Sallydaisy
27-01-2013, 13:09
Disappointment for Andy and his legion of fans tonight after he was runner-up tonight in Australia .
Disheartened - no. Once again Andy did us proud. He played his best to try and win but Nole raised his game a notch higher and take the title for the 3rd time in a row.
Incredible to watch, fantastic shots, amazing gets and a very close fought match with some superb play from both players. It provided us with a great spectacle and they were toe-to-toe for the majority of the match but Andy may have been let down by another bit of his foot - which had some very big blisters!!!
In the first 2 sets there were no breaks of serve and both went to tie-breaks. Nole had served first in the set but, after a slightly tough first serve game, Andy had played much better. In the tie-break Nole fluffed the first point and Andy raced to a 4-1 lead, well in control, and took it 7'2.
During the 2nd set Andy had 3 break points early on to get an early lead but Nole dug in and once he'd held it was inevitable that it would take a 2nd tie-break to separate the 2. At 2-2, and on Andy's serve, a feather floated down onto the court and seemed to break his concentration. He dropped that serve, Nole took advantage and won the 2nd set 7'6(5).
After the 2nd set the trainer came on for Andy and he had a 2minute time out. The TV cameras zoomed in on the problem which was a whopper of a blister. Made us all wonder how he'd managed to play so well on it for so long!!! Dressed and taped up he returned to the fray but by now Nole had gained confidence and began to push for a break. He had chances in the 2nd game of the 3rd set but Andy clung on. However, on Andy's serve at *3-4 Nole began to pull the trigger on anything weak from Muzzah and broke to lead 5-3 before serving out the set 6'3.
Credit to Andy for coming out and holding his first service game in the 4th set. He must have felt a bit down after losing the 3rd and knowing that Nole was in the ascendancy. The Serb had really found his game though and broke Andy in the 3rd game for a 2-1 lead. A DF from Andy on game point in the 5th game granted the Serb a 4-1 lead and the momentum. Although Andy held for 2-5, Nole served out to take the match 6'2 in the 4th set.
It wasn't a classic - certainly not as the match where Andy won the US Open - but these 2 are clearly the guys at the top of the game right now. Their matches are always close - so much at stake every time they meet - but there's only ever 1 winner.
Tonight it was Nole and in the end he deserved it for being the better player, digging deep when he went a set down and having the ability to raise his game to another level.
For Andy disappointment but he shouldn't be too disheartened by his performance at the Australian Open. He had a tough 5-setter to beat Federer and had one less day to recover than Nole before the Final. He continues to earn the respect of everyone watching him and belongs at the very top of the tennis tree.
We'll see Andy in another Grand Slam Final soon - and hope next time he's the winner.
Wimbledon Finalist, Olympic Gold medal winner, US Open Champion and Australian Open Finalist. Plenty more to come from Mr Murray!!!
We'll add links to interviews, match videos and clips later as they become available.
Disheartened - no. Once again Andy did us proud. He played his best to try and win but Nole raised his game a notch higher and take the title for the 3rd time in a row.
Incredible to watch, fantastic shots, amazing gets and a very close fought match with some superb play from both players. It provided us with a great spectacle and they were toe-to-toe for the majority of the match but Andy may have been let down by another bit of his foot - which had some very big blisters!!!
In the first 2 sets there were no breaks of serve and both went to tie-breaks. Nole had served first in the set but, after a slightly tough first serve game, Andy had played much better. In the tie-break Nole fluffed the first point and Andy raced to a 4-1 lead, well in control, and took it 7'2.
During the 2nd set Andy had 3 break points early on to get an early lead but Nole dug in and once he'd held it was inevitable that it would take a 2nd tie-break to separate the 2. At 2-2, and on Andy's serve, a feather floated down onto the court and seemed to break his concentration. He dropped that serve, Nole took advantage and won the 2nd set 7'6(5).
After the 2nd set the trainer came on for Andy and he had a 2minute time out. The TV cameras zoomed in on the problem which was a whopper of a blister. Made us all wonder how he'd managed to play so well on it for so long!!! Dressed and taped up he returned to the fray but by now Nole had gained confidence and began to push for a break. He had chances in the 2nd game of the 3rd set but Andy clung on. However, on Andy's serve at *3-4 Nole began to pull the trigger on anything weak from Muzzah and broke to lead 5-3 before serving out the set 6'3.
Credit to Andy for coming out and holding his first service game in the 4th set. He must have felt a bit down after losing the 3rd and knowing that Nole was in the ascendancy. The Serb had really found his game though and broke Andy in the 3rd game for a 2-1 lead. A DF from Andy on game point in the 5th game granted the Serb a 4-1 lead and the momentum. Although Andy held for 2-5, Nole served out to take the match 6'2 in the 4th set.
It wasn't a classic - certainly not as the match where Andy won the US Open - but these 2 are clearly the guys at the top of the game right now. Their matches are always close - so much at stake every time they meet - but there's only ever 1 winner.
Tonight it was Nole and in the end he deserved it for being the better player, digging deep when he went a set down and having the ability to raise his game to another level.
For Andy disappointment but he shouldn't be too disheartened by his performance at the Australian Open. He had a tough 5-setter to beat Federer and had one less day to recover than Nole before the Final. He continues to earn the respect of everyone watching him and belongs at the very top of the tennis tree.
We'll see Andy in another Grand Slam Final soon - and hope next time he's the winner.
Wimbledon Finalist, Olympic Gold medal winner, US Open Champion and Australian Open Finalist. Plenty more to come from Mr Murray!!!
We'll add links to interviews, match videos and clips later as they become available.