Cheryl, I'm confused by, "The fact that Murray and Nadal meet in the final is a big benefit to Nadal."

Cheryl, although like you said Nadal has beaten Murray 5 out of the 6 times they have played each other in the past. Don't forget that Murray has actually beaten Nadal not once but TWICE since the US open last year. Remember the Abu Dhabi Exhibition where Murray took out Federer in the semi final? Yeah thats right he went on to meet Nadal in the final and he AGAIN played Nadal off the park comprehensively. So even though that does not count competitively, we all know that once Nadal steps onto the court he treats everything for real and a loss is a loss. So I wouldn't fancy Nadal so heavily like you said and my prediction is Nadal at the moment is NOT good enough to beat Murray on fast hardcourt, if he does beat Murray, well INJURY has got to be the main factor we should take in to account here.

AZN2NVY,

Nadal right now is not even close to 100% physically. He's been laboring throughout the tournament because of a brutal Australian Open. It's pretty plain that his movement in all his matches has been slower than it usually is.
On top of that he gets very little rest - As his next match is at 14:00 after starting at 19:30 the previous night.

Tomorrow's match I would give the edge to Murray because he is fresher and because of the surface.But keep in mind a 100% fit Rafa would probably prevail over Murray anywhere except this particular surface (which is very fast and favors Murray). So I don't agree with your statement about Murray beating Rafa on hardcourts.

Oh and BTW Murray's injury is relatively minor. He seemed ok in the 2nd set. It's nothing a massage won't take care of.

Ricky: I think Cheryl was referring to the fact that it might have been easier for Murray to overcome Nadal if they had met in the earlier rounds rather than in the gladiator atmosphere of a final which as we have seen so often brings out the very best in Nadal. But Murray continues to impress with the all-round progress he has made - and is still making - and is clearly more comfortable on indoor hard courts than is Nadal. If RN can lift his 1st serve percentage and cut down on unforced errors he will take Murray to 3 sets but I am holding my breath about the outcome.

If rafa was able to attack the high quality second serve of tsonga time and time again..then wht's gona happen aganst muuray whp possesses a weak 2nd delievery??in their previous hard court meeting rafa has hardly intended to take muray's 2nd serves on the rise or even hit big returns from behind the baseline.his is gona happen this time for sure coz nadal's sense abt hard court tennis has improved alot.His serve is a weapon now and he wll beat murray in 3 .Murray is fit to play ,o fitness prblm is gona hurt him.

Ricky - Nadal is hard to take out in a final is what I meant. Like I said - the man knows how to play big matches and he is as mentally tough as they come.

AZN - Exhibitions are not real matches. Sorrry.

Murray should b able to take nadal down..Murray seems rto b teh guy who is not affected by the opponenet he is facing.. I vote 4 murray 3 sets....

AZN - exhibitions should NOT count, and that's the reason they don't.

One of Nadal's biggest weapons is his mental game and the intensity that he brings to every match. That all changes in an exhibition. The Nadal-Murray match was entertaining, but the outcome was irrelevant.

Nadal is just not being smart right now.

rafa's past couple of weeks finally caught up to him. it was sad that he couldn't compete at a normal level. in all due respect to andy's win, it was clear that rafa could have beaten him today! he did a smart thing in the third set not to risk aggravating his knee any further. well, it is what it is! in any case, this was a great tournament!

what a humiliating defeat for the "#1" player in the world. that's the first time I've ever seen Nadal quit. that was Djokovic-like almost except Nole would have quit at 0-1 in the third. he lost my respect today. by year's end he won't even be the best player in Spain. that will be Verdasco.

LOL @ chr18. Good humor!

as i said murray in 3 sets
cheers.............

chr18,
what the hell was that comment?? what do you want Rafa to do? To quit in the middle of the set? Oh,then you would have said "Rafa quit because he didn't want Andy to enjoy the victory"!

chr18, feels better now! comments like his are to be expected! i wouldn't concern myself with them! a blind man could see that nadal handed the match over, end of story! he actually won the second set three times before actually winning it! however, i have to admit chr18 is comical as always!

chr18 is another case of an airhead trying to comment on something "it" has no idea whatsoever!
Try to say anything about FED, "it" will make a big deal out of it!

Nadal had to hand it over, but I think the first set was proof that if Nadal has a nemesis in the top four right now, it is Murray.

Yes, I agree with samprallicca. Actually the right strategy to beat Nadal is attacking his forehand. And make him execute a running backhand which is not his best shot. Murray use this to good effect. Fed, please take notes of Murray's strategy please.

Don't teach FED what to do.... HE"S THE MASTER( of crying)!
HE doesn't need a coach... He's the maestro(sic)!
He must be salivating when he watch Murray play Nadal.!