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[lashurst]

It's such a shame that after a match like that Andy will drop 480 ranking points - it doesn't seem fair somehow!

Damn right it doesnt.

[lashurst]

Er, confession.

Am I the only one who didn't think this was a great match? Yes, it was tense in the fifth set and, yes, it went to five sets, but the general standard of tennis wasn't stunning. I've never seen so many unforced errors from two top guys.

I genuinely believe Andy's playing a new way and it'll take time to bed in, but that fourth set was truly horrible, at just the time he'd won the mental battle with Djokovic. He should have put his foot on the gas. If he never wins a slam, it'll be because of sets like that.

No it wasnt great tennis match, in terms of steady quality playing throughout the 5 sets, with little between the two players. The patches when Andy went missing (4th) were awful. Many basic errors made and giving points away to Novak.

On the other hand it was great for us to experience a new Andy that fought like a Trojan even when he was down on the canvas he still wasn't out for the count!

Today he showed his mettle. We all saw which departments he is still lacking, but its Lendls job now to work on Andys "weakest links"!

[boogers]

Phil, did you see this as a great match?

As a spectator? Absolutely, but that was purely because of the incredible tension and sheer unpredictability of it.

The tennis itself was not "great". Djokovic demonstrated some jaw dropping defence, but offensively both players made far too many errors.

The most positive aspect, from a Murray supporters perspective, is that his body language was largely positive throughout the match. I am not convinced that was anything more than a desire to impress Lendl. It'll be interesting to see if that lasts as the relationship between the two develops.

So, some cautious optimism - but still to be convinced. The early US hardcourt swing will be very interesting.

[theycanbillme]

The only thing I regret about him being out this time after this 5 hour epic is that he has not won a slam by his 24th year. If he is to become a serial slam winner (and I think he will be) it shall be in new territory.
But he's almost ready and you have to say he never really was before, and you have to say also that he has wasted time with his poor, childish attitude but he is is finally getting it together mentality wise and showed us all with his behaviour under the severe stress of this contest. Yes he dipped badly after winning the 3rd tanking the 4th & the match was loaded with errors particularly from Andy, but he bravely stuck to his guns with his new aggressive game plan. Instead of doing his usual of collapsing back behind the baseline. Whats more he almost prevailed. Should have really. Who else has pushed the World Number 1 to the absolute limit in the last 12 months like that? Certainly not Rafael Nadal & isn't he one of the greatest players ever?
 Its a pretty good endorsement of his new tactics & It can only be a matter of time before the shoe is on the other foot as long as he continues in this new aggressive path in these next six months & he will. Lendl will make sure of it.
Andy is the true challenger to Novak not Fedal.
I expect him to get to Number 3 by the clay court season, make a serious onslaught in Wimbledon, turn the tide in the H2H with Nadal and is my joint fav for the US Open.
Novak is still in 2011 mode but it will be almost impossible to continue like this forever & when the opportunity presents itself,  it's  up to Andy to make his move.

[Aileen]

'For a good three hours, the semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray here was, to put it bluntly, a mess. Both players were fighting themselves as much as the guy across the net.'

Steve Tignor agrees with me.

Sorry Nigel, I may not be quite as up on tennis as you are, but I rate your report as one of the most negative I've ever read on this forum.  According to other reports I've read or heard, this was one of the best matches ever.  There was, after all, a great deal of sublime tennis in amongst the faults.

I agree that both players were struggling at times, and Andy should have capitalised on his tie-break win in the 3rd instead of losing his way in the 4th, but I'm prepared to forgive his still ropey serve and unforced errors simply because the Andy on that court yesterday was a new Andy.  The improvement in his attitude, on-court behaviour and body-language was very noticeable (when, for example, did the old Andy ever walk onto a court raising his arms in acknowledgement of the crowd?).  I also liked the power and depth of his forehand which has been much in evidence in this tournament and the fact that he was actually prepared to fight to the bitter end in the 5th set instead of sulking and tamely accepting defeat after a poor 4th.  I feel certain that he can build on this match by taking the positives on board and learning from his mistakes.  You once said yourself in reference to Nadal's coaching by Uncle Toni that moulding a player's character was an essential step before working on his game, and this is what Lendl seems to be doing.

For goodness sake, everyone - not only was Andy playing a guy at the very top of his game, and one who he often pushed to the limits, but he's only been working with Lendl for about 4 weeks, so give the man a break.  Changes cannot be rushed and take time to bed in.  Accept it.  In four or five months time we really will have a much clearer picture of the Lendl effect and that that picture will, I'm sure, be a positive one.

[adb..OH]

"Who else has pushed the World Number 1 to the absolute limit in the last 12 months like that?" 

[Aileen]

Good question - but I never saw this as I was watching on the BBC who didn't show that paritcular incident, either that or I missed it.  Perhaps he wasn't eating but having a quick puff of an inhaler or something similar to help his breathing.  He did seem to be having a breathing problem at one time and then it suddenly stopped.