Brisbane 2024 R1: Andy vs Dimitrov Monday 8.30 am

[cazza99]

Andy vs Dimitrov 8.30 am New Years Day

[Jane]

Yes - thanks, Cazza - looking forward to that.

[pabbers]

Dimitrov.... seriously? Can't even catch a break at the start of 2024!

[HoopGirl]

Wouldn’t it be great if he won this one!

[Hawkeye]

Players on court.

[clancy]

And Andy takes the 1st set. Brilliant play! xx

[Hawkeye]

The first two break points of the match were also set points, and Andy took the first one! 6-4.

[clancy]

That will give him a real lift! Miss the old days on here. x

[Hawkeye]

Andy having to fend off break points...

Here comes the third...

Dimitrov breaks and will serve for the second set.

[clancy]

Damn and blast!

[Hawkeye]

Andy breaks straight back!

[clancy]

But Andy has now broken back! Think he is showing he can hold his own against top players. x

[clancy]

Are there only you and I awake??

[Hawkeye]

Two more break points...

Andy broken again and Dimitrov will get another chance to serve out the set.

[exislander]

I am watching! Dimitrov breaks again.

[Hawkeye]

Andy with the chance to break back again...

Can't take it.

[Hawkeye]

1 set all.

[clancy]

Hope Andy can pull off this 3rd set (serving first); he deserves the win. x

[Hawkeye]

Andy down 3 break points immediately...

Broken.

[Hawkeye]

Dimitrov breaks again, for the 4th time in a row.

This looks over.

[HoopGirl]

I’ve been watching too. Was really hopeful about this but less so right now!

[pabbers]

Groan.

[Hawkeye]

Andy fighting to avoid another break...

30-40.

[HoopGirl]

Andy looks to be struggling physically

[pabbers]

Yet again no chance to build any momentum behind a first round win.

[Hawkeye]

On to Auckland next week then.

[Sallydaisy]

Dimitrov found his game ...

Andy isn't in the entry list for Auckland (or Adelaide) next week - although there are WC spaces currently available.
Russell Fuller has posted that Andy is due to play the Kooyong Classic Exhibition instead.

[Hawkeye]

It looks to me that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Given his pre-tournament comments I'm convinced this is the year it will all end. He'll want to play Wimbledon and the Olympics of course, and probably the USO, but I feel that now is the time.

[Jane]

Andy is scheduled to play in the Kooyong Classic from 10th January.

[HoopGirl]

How could Andy get into represent GB in the Olympics when there are other higher ranked British players?

[HoopGirl]

I saw improvements in his game from last season - he was more aggressive. He just needs some luck and to keep believing

[themass15]

I think he needs someone like Dr Steve Peters

[clancy]

I think it is his body that lets him down more than his mind set which I guess is to be expected with his hip problems and sadly that will continue; I so want him to have a good run at some point before he calls it a day, not disappointment after disappointment. x

[JAMES4578]

Andy did seem to be more assertive for much of the match and calmer, could not stay with Dimitrov once he raised his level though and physcially it became challenging. However overall I think some positive signs,will need to win matches like this to really boost confidence though this may well be his last season.

[david1610]

Happy New Year everybody. I watched it on replay tonight on a Portuguese sports channel which I always find interesting as the commentators tend to be quite objective about Andy, with a lot of respect but no particular axe to grind one way or the other. For the first set and a half they were using the phrases "vintage Andy" and "one of the best performances for a very long time". Then there was the second half.
Was that a case of the glass is half empty or half full? I would say half full. Dimitrov is ranked 14 and the tennis was initially of high quality from both of them.
Let's hope Andy can get a kind draw at the AO and push on to try and get a seeding for the Grand Slams later in the year that he plays in as then he can truly see how far he can go and push his body.
So, IMHO definitely reasons to be cheerful! :)

[patmoren]

Andy seems to have set some targets this year. Much as I would like to see him carry on playing, it is distressing to see him struggle. Fingers crossed!!

[pabbers]

So frustrating to see Rafa come back and immediately trounce Thiem :crying:
That's always been a difference comparing Andy to Rafa,Nole and Fed. They seem able to rise immediately from the ashes where Andy regresses. Mainly a confidence thing IMHO. He seems to be on a path to clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[pabbers]

At least Andy was beaten by the ultimate champion!

[HoopGirl]

Yes just seen that!
Some consolation maybe?