Nadal bet Murray to meet Ferrer in Final

Nadal celebrate victory over Murray

Clay king Rafael Nadal shook off a dogged Andy Murray 6-4 2-6 6-1 to set up a Monte Carlo Masters final against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

World number one Nadal, who lost to Ferrer in the Australian Open quarter-finals, broke for 3-1 in the first set when shaggy-haired Murray sent a booming shot long but the Briton hit back in the seventh game only to lose the set's final act.

Murray uncertain

Determined third seed Murray refused to lie down and a superb crosscourt backhand gave him the fourth game of the second set after nearly 20 minutes of slugging before breaks of serve were exchanged three times and the Scot took the set.

Nadal though raced to a 4-0 lead in the third as Murray tired and needed treatment on an arm injury before succumbing.

Shame on you Andy Murray !!!

Andy Murray (image by AP)

MONACO, April 14 - Andy Murray was booed by the mainly French crowd at the Monte Carlo Masters for using drop shots in his 6-3 6-3 third-round win over France’s injured Gilles Simon on Thursday.

Simon twisted his ankle at the start of the second set and had heavy strapping applied before gingerly carrying on.

Murray showed no mercy and after the first drop had a struggling Simon stranded, the Briton regularly used his favourite shot with the boos for the world number four and cheers for Simon intensifying after each attempt.

“I wasn’t bothered at all. I was doing what I had to,” Murray, who a day ago was saying how the Monte Carlo Country Club was one of the best venues in the world, told reporters.

“Every player on the tour would have done exactly the same thing. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. We’ll see the reaction tomorrow,” he smiled.


Giles Simon (image by AP)

 Simon backed his opponent saying :”You play to win.”

Murray earlier told Sky Sports: “You know you are in the driving seat and you want to put the foot down and finish the match as efficiently as possible. Drop shots were winning me virtually every single point, I had to keep moving him.”

Before Tuesday’s second-round win over Radek Stepanek, third seed Murray had not won a match in almost three months since his Australian Open final defeat by Novak Djokovic.

The 23-year-old, whose public image in the past suffered from occasional teenage strops, could face more grief from the crowd when he plays Frederico Gil in the quarter-finals on Friday after the Portuguese beat another Frenchman Gael Monfils.

“I don’t know a lot about him (Gil) but I watched his game,” Murray added. “He did well in Estoril and can play well on clay, he’s proved that by getting to the quarters here this week. I’ll have to be on my game tomorrow.”

Asked if he could win the tournament featuring world number one Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray added: “Yeah, why not?”

My Comment : I understand, "do whatever it takes to win"

Nadal and Federer cruise to Quater final in Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal (image by AP)

MONACO, April 14 : Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer continued on a collision course towards the Monte Carlo Masters final after easily winning their third round matches in contrasting conditions on Thursday.

Nadal braved unusually chilly temperatures on the sun-kissed Cote d’Azur to seal a quarter-final spot against Ivan Ljubicic with a straightforward 6-2 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet.

While the crowd huddled for warmth deciding whether to cheer six-times champion Nadal or local favourite Gasquet, the Spaniard had already broken the Frenchman in the first game as his sheer power on clay again overawed an opponent.

The top seed, bidding to be the first man to win the same tournament seven times in a row as he warms up for next month’s French Open, almost lost the next game but held serve thanks to a stunning backhand down the line and hardly looked back.

“I think I played better than yesterday. In general I think it was a very positive victory against a very difficult opponent,” Nadal told reporters.

“I feel when I’m playing well with the forehand, it’s a very important shot for me. So I can have the control of the point most of the time with the forehand. That’s my style always, no?”

Gasquet broke for 4-4 in the second set to reveal a chink in Nadal’s armour, offering pretenders to his crown a glimmer of hope that the Spaniard is beatable on his favourite surface.

Second seed Federer staked his claim with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic after the sun had broken through.

SUPERB WINNERS


Federer (image by AP)

  The Swiss barely got out of first gear but unleashed some superb winners and next meets Austrian Juergen Melzer on Friday.

“I’m mixing it up well (with the serve). Today was another solid performance which I was happy about,” Federer said.



Murray (image by AP)


World number four Andy Murray outwitted France’s Gilles Simon 6-3 6-3 to build on his opening victory over Radek Stepanek—his first win in two and a half months.

Simon had lengthy treatment after turning an ankle but then went on to break the Briton in the first game of the second set only for Murray to storm back using drop shots which the booing crowd felt were unfair given the Frenchman’s injury.


My Comment : Clash of the TITANS

Andy Murray moves on in Monte Carlo



Murray (image from AP)

 Andy Murray ended his three-month losing streak with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Radek Stepanek in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Scot booked a third round match against France's Gilles Simon with a much-improved performance on Centre Court, storming past the Czech Stepanek with a variety of sensational shots.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal dazzled Finland's Jarkko Nieminen with a florescent yellow shirt and his all-round game in a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win.

The world number one, bidding for a record seventh straight title by the turquoise sea in Monaco, broke straight away and the Finn received ironic cheers from the packed crowd when he finally won a point but Nadal was still not quite at his best.

Spain's Nadal, playing his first match of the year on his favoured surface after receiving a first-round bye, will meet France's Richard Gasquet in round three on Thursday after the 13th seed beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-1.

Fourth seed David Ferrer trounced Feliciano Lopez 6-2 6-0 but sixth seed Fernando Verdasco surprisingly lost 6-4 6-3 to Tommy Robredo in another all-Spanish tie.

Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Frederico Gil and Viktor Troicki went through.

Roger Federer won on Tuesday to set up a meeting with Marin Cilic but world number two Novak Djokovic has skipped the first men's claycourt tournament of the year in Europe with a knee problem.


P/S : What's wrong with Andy Murray's hair ?

Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win Australian Open 2011

 

MELBOURNE, Australia: Novak Djokovic gave his old friend Andy Murray a sympathetic hug and a few consoling words, then got on with the real celebrations. Djokovic walked to the middle of the court, tossed his racket into the crowd, then stripped off his shirt and shoes and hurled them, too.

The 23-year-old Serb had plenty to celebrate after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over Murray in the Australian Open final on Sunday night. Djokovic’s second Australian title made him only the fourth active player on the men’s tour to win multiple majors. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have had a lock on the men’s side, winning 21 of the previous 23, while Lleyton Hewitt has two titles—the last coming at Wimbledon in 2002.

“It’s been a fantastic tournament for me,” Djokovic said. “I don’t want to fly up to the sky and say, ‘I am the best,’ or whatever. I cannot compare to Rafa and Roger’s success.” He’s the most successful player so far in 2011, though, and that’s what counts right now.

“Certainly this will give me a lot of motivation for the continuation of the season, because to win a Grand Slam at the start of the season is the best start you can ask for,” he said. “It means a world to me. I’m still 23. I still have a lot of time to go.”

Murray celebrates winning against Ferrer

London, November 25 : Scotland's Andy Murray celebrates winning the first set while playing against David Ferrer of Spain in a singles match during the Barclays ATP World Tour Tennis Finals in London. Murray stormed into the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a crushing 6-2, 6-2 win.

Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Federer dismantle Murray in O2 Arena

England, November 23 : Roger Federer dismantled Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 at the ATP World Tour Finals in London to move a step closer to a place in the semi-finals. With two straight sets wins under his belt, Federer is firmly in the driving seat in Group B although Murray and Robin Soderling both have one win and one loss apeice and can still progress with wins in their final group games on Thursday.

Federer was on imperious form as he raced through the match in less than 90 minutes, sealing the win when Murray dumped a forehand return of serve into the bottom of the net. "I think if you play many times against each other, you can't go the distance every single time," a charitable Federer said after improving his career record against Murray to six wins in 14 meetings.

"Tennis is not rocket science. It's pretty straightforward. I think he's going to turn around and come back and play a real good match in the next round." Murray had beaten Federer in similarly easy straight sets in the Shanghai final just over a month ago, but rarely looked likely to trouble the world number two in London as he struggled to replicate the heights of his form against Soderling on Sunday.

Federer quickly made his dominance tell as he broke to love in the third game, when he drilled a forehand passing shot down the centre of the court, over the top of Murray's racquet. The Swiss 29-year-old came out on to court with a clear game plan of rushing the net at every available opportunity on the slow courts, and it paid dividends throughout as Murray was pushed onto the back foot.

Although the Scot started to find some rhythm as the opening set progressed, Federer was already in control and won his first set point when Murray sent a cross court forehand wide. The second set was even more one-sided as Federer raced out to a 4-0, double-break lead before Murray could even get himself on the scoreboard.

Once again the Scot did manage to find some form towards the end, but it was far too little too late and Federer comfortably wrapped up the win on his first match point. "I got off to a bad start in both sets, which doesn't help," a glum Murray said just minutes after walking off court.

"I returned poorly, served poorly. Against him, that's not going to win you the match." With one win and one loss to his name, both in straight sets, Murray will now have to beat Ferrer on Thursday and hope that the result in the Federer-Soderling clash goes his way as well.

Article by Pippa Davis / Eurosport / photo by Gettys image

Murray dump Soderling straight sets in first round match

Andy Murray made a solid start to the ATP World Tour Finals in London as he thumped Robin Solderling 6-2 6-4 in his opening match at the imposing O2 Arena. Murray, the world number five, came into the match a spot below Soderling in the world rankings after the Swedish player's success in winning the Paris Masters last week, but he made a mockery of those standings in the opening set.

Soderling could not live with Murray's court coverage, movement, pace of shot or, indeed, the consistency of his serving as the opening set turned into what could be described as a 'tennis clinic' on how a Tour professional should play the game. "I think tactically it was a great match.

I think I played very smart tennis today," commented Murray, who completed his win in one hour and 20 minutes. "Obviously it was getting tough in the second set with a lot of long rallies, but I stuck to my tactics well and managed to come through.

" He broke to move 2-1 ahead with a lovely backhand winner down the line before letting out a huge yell of "c'mon".

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Becker said Andy Murray need to be Mature

Boris Becker has said that one of the reasons Andy Murray has not won a Grand Slam yet is down to his close relationship with his mother. Judy Murray, a tennis coach herself, is regularly seen with Murray at events, and Becker believes it shows a lack of maturity on the Scot's part.

"In many ways, Murray seems younger than 23," Becker is quoted as saying in the Mirror. "Like how close he still is to his mother, Judy. He has also been pretty much with the same girlfriend for the past three or four years. "That is something you don't usually do when you're 23, it's what you do when you're 19 or 20.

Maybe he is maturing a bit slower and that shows on the court. "On a tennis court, you are by yourself. You cannot ask anybody on important points what to do. "You have to be convinced yourself what is the right thing to do. That is called maturity.

I find he still hasn't matured enough to be able to make the right decisions in a Grand Slam." Becker won Wimbledon when he was just 17 but the German legend said there is still plenty of time for Murray to win one of the big prizes in tennis. "I think he is awfully close and one of these days he will break through," said Becker.

"He is like Arsenal because they look pretty and play good but haven't won trophies and their fans get impatient. But stick with the tactics and Wenger and Murray will do it!"

Murray Early Exit from US Open 2010

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 05: Andy Murray of Great Britain walks off the court after the men's singles match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland on day seven of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 5, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Wawrinka defeated Murray 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The World’s Highest Paid Tennis Players

Our look at the highest-paid tennis players typifies this kind of equality in the game. Half of the top ten are men and half are women. For incomes we include prize money, endorsements, exhibitions and appearance fees over the past 12-months without taxes or agent's fees deducted. Informaton from website forbes.com.

No. 1 Roger Federer Income: $43 million Sponsors: Nike, Credit Suisse, Gillette Federer has won a record $56.9 million in career prize money in addition to his record 16 Grand Slam titles. His Nike sponsorship is the most lucrative endorsement deal in tennis.

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No. 2 Maria Sharapova Income: $24.5 million Sponsors: Nike, Prince, Tiffany Sharapova inked an eight-year contract extension with Nike this year that could be worth as much as $70 million thanks to royalties from her own tennis line and a line of bags and shoes through Nike subsidiary Cole-Haan.

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No. 3 Rafael Nadal Income: $21 million Sponsors: Nike, Kia Motors, Babolat The Spaniard returned from an injury-plagued 2009 to capture five tournament titles and the No. 1 ranking this year. Nadal is only 24 years old, but his $32.9 million in career prize money is third best all-time.

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Murray lost to Fish in Quarterfinal Cincinnati Open

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 20: Mardy Fish reacts after defeating Andy Murray of Great Britain (6-7, 6-1, 7-6) during Day 5 of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 20, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Murray beat Gulbis in day 4 of Cincinnati Open 2010

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 19: Andy Murray of Great Britain reacts after defeating Ernests Gulbis of Latvia (4-6, 6-3, 7-6) during Day 4 of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Murray doesn't Need a Coach but a Mate

Andy Murray's win at the Rogers Cup in Toronto dispels any doubts people may have had as to his ability to perform without a coach in his corner. It was the best I have seen the Brit play since the Australian Open, and he looked utterly sensational in winning the tournament and beating both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal along the way.

What the victory showed quite clearly is that Murray does not require a coach in the conventional sense, but rather a mate. If there is an outstanding coach available who the Brit feels entirely at ease with, then that is all well and good, but otherwise he should keep his friends close to him.

The last thing that Murray needs is a coach to come in with his own ideas to upset his development - he is better off keeping things just the way they are at present. An assistant is sometimes required to provide affirmation and reassurance, but he had the perfect balance of defence and attack in Toronto and nothing drastic needs to be changed.

Murray's win over Nadal was the one which was the most impressive, and the Spaniard gave it everything but was simply not good enough to match him. The balance of Murray's game was sublime, and he was able to up his intensity at all the key moments in the match to ensure that he remained in control. The Brit is comfortably as good as Nadal and Federer right now and has the ability to clinch his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

Of course, the record does not lie and Murray has been unable so far in his career to beat Nadal and Federer when it really matters to break his duck. But something has got to change and, in pure tennis terms, he has the talent and the mental strength to beat the pair and go all the way. Perhaps it is fair to say that Federer would not have played nearly as aggressively in a Grand Slam as he did in Toronto, and maybe the focus was not there.

Murray was switched on and very focused at the Rogers Cup and, if he can take that same discipline and mental approach into the US Open then he has every chance. On his day, Murray is every bit as threatening as Nadal and Federer and if he channels his energy correctly then I think one Grand Slam win could lead to many more.

Article by Simon Reed

Murray Tops Federer in Roger's Cup Final 2010

TORONTO (AP)—Andy Murray beat Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 to defend his Rogers Cup title on Sunday. The 23-year-old from Scotland overcame several rain delays to become the first man to repeat as champion since Andre Agassi in 1995. The players last met in the Australian Open final, an easy win for Federer that gave him 16 Grand Slam titles, most in tennis.

Murray Lost in ATP LA Open Final 2010

Second seed Sam Querrey saved a match point in the second set before upsetting top-seeded Briton Andy Murray 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to retain his LA Open title on Sunday.

The big-serving American, who had not won a set in four previous meetings with Murray, produced his best tennis of the week to wrap up victory in two hours 22 minutes at the LA Tennis Center.

After breaking the world number four in the sixth game of the final set, Querrey clinched his fourth ATP Tour title of the year when his opponent hit a backhand service return long.

The 22-year-old punched his right fist into the air in delight after becoming the first player to win back-to-back LA Open crowns since fellow American Andre Agassi in 2002.

Murray Say's Goodbye to Coach Maclagan

Ex Coach Maclagan & Andy Murray British number one Andy Murray has sacked his coach Miles Maclagan a little more than a month before the final grand slam event of the year.

Australian Darren Cahill is widely believed to be Maclagan's likely successor but Murray said he would review the situation only after the August 30-September 12 US Open.

Head YouTek Radical Pro

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There's ample plow through at contact from the mass of this racquet for effortless, deep hitting. Big hitters will find they can hit a very heavy ball with good court penetration. At net this one continues to feel rock solid. Touch and control transmit to the player through a clean and crisp response.

Mobility is enhanced thanks to the head light balance and the YouTek Radical Pro offers a maneuverable feel from all areas of the court. Advanced level players will find easy access to pace and weight on serves. Spin production is solid, resulting in plenty of action on kick and slice serves.

The livelier response of the open string pattern translates to some useful pace on flatter deliveries. This impressive offering from HEAD is a must have for 4.5+ level players.

Head Size : 100 sq inch
Length : 27 inches Balance : Head Light
Composition : Graphite / D30
Power Level : Low
String tension : 52 – 62 pounds
Player using this racquet : Andy Murray

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Biography of Andy Murray

Andrew "Andy" Murray ( born 15 May 1987 ) is a Scottish professional tennis player and current British No.1. He is currently ranked No.4 in the world, but was ranked No.2 from 17 August 2009 to 31 August 2009, making him the highest-ranked British male player since Fred Perry.

Murray achieved a top 10 ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals for the first time on 16 April 2007. He has reached two Grand Slam finals, the 2008 US Open and the 2010 Australian Open, finishing runner-up to Roger Federer both times.

Playing Style : Murray is best described as a defensive counter-puncher, his greatest strengths include solid groundstrokes with low error rate, the uncanny ability to anticipate and react, and his transition from defence to offence with extraordinary speed which enables him to hit winners from defensive positions.

Early in his career, most of his main tour wins came on hard courts. However, he claimed to prefer clay courts, because of his training in Barcelona as a junior player.

Equipment : Murray is sponsored by Head for his racquets, and uses the new Head Youtek Radical Pro. He wore Fred Perry apparel until late 2009, when he signed a five-year £10m contract with Adidas, which he began wearing at the start of the 2010 season.