[flowerpower]

It's a sad day. His waving at the end felt like a farewell. Playing like this is not what you want for Andy, but the thought of quiting forever makes you feel sad either...

[Aileen]

Andy has been reported as saying that he thinks that trying to keep his emotions under better control on court now may have been responsible for the subdued play.   If this is indeed the case, then let him return to chuntering, shouting at his box and smashing rackets if it helps improve his performance.

[marathonarthur]

He has managed to return to the world's top 50 which is an outstanding achievement in itself. He plays for the love of the sport and the buzz it brings to him competing on the biggest stages. A return to the challenger tour I cannot see as a realistic expectation, it's like driving a Ferrari all your life and then finding yourself in a Skoda.

I see where you are coming from with that comment but, from my own experience albeit at a lesser level in another sport, I think that you are wrong.  Your example of driving cars is wholly inappropriate but understood in that nobody is happy with a drop in standard. I do agree that it would be hard for him to go down in event quality as he has a massive desire to be at the highest level playing but I doubt if he will ever get back to where he thinks he might get to unless he takes a view that he needs to start again and build up his competitive ability almost from scratch. He said that he did not play his best tennis when he lost yesterday. What he did was to play at a standard well above most players in the UK but without the intensity needed to win at a slam. Unfortunately I think that his mind has all the past success getting in the way. His mental ambitions at this stage are probably unrealistic and out of step with his actual ability to compete now. I consider that he does actually play primarily to win (not for Love of the sport as you suggest), However to win at the highest level he needs now a process for improvement which, despite his concerns over time left 'to make it back', cannot in my view be omitted. I have to do this now as otherwise I shall never get closer to past ability and enjoyment will never return completely.

I am not a sports coach so I could be wrong but I think you will find that many sports Psychologists would suggest the same as I do. Sporting performance is more related to mental fitness than the physical side.

I certainly hope that he finds a way to continue playing whether it is in doubles or to keep trying with his singles career. The crowds, myself, and many others, still love to see him play.

I will make that my end comment. I have been rather lengthy.

[marathonarthur]

I like what you have to say, there is something mental going of with Andy that he needs to fix.  I am not into him smashing racquets, but we do need to see him yelling c'mon, and getting emotional in a match.

Thanks Apollo.  Andy loves winning so he is not in a happy place and with that it creates a lack of motivation which is obvious in his total demeanor. That is where I am too. We see it with many sportsmen trying to 'get back' after a time out.

[Aileen]

As a result of this defeat Andy's ranking will drop to No.  47