Not sure Murray has it in him, mentally and physically, to win the match - I hope he pours himself into just winning this set, and what achievement that would be...

Hes got the heart of a champion, theres absolutely no denying it.

In a way to hold here is far harder than normal - its a battle of concentration....

COME OONNNNNN!

Thrilling

Come on Stan!

So does anyone know if eurosport has these matches in Germany?

I was actually disappointed in the odds because I think he will get beaten at least once, I went looking hoping to find maybe evens.

I agree with you Joe, that fitness/injury is the key factor. On this point though, I think the fact hes played more (intense) matches on hard courts might mean he's not quite as fresh (and therefore imperious) as usual. I think his fitness/strength and reputation are the key factors behind his incredible success on clay, but nobody is unbeatable. (Not saying he would otherwise be nowhere, just not neccesarily with such an insane win ratio).

Although illogical, I have a weird instinct that he won't win the French this year... 

Its about time for a winner from nowhere - none of the top 4 in the final style.

Then the 9/4 offered by Sportingbet that Nadal will be unbeaten on Clay this year is a steal....? (2/7 on that he wont be undefeated)

Apart from the Nadal part, I agree with all the above

I totally love how suggesting Nadal might lose a match on Clay is a MASSIVE faux pas on any tennis forum 

I can see a "coming of age" clay court season for Murray.

Im confident he can be as strong a force on clay than on other surfaces, but the difference is he can win against the top players on a hard court even when playing poorly - I dont think he'll have that luxury on clay against top clay courters. However, he really has put his game together since the last clay court season. Further to that, he's totally got his head in the right place and hes made a habit of winning.

As has been mentioned, I think he has the beating of Almagro, Robredo and Gonzalez with his improved game and he should now be targeting Davydenko, Djokovic (unlikely to meet him i suppose), Nalbandian, an improved JMDP, etc. Therefore his draw for Monte Carlo is a ideal test of where his game is now on Clay.

Although he may not make it consistently to the Semis, I have real optimism that he can ultimately reach a final or win a tournament, even notch a victory over Nadal* in this clay court season.

*Yes, I am dreaming! But in my defence I just watched the US Open 08 Semi (I know its the total opposite situation due to the surface) - it makes me feel like he can do anything. His pre-ATP level career record on clay is also very impressive....

Thanks. Will avoid the quick math in the future 

Very quick math here so correct me if im wrong, but Murray goes into the next torunament 160 pts ahead of Novak in real terms, taking into account the points coming off Monte Carlo...

I also think Murray would be comfortably #2 by Wimbledon if everybody's form continued on as it has been so far this year - but I guess we cant guarantee that with the change of surface. The clay court season could be extremely interesting and shake things up at all levels of the game, as it always does....

Then effectively, the only thing we disagree on is the number of times you mentioned that main reason you felt that this match was always going to be a non-contest (along with the tone of those posts).

Which is exactly what I was doing in my original post when I mentioned my disagreement with the above, congratulated Nadal and tried to give him credit for rising to the occassion.

It didnt really need to go massively beyond that post and your post above (#429) with nothing in between, which wouldve put both of our opinions across fairly.

(And it certaintly didnt need Marks 'inciteful' (a pun on insightful which it certainly was not) cheerleading)

No hard feelings from me, though you have licence to feel differently or however you want 

Sorry Clydey, I take it all back. Youre not bitter, I dont even know the meaning of the word bitter.

I do object to you inventing the fantasy (can I borrow that? cheers) that I "act as though im a shining example of how one should behave". You are putting that on me, im giving no indication that its the case.

So since we dont like the word bitter, id like to clarify that its my opinion in contrast yours (based on your attitude and defence of that attitude) that its better to be more humble and giving in the face of this kind of defeat - even if there are reasons for it (which only need mentioned once or twice, no matter how insightful or accurate).

You do not have to react this way, its just my opinion that its classier and whenever I watch Nadal I am firmly in awe of his game and his humble personality.

Although I prefer to be subtle (also in contrast to your preferences, again based on your body of comments), and although Ive already all but made this point I'll be blunt and reiterate:

I am suggesting, in my opinion, that it is Nadal who is the "shining example of how to react", in contrast to your self professed way of reacting.

Wow, Torin, fantastic analysis there!

So Murray is ahead of Djoko AND Federer if we take all the points off upto and including Wimbledon.

Job is straightforward then - out match these guys from now until after Wimbledon! If he can get his clay court game working, last year he was still at a level putting him amongst the pack of the best of the clay court specialists. Surely this year the target would be to assert himself the way the (current) top 3 do - showing they are superior on all surfaces against the chasing pack.

Clydey, you did go about challenging anyone who idley commented to take any meaning from this game based on this insight you'd noticed from before the game even started. I get you were pissed off, and rightly so, that the match wasnt looking like going our way - but I cant describe that attitude as anything other than bitter. And I could find numerous other examples from you posted publically on this site (of bitterness) but I dont actually wish to spend my time that way. Observing such an attitude frustrates me, thats my crime. Ironically, its the humility of Nadal thats typifys the kind of attitude that I look up to and why I sort of felt compelled to make the post that contrasted these attitudes in the first place.

I agree that we dont all react the same way but if you chose to publish your reactions they will be commented on and judged. We're all miniture Z list celebrities once we start posting on forums, getting to publish our unqualified opinions for public consumption. People will react to your comments and we dont all react the same wa.... hang on this point has been made already.