Hi All,
I was coming on to join in the fun during the match, but then my niece popped in during her lunch break (why do people talk when they can see you are trying to watch something????), and what with one thing and another, I ended up glued to the screen.
Wow, that felt good today, and I was only watching it!
It made me smile when they said it was hard to assess how well Andy played because Almagro basically gave up early on. I suppose that is true, but I also think 81% first serves in for the match and 29 winners tells its own story. Andy Murray is a class act in lovely form.
It also takes class to remain focused against an injured opponent, or an opponent who really shouldn't be a threat, and Andy was focused today, not taking silly risks or trying to be cute, just getting on with the job.
Physically Almagro was done and he didn't help himself mentally. Frustration is one thing, but getting ratty with the crowd was never going to help. That just made them back Andy all the more to my mind.
I thought Andy recovered so well from the net touching thing. He didn't really get in to it with the umpire either. I must admit to not having been sure at first, it didn't look clear to me at all. Still, it was done and dusted quickly.
I'm trying not to get too excited for Andy, but it is becoming tough! I'd love Tsonga to find a way through Djokovic, which could happen. Djokovic isn't looking his best, but then again he can turn it on when he needs to. That said, should Djokovic get past Tsonga I still like Andy's chances in the semi's. I would never rule Djokovic out, that would be daft, but I really think Andy can do it. He's beaten Djokovic before in the best of three format. In February in Dubai it was quite a convincing win, admittedly on a hard court, but still. The fact that the two have never met on the grass will be fascinating if the match happens.
I wonder if Isner is in the mood to take Smugfed out? I'd enjoy that on so many levels!
Anyway, that was fabulous today for now. Congrats Andy. Must remember the Mixed later!
