View Full Version : BARCELONA 2012, Quarter Final: Andy v Milos "the Missile" Raonic. Friday 27th, 11.30 am
HoopGirl
27-04-2012, 12:40
what a real shame.
I hope that Andy can beat this guy next time
I hope that Andy is still improving and will win at least one grandslam
Sorry - just sharing my doubts here
HoopGirl
27-04-2012, 12:44
Interesting - just had a look at Neil Harman twitter thread and he thinks andy moving badly, and holding his hip..
? injured
how long to French Open?
Andy did seem to be grimacing, but you never know with him!!
I didn't enjoy watching that match either. They showed a replay of Andy's match against Novak at Rome last year during a rain interval last week at Monte Carlo and from this it is obvious that Andy is nowhere the form he was in on clay last year.
Hope for better results in Madrid, Rome and RG but the two straight sets defeats by Berdych and Raonic are worrying - two players with a similar type of game. :sad:
Golden Lady
27-04-2012, 12:52
I didn't enjoy watching that match either. They showed a replay of Andy's match against Novak at Rome last year during a rain interval last week at Monte Carlo and from this it is obvious that Andy is nowhere the form he was in on clay last year.
Hope for better results in Madrid, Rome and RG but the two straight sets defeats by Berdych and Raonic are worrying - two players with a similar type of game. :sad:
I completely share your concerns karanga. Andy's clay court season thus far shows he is nowhere near the form of last year but there is time and we have to hope that he can get it together for the 2 masters and the slam.
I completely share your concerns karanga. Andy's clay court season thus far shows he is nowhere near the form of last year but there is time and we have to hope that he can get it together for the 2 masters and the slam.
Last year he didn't face any big hitters though - I think he's always going to struggle against players with a big serve/forehand on this surface. He'll look better with players with a less strong serve. Hopefully at RG he'll avoid Berdych, Raonic, Del Potro and Isner - they've all got a good chance against him on clay.
Milos played extremely well today, he's improved such a lot in all areas of his game. He's going to be tough for a lot of top players.
patmoren
27-04-2012, 13:00
He will be very determined that it doesn't happen again. Lets hope it won't but to be honest he hasn't being playing as well as he can just lately.
DaveArneRiise
27-04-2012, 13:27
Blimey, 14 aces from Milos on clay in two sets pretty impressive. Very powerful player. Congratulations Milos!
Not much scope for Andy's flair and finesse to shine. At least he seemed to start reading the serve better midway in the 2nd set. Hope he can build up some confidence in practice before the next tournie... <sigh>
ChrisMac
27-04-2012, 13:48
Does anyone else think that Andy did not show any oomph today? After the first set I wanted to shake him. Second set was better, but as others have said, he definitely played better last year on all the clay tournaments.
RoastLamb
27-04-2012, 14:02
:shocked: that Milos beat Andy in straights. :shocked: Thought it would be the other way round. But I though Milos played very, very well and I hope people can appreciate he's not just another big server dude like Dr Ivo.
LC the fan
27-04-2012, 14:07
Does anyone else think that Andy did not show any oomph today? After the first set I wanted to shake him. Second set was better, but as others have said, he definitely played better last year on all the clay tournaments.
To be honest I thought Andy showed a fair bit of 'oomph' in that second set. Milos gave him absolutely no chance on his serve in the first and it took a lot of character and reading of the game to make a tighter second set. We just have to sit back, trust in Andy and acknowledge the Raonic probably played the best he ever has.
Having said that.....I have to put up my hands and admit that now I do wonder if that Slam will ever come
I hate to say it, I've never admitted it before but........ Rafa and Djoko are going nowhere and younger players are coming through.
Tell me I'm wrong guys....pleeeeese
To be honest I thought Andy showed a fair bit of 'oomph' in that second set. Milos gave him absolutely no chance on his serve in the first and it took a lot of character and reading of the game to make a tighter second set. We just have to sit back, trust in Andy and acknowledge the Raonic probably played the best he ever has.
Having said that.....I have to put up my hands and admit that now I do wonder if that Slam will ever come
I hate to say it, I've never admitted it before but........ Rafa and Djoko are going nowhere and younger players are coming through.
Tell me I'm wrong guys....pleeeeese
Have faith - one day it will all come together - probably when we least expect it.
After both the Berdych and Raonic defeats (I didn't actually watch either) i've felt pretty disappointed. Looking at it from a cold, statistical point of view, only managing quarters in his first two clay tournaments, when he was regularly making semi's last year, looks like a real step backwards.
But you've got to look at things (as frustrating it is to say this when he's over half way through his career) as I work in progress and just be patient. I'm clearly no tennis expert, but I wouldn't say theres really anything he needs to change about his clay game from last year, or anything about his game in general, but its obvious that there are a few things that they both feel need tweaking, and with that is going to come some topsy turvy performances. Losing to power hitters, who on there day, are just outrageous, is no real worry, it happens, perhaps more to Andy then anyone else (am I biased there or is that true?)
Clay was never going to be his number one opportunity to win a slam, so if he doesn't win the french this year, is it really that big a surprise, or even a disappointment? Give yourself a shake if it is, because his serious chances definitely lie elsewhere. Obviously theres nothing wrong with being frustrated, i'm sure he's a little frustrated too. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go and win Madrid now, i'm hoping the blue clay is going to serve up some surprises.
RoastLamb
27-04-2012, 15:21
He's probably just storing it all for the biggies: Rome and Madrid. Peak at the right time. I'm sure that's why Djoko is missing both this week and Serbia Open.
david1610
27-04-2012, 15:35
Last year he didn't face any big hitters though - I think he's always going to struggle against players with a big serve/forehand on this surface. He'll look better with players with a less strong serve. Hopefully at RG he'll avoid Berdych, Raonic, Del Potro and Isner - they've all got a good chance against him on clay.
Milos played extremely well today, he's improved such a lot in all areas of his game. He's going to be tough for a lot of top players.
Years ago when I compiled the results of Andy against top ten and top twenty, at the time the interesting pattern was that Andy had a better record against the top ten than against the top twenty.
I only saw half the match today - second set - and Andy was playing top twenty tennis, but not top four tennis. The serve-forehand combination was always putting Andy on the defensive and he did not seem to hit the ball deep enough to cause Milos too many problems. Yes he has fabulous defence, but he has to hit the ball deeper on clay otherwise it is going to sit up nicely for those big hitters.
It may turn out that Andy peaked on clay last year. I know that may sound anti-Andy, but it might just be a fact. Alternatively, he may be feeling his way into clay with Mr. Lendl and surprise us all on the fast circuits of RG. Last year notwithstanding, I am never going to make long term judgements based on the clay season.
We are so aware of the problems with the top four, but I do feel Andy is going to need some luck in GS draws at the QF and last 16 level to at least get one, preferably two players who match up well against him.
Never mind the issue of taking out two of the top three.
But let us see what has happened by the end of the year and give time for Ivan's input to take full effect. IMHO the "perhaps never a slam" danger point would be if Andy remained slamless and later this or next season Ivan "gave up" on Andy. That would be a killer, killer blow.
But Mr Lendl is not somebody who I feel would waste time on a useless project and he has definitely seen Andy's potential. So, not yet time to call it, and let's keep our fingers crossed!
I think the moment everyone gives up on Andy he'll win a slam.
RoastLamb
27-04-2012, 15:42
Can't see anyone giving up on him. Maybe when he's 35.
I like your optimism David :thumbup:
LC the fan
27-04-2012, 15:45
Believe me - my fingers and toes are tightly crossed ! Do hope that you and Alis are right, David, and that extra percentage that Ivan has promised Andy will start to show soon :thumbup:
It may turn out that Andy peaked on clay last year.
That's exactly what I've been thinking. I was amazed at how well he played on clay last year, considering that it's always been his worst surface, but this year he seemed to be back to how he was before. I didn't ever think that he was likely to win RG, though, as he'd almost certainly have to beat two of the top three and he's never beaten any of them on clay. In fact, Steven tweeted last week that Andy has never beaten any of the top 8 on clay.
Andy's best chance of a slam is still on a hard court.
traveller7
27-04-2012, 16:07
Isnt this the furthest he has progressed in this tournament? Something to be proud of surely?!
MurrayAOne
27-04-2012, 17:05
To be honest I thought Andy showed a fair bit of 'oomph' in that second set. Milos gave him absolutely no chance on his serve in the first and it took a lot of character and reading of the game to make a tighter second set. We just have to sit back, trust in Andy and acknowledge the Raonic probably played the best he ever has.
Having said that.....I have to put up my hands and admit that now I do wonder if that Slam will ever come
I hate to say it, I've never admitted it before but........ Rafa and Djoko are going nowhere and younger players are coming through.
Tell me I'm wrong guys....pleeeeese
You are wrong.
MurrayAOne
27-04-2012, 17:09
....I have to put up my hands and admit that now I do wonder if that Slam will ever come
I hate to say it, I've never admitted it before but........ Rafa and Djoko are going nowhere and younger players are coming through.
Tell me I'm wrong guys....pleeeeese
It always baffles me when I see this. Andy's commitment is total. Different players peak at different times....same old same old. His talent is still there. His commitment has always been there. Why would anyone who believed he'd win a slam before doubt it now? Don't understand it.
MurrayAOne
27-04-2012, 17:09
Also don't understand why that quote didn't work.
You didn't close the square brackets after QUOTE
david1610
27-04-2012, 17:33
That's exactly what I've been thinking. I was amazed at how well he played on clay last year, considering that it's always been his worst surface, but this year he seemed to be back to how he was before. I didn't ever think that he was likely to win RG, though, as he'd almost certainly have to beat two of the top three and he's never beaten any of them on clay. In fact, Steven tweeted last week that Andy has never beaten any of the top 8 on clay.
Andy's best chance of a slam is still on a hard court.
There are all kinds of stats but Steven's is very telling. I had not realised that and hope whatever else happens this clay court season, that stat is broken!
And don't forget we now talk about some hard courts being so slow they are clay-like, some clay courts so fast they are hard-like and grass not being the surface it once was, so perhaps we need to look at the bigger picture(s).
What still annoys me greatly though is when Andy gets angry and stroppy when his opponents wins a point by playing great tennis. He did that on deuce on one service game by Milos and basically that cost him the next point as well. I was very, very impressed with the way Milos played the tiebreak after being broken serving for the match. Wish Andy could channel frustration into winning the next point. I thought he was getting better but there is still some way to go, and no, it is not a question of that is how Andy is - he can be the way he is, but channel the feelings in a more strategic manner. Oh well, on to next tournament!
Yes, and that as you say is still a problem. When Nole loses a point due to his opponent's great play, he doesn't usually blame himself but instead applauds his opponent - he has the confidence to know that he's playing well himself, and it must have been something really great from his opponent to win a point. Andy needs to get more into that kind of mindset, rather than thinking, when his opponent wins a point with a brilliant shot, that he himself is to blame for losing the point.
Yes, and that as you say is still a problem. When Nole loses a point due to his opponent's great play, he doesn't usually blame himself but instead applauds his opponent - he has the confidence to know that he's playing well himself, and it must have been something really great from his opponent to win a point. Andy needs to get more into that kind of mindset, rather than thinking, when his opponent wins a point with a brilliant shot, that he himself is to blame for losing the point.
That by far and away is the most irritating thing for me about Andy. Just lighten up and say well done!
He said it in the press conference about Berdych, but that was after the match.
2nd Friday in a row and 2nd quarter final :sad:
I have decided that Andy knows I really don't have time to watch him over these weekends as last weekend I worked 16 hour days and this weekend I really need to continue cleaning up my house and pricing things for our yard sale. It's Ok Andy you can win the next one I will make time to watch, promise. :)
What a great way of looking at it, Genbrit! :thumbup:
I have decided that Andy knows I really don't have time to watch him over these weekends as last weekend I worked 16 hour days and this weekend I really need to continue cleaning up my house and pricing things for our yard sale. It's Ok Andy you can win the next one I will make time to watch, promise. :)
So now we know who to blame when Andy loses before the weekend Genbrit - it's all down to you!!
So now we know who to blame when Andy loses before the weekend Genbrit - it's all down to you!!
:red devil::lol:
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