ATS
ATP Level
Posts: 1,755
Gender: 
Location: Southern England
A man to respect
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Yes... I don't know how much longer he'll bother...
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Apollo
Murraymaniac
Posts: 31,989
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Location: America - Midwest
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Andy has pulled out of Toronto with a stomach issue. I have video taped his speech.
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Apollo
Murraymaniac
Posts: 31,989
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Location: America - Midwest
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Here is his withdrawal speech. Feel bad for him, but better to withdraw than make it worse.
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counter_ puncher
Seed
Posts: 4,479
Location: Berlin
A counter puncher like Andy always fights back.
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I checked in the early hours if his match was already under way only to find out that Andy had withdrawn. And the reason is very concerning, of course. As disappointed as he must be, he better does not risk anything at this point in the year and in his career.
Will he play in Cincy then or skip it for taking care of his body?
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marathonarthur
Top Seed
Posts: 5,208
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Location: Wliltshire
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A sad event. He is trying to maximise his playing time, make it to being seeded at the US Open and an injury bad enough to be cautious comes along. I suppose that means an end to his competing in USA before the slam event.
As for Cincy he will probably consider missing that unless he thinks that he can win at least two rounds. Sounds a bit naughty but could he wait until last minute for the draw? If it is hard he can pull out as playing hard games when not fully fit is not the best plan. Staying in USA with the other Brits will give him options to practice with them if his body feel good into next week. With their losses this week they may need him too?
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Aileen
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Posts: 96,271
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I can't see him playing Cinci because he said last time this happened it took about 10 days to recover, so no point in making things worse if he wants to play at the USO.
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counter_ puncher
Seed
Posts: 4,479
Location: Berlin
A counter puncher like Andy always fights back.
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I agree. It does not sound plausible to withdraw only to enter the next tournament whose draw will take place today.
What is encouraging is that the physical issue does not seem to be so grave as last time.
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marathonarthur
Top Seed
Posts: 5,208
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Location: Wliltshire
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^ I sensed from his words that he was less injured than previously when he had an abdominal strain so he might rest up and try to play in Cincy so that he has more confidence in his body for the US Open. Is it a consequence of the hip surgery that he is susceptible to this sort of problem? I think this will be the third occurence.
He is already entered for Cincy and many players are uncertain over injuries leave a withdrawal late so that would have been my plan. As the draw is today he can at least check that before he makes his decision. If he decides to play there and it does still hurt when playing then he has options to play less hard and probably simply lose or play just one round rather than withdraw before he has tried to play. Sometimes in sport we need an outing that is a test.
I sensed that he was more disturbed that he had to let the fans down in Toronto than about his strain. Let us face it if he had been playing lower level opposition I think he may well have played that quarter final. I imagine that his team may have had a tough time to convince him not to play last night. He is so competitive he would not have wanted to miss that match.
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Aileen
Murraymaniac
Posts: 96,271
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I agree that the fact that he didn't withdraw until the last minute does suggest an intention to play. I think most of us were taken by surprise by this announcement because unlike Stuttgart there was no obvious sign of an injury, which is encouraging, but if he had played and won, it would have been Gael Monfils in the quarters (which would have been entertaining to watch) with the prospect of Alcaraz in the semis. Interestingly this is just the seventh time he's conceded a walkover in his entire career.
Unfortunately I don't think there are any exho matches he could play before the USO, but there is Winston-Salem starting on the 19th, and he did play there in 2021.
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[ Last edit by Aileen August 11, 2023, 12:50 pm ]
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marathonarthur
Top Seed
Posts: 5,208
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^I see that Andy is also entered in the doubles at Cincy as a wildcard with Dan Evans. Could Dan get a replacement partner at this late stage or might Andy just try the doubles as it would be easier physically as a tester of his strain. So many options but we will inevitably know more after tonight's singles draw which is at 10.00pm our time in UK.
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Aileen
Murraymaniac
Posts: 96,271
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^ Doubles only sounds good, and also he might not want to let Dan down because getting another partner at the last minute isn't easy, but as you say everything will be revealed tonight.
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Ghostbuster
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Second time in a year he has had to pull out of a R16 of a Masters. Sad.
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Aileen
Murraymaniac
Posts: 96,271
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Second time in a year he has had to pull out of a R16 of a Masters. Sad.
And the first time was ...?? If you're referring to Madrid last year that was because of food poisoning not an injury, and the only time he's even made round 3 since then was at IW where he lost to Jack Draper. |
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Ghostbuster
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Yeah, Madrid. I wasn't being critical. I was saying that the two times he's reached R16, he hasn't been able to get on court, which is a shame.
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