Andy Murray/Tennis thread 2014

[Buzzo]

My overall opinion here is that though that was a horrible loss. It is one he should put behind him.

His game is better than it was for the most part of the year. But, his level needs to go up a fair bit to get back to the level he was at challenging for Slams. Can he do that? I think he has the game to, but its the head (as Mick said) along with the serve that needs fixing. He needs to get back to the way he was playing with Lendl, and for that maybe he needs to find a new Lendl. I find it hard to believe Mauresmo is the answer to his coaching problems.

[mick the click]

Not sure if Muresmo's (sp?) going to survive. Someone needs to go.

Hodgson?

[Chris]

Damn, that was weak and completes a pitiful season for him, won a few bum tournaments but at the mo he's just making the numbers up in the rest, dunno whats up with him unless the back stuff has taken 20% from him.

[Buzzo]

Not sure if Muresmo's (sp?) going to survive. Someone needs to go.

Hodgson?

Always get rid of Hosdgson.

[mick the click]

Always get rid of Hosdgson.

Yeah, both of them.

[captainfog]

I blame Parry.

I think his days competing for Slams are over. He's so far behind the top guys now due to that back injury which seems to have really effected his game, especially his serve. Yeah, he's better than he was tonight, but even at his peak towards the end of this year he wasn't able to live with the big boys.

[Buzzo]

Damn, that was weak and completes a pitiful season for him, won a few bum tournaments but at the mo he's just making the numbers up in the rest, dunno whats up with him unless the back stuff has taken 20% from him.

Murrays a fighter.

Much as he kicked on from the crushing blow of losing his first Wimbleon final to come back and win it the next year, if there is one sportsman who will learn from a loss like that it is Murray.

I wonder if killing his self by playing what was it 25 matches in 36 days was a good idea, when you end that by playing the best, who have rested a bit over the same period.

A chastening defeat for sure, it is the response in January that will be intriguing.

[mick the click]

This is going to be a big break for Murray and he's got some decisions to make.

I just wonder if he's going to take some independent advice. I reckon his team is too comfy - I don't think any of them are going to turn around and tell him to get his act together.

He needs serves, 1 and 2. Or quit.

He needs to stay aggressive from the first match to the last in tourneys.

I still think he'll win another slam or two. But then again, I'm not going to put money on it.

[Buzzo]

This is going to be a big break for Murray and he's got some decisions to make.

I just wonder if he's going to take some independent advice. I reckon his team is too comfy - I don't think any of them are going to turn around and tell him to get his act together.

He needs serves, 1 and 2. Or quit.

He needs to stay aggressive from the first match to the last in tourneys.

I still think he'll win another slam or two. But then again, I'm not going to put money on it.

He should read Agassi's autobiography and speak to him for advice on how to fight your way out of a trough.

[Pablo]

Not bad pay for 54 minutes work though Andy

[Shaggy]

http://www.andymurray.com/feature/world-tour-finals-column/

Roger was really exceptional on Thursday night, it was the best he’s ever played against me, but I was disappointed with my performance. There’s no denying how much it hurts.

At 6-0 and a break down, I wasn’t worrying about losing the match 6-0 6-0 so much as trying to string a couple of points together and maybe start thinking about winning a game. I knew he was struggling to handle my demon second serve but I just couldn't make it count.

It was the first time I’d been in that position in my whole career and I hope it never happens again.

This year has been testing and I’ve learned a lot along the way, it’s just a shame to finish it with another very harsh lesson. I’m sure it will be a tough one to look back in the future.

Maybe I can use it as motivation, although that’s never really been an issue for me. I just have to remember that this time last year I was at home doing my rehab after back surgery and watching bits and pieces of the matches on TV. It wasn’t easy.

Sometimes I’d gone into the Paris Masters at the end of the year feeling quite tired, whereas last year I was watching it thinking: ‘I’d love to be there.’ When you see guys competing, you realise how much you miss that.

Over the last few months I’d really started to enjoy my tennis again after struggling earlier in the year. My back had still been giving me some trouble when I thought that doing the rehab meant it would be fine.

That wasn’t the case, and I was completely wrong to expect it to be like that.

Then the split happened with my coach, Ivan Lendl, and that was tough too. I brought Amelie Mauresmo into the team over the summer and for the last two or three months you would say it has gone well.

A match like Thursday night’s is extremely disappointing for me though. I need to make sure when I’m going into those big matches that I have everything covered and I’m totally clear about what I want to do. That’s something I need to look at.

So what have I learned this year? Well, firstly that going through surgery is not something I want to repeat, so I’ll try and take better care of my body in future.

I also learned that when you do spend three or four months away from the court, the other guys get better.

People often like to compare generations and ask whether Roger would have beaten someone like Rod Laver. The surgery made me realise that while you’re away the game moves on even in the space of a few months.

The other guys continue to make slight improvements, your level drops and they just get a bit further away from you. To catch up with them takes time and, in my case, this year I ran out of time.

I clearly wasn’t at the top level by the end of the year and I’m going to need to put in a lot of work to get back there, which might mean changing my plans for the off-season.

I’ve got my friend Ross Hutchins’s wedding next week and I’m the best man – I can’t say my confidence levels are sky high right now but I’m sure the speech will go OK. I had then planned to head to Miami in the first week of December, but if I want to make changes to my game it will take a lot longer than 10 days of practice.

There won’t be drastic alterations to my game but Thursday night was not good enough, and even against the best players I should be giving myself opportunities to win games, sets and matches.

The good thing is I now have time to think about a few things and then go and work on them. A week is a long time in tennis, things can change quickly, and I know I can do what is necessary to sustain a higher level consistently. My goals remain as high as ever and the next target is already clear – to try and win the Australian Open.

Thanks for your support during the year and in London over the last week, I’m just sorry I couldn’t have done better, but I’ll work as hard as possible to come back stronger in 2015.

[Lecter]

He should read Agassi's autobiography and speak to him for advice

What advice would that be??

To wear a wig and spend most of the game worrying about it falling off

[Lecter]

The game is so fast now, my daughter is 9 and has been playing at club level for a couple of years some of the kids at the club are really good players but they have zero chance of making it.

This year we went to Wimbledon and when you see the professionals and the speed of their shots and movement its hard for your eye / head to keep up

Then you watch 16 year old kids hitting 110 mph serves and them being comfortably returned then you realise how far advanced some of these players are

TV just doesnt do justice to the speed of the game its is absolutely immense when you see it up close

[RichC]

Federer has pulled out of the final so Djokovic win

[Shaggy]

What a joke. "Not match fit"? He was yesterday. Exhibition v Murray instead!