posted Mar 10, 2008

"Sorry to disappoint you but friends of mine were involved on the organisational side of a Davis Cup match Murray played in. Not one of them, nor anyone they spoke to at the event, had a good word to say about your 'fine tennis player and sportsman'"

Oh really. Well I have friends who know the Murray family quite well and they wouldn't agree with your friends. We could trade opinions all day and it would get us nowhere. Did your friends say anything about his tennis?? Would that have been the DC when Murray got GB through to the World Group?

You know what - I couldn't care less how he behaves in front of people like your 'friends'. I'm interested in his tennis unlike the prats who constantly whinge here about his 'personality'. Many people at the top of any profession, especially when it concerns performing in public at the highest level, whether in sport or the arts, are very demanding of themselves and therefore tend to be demanding of others. That can make them unpopular. Who cares?

As far as sportsmanship is concerned, no-one - and I mean no-one - can ever accuse Murray of being unsporting. In fact he is always extremely considerate towards opponents - which is a lot more than could be said of many other top tennis players.

As for 'spoilt': I wonder how someone who has been training since childhood, with all the hard work that involves, to realise the potential of an amazing talent could be considered 'spoilt'. It's about the most punishing demanding life anyone could put themselves through. And if you consider the experience Murray went through at ten years of age in the Dunblane massacre - an experience that would blight the lives of most kids that age - the idea that someone with that background could ever be considered 'spoilt' is unbelievable.

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posted Mar 10, 2008

Well said. Although I think you know it's falling on deaf ears. But still, well said.

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posted Mar 11, 2008

Clearly there are two sets of opinions here - those who don`t care much for his personality but admire his tennis, and those who just don`t like him.
The point is he needs to control his emotions better when things are not going well on court because the negative reactions are not helping him improve at the time, he needs to change his focus from the negative body language and foul language to positive and constructive actions. All the negative things give his opponents encouragement as he is letting them know he is bothered about the outcomes of the points/games.
He knows this, he isn`t stupid, but despite this knowledge he still chooses to react in the wrong way. So what? Well these actions also have a negative effect on his support, public opinion of him is being diversely affected resulting in less fans to cheer him on.I am sure many famous tennis players would tell us that in their career the crowds reactions have many times had a positive effect on their results from time to time. Of course exceptions are there for all rules i.e. McEnroe thrived on negativity from the crowd and also used it to fire himself up, BUT Murray simply isn`t McEnroe. Of course he doesn`t like losing, not many do, but what does the famous quotation say above the players entrance to Cenre Court - something about victory and defeat and treating those imposters the same ? Maybe he should read more poetry.

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posted Mar 11, 2008

IW qualies update
Boggo and /baker are both in (Baker getting a last minute WC, we think maybe a local WC may have pulled out and Jamie was there to grab the chance)

Neither having great draws with JB getting Serra who is just inside the top 100 and Boggo getting rising Japanese star Kei Nishikori, this guy recently qualified for and won a atp beating james blake in the final. boggo run of unlucky draws continues.

the only ray of light for alex was the kei pulled out of his last match, hopefully what ever effected him then may still be doing so. On the face of it JB has the better chance of making the MD.

Boggo's match should be on atp livescores from about 6.30pm, JB's later.

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posted Mar 11, 2008

Well that's an interesting theory, but it's not borne out in practice. There is no shortage of people cheering him on. I also dispute the weight you put on the crowd support: very hostile crowds can have an effect, and in very finely poised matches very partisan ones can also have a postitive effect (usually by putting off the opponent). In the vast majority of run of the mill games, however, what matters far more is the player's own concentration. That can be affected by losing one's temper, but what works for some hinders others.

In short I think his temperament has very little effect on his results. There are far more prosaic reasons for his defeats.

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posted Mar 12, 2008

I wonder what laval's friends would have said if it had been Big Mac. playing for Britain, winning match after match, whilst swearing and cursing umpire and linesman alike, at the same time taking them farther in Davis Cup than they have ever gone.
Andy, as I have said before is going to be a roller coaster type player and we will see calm controlled emotionless matches like the Federer one followed by erratic explosive type matches like the Davydenko one. Emotion (in contrast to the classic Scottish image) plays a big part in Murray's make up and will affect his play from tournament to tournament.

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posted Mar 13, 2008

i used to play tennis when i was younger and although only a very average club player. i came up against lots of racket smashing, swearing spoilt brats, this behaviour has no place on the tennis court and i hope my polite and honest approach inspired younger players at the club to act like real ladies and gentelmaen.

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posted Mar 13, 2008

I'm sure it's been said before but here goes. I lovedTim Henman, he was a great ambassador for British tennis, I constantly defend his place in Tennis Greatness. But slightly agreeing with public opinion he did on occassion lack the agression or passion on the court that we all wanted to see. All the media and fans wanted some fire in our Number 1 player and now we have and we are now talking about arrogance!

On similar note, English tennis fans loved to fly the George flag, so now a player wants to play for the Scottish one, there is an insult perceived! Come on! I'm sure Andy is playing for Britain but by no means should anyone expect him to have an allegiance to England, let's see English sportsman fly the Scottish flag before condemning Murray.

Glad that's off my chest.

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posted Mar 14, 2008

What we really love is a chance to moan. Therefore we will criticise him come what may. Ignoring the fact that it is the fire that burns in him which has driven him to being by far the best player we have, with the potential to be the greatest we have ever had.

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posted Mar 16, 2008

Baker, February's ITF Player of the Month

http://www.itftennis.com/mens/players/spotlighton/2008/february2008.asp

"Jamie, 21, competed in two Futures tournaments during February, both were held on hard courts in Texas, USA. First up was a trip to Brownsville, TX for the USA F4 tournament where, seeded 2, he started with a 63 62 win against American wildcard entrant Ryan Harrison in the first round..."

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