OLYMPICS - SINGLES, QUARTER-FINAL: Andy Aces Almagro 6'4, 6'1

[Sallydaisy]

Andy is into the Quarter-Final of the Olympics tennis and his opponent will be Nicolas Almagro.

They've played just 3 times before and Andy leads the H2H (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=A479)2-1.

It's 2 years since they've met and 4 years since the Spanish player beat Andy - on clay.
Andy's won both matches on hard court and they've never met on grass.

Almagro is currently ranked #11 (CH#9 in 2011) and has had a good year so far with 2 titles under his belt (Sao Paolo and Nice, both on clay) compared to Andy's sole title won in Brisbane.

Andy probably has the better game on grass; Nico is batting for Spain who are without Nadal in this event. We could be in for an interesting match.
:coaster:

The Quarter-Finals are all being played on Thursday; no idea yet what time.




Year
Tournament & City
Surface
Round
Winner & Score


2010
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Indian-Wells.aspx)
CA, U.S.A.
Hard
R16
Murray, Andy (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Andy-Murray.aspx)
6-2, 1-0 RET Stats (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=A479#)


2009
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Cincinnati.aspx)
OH, U.S.A.
Hard
R32
Murray, Andy (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Andy-Murray.aspx)
7-6(3), 6-2 Stats (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=A479#)


2008
Roland Garros (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Roland-Garros.aspx)
France
Clay
R32
Almagro, Nicolas (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Nicolas-Almagro.aspx)
6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5 Stats (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=A479#)

[jaysee]

Stuart Fraser ‏@stu_fraserBoth Murray matches on Court 1 tomorrow. Singles v Almagro first at 12 noon. Mixed with Robson v Hradecka/Stepanek fourth match on

:GBflag: I thought that would happen! So it's Murray on the Hill before I go into Centre to watch Fed & Nole! :grrr: :grrr:

[Sallydaisy]

:GBflag: I thought that would happen! So it's Murray on the Hill before I go into Centre to watch Fed & Nole! :grrr: :grrr:
See posts in the Ticket thread but if you leg it up to the Resales hut you might get a Court 1 ticket,.
Xenon was waiting in line for about an hour for Centre CT but she said there were quite a few Ct 1 tix being offered for resale. Not sure what it costs but not much so you could do Ct 1 for Andy's 2 and see Fed and Nole on Centre in between!!!
:OGwave:

[Madeline]

What's the weather forecast for tomorrow? No, I won't be lazy, I'll look it up myself :)

[RafaFan]

I have one Olympics ticket for Court 1 tomorrow Thursday 2nd August (Category B)
(Schedule: Nicolas ALMAGRO (ESP) [11] V Andy MURRAY (GBR) [3], Serena WILLIAMS (USA) [4] V Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [8], Kei NISHIKORI (JPN) [15] V Juan Martin del POTRO (ARG) [8], ROBSON / MURRAY (GBR) V HRADECKA / STEPANEK (CZE).

I would really prefer to have a ticket for the Centre Court matches tomorrow. If anyone is interested in making a swap, please let me know ASAP. We could swap tickets once in the grounds. I plan to be there by 10am. Cheers!

[Madeline]

20 degrees, partly cloudy, chance of precipitation at noon 20%.

[jaysee]

Rafafan, have sent you a PM!!

[supergran]

I hope he wipes him off the court. Remember being on holiday at my cousin's villa in Spain and watching him play Andy in that French Open match. I disliked him from then, mainly for the gesture at the end, and still do.:red devil::furious:

[lynne]

Yes I feel the same SG, totally not a lover of Almagro!!!!




The Very Best of Luck Andy!!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

[david1610]

First things first.... with Andy on court no. 1, let's hope he gets his match over before any rain.
Just hope he comes out confidently, serves well and is a break a set up, another break... goodbye before Almagro realises what is happening.

[Sallydaisy]

Weather update from twitter ........

Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes (https://twitter.com/NeilHarmanTimes) Already spotted first umbrellas up at Wimbledon. Fancy we are in for another interrupted day which makes Murray's task(s) more difficult


and he's got Royalty watching him ....

Alexandra Willis ‏@alex_willis (https://twitter.com/alex_willis) Wills and Kate are back at Wimbledon today. They'll be on No.1 Court to watch Andy Murray. #olympictennis (https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23olympictennis)

[SamP]

I know the Olympics has to be treat as a more neutral event to Wimbledon, but isn't it irritating that he's having to play again on Court 1.

[RoastLamb]

Nice that Kate and Wills have turned up. I'm so nervous. Hope I get a livestream.

[Madeline]

I can't find a livestream on the BBC website (Freeview don't appear to be showing tennis at all).

[RoastLamb]

I can't find a livestream on the BBC website (Freeview don't appear to be showing tennis at all).

This is the BBC livestream. (http://lsh.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lshtv6.html)I have one for court 2 as well.

[VamosVixs]

This is on BBC3 also.

[Manaus]

I can't find a livestream on the BBC website (Freeview don't appear to be showing tennis at all).

RoastLamb's one works or this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w2zrn) on the BBC website.

[Manaus]

Best of luck Andy! :cheer:

[Madeline]

This is on BBC3 also.

Thanks - it wasn't when I tried, I must have been too early.

[Manaus]

Easy hold for Andy. :thumbup: Always a good sign when he's serving well.

[Manaus]

Still on serve 2-2. Andy serving really well.

[cazza99]

As well as on BBC3 this is on Sky 453 (olympic channel 4).

[ljs]

cmonnn Andy :yahoo: up at 7 to watch :sleepy: the things I do

[Manaus]

Awesome stuff from Andy, 0-40! Take it Andy!

[Golden Lady]

Lovely break to love!

[Jan]

kitkat!

[Manaus]

DF from Almagro, fine by me. :cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

KITKAT.
Andy serving next at *3-2.

[RoastLamb]

Fandabbydozy!!! :cheer:

[Manaus]

4-2, no problems. :)

[Sallydaisy]

SG has tweeted that she's spotted Caro and Gill on Court 1; they might be wearing their Union Jack hats and other GB support gear.

Andy now leading 4-2.

[ljs]

so far , so good

[Sallydaisy]

Hmm, I though Andy had played the stroke BEFORE his foot touched the net so he shouldn't have been penalised there. Not sure what the rule is ...

[Manaus]

Hmm, I though Andy had played the stroke BEFORE his foot touched the net so he shouldn't have been penalised there. Not sure what the rule is ...

Apparently you're only allowed to touch the net if the ball has bounced twice.

[Manaus]

5-3, easy peasy. Just one more game. :cheer:
Almagro not happy about his shoulder.

[ljs]

wow , what a service game that was , 4 aces :dance:

[Manaus]

5-4, serve it out Andy. :cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

4 Aces and then a winner round the Net Post?
We're being treated to nice tennis from Andy today.
Serving for the first set at *5-4.

Almagro seems to be in trouble - and not just from Andy Murray.

He's obviously in a lot of discomfort from his shoulder but is managing to keep serving and in the game by shortening the points. So far Nico hasn't called for the trainer but is directing a lot of anxious glances up at his team. If it were very serious he'd surely have called for some treatment?

[Jane]

Great stuff - first set in the bag:clap::clap::clap::clap::swingin::swingin:

[Sallydaisy]

:thumbup:

First set to Andy Murray 6'4

[Manaus]

1st set 6-4, great play from Andy! :cheer: :yahoo: :clap:

[ljs]

WoooHoooo yayyyyyy Andy 83% 1st serve %

[RoastLamb]

Good stuff! :yahoo: I'd rather Andy have Nico than Potty, Tsonga or Isner.

[ljs]

got the wave going again lol

[Sallydaisy]

Trainer on for Almagro. Whilst he was waiting he looked up at his team and said "no mas" No more.
Nico's serve seems alright but his backhand seemed to give him trouble.

Andy's out there already to play; nice bit of mind games from him.
;)

[Manaus]

No sweat for Andy, easy peasy break. :cheer:

[ljs]

Andy breaks , what a shot that last one was

[Manaus]

Almagro getting really frustrated now, ranting at his box. Another easy hold from Andy.

[ljs]

that was a pretty good racket throw with a bad shoulder

[Hawkeye]

Almagro's not going to finish this.

[RoastLamb]

My ls is pretty bad. Always stopping every five seconds. :grrr:

[Sallydaisy]

that was a pretty good racket throw with a bad shoulder
It was wasn't it?
:rolleyes:

He's held serve too but mostly by trying to serve and volley from the back of the court!
He's yelling at his box between points - they've probably told him to grit his teeth and carry on.

[Manaus]

Praying that Andy will serve like this for the rest of the tournament. :)

[Sallydaisy]

Another Ace for Andy, and another. 15 so far.
And then a DF.
:barmy:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds for 3-1.

Just hit a great return to set up an error from Nico for *0-15 on the Spaniards serve.
Painted the line on the next point; forced an error for the 3rd. *0-40.
And a fantastic crosscourt forehand for the game.

4-1 to Andy.

[RoastLamb]

He's serving so well today! Brill!

[Manaus]

Beautiful stuff from Andy! :cheer:
Double break in the bag. :yahoo:

[Sallydaisy]

This is just target practice now for Andy!
And that's game for 5-1.

(anti-jinx potion maturing ........)
:cauldron:

[Manaus]

Another easy hold and just one game to go now. :yahoo:

[ljs]

WTH was he saying there ??

[Manaus]

Spectator: Come on Almagro!
Almagro: Come on what?
:rolling:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy's into the Semi-Finals - and a chance for an Olympic medal.

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

[Jane]

Congratulations Andy - well done - 6-4 6-1 :clap::clap::clap::clap::dance::dance::dance:

[Hawkeye]

Nice and anti-climatic.

[cazza99]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: well done Andy. Just 2 more matches to win.

[Manaus]

Into the SFs!!!!! Amazing performance Andy! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Not too long on court either so nice and fresh for the mixed too.

[JennieF]

brilliant andy!! Going for gold!!

[ljs]

BRAVO ANDY :yahoo:

semis vs either Djoko or Tsonga .... and now Im off to get ready for the beach :surfing:

[Golden Lady]

Well done Andy :yahoo: through to medal contention!

[lynne]

Well Done Andy!!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

[RoastLamb]

I really hope Djoko and Tsonga go three long sets rather like Milos vs Tsonga.

[Bardot]

Wahey Andy!!! :swingin::swingin: Too good and he shows how to play the "injured" player.

81% first serves for those who obsess over such statistics.

[Jan]

well done Andy! Pleasure to watch! :GBsmile:

[Sallydaisy]

OK. An Olympic medal isn't yet in the bag for Andy but 1 more win guarantees it.

In the Semi-Final tomorrow Andy will play either Tsonga or Djokovic.
If he gets through to the Final on Sunday he'll get either Gold or Silver.

If he loses in the Semi's he'll be in a play-off on Court 1 on Sunday, between the 2 losing Semi-Finalists, for the Bronze medal. If he loses that play-off he goes away empty handed.
Possible opponents, for a Bronze play off, from the top half are Federer, Isner, Nishikori and Del Potro.

So it isn't going to be easy .........

[RoastLamb]

Can't be Ferrer. He went out to Nishikori yesterday.

[Alis]

I thought Nishikori beat Ferrer - did I get that wrong?

[Sallydaisy]

Can't be Ferrer. He went out to Nishikori yesterday.
:doh:
I'll edit my post .......

[Madeline]

Just got back from throwing a belated lunch in my husband's direction!

Well done, Andy, in that form there is no way Almagro would have won even if he had been 100% fit and the match on clay! And so very kind of Andy, saving Almagro's shoulder by firing so many aces past him ;)

[supergran]

Well done Andy..awesome stats.:clap: So happy you dispatched Almagro quickly. Can't stand the man.:GBsmile:

[supergran]

Let's go for Gold Andy, let's go!! Brilliant today.:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::GBflag:: GBflag::GBflag::GBflag:

[SamP]

Dispatched is the word I'd use.

Let's hope he's not peaking to early. (<< The pessimist inside me)

[pabbers]

Great stuff again. Keep it up, Andy!

[-J-]

well done Andy

[traveller7]

Great match for Murray looked very happy out there and the crowd were great today

[HoopGirl]

Great stuff andy - sounded great performance