[Elly]

Maybe Andy will always lack that killer instinct at certain times - just too nice a guy sometimes.

I think you hit the nail of the head, there ST E.  Andy always has, and always will strike me as one of life's innocents.  If you don't have a mindset that allows you to deal with what you can't understand and what's not in your nature, it makes it very difficult.  Andy doesn't do antics - just tries to work as hard as he can and set his own goals.  I see Boris was tweeting a la Trump throughout the match.  I think Novak became a lesser person, in terms of human decency under his tutelage.  I know which kind of person I'd rather be - as twee as that sounds...

[blueberryhill]

^ They play so similarly unfortunately.

[Ruthie]

Well that was a shame but I'm not downhearted.   There was some brilliant tennis and Andy played great to take it to a third set.  I know this gives advantage back to Nole for the AO in terms of the psychological balance between them and that it brings Andy's winning streak on the tour to an end but I never really believed that Andy would turn into the kind of match winning machine that Nole was and that sooner or later Nole would find his game again.  Unfortunately it looks like it might be sooner rather than later and true to form he finds it against our Andy.  While I    at some of the expected negativity I've read on the thread since the match ended, there is one point I agree with STE on and that is that perhaps no bad thing if it reduces the level of expectation around Andy for the AO.   As for boogers' put down, personally I believe Andy is the better tennis player in terms of skill and variety but clearly he's a less successful tennis player than Nole for various reasons  -partly to do with psychology and partly to do with having to play catch up after his op while Nole was progressing during that time.  There may be other reasons too but effort isn't one of them.  Anyway if they carry on playing like this against each other, it's going to be quite a season.  It felt a bit as if it was getting us fans into training today for all the stresses of watching them play. 

[Ruthie]

oh pleez  bev   

[boogers]

As for boogers' put down, personally I believe Andy is the better tennis player in terms of skill and variety but clearly he's a less successful tennis player than Nole for various reasons  -partly to do with psychology and partly to do with having to play catch up after his op while Nole was progressing during that time.  There may be other reasons too but effort isn't one of them.

I basically agree with this - Murray certainly has a wider repertoire than Djokovic and is arguably the better defender, but he lags slightly on the tactical and mental side of things, and often runs into trouble when he's forced to play aggressively. His serve and forehand are also at times liabilities. Of these, the mental aspect is the biggest problem and until he's able to sort that out he'll continue to be fractionally behind Djokovic.

Basically, my position is that you can't just take variety and technical ability in isolation.

[matchpoint]

Meh. Really wanted Andy's winning streak to continue to give him that air of invincibility. But not to be.
I find it hard to think that today's loss will give him any confidence that he can beat Djoko if they should meet at Melbourne. And to win Australia at last, is my main hope for Andy for 2017....

Oh well. Moving on, here's wishing him all the best down-under. Everything's crossed for him.

[Tamaragl]

It's perhaps a small thing, but I would also like to point out that when Andy shook hands with Djokovic at the end of the match, he (Andy) smiled and spoke in what looked to me a very cheerful, relaxed and not seriously upset or frustrated way. I think he felt he'd played well and taken Djokovic nearly as far as he could. I think he really respects Novak, antics or not. He knew he'd still be number 1 at the end of it  (and indeed as others have pointed out, he gained points on Novak because Novak was defending the title), and I'm also betting that he didn't want to leave absolutely everything out there for the very first tournament of the season, especially with the AO just round the corner. I think at this point Djokovic has at least as much to prove as Andy has and probably more.

[Bevc]

What do you expect from Boogers the only time I have seen him post is when Andy loses.I really do not know why he is on MW. The only time I have seen him post was OMG when Andy beat Djokovic at the 02. Djokovic is not yet number one again and did not gain any points from his win in Doha. \so before you start rubbishing Andy go and put your head under the cold tap it might help clear your mind. As for Djokovic I would not trust him for a minute, his behaviour during the match was disgraceful those tantrums like a spoilt child. Glad he had a point deducted and his behaviour towards his team was appalling. I know which player was the better, I think Becker was a bad influence on him his behaviour it's time up and learned to control his over inflated ego just like boogers.

Well you weren't paying attention.

Good win that.