View Full Version : Mallorca Challenger R3. Andy v Matteo Viola. Thursday 29th August, time TBC
Sallydaisy
27-08-2019, 21:56
Andy has a day off tomorrow but will play Matteo Viola in R3 on Thursday, schedule n/a until tomorrow evening.
The Italian is currently ranked #240 but had a career high of 118 back in 2013.
They've never played each other before so the H2H is 0-0.
Follow the link for more info.
https://www.atptour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-matteo-viola/MC10/V490
Sallydaisy
28-08-2019, 18:01
Andy Murray v Matteo Viola not before 17:30 UK time at the Mallorca Open.
I am very impressed by the way the organisers are going out of their way to help AM. His opponent in R1 has tripled his career earnings. Got a walkover into R2 of the Doubles.
david1610
29-08-2019, 15:51
The oop for today is here http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2019/7973/op.pdf
The singles match before Andy is early in its second set (but with a break to the player who got the first set). Then there is a doubles match but with a note of with a possible "change of court". Andy's match is not before 6.30 p.m. Mallorca time, which is about 40 minutes from now (as I post this). I wonder if they will play the doubles on that court as well. This is the current match livestream to the court https://livestream.com/ATP/events/8799108
Looks like the doubles match is going ahead on Centre, so another hour before Andy at least.
Guerkins2
29-08-2019, 16:38
Looks like the doubles match is going ahead on Centre, so another hour before Andy at least.
:grrr: going out at 6.30
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 16:53
Here is the direct link to watch Andy Murray v Matteo Viola in Mallorca not before 17:30
ATP Challenger live streams - @ATPChallLive
Matteo Viola (ITA) vs [WC] Andy Murray (GBR) http://zpr.io/tUBxX
Might not be long till Andy - 6-0 2-0 in the doubles!
lovetennis
29-08-2019, 17:32
:swingin: I'm watching from my hols in Florida. C'mon Andy
david1610
29-08-2019, 17:34
Eek. My stream has gone.
Mine to... back on but it's just the warm up
Eek. My stream has gone.
back on now, BP saved
david1610
29-08-2019, 17:42
Stream back. Andy holds. C'mon Andy!
Early break, lost straight away.
The streams today are slow sluggish it’s making it almost impossible to watch either AM or Dan. Is it just me?
david1610
29-08-2019, 17:52
Early break, lost straight away.
This opponent is good at constructing points when not hitting UEs. I think this will be more of a test than the previous round, unless Andy steps up a gear. C'mon Andy!
david1610
29-08-2019, 17:59
Andy steps up a gear playing "tennis chess" with some of the shot construction. Missed it so much! C'mon Andy!
Broke again, and followed it up with a hold. 4:1 Murray.
Elsewhere Jo is 5:1 up, and Dan a real up in the 4th
Rosalind
29-08-2019, 18:19
dan serving for match...
david1610
29-08-2019, 18:23
First set to Andy 6-3! :)
lovetennis
29-08-2019, 18:23
First set to Andy 6-3 :knight:
Winner is last up tomorrow against Blaz Kavcic.
david1610
29-08-2019, 18:52
Andy breaks back 2-3 on serve now. C'mon Andy!
Fabulous point to set up BP, then Andy takes the next to get back on serve :)
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 18:56
I know Andy broke back but that Fiddler is playing rather well the other end!
Broken again. Rats. Don’t want this to go to 3. Not sure he is up to 3 sets at the moment.
HoopGirl
29-08-2019, 19:02
This is getting scary!
His body language does not look good.....
His body language does not look good.....
Have to agree with you there
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:10
His body language does not look good.....
He seemed to start hobbling a bit after going for a difficult drop shot in game 6 of the set. Anyway, the Fiddler drops his serve and 4-5 with Andy to serve to stay in the set. C'mon Andy! :)
suttontennis
29-08-2019, 19:13
Have to agree with you there
I can't get the screen big enough to detect his body language. Pressing full screen has no effect. Anyway, back on serve. Couple of loose games from Viola.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 19:13
Broken again. Rats. Don’t want this to go to 3. Not sure he is up to 3 sets at the moment.
This is getting scary!
His body language does not look good.....
Have to agree with you there
:whistle:
Into a 3rd set we go!
I am too tired for this - never mind AM..........!!!
suttontennis
29-08-2019, 19:14
Its still 5-4, 15-0 on my computer !
Both seem to have trouble holding serve. Viola is certainly a tricky enough opponent.
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:15
If Andy has a physical problem (some of the shots such as some services and the smash in the last game seemed he was having to adjust to something) I hope he would retire. I know he hates doing that but this is all about getting the body ready for the future, not hurting it in the present.
Hope I am completely wrong though. C'mon Andy!
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 19:16
I can't get the screen big enough to detect his body language. Pressing full screen has no effect. Anyway, back on serve. Couple of loose games from Viola.
I posted a link earlier in the thread and found I can get full screen off that whereas the one on the ATP Challenger page won't let me.
suttontennis
29-08-2019, 19:18
He needs a close 3 setter if he's going to get physically and mentally sharper for the challenges ahead.
Viola's very good at changing the direction of the ball. Playing way above his pay-grade. I watched a couple of guys in this tournament a couple of days ago....in the high 100's & 200's & they were really poor in comparison to what we're seeing now.
HoopGirl
29-08-2019, 19:19
Cramp I just heard him say.
I wonder if he is cramping? I thought I heard him ask the umpire something about cramping?
I'm watching via Jokerstream..... been faultless, but you do have to endure 'nonsense' before getting the stream. Full screen.
He is struggling now. It’s horrible to see. He used to eat players like this for a light snack.
https://livestream.com/ATP/events/8799111
gives full screen
suttontennis
29-08-2019, 19:23
I posted a link earlier in the thread and found I can get full screen off that whereas the one on the ATP Challenger page won't let me.
Thats better !. But Andy's really not playing well at the moment.
Looks like the trainer is out for Andy.
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:29
Andy gets a break of service so now 1-2.
The problem in the second and not the third set is Andy is of course serving second and something not fully right so that consolidation of the break is proving to be tricky. C'mon Andy! :)
exislander
29-08-2019, 19:29
Can he hold?
If he can get rid of the cramp!
Thats better !. But Andy's really not playing well at the moment.
But let's not forget, we have to be patient and give him time. This is all about finding out about where he is and what he can do. This is a great chance to do so. And also the best players often find a way to win while not at their best. Viola refusing to go away!
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:37
Phew! Thanks to the fiddler for remonstrating to the umpire and giving Andy some recuperation time! ;)
Now play the percentages Andy - treat it as the fifth hour of a GS event. Energy conservation. C'mon Andy! :)
Only following on flashscores. Had been thinking that most of the upper seeds had gone and along came Viola! But Andy is still the fighter we know and love .......
He has to be getting tired. This is the first 3 set singles match he has played since January.
suttontennis
29-08-2019, 19:44
What is it the football analysts say, if you are going to be successful its the cold, rainy, midweek away matches in winter on a bumpy pitch that you've got to win. This is Andy's equivalent of that. Not much difference really...
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 19:50
I think this is just the sort of match Andy needs, and the reason he's prepared to slog at Challenger level. There are players who can provide the all court practise he really is missing and "iron" out the return to singles niggles. Cramping being one of them! He won't have suffered that for a long while but it's part and parcel of dealing with life on the Tour.
HoopGirl
29-08-2019, 19:51
Held to Love!
Impressive just the same!
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:51
Break hold ice bath... please.... probably in that order! C'mon Andy! ;)
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 19:51
4 all. Back on serve and Muzz is moving better.
Said medical time out on the screen at the change over, but that's wrong. Andy's only being treated during the change overs. That's not MTO.
It's a good test, and Andy doesn't know the meaning of giving up!
Very polite, respectful crowd, I've noticed.
david1610
29-08-2019, 19:57
5-5 third set. Andy to serve. C'mon Andy! :)
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 19:59
It's a good test, and Andy doesn't know the meaning of giving up!
Dead right. I think he's after a tie-break here.
;)
david1610
29-08-2019, 20:05
6-6 TB time. C'mon Andy! :)
The streams are a lot slower than the livescore
HoopGirl
29-08-2019, 20:09
Nope!
*1-5 at the change of ends.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:10
Here we go, tie-break. Viola serving first.
*1-0
2-0*
3-0* oops!
*3-1, that's 1 back
*4-1 fiddler in tune
5-1*
Don't panic!
Perhaps he recognises he wouldn’t manage the next match?
OUCH - Andy may be pleased with the time spent on court, but will not be happy with the outcome!! :crying:
Sad - all that effort and to lose it on the tiebreak:-(
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:14
Andy to serve after change of ends.
5-2*
*6-2 and 4 match points
*6-3
7-3*
Andy out of Mallorca.
Well played the Fiddler!
Rosalind
29-08-2019, 20:15
I thought that match was a dead cert at the beginning....
Saw that DF coming, sadly.
Onwards and upwards!
Shame to finish on a DF. Viola played a good match. Of course Andy wanted to win, but the court time is invaluable.
The old Andy was there, but not having enough matches, he seemed to struggle. Also, getting cramp in the leg(s) probably didn't help.
HoopGirl
29-08-2019, 20:16
Tough to lose on a double fault.
But wasn’t the Fiddler playing well!
All in all a great challenge for Andy. Interesting to see what he makes of it all.
Shame, - that's going to hurt.
Fiddler beats former No1 in 3 sets & earns £100 or so, lol.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:19
Ah well, he and the team know they have work to do and this helps assess what's needed. Maybe he'll go for another outdoor Challenger before going to Zhuhai. It would make sense.
I thought that match was a dead cert at the beginning....
I don’t think any matches are dead certs at the moment. I think these matches are bonus ones for all of us. This is where he is at at the moment, and it’s incredibly impressive that he has returned to singles at all. However, I still don’t think a singles career is viable after the surgery he has had. I think if he focussed on Doubles he could achieve great things.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:22
Wherever Andy plays, especially if at Challys or 250s, he's going to be a target 'cos the tour guys will want to say they beat him.
C'est la vie.
Yes, definitely a shame to lose on a double fault but it was a really competitive match. Three matches in four days - a good test of where Andy is at the moment I would say. I don't think he'll be too unhappy with that.
He nearly did it! But well fought Andy and he will leave this match with a good idea what he needs to work on. All part of the rough and tumble of regaining match fitness. The fiddler (like that one Sally!) absolutely refused to miss, he sustained his level the whole way through. I was fascinated with the viewing figures (top LHS of the screen), they rose steadily and reached 8.3K by the tie break. That's really high for a Challenger match. The pull of Andy! But 3 matches played this week. Great stuff!
I don’t think any matches are dead certs at the moment. I think these matches are bonus ones for all of us. This is where he is at at the moment, and it’s incredibly impressive that he has returned to singles at all. However, I still don’t think a singles career is viable after the surgery he has had. I think if he focussed on Doubles he could achieve great things.
I think he has to try the singles though, doesn't he? He will never know otherwise although he may well decide eventually that doubles is the way to go.
JAMES4578
29-08-2019, 20:27
Andy showed his fighting qualities (to his credit remainded tough after the crampimg) and some great shots but the consistency not there today, a poor breaker really. However certainly got a test from Viola after the initial stages and whilst pity he did not come through this one as I hoped the court time and application should stand him in good stead. Will take a little while for real progress to be made.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:28
This is worth a read.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDKfxRqWsAEmVpp?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDKfxRqWsAEmVpp?format=jpg&name=medium
Haven't read back through the posts but I thought Andy looked a bit weary and lack lustre. He seemed to flag after the first set. Hardly surprising but another good workout.
david1610
29-08-2019, 20:43
Most important is how Andy's body has reacted to that. Other than the cramp.
I also agree that some more Challengers would be a good idea and that anybody ranked in the top 200 will raise their game given the chance to play Andy. That to me was a much more difficult match than the previous one, given the tenacity of his opponent. If he played half a dozen Challengers before the end of the year - perhaps even withdrawing from the Chinese ATP events unless that would cause him a lot of problems - ideally without too much travelling and with good conditions (ice baths, good gym and so on...), that might be good. I was taken back to the early days of Andy's career tonight, when he played a lot of 250s and what became 500s, and it was about getting those ranking points to get seedings to have easier passage through tournaments, then moving on to just playing Master's and GSs and warm-up events such as Brisbane in January, Queen's etc.
This is also a journey of discovery for Andy. Where he is at now, he is competitive in Challengers - he has no ranking protection in major events so he might be best to get a lot more Challenger events in and get his body used to playing tournaments before going back to ATP main events.
I think he has to try the singles though, doesn't he? He will never know otherwise although he may well decide eventually that doubles is the way to go.
Oh yes. I agree that he needs to recognise that Singles is going to be a step too far. The only way he can do that is by actually doing it. I don’t blame him for trying. However when all is said and done players of a similar age are starting to falter - look at Berdych and Tsonga, and even Raonic. AM truly reached the summit, they got nowhere near it. He has nothing to prove, and it’s certainly not worth killing himself trying.
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 20:57
This is also a journey of discovery for Andy. Where he is at now, he is competitive in Challengers - he has no ranking protection in major events so he might be best to get a lot more Challenger events in and get his body used to playing tournaments before going back to ATP main events.
I believe that he DOES have PR for quite a few events i.e to get onto the entry lists, although he'd not be seeded based on his current ranking. The other consideration is that quite a few Tournament Directors would be happy to offer him a WC into an event because he's such a huge draw for paying punters and the media - as we've witnessed in Mallorca!
We have to remember that no-one has done what Andy is trying to do before so it really is uncharted territory. We all have to be patient ....... especially Andy!
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 21:01
Post match comments from Andy (will try to find more) per Stu Fraser on Twitter.
Andy Murray after his defeat by world No 240 Matteo Viola in the Mallorca Challenger: "I'm cramping. Very tired. I would have liked to have played more matches but it was good. I played two competitive matches. Physically I need to get better."
Sallydaisy
29-08-2019, 21:02
and a word from Supergran on Twitter:
well done on 3 good matches this week. What a positive comeback to singles.
Almost got through tonight.
Have a rest before you're on the road again. It was a privilege & pleasure to support you in Manacor. Lots of love. X
david1610
30-08-2019, 00:17
I believe that he DOES have PR for quite a few events i.e to get onto the entry lists, although he'd not be seeded based on his current ranking. The other consideration is that quite a few Tournament Directors would be happy to offer him a WC into an event because he's such a huge draw for paying punters and the media - as we've witnessed in Mallorca!
That is true of course. I am sure he will always get wild cards. I was thinking more about Andy not having a seeding in tournaments and how all those years ago it was so important to get the protection a ranking/seeding gives you earlier in big tournaments. I just wanted to point out that Andy's chances of getting used to a tournament rhythm - playing several matches in a week - is more likely at the Challenger level because of this. Andy had talked about dipping down to get match practice, and I was just trying to suggest that he might need to spend a bit more time at the Challenger level than initially thought. That's all! ;)
HoopGirl
30-08-2019, 06:24
I thought that was a surprisingly tough game.
The opponent played very well.
Andy also played well in parts.
This gives him even more of an idea as to how his game and fitness is. The reality is he hasn’t played week in week out for a really long time and getting used to that will be very different from playing one off matches - even like his last one at the AO.
He was tired then. That's a relief. Was worried in case of injury. He'll obviously have to rebuild strength and stamina over time.
Teresa, try not to be so negative about him coming back to singles. You had a bad experience with hip replacement. I've had 2 successful replacements and play golf 3 times a week which is harder on the hip joints than tennis. Plus Andy's is resurfacing, very different. He's got his head screwed on and I'm sure he'll come to whatever decision needs to be taken in his own good time. That may include getting back to the top of singles. Equally I feel sure that, having experienced the pain and now being free of it, he's not going to risk going back there, not least of all for the sake of his day to day life.
Really well said pabbers! :clap::clap: My thoughts exactly.
Really well said pabbers! :clap::clap: My thoughts exactly.
Me too.
Teresa, try not to be so negative about him coming back to singles. You had a bad experience with hip replacement. I've had 2 successful replacements and play golf 3 times a week which is harder on the hip joints than tennis. Plus Andy's is resurfacing, very different. He's got his head screwed on and I'm sure he'll come to whatever decision needs to be taken in his own good time. That may include getting back to the top of singles. Equally I feel sure that, having experienced the pain and now being free of it, he's not going to risk going back there, not least of all for the sake of his day to day life.
Well said pabbers! There is plenty more I would like to say about some of the comments on here but I will bite my tongue .... I just want to enjoy having him back doing what he wants to do.
A little post match interview from Twitter...
https://twitter.com/i/status/1167175636395405312
Sorry it's just a link!:wave:
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.