That is the question that everyone in the tennis world is currently trying to answer. Lots of journalists have written articles (or blogs) trying to get down to the root of the problem (!!), but a lot of people argue that his peak might have gone and the only way, from the amazing standards the great swiss tennis player has set for himself, is downwards.
Of course it m ight be up to him to rectify the situation. Two months into the season, as Mike Mcintyre from the Pro Tennis Fan blogshpere points out www.protennisfan.com, and he is yet to win a title. Actually he is yet to compete to a final after another disappointing loss to wild card entrant to the Indian Wells in Miami, american Mardy Fish. And it was not only the fact that he lost but also the fact that he lost two sets to love with the almost embarassing scoreline of 6-2, 6-3.
Coming into the season the man himself clarified but his big goal for the season, his subsequent "holy grail" is the French Open th one that has slipped away from him many times in recent seasons. Of course everyone was almost certain that he would pass Pete Sampras's all time grand slam record of 14 titles, currently being on 11 but at this stage no one would bet on it. Maybe a small indication of the amazing consistency and class of the great american who dominated courts in the 90s.
Personally I keep thinking that come the time to play on clay he will start hitting the form we all know he can achieve and perhaps triumph in Roland Garros, he will come good in tennis's equivalent of football's business end of the season. But of course this is just my hunch of how things might go because reality seems a bit (if not a lot different).
The Independent's Derrick Whyte- http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis says that Roger Federer after his humiliating defeat conceded that the way Fish played on the day hye was unplayable. Of course we are talking about mardy Fish no 98 in the world and a man who has won more than 200 titles so needless to say that Federer suffers from a long standing loss of form.
This was the year he could go in the record books in Wimbledon as well so I guess it is up to him to pull his sleeves up and woe the adoring tennis public with masterful preformances but more importantly make sure he finishes the job he, with his hard work and talent of course started a few years ago, become the bset tennis player of all time.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
19/2/08 Andy Murray. Right or wrong?
If there was criticism last week of Andy Murray's withdrawal from this weekend's Davis Cup tie here against Argentina, it was kept within the British ranks. A couple of days before the tie takes place, however, the world No 11's own brother, Jamie, made it clear that his colleagues were deeply unhappy with his decision.
"It was a shock to me, and I think for the team it's also very disappointing," Jamie said. "It's a shame that he decided that it was best for him not to come here. It kind of affects the way we feel about him." Jamie speaking to the Independent's Paul Newman shows that team GB clearly feels let down by his behaviour and his choices. And coming from his brother it shows that something is wrong in the camp.
Andy's website even shows him playing soccer with friends (he pulled out with a knee injury) and this will definetely not improve his public image. And bear in mind that the nation's only highly-ranked athlete, with true world class potential pulled out from what should be seen as the biggest international match-up in years (Davis Cup 1st Round tie)
Andy will obviously stick to his position that he was injured and not 100% fit but the real reason is probably the fact that everyone was more or less resigned to the fact that it would take a very big miracle to beat Argentina in the Davis Cup, so the Scot would rather get himself ready for the Marseille Open (not exactly a Grand Slam!!) and ironically win it rather than represent his country, or be it Great Britain.
There are all sorts of debates when it comes to international tennis. Should it be Great Britain, should there be stricter measures and/or incentives for players to represent their countries and compete? Andy, for his own reasons and they might be good ones, has helped to raise a long-standing debate...
"It was a shock to me, and I think for the team it's also very disappointing," Jamie said. "It's a shame that he decided that it was best for him not to come here. It kind of affects the way we feel about him." Jamie speaking to the Independent's Paul Newman shows that team GB clearly feels let down by his behaviour and his choices. And coming from his brother it shows that something is wrong in the camp.
Andy's website even shows him playing soccer with friends (he pulled out with a knee injury) and this will definetely not improve his public image. And bear in mind that the nation's only highly-ranked athlete, with true world class potential pulled out from what should be seen as the biggest international match-up in years (Davis Cup 1st Round tie)
Andy will obviously stick to his position that he was injured and not 100% fit but the real reason is probably the fact that everyone was more or less resigned to the fact that it would take a very big miracle to beat Argentina in the Davis Cup, so the Scot would rather get himself ready for the Marseille Open (not exactly a Grand Slam!!) and ironically win it rather than represent his country, or be it Great Britain.
There are all sorts of debates when it comes to international tennis. Should it be Great Britain, should there be stricter measures and/or incentives for players to represent their countries and compete? Andy, for his own reasons and they might be good ones, has helped to raise a long-standing debate...
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