Andy Murray...

[sufcforever]

As much as I dislike his personality, he has done incredibly well to beat Novak Djokovic in the Masters Series Final at Cincinnati.

A cracking game of tennis which Murray was successful 7-6 7-6.

Well done to the lad!

 

[Bluesmanager]

Will be ranked number 6 in the world tommorow, am I right in saying that he's the highest ranking Brit in history?

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

Will be ranked number 6 in the world tommorow, am I right in saying that he's the highest ranking Brit in history?

I don't really follow tennis, but didn't Henman break into the top 5 after making the semis at Wimbledon? I'm probably wrong.

 

[Bluesmanager]

Your right, number 4, August 7 2002.

Murray'll beat that though. I reckon he's got a real shot at the US.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I don't really follow tennis, but didn't Henman break into the top 5 after making the semis at Wimbledon? I'm probably wrong.

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski both reached number 4 in the world. Murray may be ranked number 6 when the rankings come out tomorrow, but if he sustains the form and stamina that he showed today against Djokovic, he will soon emulate his countrymen. After the top 3, he's certainly the player that most others will be hoping to avoid at Flushing Meadows later in the month.

 

[ian_the_girth]

still a c.o.c.k.m.u.c.h.e.r. imo

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

Superb effort by Andy. Was never too interested in tennis until i went to Wimbledon this year and got to see Murray play, followed his matches ever since. Seeing him live was immense, he's a real talent. Great achievement beating Novak and winning the tournament but i just can't see him being up there with Nadal and Federrer because their attributes they play to are just so strong, Nadal for his power and pace, Federrer for his ability to pick amazing shots out of nothing and his accuracy.

 

[SUFCLiam]

I dont really watch tennis but i saw he beat the number 3 in the world so that must of been a good win. Well Done Murray

 

[sufcintheprem]

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski both reached number 4 in the world. Murray may be ranked number 6 when the rankings come out tomorrow, but if he sustains the form and stamina that he showed today against Djokovic, he will soon emulate his countrymen. After the top 3, he's certainly the player that most others will be hoping to avoid at Flushing Meadows later in the month.

He's good enough that he should certainly reach no.4 in his career and to do it now would be a bonus.

To be fair, it's only been potential up to now as this is the first time he's overcome the big three (still think this belittles the other two including Djokovic). They would have all been keen on winning this tournament and Murray's win, I'm sure will be something of an announcement of his potetnial outside of these shores.

It always makes me laugh when I recall Rusedski's climb to 4th in the world - he only ever got past the 4th round of a major on two occasions but both of these came within 4 months of each other boosting him to 4 after the US Open final.

In contrast, Henman made 6 quarter finals and 4 semi-finals to reach the same peak only when he actually managed to expand his success from Wimbledon in one year.

Henman was 29 when he won his first masters event losing one set in the entire competittion and disposing of both Roddick and Federer along the way. Rusedski was 25 when he beat Pete Sampras in straight sets (!) to claim his. Murray has stolen a march on both at 21 but doesn't quite seem to have the same gusto in context.

 

[scrounger]

Don't like him and never will do but once again, you have got to be impressed with that. Karlovic beats Federer, he beats Karlovic to get to the final. Djokovic beats Nadal and then Murray wins the final. I have feeling that if he had played Nadal, he would not have the tournament but amazing win.

I read somewhere that he won $400,000 dollars in prize money for this, not a bad return. From the match play I viewed this week, he really has improved a great deal over the last few months. He looks stronger (due to the hard work physically he has put in) and also appears to be more mentally stable. What I mean by that is not acting like a sulky kid when things aren't going his way. He handles situations better and that is why he is now competing with the best.

He needs to stay injury free for a while now to have a good go at the Grand Slams. The ultimate goal for Murray is to win a Grand Slam. It separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Henman was never able to achieve this, Rusedski came close but failed. I think he has the capabilities, but fulfilling this will be another matter.

 

[leeblue]

Murray is a better player than that canadian bloke and Henman put together, he could actually win one of the majors, I think a lot of the british public prefer to love a loser rather than someone who is actually brilliant, look at frank bruno I am a big boxing fan and IMO bruno was 5hite but was adored by the public because he was so nice(ask his wife about that) where as lennox lewis was a fantastic boxer undisputed heavywheight champ and got nowhere near the public adoration....why? This seems to be the case with Murray now, he may not be the most charismatic player but is developing into a cracking player

 

[jerseyshrimper]

Excellent play by Murray could win the olympics douibles also

 

[Uncle Leo]

It always makes me laugh when I recall Rusedski's climb to 4th in the world - he only ever got past the 4th round of a major on two occasions but both of these came within 4 months of each other boosting him to 4 after the US Open final.

Unbelievably, back in 1998, Rusedski was one tournament win away (Indian Wells IIRC) from being world number one!

 

[Uncle Leo]

Murray is a better player than that canadian bloke and Henman put together, he could actually win one of the majors, I think a lot of the british public prefer to love a loser rather than someone who is actually brilliant, look at frank bruno I am a big boxing fan and IMO bruno was 5hite but was adored by the public because he was so nice(ask his wife about that) where as lennox lewis was a fantastic boxer undisputed heavywheight champ and got nowhere near the public adoration....why? This seems to be the case with Murray now, he may not be the most charismatic player but is developing into a cracking player

In terms of Lernnox Lewis, I think there were two factors that played against him:

1) Having represented Canada as an amateur, there was a feeling that he wasn't properly British.

2) Most of his fights were on Sky, this depriving him of the mass following that Bruno was able to garner.

 

[SUFCEssex]

not a murray fan but he is miles better than henman so good luck to him.

 

[canveyshrimper]

In terms of Lernnox Lewis, I think there were two factors that played against him:

1) Having represented Canada as an amateur, there was a feeling that he wasn't properly British.

2) Most of his fights were on Sky, this depriving him of the mass following that Bruno was able to garner.

:offtopic:

It's a funny oner about Lewis, but he was a London boy born & bred and went to Canada when he was about 15. Certainly more British that Rusedski or Kevin Pietersen to name two.

Bruno's early fights were on the Beeb, but I think I'm right in saying that all his world title fights were in fact on Sky. It was the first Tyson fight in 1989 that bought Sky into prominence as a serious sports broadcaster.

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

Murray is currently playing in the 3rd round of the US open. He'll have to up his game from his match in the 2nd round but hopefully he will progress.

 

[The General]

...and has just lost the first set!

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

C'mon Andy!!

 

[Bluesmanager]

Oops, misread it. Got a shot at the third, after that I'm not sure.

EDIT - It appears I was right the first time. 5-6.