When Murray gets angry with himself during the course of a match it can be a positive influence: but equally well it can have a negative effect and he becomes more and more discouraged. We saw this in his SF at Wimbledon, when he started with a 73% first serve, l double fault, and 5 aces. But by the third set it had dropped to 41%.

Soderling had the same tendency to be too hard on himself and let it affect his game. This was one of the things Magnus Norman set out to change when he became his coach. With good effect, because we have seen what has happened to Soderling's results.

If Murray does appoint a new coach, as rumour suggests, then changing Andy's mindset should be a major priority.

Murray's new coach won't help him either. Miles, Brad, it doesn't matter. He's a junkballer who is a coward to boot.

After losing at RG Andy said he was considering playing the claycourts in South America, I wonder of he still would.

Yes, a new coach is just what muzz needs. a real coach, a senior figure like Larry Stefanki who can inspire in him a need to impress on court, rather than simply supply the feel good factor off it. imho 'team muzz' has served its time and its time for a successful, shrewd, authoritative coach to help muzz to another level again.

pennster, who are you? Another of these mudballer philistines who shows up every so often, only to disappear again as quickly as you showed up? After muzz wins his 3rd slam, remember your comment above:)

When muzz talks about himself sometimes 'junkballing', he's self-effacingly talking about his own unique, incredible skill off putting the best players in the world out of their stride, confusing them with exaggeratedly and unexpectedly simple, deliberately under-paced shots, before pouncing with the kind of strokes only the top 2 or 3 in the world are capable of. Only someone with supreme confidence in his own abilities has the audacity to play ths way - cowardice? LOL!!!

'Junkballing; at its best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG8jdpmCaVE&feature=related

After muzz wins his 3rd slam, remember your comment above:)

Yeah Alex, let the junkballer win number one first. :--)

alex: I just couldn't be a---d!

Pennster, when you win your first slam, then you can criticize Andy's game!

deuce -

I know, as I wrote I was thinking, Why am I bothering? :)

No muzz till Toronto:(
What we gonna do?

We should appreciate that atleast he is not lying to himself and media that if he wants to win GS he will have to beat not one but two Greatest player of all time.

And when he does, it will be all the sweeter for having done so. I watched that video link you gave Alex and it made me realise it is some time since we have seen him playing like that. Both Andy and Nole share a similar problem: they both seem to have lost the joyful confidence in their game that they once had.

i fee sorry for this guy, with his talent and abilites he has not been able to win a Slam , his era is the toughest ever becoz in his development stages he has nadal and federer ! so harsh on him.

vamosrafa,

But he keeps his focus on the game he will definetely get his chance to win more than one GS.The problem with him is he choke at the big moment.

In 2008 USO final he has his chances and in 2010 AO final Fed was really playing well..

Hope to see him lifting few GSlams before saying end..

vamosrafa,

But he keeps his focus on the game he will definetely get his chance to win more than one GS.The problem with him is he choke at the big moment.

In 2008 USO final he has his chances and in 2010 AO final Fed was really playing well..

Hope to see him lifting few GSlams before saying end..

ed: I really do think that was a bit of a young man thing. Supreme confidence got Novak and Delboy grand slams, unfortunately all Andy got at that crucial time was a disabilitating wrist injury. I don't think Delboy will come back with that same exhuberant confidence, that moment has gone for all three players.

interesting observation, deuce. you may have a point but i feel that muzz's time to win a slam will come. i can't help but feel he's situation is similar to one of those 'legends' whereby his time will come a bit late but he could (hopefully) make up for lost time. a little luck has to go his way (like in most cases anyway) and things generally (fitness) have to be going well for him. i feel he is better and more talented than others who are constantly being given equal or higher chances. muzz seems to want it badly enough. when he finds his way i think he'll com me through. the tour is defintely very strong right now but he's not far from the top an dthat says something.

I think if muzz can just win that first slam we'll start to see him unleash his full potential as he plays with more freedom and confidence. I agree with what someone said a while back that muzz will either win no or several slams, but not one, cos the best muzz won't come out until after the first. I'm expecting at least 3. In that sense he may turn out to be quite different from djoker.


ed - yes, I have to admit thinking the same thing in terms of muzz's more recent form, but as I say, that first slam could untap all the potential.

homos, alex: I'm glad u r so optimistic, then I'll raise a glass and say "the best is yet to come!"

Cheers! :)

No muzz till Toronto:(
What we gonna do?
Alex-
I don't know about you but I will be thanking the heavens we don't have to see that miserable pusher for a few weeks.

vamosrafa -

thnx for encouraging words.

alex, if its not for rafa i would pray to God muzza wins Us open , dont know why is this guy slam-less, we have reasons but still its hard to digest ..he is a great player, dont u worry mate he has plenty of time, SURELY his time will come ! vamos muzza!

It's only a matter of time until Murray wins a slam. He is naturally gifted, has worked hard to become fit and strong, seems to have a renewed passion for the game again and showed that he has what it takes to give Rafa a fight.

Rafa and Murray could have a wonderful rivalry of their own in the making. After watching Murray in the semis at Wimbledon, I gained a new respect for both him and his game. He needs to work on a few things, like his second serve and forehand, but mostly I think it's about mental toughness, belief and confidence for him now. That will give him what it takes to get over the hurdle and win his first slam.

It does take time for a young, talented player to win his first slam. Murray has come along in an era of fiercely competitive tennis, dominated by two greats in Fed and Rafa. As long as he keeps the faith and continues to work hard, he will be rewarded.

Native - Yes, I really hope so. It's reassuring to know it's not just muzz fans who think these things. And I fully agree that rafa-muzza encounters really do seem to bring out the exciting best in both players. With the exception of Wimbie 2008 when a less fit muzz was dead on his feet after that gasquet 5-setter, most of their matches have produced thrilling tennis and the fact that muzz has managed to win 2 of their 5 slam encounters says a lot.

The really encouraging thing for rafa fans must be the way that he is clearly learning to manage his knee difficulties. There seems no reason why he cannot continue winning at least 2 slams a year for the foreseeable future.

vamosrafa - thnk again:)

thnx to you too alex, for those good words abt rafa :)

yeaa totally agree with you guys, muzza-nadal matches are spellbinding. they have produced the some of the best matches , wach and evvry match of their rivalry, that oz open 07 epic, even that madrid 2007 3rd rnd battle was sooo high quality...

wimb 08 (when muzza wasnt 100% was a one-sided match) and Us open 08 (when rafa wasnt 100%) , even though was a great battle i though it cud have gone the distances had rafa been fitter. oz open 09 match was outstanding, quality again was insanely good ! i hope they produce more of the same frequently.

vamosrafa,

Even I belive Murray has the game what it takes to lift a GS , but the problem he faces is Nadal ("The beast on his day"). Nadal is simply too good for anyone when he is at his best.Even Fed is too hard to beat at his best but his dominance is almost over , and it is hard to accept him winning most of the event..
Djoker is coming back to his best.

and anyone of them can beat eachother(If play their best).

These matches sometimes goes so tide that you cant belive the match is too good or otherwise it is one sided affiar..

Djoker has played well against Fed ,Nadal (even on clay he has pushed nadal to 3rd set in masters longest best of three set match).

Murrray had a good H2H against Fed , but lost the bigger matches.

We can only wish Murray to produce his best and lift the GS what his countryman wants from him..