News - MurraysWorld.com

Column:

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:56:48 GMT

When Roger Federer criticised Stanislas Wawrinka last week for his poor form in the Davis Cup doubles, it was nothing new. The Swiss has had his foot in his ungracious mouth for a few years now.

The man has rocked up at Wimbledon looking like a bottle of gold-topped milk, so it seems a little ironic to learn that the emperor of tennis has no clothes.

Back in 2003, when a floppy-haired Swiss first found slam success with his liquid-whip forehand on the lawns of SW19, it seemed the tennis world was being introduced not only to a player of incomparably fine shotmaking but also to a gentleman.

Today, the former is in serious doubt – or at least the i...

Column:

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:00:29 GMT

It’s New Year and I should be partying or drinking or watching Jools Holland. Instead, I’m fighting the magnetic pull of my computer, which connects me to the tennis media.

I can’t help it: guilty as charged. I find the tie-up between Andy Murray and new coach Ivan Lendl unfeasibly fascinating. Lendl’s 19 slam finals, eight consecutive US Open finals and the triumph of an iron will over a modest talent are intoxicating enough in and of themselves.

Equally fascinating is Andy Murray, the tortured Scottish genius who’s come to occupy an unenviable slot in the game’s history. No longer do people tentatively suggest that he ‘might be the most talented player of the last ten...

Column:

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:43:31 GMT

You can forgive Andy Murray for being a little tetchy with the tennis authorities right now. After the debacle at the US Open in which he and Donald Young were forced to begin their fourth round clash in treacherous wet conditions, Murray has now re-ignited a well-worn debate over the length of the ATP calendar.

Speaking to the BBC this week, the world number four was asked if a strike was possible and said: “It's a possibility. Let's hope it doesn't come to that but I'm sure the players will consider it.” Murray has reached at least the semi-finals of all four grand slams this season, yet still awaits important tournaments in the Paris Masters 1000 and ATP World Tour Finals.

Column:

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:38:06 GMT

To seek or not to seek help from behavioural/sports psychologists? For Andy Murray, looking suitably dejected after his latest grand-slam final disaster, that is the question.

To most tennis observers, it's becoming increasingly obvious that Murray struggles with his form from time to time, most notably in grand-slam finals. But why is this?

Many are saying that the underlying cause or theme of his on-court disappointments is his mental strength – or lack of it, at times. It's clear he needs to develop greater consistency in this area.

Pressures

The modern game throws up many pressures – such as media responsibilities and expectations, fa...

Column:

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:10:42 GMT

Tonight, Novak Djokovic has thrashed Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player of all-time, whilst Andy Murray will be preparing to meet arguably the tour’s form player. David Ferrer stands in the way of Murray’s date with Djokovic in tomorrow’s Australian Open semi-final. Ferrer, a Spaniard, won the Auckland Heineken Open two weeks ago and is henceforth undefeated this season after his blistering straight sets victory over his Davis Cup partner Rafael Nadal.

The clay-court specialist has also defeated Lithuania’s hot prospect Richard Berankis, and another rookie in Mailos Raonic en route to the semi-finals. He holds a 3-2 winning record over Murray, but that could be conside...

Column:

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:51:54 GMT

Andy Murray, as he did last year, is Australia bound early in preparation for the Australian Open. Once again Murray is foregoing ranking points in preference to acclimatisation and a guarantee of 6 matches 3 singles and 3 doubles.

The Hopman Cup which starts on the 1st January in Perth proved a good warm up for the Australian Open last year when Andy’s superb volleying which was evident in Perth re-emerged in his Quarter Final defeat of Nadal. The Hopman Cup is an eight team event split into 2 groups, a round robin format is used to decide the group winners. Each tie is made up of a Women’s singles, Men’s singles and then the two players join forces to play mixed doubles.

Column:

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:13 GMT

Why is it that the US Open seems to be anticipated as the most wide open grand slam of the lot? I suppose logical reasoning dictates that Wimbledon is usually won by the half-man, half-ballerina Roger Federer, and it would take the use of a straitjacket, and a blindfold to stop Rafael Nadal on the clay.

When you gauge the way things have went since Rafael Nadal munched on the side of his Wimbledon trophy, it is fair to say that there is no overwhelming favourite coming into the US Open. Our own Andy Murray was so impressive, as he turned in virtuoso performance after virtuoso performance to clinch his first title of the year in Toronto. Roger Federer was perhaps not in as...

Column:

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:06:25 GMT

It seems like only yesterday that we witnessed Andy Murray’s tears after losing to Roger Federer in Melbourne, but Murray is now about to encounter the brutal force of the shattering clay court season. The Scot will play in the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 this week, and shares the same half of the draw as clay court God Rafael Nadal.

Despite cutting his teeth on the clay courts of Barcelona, Murray has only enjoyed moderate results on clay. A French Open quarter-final place last year was the first time he had won more than two matches at Roland Garros. None of the Dunblane native’s 17 ATP titles have come on the deep orange dirt either. The French Open and clay historically favours p...

Column:

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:11:19 GMT

If ever there was a win to cement your belief that Andy Murray will one day become a grand slam champion, that was it. Wow!

Andy Murray did not obliterate Rafael Nadal by any means, but his maturity and confidence shone as brightly as the fireworks that sparked in the Melbourne skyline. Off his racquet, his forehand was impressive as it was in their 2008 US Open encounter, flattened out and hit with real gusto. His backhand, proving to be his signature stroke and in my opinion, the best backhand on display in the ATP today, was even more devastating. It delivered winner after winner, stood up well to Nadal's cro...

Column:

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:08:50 GMT

Murray goes in for the kill

Any self respecting British tennis supporter can reminisce upon the Wimbledon of 2007 as the year when winning shots bloomed into winning smiles between Jamie Murray and Jelena Jankovic, however, it was not to be. But from the darkness came another duo that tennis enthusiasts and romantics alike could indulge in.

What started as merely an exciting prospect, gently kneading together two of Britain’s finest pounds of flour, proved to fill the Hopman Cup with the sweet smell of success.

Despite her tender age, ...