MurraysWorld  >  Andy Talk  >  Andy at the 2016 WTF
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Andy at the 2016 WTF

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Look at the flip side.  What better way for Andy to underline things than getting through this monumental draw?  Psychologically, he (Andy) must be in a great place right now.  He's taken so many disappointments on the chin to get where he is today, and continued to work and work his way to the top - that's massive.  His body language in that third set against Isner?  I haven't seen that from Andy before, and that was the body language of someone who truly believes in himself.  I'm not fussed about the Joker or his draw.  I'm looking forward to seeing Andy going out there and playing one match at a time, with the confidence and belief that's been a long time coming! 
I agree with all of that Elly.  Also even if Andy does lose the #1 ranking to Djokovic I'm sure he'll have given of his best, and I won't be asking for any more than that because he's already done himself proud.  There's always next year anyway because Novak has far more ranking points to defend than Andy has in the first quarter of it, and also there has to be a quite a big question mark as to how well or how soon Novak can get over his recent slump.

PS - It's worth remembering too that this year Andy has no DC final to contend with, and that must surely be a weight off his mind which should leave him freer to focus on the O2.
[ Last edit by Aileen November 07, 2016, 08:01 pm ] IP Logged
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A lot of negativity in here (no, I can't believe I'm saying that either . . .)

On the slow O2 surface, I don't think Cilic or Nishikori will trouble Andy. Cincy was a fast surface and Andy was knackered there.

The only one I'm worried about is Stan, who can be anything from dire to amazing, and rarely anything in between.

Andy has a winning H2H against all three.

I'd love Andy to play Novak in the final, then beat him to shut those up who think Andy's number 1 ranking is somehow not legit.

Nishikori beat him here last year and again at the USO. After Murray and Djokovic, he's the most consistent big-game player of the rest.

Cilic is always a danger indoors and Wawrinka, as everyone knows, can range from world beater to chump.

I can see Murray winning all three, just as I can see him losing all three. Regardless, he'll have to be at his best and will be in for three very intense matches. Djokovic on the other hand should coast past Thiem with ease, and will only have to really have a game on his hands if Raonic or Monfils are back at full fitness.
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What will be interesting is fitness. Djokovic's group all have niggles. Murray's camp claims he's in great shape, and he's clearly flying in confidence. How fit are Wawrinka, Cilic and Nishikori? Only Cilic went far in Paris, but it's been a long season nonetheless. Let's just hope Murray's on his game, because if he plays like he did against Nishikori in New York or like he did last year he will struggle to qualify for the knockout stages.
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If the draw was the other way round, I think there'd be a real question mark (on current form) over Djokovic getting through the group round.

As it stands, although this is brutal, I don't see Murray on current form failing to get out of that group (although it would be genuinely surprising if he won all three).

Which means there's a fighting chance that he ends up playing Djokovic in the semis - in which case, it's beat Djokovic for #1, which is what always looked likely.

The only real concern is that he ends up playing Djokovic in the semis, after three brutal three set matches in five days, while Djokovic breezes through in straight sets in each of his games.  Which would be a bit frustrating, but worse things happen at sea, and you could see it as the ultimate match toughness thing.
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Nishikori beat him here last year and against at the USO. After Murray and Djokovic, he's the most consistent big-game player.

Cilic is always a danger indoors and Wawrinka, as everyone knows, can range from world beater to chump.

I can see Murray winning all three, just as I can see him losing all three. Regardless, he'll have to be at his best and will be in for three very intense matches. Djokovic on the other hand should coast past Thiem with ease, and will only have to really have a game on his hands if Raonic or Monfils are back at full fitness.

I wouldn't read too much into Andy's loss against Nishikori at the O2 last year - Andy's mind and focus were clearly on the Davis Cup. Cilic can be dangerous, but as I said the slower surface won't favour him against Andy.

Agreed about Stan - you just never know with him.

I'd be shocked if Andy doesn't top his group, and despite his poor form, Novak should top his group due to the lack of any real opposition, apart from Raonic if he's fit.
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At the moment I can't see Raonic making it, and if so then Berdych will take his place, so that might make a difference.
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Looks a tough draw  for Andy .... guys he can beat...but also lose against. He's top dog now tho...should be confident going in. He's the guy to beat now.

A Djoko 1 year ago would have cruised his draw...but for whatever reason seems unable to cruise anything other than the Med at the moment....And his missus banned him from that.. allegedly.



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Looks a tough draw  for Andy .... guys he can beat...but also lose against. He's top dog now tho...should be confident going in. He's the guy to beat now.

A Djoko 1 year ago would have cruised his draw...but for whatever reason seems unable to cruise anything other than the Med at the moment....And his missus banned him from that.. allegedly.
If true, maybe she was worried he might 'stray' again. Whistle


Anyway I was just thinking that we can also watch Jamie & Bruno in the doubles at the O2, and for those interested, here's their grouping -

Fleming/McEnroe Group

Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut
Feliciano Lopez & Marc Lopez
Henri Kontinen & John Peers
Raven Klaasen & Rajeev Ram

Edberg/Jarryd Group

Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares
Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan
Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo
Treat Huey & Max Mirnyi
[ Last edit by Aileen November 07, 2016, 08:45 pm ] IP Logged
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I wouldn't read too much into Andy's loss against Nishikori at the O2 last year - Andy's mind and focus were clearly on the Davis Cup. Cilic can be dangerous, but as I said the slower surface won't favour him against Andy.

Agreed about Stan - you just never know with him.

I'd be shocked if Andy doesn't top his group, and despite his poor form, Novak should top his group due to the lack of any real opposition, apart from Raonic if he's fit.

It was 2014 Andy lost to Kei- after his punishing run to get the points he needed to qualify. Last year Andy  beat ferrer but lost to Rafa and Stan.
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Andy had no intention of hanging around last year because of DC. And he was always pretty broken by the time he got to London in other years. He's beaten all these guys before and it would be a joy to see him cut a swathe through the best of the rest as a glory lap to finish up. Is it me, but are these, incl Djoker the only guys to win against him in the last 12 months? Other than Delpo at  DC. Revenge is tasty.
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If the match at the USO had been a 3 setter Andy would have won. The same actually goes for the Delpo match in Glasgow
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I still maintain Andy's focus was on the DC, despite all his attempts to deny that that was the case.  Possibly he could put it out of his mind when he was playing, like he said he did with Kim when he was in Oz, but these things have a habit of niggling away at the subconscious whether you accept it or not.
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And remember last year, he went from practising on clay for the DC final , then straight to hard courts at the O2.

I'd love him to win there, to finally banish the awful feeling of watching him lose 6-0 6-1 to Fed in 2014. That was the year he played on the final day, in the exho match against Novak after Fed was "injured".
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I recall that last year as well.  Also Andy's problem in 2014 was that he'd played something like 6 tournaments on the trot in order to qualify for the O2 and get his ranking up, so by the time he got to Fed he was totally knackered.  I had to admire him though for agreeing to turn up at the last minute to play the exho because it couldn't have been easy to return so soon to a place where you'd been thoroughly thrashed the day before.
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Just booked tickets for the Monday night, Andy v Cilic .
Have a great time Deb! I hope you bring Andy luck. What a thrilling moment when Andy comes on and they announce him as, "The World No 1!"
 wub
 
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