dressing appeared rock solid.
Committing just 19 unforced errors, he also racked up 55 clean winners including 10 aces. Apart from dropping his serve a couple of times - and breaking straight back - there was barely a fault to fret over in the afternoon's work.
On Wednesday, he will have the chance to show off his new skills against either Mischa Zverev or Potito Starace who play their first round match today.
With Murray in his current mood, the result should not be in any doubt.
The crowd had clearly taken to him. In the old days, the sight of a Briton on Parisian clay was no more than an oddity and a rarity.
But now that Murray has barged his way up the rankings and shown he can win on any surface, the stands at the Suzanne Lenglen court were full of fascinated French fans who had come to see what the potential semi-finalist could do.
One huge banner appeared to be proposing marriage. "Tell me yes, Andy" the sign read in French.
Strangely, the banner was held aloft by two men, which may have caused Murray to think twice before responding.
Then again, it was this time last year that the Scot was voted the top male tennis pin-up by a gay website in Britain.
Murray's credentials as a potential Roland Garros pin-up, however, are plain.
He has hit the ground running here and with a decent draw to lead him towards the semi-finals, that place at No.2 in the world rankings now seems a very attainable goal.
The conditions in Paris have been hot and humid creating the perfect fast-track for the big men. The story on day one was the massive serving led by none other than Dr. Ivo, who broke his own serving record with 55 aces in his five set loss to Hewitt. But that’s not all, he added his name to the record books for the second time in the day by going 0-11 in five-set matches. It’s interesting that of the 7 serving records that have been recorded only one guy—Philippoussis was able to score a W in his match... Murray played the clay court match of his career against Chela. He has really improved his sliding on the dirt and seems much more comfortable with his game and is playing like his old self. With his Betty Crocker draw he will definitely make it into the second week. Props to 29 year old journey man Robert Kendrick for fighting his nerves and cramps pulling off a gutsy five set win yesterday. Its good draw for “Simon says” first he beat Odesnik and next up is Kendrick….What is it with the French and Roland Garros? It’s sad to see that Mauresmo’s troubles still linger at here…Today we had the same hot track and Safina started the proceedings dishing out a double bagel. Talk about a beat down. Safina took Keothavong to the woodshed, sending a strong message to the rest of the field. I’m expecting Venus to make it to the second week. But I have a few more concerns about Serena, who for the first time in her career in coming into the event with four straight losses. If ever there were a guy that could pull off wearing a pink shirt it’s Nadal. There is only one other man in tennis that can make pink look cool and that was Andre. Rafa looked a like shaky, but I fully expect him to get his form back after a few matches. It’s a great day of tennis when you get to see Nadal and Federer back to back. The weather is going to turn cold and damp for the next few days, which is one of the things I like about the French Open, it’s all part of the luck of the draw.
Posted: 27.05.09 19:12. Post subject: ПК после странного м..
ПК после странного матча с Потито "I found a way to win" 27 May, 2009 | 16:05
Q. What a fight, but what a strange match. You played a really good first set, and thenwhat happened?
It happens a lot in five‑set matches. Momentum makes a huge difference. I got broken at the beginning of the second set when, after a long game, I had a long game the first service game of that set, as well. Maybe if I had managed to hold that game it could have been different. After he broke me, he started playing a lot better. I left a lot of balls in the middle of the court. His backhand in the first set was landing very short, and once he got ahead in the second, he started hitting a lot better.
I was playing further behind the baseline. His big weapon is his forehand, and he managed to make me move a lot with that afterwards. But the most important thing is I found a way to win, and I'm obviously very happy to be in the next round.
Q. The third set was quite something. You go way down, and then 10 points in arow. What was going on there? You seemed to be frustrated about your gripand about quite a few things, and then it all came together.
I was obviously frustrated. I was playing very well, and then let him back into the match. He was obviously dictating a lot of the points. I think that's going to be normal. But, you know, it's very slippery at the end of the sets when they brush it.
I struggled a bit with my balance. He played a lot of good dropshots that I wasn't able to get to at first. It wasn't that great. Obviously I managed to turn it around by playing a little bit more aggressive. I got the ball deep into his backhand and came to the net quite a lot.
I mean,there's a lot of things I've got to be pleased with today, and some things thatI'll work on for the next match.
Q. Already in Monte‑Carlo versus Fognini you were down 5‑1, and then you won.
5‑Love.
Q. 4‑Love, 5‑1. (laughter.)
I think it was 5‑Love.
Q. Anyway, so today was it more or less the same situation. Was it completely different? How did you manage to cancel the two set points? Because one was very difficult.
I just went for my shots. I think I maybe hit ‑‑ I definitely hit one winner on one of the set points. But you just have to try and stay focused. I made him work hard at the end of the third set.
I didn't make as many mistakes, and just focused on every point. I wasn't worrying whether it was set point or not for him. I just tried to serve well and play aggressive, and I did that.
Q. What about string tension? Was there much difference to the tension that you finished the match with and what you were using in the second set?
No, I played with the same tension. It's just very different conditions today than obviously my first match. It was cold. It was obviously a bit chilly. I mean, also from the stands it's tough to tell, but I was speaking to Djokovic after the match. You know, even when it might feellike a slight breeze, on the big courts it does make a huge difference. From one of the ends it was tough to sort of play aggressive.
I felt like I was getting pushed further and further behind the baseline. It wasn't anything to do with the, I guess, the string tension. It's just tough conditions to play, and it was cold. The court felt quite damp, and obviously my opponent was playing well. So I'm just happy I managed to find a way to win.
Q. I will not ask about Roland Garros, but about Wimbledon. With Wimbledon, which tournament you would like winner in the future?
Which tournament?
Q. Yes.
I'd love to win Wimbledon, obviously . Well, any of the Grand Slams. Ithink that's what I think all of the players would love to win. You know, Wimbledon would obviously be great, being sort of in front of the home crowd.
I've always loved the US Open since I was growing up. So if I had to pick, one of those two.
Q. Which style of game you like between Federer,Djokovic, Nadal if you are like spectator?
I actually loved watching Santoro. (я тоже) I think he just played his lastmatch today. He was probably ‑‑well, I mean, I was watching some of his match on the TV yesterday, and just always entertaining points.
When I watch tennis, that's what I like to watch it for. I think Nadal is also like that. He always has a long rallies; he hits some great passing shots. You know, he has great energy on the court.
So, I mean, Santoro for the, I guess, different style of play and for the entertainment. Out of the top guys, Nadal,I like watching.
Q. I was going to ask about Santoro, too. I was wondering, as a player who has a fair amount of variety, I guess you would even admit you don't have as much as him. What do you admire most about his game?
He's just so different. I mean, he can't hit the ball particularly hard. But he's been around, I think this is his 20th French Open. He's been around the top level for so long and kind of played through a kind of transition in the game where a lot of people thought that it was just power. It was taking over. You have guys like Roddick serving 150. A lot of the claycourters with huge forehands. I guess, he's just kind of a bit of a throw back. He doesn't remind me of any of those guys. He uses slice pretty much off his forehand all the time. Very rarely hits topspin. You know, he volleys great,anticipates the game well. He can do everything. I mean, he just doesn't have as much power as maybe he would have liked. I'm sure if he did have more he could have won Grand Slams, because he has every shot.
Q. Do you identify with him at all because of your variety?
I guess in some ways,but his game style is very different. I was watching yesterday. He was like playing chip charge off first serves, and I've never done that in my life. So he's a little bit more unorthodox, I guess. But some things we do similar.
Q. When you speak about clay court, we all speak about shots, spin, footwork. But whatabout concentration? Is it more difficult to keep concentration on clay with the length of the rallies, or thelength of the sets?
Yeah, on clay, I think that is apart that's very important. Because on hardcourts, when you're ahead, you can kind of just keep serving well, finishing the points quickly. On clay, there's always time for you to get sort of back into the match and find your game, even if you're struggling. Therefore, you kind of expect guys to sort of raise their level throughout the match.
That's one of the things that someone like Nadal does well. He plays very well from the start. You know, he obviously does get a bit better as the match goes on, but he doesn't have many ups and downs.
Obviously I had a bit of a down today. But like I said, you can always sort of find a way to come back.
Q. Starace was No. 27 in the world; now he's104. Do you think he played better than he expected? And also, have you ever played a player who made so many dropshots against you as he did today? This is also because sometimes you are a little bit behind, or only because he has a great touch and he surprised you somewhat?
No, he plays well. I think obviously on clay, it's his best surface, but his results maybe on the other courts haven't been that good. So, you know, I think if you want to sort of have the consistency in your ranking, it's very important to play well on all of the surfaces. So, you know, maybe if he played better on hardcourts, that's obviously going to be better for his ranking.
And with thedropshots, like I say, I was struggling a bit with my movement. I guess he exploited that. He hit a lot and hardly missed any. In a couple of the important points at the end of the third set he hit some dropshots, and I got to them. I think even on the set point, you know, he hit one, and I started to read it a little bit better as the match went on. But he definitely hit it well.
Q. Anybody that made more dropshots against you, do you remember?
I don't know. Maybe Djokovic hit a few dropshots against me the first few times I played him. But,no, as consistently as well as that, I don't think so.
Q. If I could ask you about Wimbledon, if I have right these days, virtually all your matches are on Centre Court. With the coming of the roof, do you think in a way that might help you out a little bit in that you wouldn't have to sit for hours and hours and even days waiting for the weather to clear? Will you miss doing that, just sitting around and killing all those hours?
No, I mean, if you play on Centre Court, I think it's an advantage, like playing indoors, as well. The court, regardless of which surface it is,when you play indoors, it does make a big difference to the atmosphere.
Obviously thereis no wind or anything around you. No sun. So, you know, it makes it a little bit easier to play. I grew up playing indoors my whole life, so I'll be hoping that it's raining more this year than in the past.
Q. And the most important key to getting through all those hours of rain delays when there's nothing to do?
It is tricky. I didn't have to deal with it that much. A couple of times ‑‑ actually, maybe once I had to stop because of light and come back the next day. It is a difficult thing to do.
You know, the rain delays, yeah, I mean, because each time you step on the court, you kind of, you know, I don't know, something feels just a little bit different. It doesn't always feel the same every timeyou step back out there. it's a tough thing to do. You just have to try and maybe take your mind off tennis. Because at Wimbledon, there could be ‑ like the final last year. There could be so many breaks that you need to be able to not think about the match.
Q. What is the main thing you want to improve in order to feel 100% comfortable on clay?
Well, I just want to win more. I mean, it's not like ‑‑ youknow, I played my first against Chela. Go out and hit the ball very well and played a good match.
Today I started well and let my opponent back into the match, but found a way towin. I obviously would like to play at the same level all the time like I did against Chela, but sometimes it doesn'thappen.
Like on the other courts, I normally find ways to win, when I'm not necessarily playing my best. I hope I can start to do that more on clay.
Q. Do you have plans to watch the football tonight?
Yeah. I don't know where I'll watch it, but I'll definitely, definitely be sitting and enjoying it.
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Posted: 27.05.09 22:40. Post subject: Эмилио Санчес: «Мюрр..
Эмилио Санчес: «Мюррей был очень спокойным, хорошим ребенком»
Двукратный чемпион «Ролан Гаррос» в парном разряде Эмилио Санчес заявил, что у британца Энди Мюррея есть все шансы добиться успехов в розыгрыше турнира этого года.
«Если Мюррей проявит терпение и поверит в свои умения, он сможет дойти до финальной стадии турнира. Но для этого ему надо поверить в свою голову, свое сердце и свои ноги.
Ему надо быть более терпеливым и больше использовать свою голову, свой талант более эффективно. Он должен использовать свои физические умения, не только силу, которую выработал сам, но и к тому же быть более стойким. Это ключ к игре на грунте. У него он есть, но я не уверен, что он знает, как показать его, или вообще знает о его наличии.
Когда он приехал в мою академию, ему было немного трудно интенсивно тренироваться, но он постепенно учился дисциплине. С самого начала было совершенно понятно, что в нем есть что-то особенное. Прежде всего углы его ударов, которым невозможно научить.
Он был очень спокойным, хорошим ребенком. Иногда нам приходилось звать его из его комнаты, чтобы он тренировался. Он был хорошим другом для своих друзей и иногда даже принимал наказание за других без жалоб», – приводит слова испанца ESPN.com.
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Posted: 27.05.09 22:42. Post subject: Энди Мюррей: «Мне нр..
Энди Мюррей: «Мне нравится смотреть на игру Санторо»
Третья ракетка мира британец Энди Мюррей, обыгравший во втором круге «Ролан Гаррос» итальянца Потито Стараче со счетом 6:3, 2:6, 7:5, 6:4, прокомментировал матч, а также рассказал о том, стиль игры какого теннисиста импонирует ему больше всего.
Это часто случается в пятисетовых матчах. Я проиграл свою подачу в начале вторго сета, когда после долгого гейма был еще один долгий гейм на моей подаче. Может быть, если бы мне удалось удержать тот гейм, все пошло по-другому.
После того как он сделал брейк, он заиграл на порядок лучше. Я проиграл много мячей в центральной части корта. Он очень коротко бил с бэкхенда в первом сете, а когда во втором он вышел вперед, он начал бить лучше.
Знаете, я играл слишком далеко за задней линией. Его главное оружие – это форхенд, и им он заставлял меня много двигаться. Но самое важное, что я нашел способ выиграть, и я счастлив оказаться в следующем раунде.
Честно говоря, в третьем сете я был немного растерян. Я позволил ему вернуться в игру. Очевидно, что он диктовал ход развития розгрышей. Я подумал, что это нормально. Но вы знаете, это очень рискованно, особенно в конце сетов.
Мне было немножко тяжело найти баланс. Он сделал множество хороших укороченных, на которые я поначалу не мог ответить. Но мне удалось справиться с этим, добавив в игру немножечко агрессии. Я стал глубже бить ему под бэкхенд и чаще выходить к сетке. Я имею в виду, что есть много компонентов, которыми я остался доволен, а еще есть вещи, которые заработают в следующих матчах.
Мне нравится смотреть на игру Санторо. Он сыграл свой последний матч вчера. Я смотрел несколько его игр по телевизору и наслаждался каждым розыгрышем. Это именно то, ради чего я смотрю теннис. В общем, Санторо мне нравится, потому что это абсолютно другой стиль, очень необычный и увлекательный. А из Топ-игроков мне нравится Надаль. Он всегда играет долгие розыгрыши и выполняет несколько отличных обводящих ударов», – приводит слова теннисиста официальный сайт «Ролан Гаррос».
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Posted: 28.05.09 19:58. Post subject: ПК по-русски Энди М..
ПК по-русски
Энди Мюррей: «Хочу выиграть «Уимблдон» или US Open» Наталья Копосова
На пресс-конференции Энди Мюррея после матча с Потито Стараче царили строгие английские правила. Англоговорящих журналистов на «Ролан Гаррос» по традиции значительно больше, чем русскоговорящих, а третья ракетка мира естественно собрал полный зал. Но специальный корреспондент Sports.ru в Париже Наталья Копосова нашла возможность задать несколько вопросов.
– Отвлечемся немного от «Ролан Гаррос». Какой турнир, если не считать «Уимблдона», вы хотели бы выиграть больше всего? – Я действительно хотел бы выиграть «Уимблдон». Победа на «Уимблдоне» была бы бесценным подарком для моей британской группы поддержки. А вообще, я очень хочу выиграть один из турниров «Большого шлема», но я думаю это цель для всех игроков. Еще мне хотелось бы выиграть US Open. В общем, или, «Уимблдон», или US Open.
– «Уимблдон» в этом году обзавелся крышей. Как вам это нововведение? Будет ли вам чего-то не хватать? – Я люблю играть в зале. Есть крыша или нет крыши – это ничего не меняет в атмосфере. Не будет только солнца и ветра. Я учился играть на крытых кортах и надеюсь, что у меня будет в этом году хороший результат.
– Чья манера игры вам нравится больше – Федерера, Джоковича или Надаля? – Мне нравится смотреть Санторо. Он сыграл сегодня свой последний матч. Я раньше видел его матчи по телевизору. Игра Санторо это всегда развлечение, это шоу. Приятно смотреть и на игру Надаля. Он играет потрясающе увлеченно, с мощными ударами и огромной энергией. Санторо он другой, он развлекает, а Надаля я люблю смотреть в игре против больших игроков.
– У вас большой арсенал ударов, больше чем у Санторо? – Санторо время от времени может бить по мячу очень сильно. У Санторо же очень прицельная подача. И в целом он может делать на корте все, что захочет. Он принадлежит к числу великих игроков уже много лет. Но думаю, что в будущем в теннисе будут доминировать игроки проповедующие силовой теннис. Возможно, Санторо не хватает мощи, если бы у него это было, он бы выиграл «Большой шлем», в его арсенале есть удары на любой вкус.
– Так же как у вас? – Нет, его арсенал отличается от моего. Он умеет выходить и играть у сетки так, как я никогда в своей жизни не играл.
– Игра на грунте подразумевает прежде всего выносливость и хорошую работу ног, а насколько важна концентрация? – На грунте все эти аспекты важны. Но концентрация наверное действительно один из главных. На твердом покрытии можно быстро выиграть очко, особенно если хорошо идет подача. Но на грунте всегда нужно ждать возврата мяча, розыгрыши долгие, поэтому бывают периоды потери концентрации. Единственное, пожалуй у Надаля я не видел подобных сколько-нибудь заметных спадов, он играет хорошо с начала и до конца. У меня же бывали такие пассивные периоды, но я думаю, что на грунте мы всегда можем найти способ вернуться в игру. И концентрация на грунте, пожалуй, играет ключевую роль.
–Чтобы улучшить свою игру на грунте, что по-вашему вам нужно предпринять? – Нужно выигрывать матчи. Я выиграл первый матч, это был хороший матч. Сегодня у меня также было хорошее начало, но, к сожалению, я позволил своему сопернику вернуться в игру. Мне бы хотелось сохранить тот уровень игры, который был в первом матче. Но не всегда это удается. Но что самое главное, это все-таки уметь выигрывать матчи даже тогда, когда ты не в самой лучшей форме.
Posted: 29.05.09 15:44. Post subject: I can't bear to ..
I can't bear to watch Potito video nasty, admits Andy Murray May 28 2009 Alix Ramsay
Andy Murray could barely breathe as he left the court, let alone say no thank you when someone thrust a DVD of his efforts into his hand.
The Scot had just completed 160 minutes of gruelling tennis in his second-round win over Potito Starace and the thought of watching it all over again filled him with dread.
The DVD would have been an epic, a tour de force of video. But of course Murray had already been in this movie - and he didn't fancy an action replay.
And the 22-year-old, who next faces Janko Tipsarevic tomorrow after edging through 6-3 2-6 7-5 6-4, said: "I didn't ask for the DVD.
"When you play a match on centre courts these days they give you a copy of the match on DVD. But I don't think I'm going to watch it back." перфекционист, не хочет ДВД еще раз посмотреть
Everything was going according to plan yesterday as Murray skipped to a one-set lead.
He was playing aggressively from the baseline, he was attacking the net and was in complete control. But then for a few minutes at the start of thesecond set Murray's grip loosened.
He dropped his serve and in the space of a couple of points world No.104 Starace was off and running.
Suddenly everything was against Murray. His movement came to a near standstill as he struggled to find his footing while his belief seemed to drain from him.
Casualty
Starace, meanwhile, was going up the gears and took the second set in 37 minutes amid a flurry of errors from his opponent.
The Italian was soon 5-1 up in the third and No.3 seed Murray looked set to become the first major casualty of the championship.
Murray said: "I was frustrated. I was playing very well and then let him back into the match. It's very slippery at the end of the sets when they brush it and I struggled a bit with my balance. He played a lot of good drop shots that I wasn't able to get to at first."
It was turning into X-rated stuff. But like all gripping tales the best was saved for the final reel.
With his back to the wall, Murray pulled off one flashing forehand to break Starace's serve. He roared out "Come on" and with it the world No.3 announced he was back in business.
Collecting the next five games, Scotland's finest secured the third set and got his nose in front in the fourth.
Murray said: "I managed to turn it around by playing a little bit more aggressively. There's a lot of things I've got to be pleased with today and some things I'll work on for the next match.
"My aim is to make the second week here and I need just one more win to do that."
Posted: 30.05.09 21:40. Post subject: ПК после матча с Янк..
ПК после матча с Янко Т
"He's got a big game"
Q. When were you first aware that he had a physical problem?
When he called the trainer. I mean, I didn't see a whole lot. I didn't see much wrong with him in the first set, I didn't think. And then the first game of the second set he maybe slowed his serve down a little bit, but, you know, sometimes that happens a little bit when you have the adrenaline of a tight first setter. Then sometimes you can start a little bit slow in the next set. But I didn't know until the trainer.
Q. Did that break your confidence a bit, that delay after the first game?
Didn't break my confidence.
Q. Sorry, concentration.
I mean, I hit one bad shot. I shanked a slice into the middle of the net. I'd hit like a great angled backhand that maybe I wasn't expecting him to get. That was the only reason I got broken. It was very difficult to see around that time, as well, with the shadow. It was kind of covering half the court. that was tough. It's one of those things that can be tough sometimes when you don't know how bad someone's problem is or if they're going to come out firing. Sometimes you maybe make a few mistakes.
Q. You're becoming a bit of a specialist of getting out of 1 5, 2 5. Do you just have self belief that no matter what the score says you can get out of it now?
Well, you just fight and try and try and come back. That's the one thing on clay. It's much easier to come back, I guess. You get into more rallies and it's tough to just sort of serve well and win the set comfortably. It's one of the things, talking with Alex and Miles about, is not to panic if you go behind. Because one break on this court is, it's nothing. Obviously two is a little bit tougher, but you can always find ways to come back. да-да, какая ерунда - брейк, а двойной - чуть-чуть хуже
Q. In the second week of the French Open, yet another milestone for you. How do you feel about having done that?
It's good. I'll obviously try and do better now. I'll look back on what I've done at the end of the tournament. I'd love to go further and try and, you know, go very deep into the tournament. I'm playing well enough, just have to keep the consistency and, you know, I can win more matches. It's been a good start, the first week. It hasn't been physically too demanding, and now I feel good going into next week.
Q. Cilic has pretty much brushed aside his opponents to date. How dangerous do you think he'll be?
He's a very good player, obviously. He's young. He goes for his shots. And like I said start the week, the courts are fast. Philippe Chatrier is the slowest of the courts I've played on. There is a good chance we might play on there. No, he plays well. He's got a big game, and he's dangerous if he's confident, you know. But I beat him the times we've played on the tour. I'll take that into the match.
Q. Can you just think ahead for a second, Shanghai, not as a Masters Cup, but as a Masters. Do you think it's going to be a different kind of a tournament to play it as just a regular Masters compared to what you experienced last year?
Compared with The Masters Cup?
Q. With 8 guys versus 48 or whatever it's going to be.
Yeah, obviously it's going to be different. I mean, The Masters Cup I mean, obviously to win the Masters Cup is a big achievement. But a lot of the guys view, I think, getting there as being, you know, sort of a sign of them having a great year. Whereas now it's a Masters Series it's not the same. Different format. It's more guys playing and it comes a lot earlier in the year, so guys will be going there a lot fresher than, you know, maybe they have done in the past. I'm sure you won't have guys pulling out like has happened in the past.
Q. Do you think it's one you could, with a special ambience, it's one you could get used to? Like a Monte Carlo has a certain look, and the Cincinnatis, do you think it's going to have its own identity pretty quickly?
I'm sure it will. It's good to have tennis tournaments all over the world. I think I played there last year. The crowds were great. It's a huge, huge stadium. They obviously enjoy their tennis. For me, obviously the history makes tournaments special, as well. I think players enjoy tournaments when they're busy, a lot of people around. You get looked after well. When I went over last year, the crowds were great, and we got looked after very well. So I'm sure we'll enjoy it.
Posted: 01.06.09 00:45. Post subject: "Gonzo will be t..
"Gonzo will be tough" §±§¬ §б§а§г§Э§Ц §Ю§С§д§й§С §г §№§Ъ§Э§Ъ§й§Ц§Ю
Q. What are your thoughts after that match?
I thought it was good. Played well. Played maybe two bad service games, but you're always going to have acouple of moments like that in five‑set matches. I came through all the tough situations well. I played a solid tie-break, and I was obviously very happy to win in straight sets, because he's been playing very well.
Q. What did you feel was the key, especially at the end of that second set?
Oh, I kept a good length, you know. It was windy on the court. Watched a little bit of Nadal/Soderling. It's tough to keep the ball deep, and I was able to do that in the tie-break. And he made some mistakes, which happens sometimes.
You know, for him, that set was more important than for me. If he went down two sets it's going to be tough for him to come back. He maybe overpressed a little bit. But I kept a good length and served well.
Q. How do you feel about your game on clay, in general? Do you think that's the best you've everplayed on clay?
I'm playing well, yeah. I mean, you don't get to the quarters of the French not playing good clay court tennis. This clay court season has been good. I made semis in Monte‑Carlo and the quarters in Madrid, and now the quarters here at least.
So, you know, it's been much better than in previous years. I try and keep improving.
Q. With Novak out and Rafa struggling and Roger dropping the odd set, do you think this tournament is a bit more open than perhaps people thought originally?
Well, I mean, Novak is the only one that's lost. I think he obviously didn't play the best yesterday, and that's what happens in Slams.
Each time Fed's been struggling a little bit, he's come back well. Rafa, I'd be surprised if he didn't come back and win that match.
So, I don't think it is necessarily makes it more open. You still have the top two players in the world, or three, still in. You know, guys like Verdasco, Davydenko, are still all tough players that are in the tournament.
Q. What do you think about the anti-drug system control? Rafa had the criticism about that. What do you think about? Youlike? Dislike? Disagree, too?
I said at the time that, I never think about the drug testing every day. Not once since I've been here have I thought about being drug tested, In the morning before matches or where I need to be for an hour.
It's just not somethingthat you ever think about. I guess more so if you feel like you're hiding something, then maybe every morning you wake-up hoping no one comes.
I guess it's something we've got to deal with, but I don't think that it's necessary with so many tournaments in the year we play. I'd rather get tested at every single tournament in the year and then three or four times during the off‑season, rather than have to make sure you're in a certain place for one hour a day.
Because it's very easy to not to remember it. I don't see why we should have to think about that when we have rest weeks. I think, we should be able to have a little bit more of a normal life, I guess.
Q. What do you think about Fernando GonzЁўlez, your next round?
Very tough. He's won all of his matches very easy so far. He made semis in Rome. He's got a huge forehand. You know, serves well. He loves playing on clay. He's going to be a very difficult match. I have to play well.
Q. You've practiced against him a couple of times I think this week. Have you learned anything from that?
No, I've watched him play a lot, and I think in practice you don't necessarily play against ‑‑ it's not the same as playing against him in matches.
You know, he's very unpredictable, which makes it tough to play against him. I have to play a very consistent match and keep the ball deep. You don't want to leave the ball in the middle of the court against him.
Q. Is there a sense of pride about being the third British man to get tothe quarter-finals here? Does that have a special meaning for you?
Every time you sort of do something like that, yeah, it's nice. You know, Tim obviously made the semis here, so it would be nice to try and match that.
But, more I guess for myself I always felt I could play well on clay. But I just needed a bit of time to find my game.
Obviously the results have got better because I've played more matches on it. That's nice, but I'll try and go further.
Posted: 01.06.09 13:41. Post subject: Andy Murray sweeps a..
Andy Murray sweeps aside Mario Cilic to reach French Open quarter-finals Andy Murray set up a French Open quarter-final clash with Fernando Gonzalez after producing a superb display to sweep aside Marin Cilic in straight sets today.
Cilic, the 13th seed, came into the match having not lost a set all tournament but third seed Murray was in a different league to the Croat's previous opponents, posting a solid 7-5 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 victory in two hours and 31 minutes on Suzanne Lenglen court.
The Scot was already having his best-ever Roland Garros but he is on the verge of something sensational now.
He is only the third Briton to have made the last eight here in the Open era, after Roger Taylor and Tim Henman, and he has now won four straight matches on clay for the first time.
Murray, who made just 14 unforced errors all match, came into it armed with the knowledge he had not lost to the Cilic as a senior.
And they started in scorching conditions, trading early breaks in the first set. But in the 11th game, Murray grabbed what proved to be the decisive third break - at the second time of asking - when Cilic went long with a backhand.
Serving 6-5 ahead, Murray earned two set points and took the second with an unreturnable serve. Murray, by that stage, had only hit five winners as opposed to Cilic's 17 but the gutsy Scot was proving to be far more consistent on both wings.
He broke first in the second set too, showing familiar battling qualities as he got to a Cilic backhand and returned with interest, his opponent failing to make the volley at the net.
The Briton was playing with confidence and his error count was low, with his sometimes cautious approach working while Cilic continued to make the unforced errors.
Murray looked well in control when 4-2 ahead but was broken in game eight after hooking a backhand wide at the end of a long rally.
Murray wasted break points in games nine and 11, and served to stay in the set twice to force a tie-break.
He claimed the early mini-break and shot 6-2 ahead. Cilic came back to 6-4, but on the Scot's third set point, the Croat went wide with a forehand and Murray was on the brink of the quarter-finals.
He broke in the second game of the third set and after Murray had gone 3-0 up, Cilic sent for the trainer, who applied treatment on the player's left thigh.
Cilic had injured himself running back in a vain attempt to retrieve a Murray lob. Murray would later be broken but he had no problems clinching the match, at the second time of asking.
Posted: 03.06.09 00:22. Post subject: F. GONZБLEZ/A. Murra..
F. GONZБLEZ/A. Murray
6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑0, 6‑4
An interview with:
ANDY MURRAY
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It seemed to go pretty well at the start, and then it all went to hellafter the start of the third set, particularly that third set.
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, he played a perfect third set. But, you know, I had a long game on my serve. Maybe if I had won that maybe it would have been a bit different.
I had the momentum there, and I didn't go with it. I mean, I've got to give a lot of credit to him. I played against him before and he hits the ball hard, but today he washitting it huge.
And, you know, it's quite easy sort ofsitting to the side to sort of look and think, you know, oh, you could have done this; you could have done that. The guy is hitting ball so hard. I mean, noone's hit the ball that big.
You know, if that happens, sometimes you've got to say, Too good. But, you know, there's a couple of things, like I said, start of the third set I was disappointed with. I had a few chances there to hold serve and didn't take them, and then at the end of the match I played a poor, poor game and when I broke back, which is not like me.
Because I got myself back into the match there and played four bad points. It was a good week, couple of weeks.
Q. What was it in particular that surprised you about him?
ANDY MURRAY: Nothing surprised me. I mean, you know how the guy plays. I've watched a lot of his matches. He's been around a long time. Well, you can ask him when he comes up. I thought he hit his forehand great. He made very few errors off it.
Maybe I hit a few too many balls to his forehand. But, you know, his one‑two punch off his serve and the forehand today was pretty impressive.
Q. You knew you were going to have to deal with that forehand. Did you have any specific tactic to try andevade it or play it or play the backhand all the time? What was your mindset going in?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, it's stuff that you can try anddo. I mean, you can hit the ball shortto his forehand side, because normally he's waiting on the backhand side to runaround and hit it.
I mean, if you look atsome of the shots he's hit, he's hitting forehands from like a meter wideof the tram line on some points and hitting winners off them.
Even if you try to hit a ball to hisbackhand, then he makes his sort of mind up that actually I want to hit aforehand on this shot, and he runs around and spanks a winner. You can't do a whole lot with it.
You know, there's obviously thingsthat you try to do to help. But againstall the good players, they can sometimes come up with great shots.
Q. Do you think you were beaten by a better clay‑court player today, or just abetter player on the day?
ANDY MURRAY: Um, I mean, his results on clay have been alot better than mine. He has moreexperience and won tournaments on it. Yeah, I guess he's a better clay‑court player.
But I still think Ihad my chances and didn't take them, and he came up with some big shotswhen he needed to. That's why he won,and he deserved to.
Q. Can you just give us your verdict on the tournament as a whole? Clay court season?
ANDY MURRAY: It's been very good for me, a lot better than previous years. I stayed injury‑free. Physically I felt good on the court. I thought I moved better. You know, I had good results.
I mean, it's not like,you know, the Nadal results or whatever. But, you know, next year I can improve a round or so each tournament,or, you know, not have one early loss and consistently getting to the end ofthe tournaments. That would be good.
I'm happy with the way the clay court seasonwent. It could have been a lot worse,that's for sure.
Q. Your defense against him was really good the first two sets, and you got to a lot ofhis forehands. Does it wear you downwhen he keeps coming up, and is that the biggest forehand in tennis? Is it just relentless?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, his forehand is the biggest. I mean ‑‑ yeah, I think it is. I mean he, yeah, can hit winners from anywhere on the court. That's why it's dangerous. Some guys can hit huge forehands when they're in the middle the court. Some guys hit huge forehand returns.
But he can hit huge forehand returns. He hits it great on the run. He can hit his forehand from anywhere on the court. That's why it's very dangerous.
But, you know, it's not like ‑‑ it didn't wear me down. Physically there wasn't any issues there. I just got myself back into the match in the fourth set and didn't quite take my opportunities when I had them.
You know, I didn't hit my backhandparticularly well today, which is normally one of my best shots.
Q. Everyone's talking about what an open tournament it is now. But another guy, South American that we'restill not hearing much about is Del Potro. Do you think he is a legitimate threat to win this tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Um, yeah, I mean, he's not got that muchexperience in the end of Slams, but he's obviously confident. He's playing well. He's got a very poor record againstFederer. I don't think he's ever won aset against him.
May be a huge struggleif he plays Roger. Roger struggled in alot of his matches here, as well. He'sprobably feeling, you know, the pressure of this being his chance to win theFrench.
Yeah, anything can happen. I think that's what's great about Slams. It has been slightly predictable the last fewyears, but I think tennis this year has seen a big change.
Q. Youwere relatively demonstrative emotionally at times. Do you feel like there were any moments whenyou were not as much emotionally in control as you would want to be? And when were those moments?
ANDY MURRAY: No, I always felt like I was in control of myemotions. But sometimes, you know, atthe beginning of the second set ‑‑ sorry, beginning of the third set, youknow, I didn't really say a whole lot.
Then I tried to firemyself up early in the beginning of the fourth. Like I say, I managed to start playing better, but I don't think it was anything to do with emotions why ‑‑ or whether I would have won or lost the match.
That's something that hasn't been anyissue. It's all for the last year or so.
Q. Usually a Brit would be the first to ask a question about Wimbledon, but I'm just wondering, when you go there after you play on clay, what's your impression when you change from the grass to here?
ANDY MURRAY: Normally I have a lot longer to prepare on that than I had this year, so I might find that a little bit tougher, you know,at Queen's or what not.
But, no, the thing that's different is just the height that the ball bounces at is the main thing, obviously, here. You know, some of thekick serves and stuff are getting up like way, way, way, way above your head.
On grass, it's always coming through nice and low. It's kind a sore on the hamstrings, you know, the first few days. I don't know, it's just something you ‑‑ you have to hit it ‑‑well, you don't have to, but I try and hit a flatter ball, obviously, on grass.
That's the one big change. You don't hit a whole lot of flat shots on the clay.
Q. Good clay court season like this, does this set you up, give you more momentum goinginto the grass court season than perhaps you had before?
ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean the year as a whole has been byfar up to this stage my best so far. Youknow, I've won a lot of matches, a lot more matches on clay this year than I hadin the past probably ‑‑ I probably won double the amount of matches that I hadwon in my life on clay before this stretch.
Yeah, I don't feel like I 'm going to be rusty at all going into the grass, because obviously I played alot and still feel confident. It's not like a match like this is going to, you know, I'm going to sort of get downabout it or anything.
I'll just go and improve and work on somethings the next week or so, and hopefully be playing well on the grass.
Q. Were you aware that you could become No. 2 in the world in this tournament?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, I knew ‑‑ I didn't know the exact in sand outs of how I would have got there. You know, I know if I won the tournament I would have gone to 2, and that was the one thing you try and focus on.
You know, it's sometimes quite easy to sort of wait for guys to lose and stop focusing on your own matches. You know, I was just trying to win my own matches. You know, I had the chance, but obviously not now.
Post №: 1379
Joined: 24.03.09
Location: Россия, Ногинск
Rank:
6
Posted: 03.06.09 12:41. Post subject: Энди Мюррей: «Грунто..
Энди Мюррей: «Грунтовым сезоном я доволен, могло быть и хуже» Третья ракетка мира британец Энди Мюррей, уступивший в четвертьфинале «Ролан Гаррос» чилийцу Фернандо Гонсалесу со счетом 3:6, 6:3, 0:6, 4:6, прокомментировал матч и свой грунтовый сезон.
«Гонсалес сыграл отличный третий сет. Но, знаете, сначала был долгий гейм на моей подаче. Если бы я его выиграл, все, возможно, было бы по-другому. У меня был момент, но я им не воспользовался. Но надо отдать ему должное. Я играл против него раньше, он всегда бьет сильно, но сегодня он бил очень сильно.
Знаете, легко сидеть, смотреть со стороны и думать: «Ты мог сделать то, ты мог сделать это». Но все же было несколько вещей в начале третьего сета, которые меня разочаровали. У меня были возможности удержать свою подачу.
Я слишком много бил ему под форхенд, который сегодня был впечатляющим. Его результаты на грунте вообще гораздо лучше моих. У него больше опыта, он выигрывал на грунте турниры. Но я думаю, что у меня были шансы. И я ими не воспользовался. А ему в нужный момент удались отличные удары. Поэтому он выиграл, и он это заслужил.
В этом году у меня очень хороший грунтовый сезон, гораздо лучше, чем предыдущие. Во-первых, у меня не было травм. Физически я отлично чувствовал себя на корте, я двигался гораздо лучше. И у меня были хорошие результаты. К следующему году я могу продвинуться еще на круг или два в каждом турнире, не вылетать в первых раундах и стабильно доходить до поздних стадий. Это было бы хорошо. Так что, грунтовым сезоном я доволен, могло быть и хуже», – приводит слова теннисиста официальный сайт турнира.
Posted: 04.06.09 18:53. Post subject: Tennis: Murray falls..
Tennis: Murray falls but holds his head high
03 June 2009 By STEVE DOUGLAS ANDY MURRAY looked back fondly on a breakthrough clay-court campaign after seeing his French Open dreams perish at the quarter-final stage.
The world No.3 was bidding to become only the second British man in the Open era, after Tim Henman, to reach the last four at Roland Garros but he ran out of steam in losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 to big-hitting Fernando Gonzalez, the 12th seed.
Turray has come on leaps and bounds on the dirt over the past three months and he refused to be downcast after his defeat in only his third grand-slam quarter-final.
"It's been a very good one (clay season) for me, a lot better than previous years," said the 22-year-old.
"It's not like after a match like this I'm going to get down about it.
"I've won a lot of matches, probably double the amount of matches that I had won in my life on clay before this stretch.
"I'll just go and improve and work on some things in the next week or so, and hopefully play well on grass."
Murray, the third seed, saw his half of the draw at Roland Garros open up as a result of top seed and reigning champion Rafael Nadal's shock defeat to Robin Soderling on Sunday.
But he could not capitalise, Gonzalez's greater clay-court nous coming through in the end yesterday on Philippe Chatrier court.
The Chilean's booming forehand was the difference. He hit 45 winners over the four sets, some of them coming from outrageous angles that left Murray chasing shadows at times.
The Dunblane player admitted he was left punch-drunk by his practice partner's renowned weapon.
"No-one's hit the ball that big. If that happens, sometimes you've got to say, 'too good'," said the Scot.
"If you look at some of the shots he's hit, he's hitting forehands from a metre wide of the tramlines on some points – and hitting winners off them.
"Even if you try to hit a ball to his backhand, he runs around and spanks a winner. You can't do a whole lot about that."
Soderling, the 23rd seed, will play Gonzalez in the semi-finals after the Swede's straight-sets win over Nikolay Davydenko.
Second seed Roger Federer will today resume his bid to claim his first Roland Garros title when he takes on Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals. The winner of that match will play either Juan Martin del Potro or Tommy Robredo in the second semi-final.
Posted: 07.06.09 10:46. Post subject: Andy Murray intervie..
Andy Murray interview: Net gains 07 June 2009 By Catherine Deveney
It has to be admitted that the press are sometimes guilty of hanging make-do personalities round celebrities' necks like dead albatrosses: they carry the weight everywhere and the smell lingers even if they manage to shake the corpse off. Scottish tennis star Andy Murray's albatross has been a kind of tennis pro version of Harry Enfield's Kevin the teenager: a surly, stroppy kid who stomped round court shouting at referees. The grungy chic style of dress didn't help, what with shorts drooping to his knees, oversize T-shirts drowning his rangy frame, and back to front baseball caps pressing down on unruly curls. Even at neat little short-back-and-sides Wimbledon. But Murray's not even a teenager any more so what's he like really?
In Avenue George V, just off the Champs Elysйes, a crowd has gathered in the dry dusty heat of the afternoon outside Paris's exclusive Four Seasons hotel. People keep asking who owns this extensive luggage being loaded into waiting cars blocking the street – obviously everyone's waiting without knowing why – but je ne sais pas and my schoolgirl French gives up when one man launches into animated explanation. Not Murray anyway, who is staying in the same block but round the corner as he prepares for the French Open. I guess he'd have the money for the Four Seasons but it's a bit flash. His less famous hotel charges eight euros for a small coffee with a 'free' two-bite (one if no-one's looking) biscuit, so safe to say our boy's not exactly slumming it. But it seems fitting when, during conversation, Murray defends Gordon Brown. Both are reputedly dour. Prudent. Very Scottish. Neither seems likely to top the YouTube smile poll.
"I'm not too into politics," Murray says. (No chance of him becoming an MP – he's reputed never to travel first class.) "It was just that I met him and everything I spoke to him about, he was so nice. Very polite, very clever, and he obviously worked incredibly hard. All you read about is how he does such a bad job. He can't win. Everyone just focuses on the negative."
Always fascinating to see whether a person's public image fits like a glove or wrinkles uncomfortably. Murray's now 22, ranked world No 3 behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and what he actually transmits in conversation is not surliness at all but a very focused politeness. Frankly, I think he's bored by interviews – his interests are all active and he hates reading – but he listens to each question with great concentration and then tries to kill any pace in it before lobbing the answer over your head to the baseline. He's very cautious which is interesting in a winner. But perhaps 'controlled' is a better word.
So controlled that in the run-up to the interview he actually asks his PR to arrange copy approval. (Well he can ask.) It's a highly unusual request that not even wily old stalwarts of the entertainment industry, like Tom Jones or Petula Clark, make. What's gone wrong that a 22-year-old tennis player feels the need? His predecessor as British No 1, Tim Henman, had that clean cut, take-home-to-mum look that made him everybody's darling. Murray is more quirky, more challenging, less easy, and he's paid a price for an undercurrent of dry humour, particularly that joke about supporting anyone but England in the World Cup.
Murray looks slightly taken aback when asked why he wanted copy approval. Does he always need to be in control? No, he says uneasily. "The Scotland England thing," he continues in explanation, "I was sitting doing an interview for TV with a guy and he asked me, will you be supporting Scotland in the World Cup, ha, ha – jokingly – knowing Scotland weren't in the World Cup. And then he asked who I would be supporting and I said anyone except England – ha, ha." The good-natured exchange became blown up as some anti-English outburst. "You have to be careful," says Murray.
Caution, control, discipline … they can be as important as talent and flamboyance. In the end, disappointment for Murray comes in the quarter finals of the French Open but clay is not his surface and he is more confident on grass. After years of over hyped expectations, perhaps this year is the first that Murray really is a contender for next month's Wimbledon. He's had a meteoric year getting to No 3. How much higher can he go?
The interesting thing about the tennis-playing Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, and the Murray brothers (Andy's older brother Jamie is a Wimbledon doubles champion), is the question it begs: are great players born or created? "Created," insists Murray. "I don't think you are born to do anything. You can have talent but it takes hard work and sacrifice and discipline to get to that level and I think that's what any of the best tennis players say if you ask them – hard work is the difference. There are so many good juniors who haven't made it to seniors, and it's down to motivation and work ethic. The guys at the top of the game are the ones who work the hardest."
Personality as much as talent is critical in champions. Jamie has the reputation of being more sociable and less driven than his brother and once said he didn't have his rage. Does it feel like rage inside Andy? "No, I don't think it's inner rage that guides you to be the best. It's not something where you can't control your emotions. It's having the drive to be the best you can be." So is he a better player than Jamie or just a different player? Perhaps the question is slightly mean because the rankings are perfectly clear – but I ask it wondering if Murray will feel any reticence about asserting himself over his brother. "No, I'm better for sure," he says instantly. His mother, Judy, is on record saying Andy always had incredible levels of self belief.
Jamie was better than him when they were younger, acknowledges Andy, which makes you wonder how important being the second son was in developing his talents. Some psychologists argue birth order is important in determining siblings' personalities and certainly younger brothers sometimes feel the need to prove themselves against the old king, while older ones want to squash the young pretender. "It was good motivation for me to keep getting better," Murray admits.
The brothers grew up in Dunblane where there was really no-one else to play against. They only had each other. But their competitive relationship changed as they got older. "Once you get to 15 or 16 there's no jealousy. Jamie went to train in Paris and I went to train in Barcelona and we were travelling to different tournaments and saw very little of each other. When you get separated, you start being more supportive. I was more emotional when Jamie won his first tournament than when I won. I won singles and he won doubles straight after. I'm Jamie's number one fan and always will be."
Just as the Williams sisters' father was key in their development as players, the Murray brothers' mother, Judy, a former player and Scottish coach, was instrumental in theirs, although she stopped working with her sons when they were 11 or 12. "Mum was always there to support us but it wasn't like she needed to coach us. She let go which I think was important." Everyone knows about Judy's influence. But what about his dad's? "I think for tennis, mum was important but my brother and I as people … my dad has to take a lot of credit. I'm sure he's happy with the way we have handled ourselves. I'd chat to my mum about tennis, and with my dad I'd play golf and football. He's very relaxed but if he had to, he disciplined me and Jamie. No swearing and stuff. He was a great parent, very laid back, but looked after us and made sure we weren't doing anything silly."
His parents divorced but his dad still shared their upbringing. "It's not the nicest thing anyone has to deal with and I'm sure it would have affected us in some way but me and Jamie were very young when it happened. It's hard to know how much of a difference it makes, but it wasn't something that scarred me, I wouldn't say." Neither did being caught up in the Dunblane massacre. Commentators sometimes suggest it influenced him as a person and player, but almost as interesting as what happened to him that day is the fact he's always been so reluctant to talk about it. Why is that? "It's not one of those things that many people like to talk about but the thing is as well that I don't really remember. I was seven years old at the time, so it's not like I understood what was happening. You can't grasp things like that." He doesn't associate that day with fear? "No. Looking back it's terrible, but not many people can remember what happened at that age. I was so young I couldn't understand what a big deal it was. If it happened now I would be devastated, but I can't remember."
He says he wasn't much of a scholar and childhood was crammed with every possible sport. It gave him a sense of pride, a way to define himself. He loved being able to bring a trophy back to school. "It wasn't showing off. It was just nice to have something you had achieved." Say what you like about taking part being the important thing. It's the winning Murray always loved.
It was he who chose Barcelona to train. "I went to London and trained there for a week and didn't enjoy it. When you work with the national team you spend your whole time playing with the best players of your age in Britain and there's a lot of sort of jealousy. There's too much negativity. You are travelling together as a team and a lot of the guys are wanting each other to lose. You also don't get the opportunity as much to practise with guys who are older than you. When I went to Barcelona at 15 I was getting to train with guys who were 20, 21 years old and ranked 200 in the world, which is much better than training with the No 1 in the under-16s in Britain."
Even back then, Murray was independent and emotionally resilient. "I never got homesick. You just have to learn to look after yourself a bit. I had to learn a new culture and make new friends and be on my own a bit. You don't have people there to stick up for you. It was the best preparation for my career because I just became more independent and took more responsibility for what I did."
This time last year, it was said Murray had brilliance but not yet strength or consistency. After such a successful year, has he proved himself? "I don't necessarily feel I have to prove it. I kind of wanted to do it for myself and I guess the guys I worked with." But if he never rises above No 3, will that be failure? "No, no. Getting to number three in anything you do is great and I've got the two best players of all time in front of me. If I don't achieve anything else, it won't be through lack of trying."
There is a tendency to declare each new champion the greatest ever. It happened with Borg, with McEnroe, with Sampras, and now with Federer and Nadal. But Federer and Nadal are undoubtedly special and Murray has beaten both of them – just not when it mattered in a Grand Slam. There's a mental leap required there, he agrees. But no, he doesn't feel fear on court. "You get nervous. Anyone who says they don't is lying, but it's not fear." Personally, he finds Nadal the tougher challenge. "I think Nadal is the best because of the way he competes. Federer is obviously unbelievably talented and has all the shots, but Nadal wants to win every single point. He is No 1 in the world right now, but he still practises so hard and gives 110 per cent."
Murray is on the way up with everything to gain and that's when you're freest. Federer is already the old guard with everything to lose. He dominated tennis for four years, seeming to relish his position as he turned up in his fancy, handmade champion's jackets at Wimbledon. Young Turks tend to have more ambition, more ruthlessness. Interesting, then, to know how much sympathy Murray felt when Federer broke down in tears earlier this year after losing the Australian Open to Nadal. (He had already lost the previous Wimbledon to his Spanish rival.) Federer seemed humiliated by defeat while Nadal responded with the trademark humility he displays off court but certainly not on it.
Murray hesitates. He would prefer – as he's sure Federer would – that it hadn't happened. "It's not that it shows a weakness, it's just that it shows something has really got to you. I guess that's why you want to keep your emotions in check as much as possible. After that, everyone started saying, is he starting to lose it a little bit? Has Nadal got his number? It wasn't the worst thing that can happen on court because it showed he obviously cares a lot about what he's doing but I think it showed frustration as well. He's very close to equalling Sampras's record of Grand Slams and I'm sure that was part of it." The three men at the top, Murray thinks, are all quite different personalities.
Years ago, when the teenage Murray was just emerging, a sports journalist told me if I ever got an interview with him I should be nice to him. He was basically a good kid but there was a lazy shorthand used to represent him. In the run-up to the interview, I wondered if his head had swollen in the intervening years. Securing an interview with Osama bin Laden would have been easier. Arriving in Paris, the exact time and location for that day's interview still hadn't been confirmed. But then Murray had loped in amiably and said, with that particular relish young guys have when they talk about food conquests, that he'd managed to snaffle two plates of pasta, and I saw what my colleague meant. The watchful eyes, the guarded unease … there's a sense of someone simply trying to push back the storm around him and retain something of himself.
If there's control, there's also drive. The gruelling tennis year starts early in January, with the last tournament at the end of November. Is it, perhaps, an indication of the stresses involved that a few drugs cases have hit the tennis headlines? Performance enhancing drugs are not a problem, Murray believes, though the rules are so stringent people sometimes get caught out. One tennis player who simply forgot to renew a form for an asthma inhaler he's used his entire career failed a test when he wasn't doing anything wrong.
But both Roger Gasquet and Martina Hingis have been caught up in cocaine scandals. "I think drug taking is terrible and I would never want anyone close to me in my family to do it," says Murray carefully. "I can't talk for anyone else but you have a responsibility, because you are in the public eye and the media are around, not to do those sorts of things …. falling out of nightclubs at two and three in the morning. There's obviously a lot of pressure and guys need to let their hair down sometimes, because you put such a lot of work into preparing for tournaments that when they're finished you just want to relax and live a kind of normal life. Unfortunately, sometimes guys take it too far."
Murray has had a long-term relationship with girlfriend Kim Sears, but how hard is it to maintain that? "I find it very easy. I think it would be harder if I spent my whole time at home. Like I said earlier about my brother, if I spent two or three months away from him, when I did spend time with him, it was great. If I spent three months with Jamie from today until after Wimbledon, 100 per cent we would be arguing by the end of it. I just think if you spend time apart, the time you do spend together is quality time. You don't spend it bickering and whingeing about stuff and youtry hard to make it work. I see Kim a lot. But if I was at home and we had to see each other every single day you'd just have more arguments and more chance for things to go wrong."
Perhaps not the most romantic thing he could say but pragmatic. Anyway, what he lacks in the grand gesture he makes up for with constancy. "I like to think I'm quite a loyal person and I don't like partying and what not. It's been three and a half years with Kim and that's quite a long time for someone my age. I like being in a relationship. I think that's kind of how I function best."
There will, of course, be the usual furore over Wimbledon next month when Murray will be forgiven for his supposed slight of the English and clasped to the nation's bosom, heaving with hope that he will be the first British male winner since Fred Perry in 1936. People assume Wimbledon is the Grand Slam he really wants. Is it different from the others? "Yeah. There's a big difference just purely because it's at home and you have this huge support there." But truthfully he'd take any Grand Slam – just as soon as he can nudge Nadal and Federer out of the way.
If Murray ever becomes No 1, checks in to the Four Seasons, the most important thing in his own book will be not to change. Ask him to define himself without referring to tennis and he says he just wants to be close to family and friends. "Tennis is a huge part of my life, but if I couldn't play tennis again I hope I would still enjoy my life with the people I have around me." He wants normality. "Tennis," he says, "is not the most important thing."
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(вдруг деуки хотели остаться неузнанными 
).
, а по-русски от своих людей пусть два раза будет
. Well, any of the Grand Slams. Ithink that's what I think all of the players would love to win. You know, Wimbledon would obviously be great, being sort of in front of the home crowd. 
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