i bloody love the word "bloody" :P

the british media is bloody annoying though. it's solely down to them that i don't actually like murray all that much. i find it very funny when he loses and everyone goes mad

Well, when he's losing, he fulfills every doomsday prophecy Fleming and Cowan have predicted.

I must say as an outsider, the frenzy is...sort of...funny.

whenever he's playing, if anyone other than peter fleming is commentating, i have to switch it off. the commentators do my head in. they're so sure he's gonna win that they just write off his opponent. i remember one match from earlier this year when whoever he was playing against hit the ball out and the commentator laughed and went "that's more like it!". i was quite shocked

it's funny when he loses. it really is. although i was in london middle weekend of wimbledon and for a day the cover of the papers was michael jackson, coz he had just died. then murray won a match and he was all over the papers instead. it was as if he'd won the entire tournament the amount of press he got, not just a third round match

and during the french open after rafa lost, someone on bbc said "so we can assume it's gonna be a murray/fed final then?". murray then lost his next match

They thought Murray was going to make the finals of the French? :D

That's just fantastic given his spotty record on clay. lol.

Lucky me, I live in Britain (although I am not British) and it is obvious that Murray is nearly not as popular and widely adored as Tim Henman used to be when he played. The reason for this escapes me as I believe that Murray is a far more accomplished player that Henman ever was. But "Tim always had a nice smile on his face" as one of my English friends told me, so this must be a key difference. Murray actually reminds me of Eeyore, the way he hangs his head and shuffles around the court. Personally, I am quite fond of Eeyore.

Interesting, Cheryl, though if you want Murray adoration read Scottish newspapers, we really appreciate him up here! I know some people think the English/Scottish thing isn't a big deal, but believe me it is. Andy Murray isn't the only Scot who'd feel annoyed to be called English, I wouldn't like it either. Not because I dislike the English (on the contrary) but because it's...well...inaccurate. Sometimes I feel people dislike Murray because of the media hype he generates, but that's not his fault. What sometimes comes across as moodiness is actually (IMO) perfectionism, he gets frustrated by missing shots he thinks he should make. He's a very talented player and I wish people gave him a chance instead of assuming he's just a miserable, overhyped Brit. I'd describe myself as a Rafa and Andy M supporter (now that Marat's retired), although my brother accused me of supporting Nadal too enthusiastically during their Wimbledon QF last year. What can I say? He's right, LOL.

Cheryl, I think you have caught the essence of the Henman/Murray relationshionship with the media perfectly. Basically, the Brits made up of the English, Scots and the Welsh do not like each other. Actually, the real hatred is saved for the English who are hated in equal measure by the Scots and the Welsh, simply because the English are arrogant, and actually look down on the others. The English really do believe that to be born English is to win the lottery of life. I don't think the Scots and the Welsh ever bother to worry about what they think about each other.

No Welsh or Scot ever support the English in anything. When Murray said he would support anyone against the English, he was articulating exactly what the Welsh and the Scots feel.

I have noticed that when A.Murray's stars are rising, the English refer to him as a Brit, when things are not going so well, he is most definitely a Scot. Andy is well aware of this, hence his attitude to the media. The media is also controlled by the English so they will portray Andy however they want, and there is nothing the Scots can do about it.

I understand that Andy has split up with Kim his girlfriend, because she got fed up of him spending 7 hours a day on computer games.

Muzza needs an intervention. 7 hours a DAY??!!

Andy's problem is that he does not suffer fools gladly and lets it show when he has to answer trite questions in post match pressers. However, Stuart Higgins has made progress with him since he took on the job of grooming Andy to deal with the press.

Deuce: you came up with a cracker a couple of weeks ago when this subject was under discussion during the WTF which had me ROFL - so much so I saved it for posterity:

"You guys have gotta understand that English is not Andy's first language! His first language is "dour Scots" and you're v. v. lucky to get two consecutive words out of him.."

tennisfan76,
thank you: very fine post

Great article! One of the reasons I like Andy is because he's of course, a great player. Also a couple of years ago, he acknowledged Rafa as one of his idols and someone he seeks to emulate. He admires Rafa's toughness, fitness and fighting spirit, and he's working to acquire those traits. So if the English in general and Andy Murray don't get along... I'm taking Andy's side. "What did the English ever do for us"?

ed25: flattery will get you everywhere! I like Andy just the way he is, bad haircut, unfortunate press conferences and all. Could not stand Mr Middle Class , middle England Henman. But then I'm not English.
carrie: not true, apparently a woman Andy was at school with has been pushing herself into Andy's life and, understandably Kim would not put up with this. I think it's a shame but 22 is v. young to settle with someone.

deuce, here is the article saying it was to do with Andy's adiction to playstation. However, I am inclined to go along with your reason, I thought leaving someone simply because of too much time on computer games was a little bit trivial.

Kim Sears splits with Andy Murray over his Playstation addiction
December 5th, 2009 - 9:49 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt Tell a Friend -

Kim Sears London, Dec 5 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Kim Sears has parted ways with her Scottish tennis player boyfriend Andy Murray. Apparently the reason is not the usual ?We have grown apart? but Andy?s unique 7 hours a day Play station 3 addiction, that was perhaps too much for Kim to digest. The split has been quiet amicable and both parted on very conciliatory terms and weren?t at all hostile to each other.

And post the break-up Andy Murray wasted no time in trying for a ne girlfriend as he was seen in the town with some sizzling female company in tow. He is single and very much available and the girls sure know that and they aren?t also wasting time either.

A friend revealed that, ?No one else is involved. Both Andy and Kim are saddened that the relationship is over, but they mutually felt it was time for them to part. There were no blazing rows, or anything like that. Kim left Andy?s house under amicable circumstances. They are still in contact with one another and remain good friends.?

Sears is the daughter of Britain?s Fed Cup captain and head coach of women?s tennis Nigel Sears has been Andy Murray?s companion around the world and had become a familiar face to tennis fans worldwide. However she is now focusing on her own career in publishing.

Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/kim-sears-splits-with-andy- murray-over-his-playstation-addiction_100284857.html#ixzz0a3sPYdGl

What is it that attracts so many girls to the MILLIONAIRE Andy Murray?

I love the way that Henman and the British media were able to successfully create the image of gentleman Tim, brave Tim, blah blah blah. In truth, yes he was/is a very pleasant guy and charming and friendly. As long as things suit him. The moment he didn't get his way ... one pissy bitch. (Am I allowed to say that on here??)

sukhumvit: I know nothing of this aspect of TH but the expression 'throwing a hissy fit' - as in having a childish tantrum - might have been a better way of saying it!!

i tend to agree with sukhumvit. henman was only a gentleman when things went his way and also sometimes when they didn't, but there were occasions when he was ungracious when things didn't go his way. he certainly wasn't the worst of them, i wouldn't cal him a pissy bitch or even call it a hissy fit but he showed his other side for sure.

carrie: this article seems a bit malicious to me. Andy is a fitness fanatic and also uses lots of sporty "games" to maintain fitness so I doubt he'd have enough time to be on the playstation 7 hours a day! There were rumours flying around about this woman, called Catherine something, as early as last August when she was at the USOpen. Humph, she didn't bring Andy much luck!

deuce, is that why Andy couldn't concentrate on his tennis at the USO, having to contend with these two girls?

carrie: yeah, probably, one was lobbing him, the other drop shotting, finally Kim gave him a mighty smash/smack and he just couldn't cope....after all he is a small town boy...

aaww poor andy. even in the off season we can't leave him in peace ;)

is he feeling fit and healthy? no injuries? he was sick at ao this year. hope the top 5 are fit as for the first slam.

isn't it great that we're talking about a "top 5" already?! and hopefully, roddick will be fit too for the AO!

Murray lost to Robredo in the Hopman Cup last night.

See Times online report:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article698183 6.ece

Ahh ... last night I watched young Robson win her match and Andy demolished Tommy in that first set ... I then switched over to watch Roddick and Berdych play, (tennis obsessed ??), thinking it was a foregone conclusion that Britan would win. Carrie that was the last thing I expected to read here this morning. Well ... good for Spain.

Too many times, Andy plays superb tennis then goes walkabout and loses. Fans like me are tearing their hair out! Good news about young Laura though, sh's gonna be a gr8 champ.

he didn't seem to be on fire, didn't serve as well and wasn't as sharp as he was all week. credit to robredo, he gave it everything, i mean everything, he really wanted the diamonds! he fought andy tooth and nail. martinez lost to robson so robredo had to win to keep their chances alive. doubles was a really good fight but andy got caught out by moving to centre and spain hitting down the line and robson's judgement/inexperience of always hitting to robredo and he getting a winner down the centre didn't get her to change tactics. spain too strong in the end. robson played well in her singles. found the lines and the corners and served well. i wonder if there was something wrong with andy during the singles, he grimaced and cringed a few times/looked awkward as if his ribs or somewhere was hurting, i hope not! not again!!!

Oh homos! Don't!
But thanx for a really good contest report, as I didn't see it and GLAD!

Robredo showed us another book example how to play Andy Murray.

deuce - ditto re tearing hair out over muzz going walkabouts again.

He wouldn't be a Scot if he didn't know how to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

alex: hope u r Scot saying that! Actually, has awful echoes of dear Tim! Seriously, Andy seems to have lost his way a bit, needs new team around him, I think.

deuce - yes, i am, but when it comes to tennis, maybe tim showed it's a British thing too :) A new team for muzz? How about a straight forward COACH? I know muzz is a good learner, but a good coach would have been telling him some time ago about e.g. his need to be a bit more aggressive and not wander off into the land of nod after a good set. Maybe the authority thing is a problem with muzz - when he had Brad Gilbert, could there have been an authority clash as much as a personality one? muzz seemed to see Gilbert as someone to be shouted AT during matches, rather than someone to do the shouting. Unfair?

hate to break it to u people, but british english is proper english.
american english is slang.

btw all this time i thought cheryl murray was a brit.
lol.

i wonder where i can see a picture of cheryl murray.

this is how it is with andy murray and english people:

if murray wins, he is british.
if murray loses, he is scottish.

alex: what is youknowwho talking about?? Anyway, yes, it's definately an authority thing with Andy. Mighty clash between him and Brad. Andy seems so stubborn. However, he's somehow gotta come through this and get a new coach he'll be prepared to listen to. Look at what Roddick's coach has done for him, never would've believed that man could move forward and volley!

Delpo has overtaken Murray by 5pts and is now No 4.

only for a week, Carrie. Delpo has points coming off after this week, but he'll be number 4 long enough to get the ranking for the AO.

deuce - haven't a clue what that guy was talking about ... just shows up out of nowhere, lobs a couple of missiles, then disappears, presumably to launch an 'attack' elsewhere:) (Talking of which, whatever happened to that nole fan that used to come on here and hurl abuse at everyone? Banned? Can't remember her name.) Yep, like you say stefanki worked wonders with a-rod - just the sort of thing muzz could do with, if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, I think his multi-purpose team has done a great job - but they've taken him to the extent of HIS vision. But someone with the stature of stefanki might lift his vision a bit higher, not to mention flag up blind spots within his present sphere of vision. Do you think mclaggan or any of these guys seriously challenge him on things like being more aggressive and not going to sleep?

yes, cheryl. But when Andy took over the No 2 spot from Rafa albeit for 3 weeks, there was a lot of noise made about it, and comentators were calling Roger and Andy the two best players in the world, and relished referring to Rafa as the world No3. I remember a British comentator, Anabel Croft, saying in an interview that it would be interesting to see what kind of rivalry Andy and Roger would have because Rafa and Roger got on with each other.

corr:
..........because Rafa and Roger had got on with each other, clearly implying that Andy had permanently replaced Rafa.

alex: no I don't think they challenge him at all. It's all gr8 fun, loads of games silly nicknames etc etc. They probably keep telling him how mar..vell..ous he is! For me Andy was playing his best tennis 2008 when he took out Rafa at USOpen. He seemed more raw, but more able to go for his shots with no fear. Caution and doubt seems to have crept into his game, especially at crisis points. Am interested in what you think.
carrie: Andy was first player for years to break up Roger/Rafa 1/2. I know it was only for a short while, but you should give him some credit. He showed it could be done.

I don't think it counts as much if it was due to someone being unable to defend a GS title due to injury.

Well, in which case Andy was unable to defend his position due to the wrist injury sustained b4 the USOpen

absolutely, people's memories can be short, if not selective. muzz, in proportion to the length of his career, has had it as hard as anyone, rafa included, when it comes to injury, particularly in the formative stages where nole was able to race ahead up rankings while muzz was sidelined. Muzz's period at #2, brief though it was, was entirely deserved. For a considerable stretch, muzz was really the hardcourt #1 - an amazing feat in the fed-rafa era. Re- muzz's defeat of rafa in the 2008 USO - I thought his performance against rafa in the 2007 Oz Open 5-setter, which he lost, was even more impressive, played with the same kind of aggression that I so hope he will bring back this year. The early signs are good.

injuries are part of the tennis game and they count unfortunately.

carrie, I know that you feel you're just defending Nadal ... but ... Andy made it to number 2 (it could have been someone else) and he will always have that. (Not saying he might not get there again ... or even higher).

carrie that's a bit unfair. muzz has been inhured a lot last few years: thumb, rib, wrist, etc. it counts, unfortunate but it counts. hewitt had surgey and fell out of top 100; monfils, tsonga and sharapova been injured. you could say fed lost ranking due to mono. i know what you mean but you can't look at it that way, it applies to everyone.

Carrie, to be fair, the reason people in your neck of the woods made a big deal about Muzza getting to No. 2 is because...well....that's what the British media does. Here in the states, the fact that Nadal dropped to No. 3 was WAY bigger news than Muzza getting to No. 2. And that simply because he'd been there (or higher) for so long.

As far as injuries are concerned, Andy's had his fair share too. That wrist injury of his is a nasty thing that keeps cropping up and probably will continue to do so.

cheryl -

yep, like the US media ISN'T like that? :)

Check the front page feature of a certain other US-based tennis website and find a poll of who's going to do best this year between five middle ranked American players. Funny, I'd have thought who'd have finished in the wolrd's top 3, say, would have been a bigger story? And when A-rod made it to the Wimbie final last year, he was absolutely everywhere in the US tennis pages; in fact, in the US, the prospect of A-rod was a far bigger story than muzz dropping from the top 2.

It's not the British media per se, Cheryl; it's the British media with a British player, just like the US media are with US players, and any other country is with its own ... and understandably so ...

smr, in the same way that Delpo will always have his No 4 ranking. I was just pointing out that no one ever said Andy's No2 ranking was only for three weeks.

alex -

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Our mainstream media doesn't give a whit about tennis. Perhaps the US based tennis media does, and they like to focus on the American players...but the sport is quite marginalized and frankly, we have to work over here to get tennis news.

I've seen how the British media is with Murray. He makes the main news when he brushes his teeth. Roddick has to make the final of Wimbledon to get a cameo on cnn.

I mean, it's sort of a good thing in some ways, because tennis has a much higher profile in the UK. But it also means fans of other players in the UK get...irritated sometimes. :D

I absolutely agree cheryl. Not that I have anything against Murray, he is a good player and good luck to him, but Im sure he himself gets a little bit irritated and embarrased about the slant the media here gives on his achievements. For instance, when he beat Andreev at the Hopman Cup solidly, which, no doubt, was a good result, they were leading him to saying that with that level of play he would win the AO, then a few days later Robredo beat him.

The press here talk up all their sport competitors not just Andy, but the fact that they are hungry for a British tennis No1 and GS winner, they just go overboard.

yeah, cheryl's right. it extremely irritating that murray gets as much coverage as he does. i mean, obviously, i would expect him to, as he's a british tennis player. but it's still annoying. like in wtf. he was playing against nando (i think) and the commentators were completely shocked that nando had taken a set off him. they just couldn't believe it. they had more or less written nando off before it had started

Can I ask what papers you guys are reading? In mine, last year, Serena Williams got the biggest spread I've ever seen. On Monday, yes, article about Murray but also Rafa and Henin. I don't have anything to do with Murdoch's empire btw.
Generally the media here just goes really mad at Wimbledon and a bit mad at the other slams. The rest of the tennis year floats by in a blur of oblivion.
alex: on the Davydenko thread people are having a go at making lighthearted predictions. I've tipped our Andy for USOPen. Bizarrely so has attacking, would've thought with his monniker he would've hated "defensive" players. Anyway, whaddyathink?

deuce: attackingtennisrulez was born attentionseekingrulez, didn't you know?

Dear Carrie, as much as I share your admiration for Rafael Nadal, I find your comments towards English people highly offensive, its unfair to paint a whole nation with the same brush, not all English people are arrogant, we are all equals in this world and by the way I am not full English either, this is nothing personal only just to say this wasn't a well thought out comment.

afrodite,

where did I use the word arrogant? I merely stated facts.

afrodite, sorry I didn't finish.

If you can quote where exactly I referred to English people as being arrogant, I will apologise. I was talking about tennis commentators and the British media, not once did I use the word arrogant, I simply can't see how what I said could remotely be interpreted to mean that all English people are arrogant.

Incdently, Andy Murray is not English!

hee hee good one homos

attackingtennisrulez was born attentionseekingrulez, didn't you know?

homos , 1/12/10 4:40 PM


Brilliant!

homos: my friend a brilliant "wordbomb"!! Cheers.
carrie: you've often complained about British media, but I never remember you complaining about British people. The British, generally, love Rafa, so why would you?

cheryl -

"Perhaps the US based tennis media does ..." - read my post again, it was the "tennis pages" I mentioned, and I cannot accept that the UK media are the only ones to go overboard on their own.

cheryl, carrie and sib - you guys are obviously watching different UK terrestrial channels than I - the coverage of muzz and robson in the hopman cup was, at the very best, meagre, pretty limted to rare news items at the end of the BBC sports news. Do you know where I learned that muzz was going to be playing the HC? On THIS website! Meanwhile last week we were getting full, extended daily reporting on England playing cricket in South Africa (- news updates broadcast to England AND Scotland where cricket is pretty much loathed!). Man, they were even showing us LIVE coverage of beer bellied darts players all week, wobbling like weebles as they played into the late hours. The only tennis reports I saw on the BBC (at most two over the whole week) came at the tail end of the sports news. In all the daily papers last week, even at the peak of muzz's performances, you had to go four or five pages in from the back to get a story on him.

At Wimbledon time, yes, the whole media goes overboard on any remote British prospect, but overall, as with the USA, tennis is pretty much the bottom of the tennis listings. Muzz has got to reach the final of a masters somewhere to make it near the top.

But hey, why let the facts interfere with a good caricature?!

deuce - I'm right with you on the media thing but, re the USO, you know I'm almost scared to make predictions any more - I was so confident he'd get one of the slams last year - even guys like Borg were predicting it. I know he's CAPABLE of winning both OZ and the USO ... but will he? I have to be honest and say no more than "I hope so".

From SKY SPORTS

British No.1 Andy Murray has fallen out of the world's top four for the first time since August 2008.

The Scot was overtaken by Argentinean Juan Martin Del Potro in the rankings after choosing not to defend his title at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Murray, who opted instead to partner Laura Robson in the Hopman Cup believing it to be better preparation for the Australian Open, therefore loses the 250 ranking points he claimed last season.

The 22-year-old will now be the fifth seed at the opening grand slam of the year and could consequently face any of the top four in the quarter-finals.

Murray, however, has never made it past the fourth round at Melbourne Park in four previous attempts and insists the rankings slide does not bother him.
Unconcerned

"I really don't think the seedings make any difference," Murray told the Daily Record.

"If you get to the quarter-finals, you're going to have to beat the best players anyway.

"Maybe it's one more than normal but you bank on the top four seeds getting to the last eight.

"There are always surprises and I need to make sure I get there myself first."

alex, the HC was on Sky Sports 1 every evening last week and the matches were repeated, even yesterday they had the repeat of the final doubles match.

alex: i completely ignored the hopman cup, because rafa was playing in doha at the same time and i paid attention to that instead. hopman cup went unnoticed to me, apart from it being the top story on the bbc sport tennis page

Sky Sports is not "terrestrial" TV - read my post again.

Britain's main broadcast media outlets are the BBC (which I focused on) and ITV. BBC and ITV enjoyed a UK viewing share of around 36.9% in 2009. Sky Sports had 1.4%.

alex, terrestrial TV hardly shows any live sports since satellite came along. Even football is mostly on satellite; it's too much to ask to put he HC on terrestrial at prime time at 7 pm don't you think?

sib -

And so muzz and robson ought to have been to have been the top British tennis story! (- despite being way down the list of SPORTS stories and, IMHO, under-reported), just as I would expect rafa to be the top story in Spain and A-rod (Brisbane) in the US.

Actually, the first - perhaps of many - doubles outings of the 2 young heroes of British tennis was a big story and one which I would have expected the British media to go for more than they did. I say 'TWO young heroes' but support for muzz is still somewhat grudged in some sections of the British media.

hang on... you didn't need to have a go at me. all i said was i ignored it because i was watching rafa and that i only noticed it because it was the top story on the tennis page on bbc sports. at no point did i say it shouldn't be

carrie - all I was looking for was even a 10 second mention of the score in each match muzz played in the sports section of the News, much less than the detailed and repeated highlight clips devoted to the England cricket team in RSA.

Comments like "[Muzz] makes the main news when he brushes his teeth" (cheryl) are more than humour by exaggeration - they are just plain wrong regrading the huge bulk of the British media. Please tell me the names of these papers as I'd like to start reading them:)

Sib -

Apologies, I picked you up wrong:)

alex

it's ok. no worries :)

If bloody darts is on the BBC, why isn't there more reportage of tennis? I'm 100% with Alex on this one. Please, please show me stories about Andy cleaning his teeth, I will buy that newspaper!
carrie: Sky is Rupert Murdoch, the enemy of public broadcasting and freedom of speech, a man who exists to make money and who despises the punters. I refuse to have anything to do with his empire.

I see muzz beat Querrey 6-1, 6-4 in the Kooyong Exo. Anyone see the match?

deuce, do you not have Sky TV? You are missing out on a lot of the tennis in that case.

Rupert Murdoch is originally from Scotland, isn't he?

At every tournament I've ever attended, I have run into reporters from the London newspapers (and I'm talking about the big ones too). Every time. And I was informed that they go to Canada, Miami, Monte Carlo, Cincinnati etc... with the sole assignment to write about Murray. I asked one reporter if she covers Nadal and Federer too and she said "no. They only care about Andy."

I'm sorry, but you won't convince me that Murray doesn't get mainstream coverage in the UK. Andy Roddick could be playing across the street from the New York Times, and I can guarantee that not a single reporter would write about it.

I was ready to consider Muzz as the favorite for the title, but then I saw his match against Robredo and changed my mind. At this moment I think Muzz's seeding is accurate. He's definitely 5th in line as the favorite. Behind Federer, DelPotro, Dejokovic and Nadal - in that order.

That said, I like Murray and I hope he wins. Maybe then the British press will STOP hounding him.

cheryl - thanks for that.

I didn't say that muzz doesn't get mainstream coverage, just that he merits more ... and that stories about toothpaste etc are way exaggerated (I know you were joking), unless it's Wimbie week!

I'm happy to read your anecdote about harman etc as that's the way it should be!
Tennis is a hiistoric British sport in which we've been starved of success for too many generations. If muzz can deliver he deserves all the coverage he gets.

If you think muzz gets a lot of press, imagine what henman would have got if he'd had his talent:::)))

imjimmy -

I'm surprised at you! I'll put it down to a combination of Scottish pessimism and pragmatism: if-ye-dinnae-hope-fur-much-ye-willnae-be-let-doon :)

I make muzz 2nd equal favourite along with djoker (despite today's verdasco debacle) and behind fed. (But I hope he wins it:))

the official draw is in 1 hour (10:42 melb time), it will be easier to speculate; personally i don't read much into predictions, but it is fun, i guess.

Poor Andy, gets the worst possible draw.
But I have a feeling he will win against nadal this year and delP will be affected by injury.

Truly beauty isn the eye etc On another thread someone is provlaiming that Andy has the "easiest" draw, here hvo99 says hardest.
carrie: don't have sky...but I get by....subscribe to ATP, have interactive bbc. Rupert Murdoch is Australian.

deuce, Murdoch originally came from Scotland. Don't disown him!

deuce, have you seen this review:

2010 Australian Open Preview
Tuesday, January 05, 2010

The 2010 season has only just begun but the eyes of the tennis world will soon be on Melbourne when the world?s best players compete for the prestigious Australian Open titles.

The British campaign in Australia will be led by Andy Murray as the British number one aims to secure his first Grand Slam title. For the second consecutive year the Scot heads to Melbourne ranked in the world?s top five and will be looking for a career best performance down under.

The trio of Alex Bogdanovic, James Ward and Dan Evans will be targeting a place in the main draw alongside Murray when they line up in the competitive qualifying draw.

In the women?s draw Elena Baltacha and Katie O?Brien will contest the main draw for the second consecutive year. O?Brien will be seeking a first win at the tournament while British number one Baltacha will be aiming to replicate previous good form in Australia.

The 26 year-old will be making her fourth main draw appearance in Melbourne; in 2005 she qualified and went on to reach the third round and last year stretched former champion Amelie Mauresmo to three sets in the second round.

With Anne Keothavong continuing her rehabilitation from injury, Melanie South, Naomi Cavaday and Laura Robson will complete the British challenge in qualifying.

Robson, who will turn 16 during the tournament, narrowly lost in the final round of qualifying last year in New York and will aim to go at least one round better in Melbourne.

Britain will be strongly represented in the doubles events in Australia with four top 100 players competing. British number one Ross Hutchins will be aiming for a strong start in 2010 as he partners Australian Jordan Kerr. The duo played four events together in 2009 highlighted by reaching the final of the ATP 500 final in Tokyo in October.

Also in the Men?s doubles the 2009 AEGON Team of the year Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski will be making their first appearance in Australia whilst World number 84 Sarah Borwell and American partner Raquel Kopp-Jones will look to make an impact in the women?s doubles draw. The partnership combined six times in 2009, and this will be their first Grand Slam appearance.

A strong British contingent of eight juniors will be competing in the singles events in Melbourne. In the Boys? singles Jack Carpenter, Oliver Golding and Tom Allen will be in the main draw with George Morgan and reigning National 18&under champion James Marsalek looking to come through the qualifying draw.

Reigning US Open Girls Champion Heather Watson will be looking to collect her second consecutive Grand Slam crown and was a quarter finalist in Melbourne twelve months ago. Laura Robson was a finalist in 2009 and will also be looking for her second major title. Lucy Brown will be hoping to battle through qualifying to join Watson and Robson in the main draw.

hey carrie, murdoch is a scottish name, yep, but rupert certainly ain't, and rupert murdoch certainly certainly ain't!

carrie: thanx for that info. Don't know how many of that large contingent will survive the qualifying and I know Robson hasn't, but she has plenty of time. Sorry but ur wrong about Murdoch, he is Australian

i've been meaning to post this in here for days. just to highlight my point from months ago about how ridiculous the tennis commentators can be when it comes to murray

the other day, i watched the highlights of murray/verdasco at ao last year (it was on british eurosports. bout an hour and half long) and you know the excuse they gave as to why murray lost?

...

he had a coldsore...

actually Andy had a virus which they originally thought was mono.

Also, as a matter of fact, a cold sore is an indication that the body is rundown and generally unwell. When I get them, it is bad news.

they didn't mention that nando played brilliantly though. that's what bugged me

just to clarify: they didn't mention nando played brilliantly on the programme i watched this week. at the time, they may well have done. i didn't watch it live i was asleep. but still... rubbish editing from eurosport. but then, it is eurosport, so... to be expected i guess :P

I much prefer Sky Sports, it's much more flexible and interactive, and I like all the opinions by the 'experts', even if I don't always agree with them. British Eurosport, will show Laura Robson instead of Fed or Nadal if their mathes clash - ridiculous.

i hate british eurosport coverage. i think it's because of the lack of peter fleming, haha. it also bugs me how there's no interactive service, so you're lucky to actually get a whole match. you might get a set and a half, then it'll switch to another match. it's really irritating

it's the same in most countires. they will telecast a little known player from their country in some far court in a slam and ignore top seeds playing on centre court. and the commentary will be so biased.

alex: in Guardian today, Saturday, there's really good interview with Andy. If you don't buy this newspaper you can probably get it on line. Cheers.

I am glad that I have Eurosport. It's far more better than loacal Channel 7 full of commercial.

Andy Murray: This time I'm ready to Slam it at the Australian Open

By Mike Dickson Tennis Correspondent reports from Melbourne
Last updated at 2:30 AM on 16th January 2010

When coming to terms with past setbacks at major events, Andy Murray has always consoled himself with the fact that it took Roger Federer 17 attempts before he landed his first Grand Slam.

At the Australian Open on Monday, Murray reaches the same landmark at the age of 22, one year older than Federer was when he landed the Wimbledon title in 2003.

Of course it is too much to expect that a first triumph here would presage the collection of 14 further Grand Slam wins which now belong to Federer, and unfair to judge him by those extraordinary standards...............

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1243591/AUSTRALIAN-OPE N-2010-This-time-Im-ready-Slam-Melbourne-says-fired-Andy-Murray.html#i xzz0clht3BNu

the reason people (not just english people) don't like murray, is because he lacks personality, and is a bore, its not his fault you either have it or you have'nt, Rafa, Roddick, Djokovic, Verdasco, Ferrero, Del Potro, Blake, Gonzalez to name a few have it, you cannot manufacture a personality,I know Murray has a talent, but it is hard to warm to him, his management company know that is the case, and is trying there best to give him a make over, and it seems to works a little, but you can't buy natural charisma, its something you are born with, in this media run world it should be about talent, but it don't work like that, its not his fault and I truly wish him success, but not against my favorite players

duchess - fair enough, well explained and, as a muzz fan, it would be great to see him with the personality of, say, hewitt or baghdatis, but we just enjoy the good things about what we've got.

Fans have different things they take into account - nationality, playing style, charisma etc. If charisma is at top of your list of values, that's ok, but I place them in the order I've just listed. Not saying it's right or wrong, Importantly, we're not confined to any one player to satisfy what we're looking for out of tennis and, happily, there's scarcely been a better time to watch tennis than right now :)

deuce - thanks for that. great article. Like they say, #17 was when fed won for the first time, so it's certainly not too late if he wants to achieve great things (but he needs to move quick now!). There's a good video interview with muzz on the BBC website too - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8463036.stm

Cheers for that Alex. Thought Cahill in article was v. reassuring too. Charisma is not top of my list either. We like Andy the way he is! Come on!

I agree. The signs are ominous from Murray. If he gets past Nadal in the QF - and I think he's the favorite in the match - there's a good chance that he can go on to win the title. Murray's really good on this sort of a surface as it allows him sufficient time to use his full repertoire. Even in 2009 AO it took the red-hot Verdasco 5 sets to dispose of an ailing Murray. That should tell us something about Murray's game on this surface.

Well If Murray wins, I only hope he does so by beating Federer in the final. On another note, it's unfortunate that my favorites Nadal and Murray are again meeting as early in the QF.

In fact Nadal and Murray always seem to be in the same section of the draw. Murray and Nadal have been in the same half of the draw 9 "CONSECUTIVE" times, The reason I find that stat incredible is that Nadal has always been seeded 1 or 2 during all those 9 times. So for Murray to land in his half of the draw 9 consecutive times - the probability of that is 1/(2^9) which is 1/512 or 0.00195!! Talk about the odds!!

re Alex: I always want the players I like to win, I will not support players just because they come from the same country as me, if Murray was playing a player I have supported long before Murray came on the scene i could not support him just because he is British, he has'nt won me over yet, until he wins a slam he is average, the four players above him are far superior @ the moment and it will be very tough for Murray to win with his non aggressive game, Murray is about 6th or 7th favorite to win, I think Davydenko and Roddick are superior

You could say that Federer and Djokovic have been in the same half of the draw 9 consecutive times.

Carrie : No they haven't. Even in RG 2008 Nadal met Djokovic in the SF. In fact Federer and Djokovic have never played in RG. Also the fact that Nadal and Murray have been in the same half 9 consecutive times, does not mean the same is true for Djokovic and Federer. This is because Murray was not inside the top 4 for all of the last 2 years, whereas Djokovic was.

Sorry you were confused about my comments carrie, but I was refering to your first comment on this post (scroll up to the top), written at apprx 12/9/09 3.21pm
second sentence right as follows: Basically, the Brits made up of the English, Scots and Welsh do not like each other. Actually, the real hatred is saved for the English who are hated in equal measure by the Scots and the Welsh, simple because the English are arrogant, and actually look down on others. The English really do believe that to be born English is to win the lottery of life.

I usually agree with all your comments but was shocked with this one and as someone else pointed out, Rafa is indeed adored here in England, if you have been to Wimbledon or likemyself to the O2 this year you would see that he is always the! favourite amongst the fans.

Oh and by the way, although a real Nadal fan, I have alot of respect for Andy Murray and his game, whether he is scottish or chinese it doesn't really matter does it? We are hear to enjoy the tennis and express our feelings and by no account should it get personal. X

duchess -
i thought you were quite reasonable until that rant! "until he wins a slam he is average" - surely you're not serious?!
Quiz time ...
QUESTION 1 -
Who won the highest number of ranking tournaments in 2009, had the highest win-loss ratio of any player on the ATP tour and became the first player for 4 years to break up the fed-rafa 1-2 (arguably the strongest 1-2 in the history of tennis) at the top of the men's game?
duchess' answer: "An AVERAGE player far inferior to the top four at the moment".
QUESTION 2:
Is duchess
a) Stupid?
b) Taking the micky?
c) So blinded by charisma she can't see the tennis?

Alex: Question 1/ yes he did do that, and while he was doing that last year, the greatest were winning slams, you must win a slam, otherwise he is no different to other good players like Davydenko who has not won a slam, as a Murray fan would you be happy if he had another 5 years of doing just that , don't think so? he would be in the same class as the over hyped Tim Henman (at least in the British Press anyway) I would love Murray to win a slam, he puts the hard work in, but he falters at the very big events.
Question 2/ charisma has absolutely nothing to do with tennis ability, that was only mentioned as I joined the circus/discussion as to why Murray is so disliked

duchess ...

Question 2: I assume you're ruling out options a) and b) then :)

So what other explanation can there be for your conclusion that:

NOT HAVING WON A SLAM = AN "AVERAGE" TENNIS PLAYER.

Tsonga, verdasco, davydenko etc - you guys are just average because you haven't won a slam! In fact, there are only half a dozen tennis players still playing who have ever been more than 'average' !!!

Davydenko and Roddick 'superior' to Murray? The top four seeds "far superior" to muzz? Muzz the same level as henman because neither has won a slam?

Do you know anything about tennis, or do you just show up at slam time?

Mr McEnroe (who has tipped muzz as a year-end #1, saying the oz open is "there for the taking" for him - though I can't say I share his optimism), step aside and hand over the mic, please! There's a duchess here who knows far more about tennis than you! The guy you see as a possible world #1 this year is actually just average!

He'd say what I've just been: You can NOT be serious !!!

Oh, why do I bother? Over and out.

in all fairness, murray himself is actually a nice funny guy, from what i gather (obviously, i don't know him in person). this just doesn't seem to come across all that well on the court

I found the excuse of no personality to hate Murray is rather stupid (no offence in tend). If Murray has no personality, Fed should have a personality of a fish. But people still flounder under his wet skin because he won 15 GS.

Murray has a great sense of dry humor, just read his tweet.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jan/17/australian-open-andy-murra y

Alex: like or lump it, until he wins a slam like all the others who have not won slams, as talented as they are, they are also rans, you are judged by winning slams, thats why he like all the others want it so bad, when and if he wins a slam, he will join the elete great players, I am not going to say he is the best or greatest just because you support him, this goes for all the players who have not won a slam, not just your idol, when and if he wins a slam i will agree he is a great player, and if he gets to No.1 he will be even greater, it will be too tough for him this year, the top 4 are far better players

Alex: like or lump it, until he wins a slam like all the others who have not won slams, as talented as they are, they are also rans, you are judged by winning slams, thats why he like all the others want it so bad, when and if he wins a slam, he will join the elete great players, I am not going to say he is the best or greatest just because you support him, this goes for all the players who have not won a slam, not just your idol, when and if he wins a slam i will agree he is a great player, and if he gets to No.1 he will be even greater, it will be too tough for him this year, the top 4 are far better players

It seems to me duchess, that even if Andy wins 10 slams, you would still have a very low opinion of him. That's your prerogative.

Not at all if he wins a slam I will be pleased for him, I was talking tennis

muzz up early on laver.

Go on muzz, play your full variety of scintillating tennis like you did against rafa in 2007 - one of he most thrilling tennis matches of recent years. Win your first slam and don't look back.

GOOOOOOOOO MUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!!!

Roger is so classy. Roger is the classic greatest. He is the great man. Love Rog