BARCELONA 2012, Quarter Final: Andy v Milos "the Missile" Raonic. Friday 27th, 11.30 am

[Sallydaisy]

Andy Murray v Milos Raonic

This one's gonna be tough!

The young Canadian (born Montenegro) has flown up the rankings and at age 21 is currently 25th in the world. He's won 2 titles so far this year - in Chennai (the same week Andy won the ATP 250, Brisbane) and San Jose, where Andy won his first title on the tour.

Andy and Milos were scheduled to meet in Miami but the Canadian withdrew handing Murray a w/o.
So, the H2H (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=R975) is 0-0.

This'll be played tomorrow Friday 27th April, time tbc.

[david1610]

Raonic qualified by defeating Almagro 6-3 6-3. Anybody who can have what seems to be a comfortable victory on clay against Almagro has to be taken very seriously!
Yes, tough indeed.
Andy has to make sure he serves well to avoid silly and unnecessary breaks of serve and then work very hard on return of serve.

Must admit when I saw the draw I was expecting Almagro and Andy's first real test against a clay court specialist (not including the top guys and Ferrer, that is) but now we get the long awaited Raonic duel, but on clay!

C'mon Andy!

[DaveArneRiise]

Indeed David, impressive win that for Raonic. Very promising, powerful player.

[Maza1987]

good that it's on clay.

[cazza99]

They have just announced on Sky that Andy will be first on at 11.30 am on Friday.

[Sallydaisy]

They have just announced on Sky that Andy will be first on at 11.30 am on Friday.

Thanks Cazza! Is that local time or GB?
:thumbup:

[-J-]

Andy Murray v Milos Raonic <br>
<br>
This one's gonna be tough! <br>
<br>
<strong>The young Canadian (born Montenegro) has flown up the rankings and at age 21 is currently 25th in the world.</strong> He's won 2 titles so far this year - in Chennai (the same week Andy won the ATP 250, Brisbane) and San Jose, where Andy won his first title on the tour.<br>
<br>
Andy and Milos were scheduled to meet in Miami but the Canadian withdrew handing Murray a w/o.<br>
So, the <a href="http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&amp;oId=R975" target="_blank"><u>H2H</u></a> is 0-0. <br>
<br>
This'll be played tomorrow Friday 27th April, time tbc.is it mean to point out at 21 andy was 4th in the world, so BBC could hardly be described as flying up the rankings ;;)

[david1610]

is it mean to point out at 21 andy was 4th in the world, so BBC could hardly be described as flying up the rankings ;;)
No.
I only started being more aware of the rankings once I started to follow Andy and seeing him and Nole (and understanding Rafa before them) I initially thought that some good "young 'uns" did that every year. Now I realise they were a special breed as successive young players like Gulbis and Dimitrov have come along and failed to make their mark.
And perhaps they also have stronger top players to beat i.e. Andy, Nole and Rafa, than that trio did. Until very recently. Must admit Ken and Milos looking the real deal even on clay. And then Isner and.... probably a couple more I am forgetting at the moment.

[Linda]

I'm absolutely staggered that it's Raonic and not Almagro! Hopefully that's good for Andy, as I didn't fancy his chances against Almagro - Andy didn't look nearly as good on clay last week as he did last year.

[LC the fan]

It'll certainly be a test for Andy. but the youngsters are going to be coming up behind even as he tries to overtake the top three. They will be as keen, fearless and cocky as he used to be but are they - as Dav id clearly sees - as 'special breed' ?
He has to be able to hold and tame Raonic if he hopes to capture that slam.

[traveller7]

Tough match, but will be around to watch this tomorrow. Go Andy!

[JAMES4578]

It is a match up we have been waiting for, wonder if it will live up to the billing! Whilst Raonic is a challenge and it's an early start hopefully Andy will be ready from the word go! Certainly a step up but Milos should be easier to keep at bay on the clay.

[Sallydaisy]

Hope Andy comes out "firing on all six" !!!!!
:p

[lynne]

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

[Jane]

All the very best of luck, Andy:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:: )

[ChrisMac]

Good Luck Andy!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alis]

Interesting one this but I don't doubt for a minute that Andy will come through. Sock it to him Andy!!!!!

[Gary D]

I haven't watched any Barcelona coverage online yet.....anyone know the best-quality stream.....free of course.?:)

[Jane]

Names up on LS

[Linda]

I haven't either - been at work all week - am going to look on livescorehunter as I think that's where people found a stream earlier in the week.

Edit - ah, I'm OK 'cos it's on TennisTV today - it wasn't listed earlier in the week.

[-J-]

timed to perfection :)

[-J-]

players out on court
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

andy saves a bp to hold
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Tricky start - if the whole match is like this, I'm going to run out of fingernails!

[LC the fan]

This is gonna be a real sofa job :sofa: My finger nails in danger too !

[-J-]

ok 1-1 saver holdnow would be nice andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[Linda]

Could be a long match! If it's over 2 hours I'll have to miss the end :sad:

[-J-]

andys moving him well

[KnightOwl]

Nice dropper - much better service game....

[-J-]

very affective dropper very nice
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[harriet]

this lad has a pretty decent serve and great weight of shot, good test for andy

[traveller7]

My streams keep freezing and going weird any updateson score please?

[KnightOwl]

2-2 Andy to serve...

[-J-]

this one works fine for me http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-4/0/2/v-400256.html

[-J-]

do like to see andy making these big lumps run round the court

[traveller7]

this one works fine for me http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-4/0/2/v-400256.html

Thank you!

[-J-]

love hold for andy
now lets see if you can make in roads on his serve
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[harriet]

one of andy's A serving games, more please

[KnightOwl]

Oops. Broken :sad:

[-J-]

only one responce andy cmonnnnnn

[Linda]

:shocked: :sad:

[harriet]

broken, after a foolish game, 2 losing droppers

[Madeline]

He's got wise to the drop-shots, Andy, think of something else.

It's going to be very difficult to break back.

[traveller7]

Ouch broken already woops
reform get back in the game immediately andy

[karanga]

Yep only one response to Andy losing his serve

COME ON ANDY.

[-J-]

make him serve for the set andy, must hold
cmonnnnnnnnn

[harriet]

andy seems to have given up on this set, must hold serve now tho, or will be serving second in next set

[HoopGirl]

Hang in there Andy :)

[-J-]

2 more points andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

yes :)

[traveller7]

Much better hold just needs a kitkat now! easy!

[40-15]

time for a break!!

[-J-]

nice hold
now make him work for every point
cmonnnnnnnnn

[harriet]

good hold, will he try to break or let it go?

[KnightOwl]

Good. Right - concentrate - the set's not over yet...

[-J-]

good hold, will he try to break or let it go?why on earth wouldn't he try ?

[HoopGirl]

arrrgggghhhh comon andy

[HoopGirl]

set point :(

[HoopGirl]

and Roanic has it :(

[Jan]

just home and seen the score

[Jane]

Oh dear, oh dear - first set gone :(

[Madeline]

Hmmmmm.

[traveller7]

Easy hold and first set gone :(

[harriet]

9 aces in that set for the raygun. plan B?

[Linda]

:sad:

[-J-]

ok 3 sets it will have to be, don't mind means i have a loner break from trenching ;)

[Jan]

so is Raonic playing really well, Andy playing badly, or just the odd point here and there?

[40-15]

come on Andy!!

[traveller7]

Neil Harman suggest andy isnt moving well and 'a very laboured walk back to the chair'

[HoopGirl]

Cummon Andy !!!

[-J-]

think it can only help making him play a lot balls

[HoopGirl]

Better :)

[-J-]

foolish dropshot ?

[HoopGirl]

Yes :)

[-J-]

now andy lets see if you have a read on the BBC serve yet
cmonnnnn

[HoopGirl]

Aaarrrgggghhhh

[-J-]

ok andy holdand try allover again
cmonnnn

[HoopGirl]

Great point andy :)

[HoopGirl]

Yes Go Andy !!!

[-J-]

excellent hold
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[harriet]

good hold by andy, much more assertive

[-J-]

next point would be nice andy
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

first little glimmer
cmonnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

Noooo Comon Andy

[HoopGirl]

yes :)

[-J-]

another glimmer
cmonnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

chance
BP
cmonnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Error from Raonic there - chance for Andy - c'monnnn!

[HoopGirl]

yes :) Break Him Andy

[-J-]

ok andy next point
cmonnnnn

[Jan]

Raonic serving very well by the look of it

[-J-]

progress andy least we took him to the edge
cmonnn

[Linda]

Pity he didn't get the break there. Very difficult to break such a serve.

[KnightOwl]

Nice rally!

[Alis]

I really hope Raonic and the big servers are not the future of tennis - it just becomes so boring.

[KnightOwl]

Whoosh! Great pass from Raonic...

[-J-]

shot!!!!!!!

[HoopGirl]

yes !!!!

[Jan]

nice shot!

[KnightOwl]

Oh wow! Superb shot from Andy after a great return from Raonic :dance:

[HoopGirl]

Now you gotta BREAK him :)

[-J-]

now lets see if you canbuild on the last game
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[40-15]

come on Andy!! - get the break this time!!

[-J-]

pick that out !!!!!

[HoopGirl]

yes andy great shot :)

[Jan]

lovely point from Andy!

[-J-]

little glimmer
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

yey Go Murray

[Jan]

argh into the net

[-J-]

still in this andy
cmonnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

deuce - come on Andy!

[-J-]

another little glimmer
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

cummon andy

[david1610]

C'mon Andy. So tricky to break!

[KnightOwl]

Not much you can do against a 148mph serve! On clay!

[-J-]

chance
bp
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

bp again

[Linda]

Another chance!

[-J-]

keep at him andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

Noooooo

[-J-]

sok andy good work just hold now keep it tight and look for more opportunities

[Jan]

very good from Raonic again

[40-15]

pity!!- 3-3

come on Andy - strong hold required!!

[-J-]

no gifts andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

:sofa:

[Jan]

what was that?

[-J-]

cmon andy just the 2points
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

nnnnnnoooooo

[-J-]

one more
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

serve and volley - I like it!

[-J-]

right now finish it
cmonnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Great stuff - one more, please!

[traveller7]

come on muzzah

[traveller7]

phew good save

[Jan]

:phew:

[KnightOwl]

:phew: close one...!

[Linda]

Phew - that was a tricky hold!

[-J-]

at a boy well recovered
now pile on the pressure
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[karanga]

Come on Andy, Keep fighting. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

[HoopGirl]

:yahoo:

[Madeline]

471

[Jan]

nice play Andy

[JAMES4578]

Andy rises to the challenge, but looks like it's been pretty tough! Hopefully Andy can find a way to take this set, come on!

[-J-]

next point andy cmonnnnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

C'mon - focusss!

[-J-]

keep working him andy
cmonnnnnnn

[-J-]

okandy same again need a good hold please
cmonnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Lovely dropper :)

[-J-]

nice dropper
cmonnnnnnnn

[-J-]

close it out
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

2 more points
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

:sofa:

[-J-]

point at a time andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[Linda]

:sofa:

[KnightOwl]

Wow, that was just too good from Raonic :sofa:

[-J-]

last chance saloon now Andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[Linda]

Oh no :sad:

[HoopGirl]

noooooooo Roanic is surving for the match

[traveller7]

he has no fear. andy needs to hold stating the obvious.....

[KnightOwl]

Aargh! This is looking very tough now :sad:

C'monnnn Andy - you can still pull this back....

[Jan]

:sad:

[david1610]

Oh dear! Not sure the irritation at 40-40 when Milos hit a great shot helped that.
Now I understand why he beat Almagro in straights....

[-J-]

every point andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[40-15]

must break game!! - come on Andy!!

[JAMES4578]

oh no Milos breaks again, going to be difficult now.

[-J-]

pile the pressure on andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

little glimmer
cmonnnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Oooh - Raonic tightening up perhaps...?

[david1610]

Glimmer.. .hit full length if you can!

[HoopGirl]

15 30 to andy cummon

[-J-]

next point toreally test him]#
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

lets hope nerves get to him

[-J-]

chance
2bps
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

Yes Break point

[Jan]

2 bp's come on!

[traveller7]

15-40 comeon!

[KnightOwl]

Fantastic! Well played Andy - deserved bps!

[-J-]

one left
bp
cmonnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

One down, still one to go - c'monnnn!

[JAMES4578]

2 bps, come on!

[Jan]

yes!

[-J-]

KITKAT :boogie:

[HoopGirl]

yes :)

[KnightOwl]

:yahoo: well played Andy!!

[david1610]

Well done! No let up. You can do this so...
Focus. Safe hold. C'mon Andy!

[Linda]

Whew! Milos gifted Andy the first two points of the game, but we'll take it! :)

[traveller7]

yay woop!

[Jan]

now hold!

[-J-]

you deserved the break now\\hold and really test him
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[40-15]

brilliant!! - come on Andy!!

[Alis]

Fantastic scramble Andy - c'mon!!!!!

[JAMES4578]

Fabulous, now let's hope Andy can take advantage!

[KnightOwl]

Now, safe hold here, then same again please :big grin:

[-J-]

close it out
cmonnnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

easy love game nice one

[-J-]

at aboy
now lets see what he offers up
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Jan]

well held Andy. now please break again! (we don't ask for much, do we?!)

[KnightOwl]

Great - solid service game - just what was needed - now, kitkat anyone?

[40-15]

Andy lets break him again!! - come on Andy!!

[Jan]

Great - solid service game - just what was needed - now, kitkat anyone?
yes please!

[JAMES4578]

Maybe Milos will feel the pressure, come on Andy!

[KnightOwl]

Great return, but I feel a tie-break is on the cards....

Edit: ...and there it is!

[Jan]

tb time

[traveller7]

tb ouch

[HoopGirl]

tie break

[Linda]

tb. And I have got to go out shortly :sad:

[david1610]

Right.... first serve in and first point of TB, then get one of his and get your two and await further instructions.
C'mon Andy!

[-J-]

TB It is
you know the drill andy, take care of your serve nd look for the opportunities
cmonnnnnn

[40-15]

tie break!!

[-J-]

ok andy 50% 1FROM 2
CMONNNNNNNNNN

[KnightOwl]

Oh dear, not the best start...

[-J-]

This one
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[HoopGirl]

3 love to Roanic

[JAMES4578]

Come on Andy, let's go now!

[traveller7]

3-0 boo

[-J-]

Need both yours here andy
cmonnnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

And one more
cmonnnnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Starting to get a bad feeling about this - c'mon Andy - fight!!

[40-15]

its only one mini break - come on Andy!!

[Jan]

hmmm

[traveller7]

4-1

[KnightOwl]

...and try to stop hitting them in the net :grrr:

[-J-]

Gotta go for it andy need at least one of these
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

think time has run out on this match for andy

[KnightOwl]

Aaargh....satellite signal gone...come back!!

Edit: :phew: it's back!

[Linda]

:sofa: :sofa: :sofa:

[Jan]

think this one's over. does Andy have some sort of injury or is it just the usual pained expression?

[lynne]

Oh! Dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[david1610]

Right.... first serve in and first point of TB, then get one of his and get your two and await further instructions.
C'mon Andy!
That was for you Andy, not him!
Miracle time? C'mon Andy!

[-J-]

Ok andy gotta at least force him to serve for it
cmonnnnn

[-J-]

One more
cmonnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

Miles is playing well, andy not so much c'est la vie

[-J-]

Now andy every point
cmonnnnnn

[KnightOwl]

Ok, those two held - so far so good - crunch time!

[traveller7]

damn

[-J-]

Arggggg back to digging

[JAMES4578]

So Gutting for Andy,chance to get back in it but doesn't look like it was a great breaker. Mills was obviously tough but hoped Andy would have done a bit more. 2 quartes thus far on the clay but sure best yet to come!

[Jan]

credit to Raonic - played well, good length of shot, went for the lines. Too many of Andy's shots fell too short.

[Linda]

Oh well, that's it. Milos has really improved since last time I saw him play - though admittedly that's a long time ago. He was really solid today, apart from those missed smashes when serving for the match.

[traveller7]

bad day at the office

[Jennan]

It's really stressful being an Andy fan.

[Alis]

Well - I'd written Raonic off as just a serve - seems he isn't. Well played Raonic! Andy will still have his day.

[-J-]

well - i'd written raonic off as just a serve - seems he isn't. Well played raonic! Andy will still have his day.no he is a good ball basher

[harriet]

had a visitor, so couldn't post till now. that was a game andy should have won, and he played an awful tb. still, next time think he will have a good read on raygun's serve and will be able to play more cleverly than today

[Golden Lady]

2nd Friday in a row and 2nd quarter final :sad:

[40-15]

well played Milos Raonic!! - poor result for Andy!!

[Linda]

2nd Friday in a row and 2nd quarter final :sad:

Hope he doesn't make a habit of it! :shocked: :sad:

[karanga]

On this showing Raonic definitely the most promising of the young players. Powerful game and he's very confident.

Andy will be feeling disappointed with his performance today. :sad: :sad::sad:

[ljs]

Didnt really enjoy watching that , was looking so forward to them playing each other too, but I felt so torn :sad:

[Golden Lady]

Hope he doesn't make a habit of it! :shocked: :sad:

Me too!

I'm concerned that Andy's clay court game so far doesn't appear to be as good as last year. In Monte Carlo and Rome in 2011, he took Nadal and Nole to 3 sets in the semis. So far this year we have 2 defeats in straights to Berdy & Raonic. Do hope for better in Madrid and Rome and especially Roland Garros.