Newspaper and internet reports thread 2

[david1610]

Interesting article on Andy in today's Guardian. I do not think. I can link to it as the site crashed here when I did but guardian.co.uk Sport Tennis and the article on Andy is there. In a rather revealing quote he states " last year I felt like, because I was not serving well, when it came serving for matches I was not getting many free points, ending up in long rallies. Just not feeling comfortable on the court."

[cazza99]

Thanks David. If you just copy and paste the link and break up the https bit with one space it will work, and we can copy and paste it and remove the space.

ht tps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/10/serving-time-andy-murray-looks-to-break-shackles-at-australian-open

[david1610]

Thank you cazza.
Here is an article based on his pre-tournament interview with Andy on the atp tour site. ht tps://www.atptour.com/en/news/murray-preview-australian-open-2024-friday

[cazza99]

Thanks David.

Here are some comments from the article

“I feel like I'm enjoying [tennis] better,” Murray said in his pre-tournament press conference on Friday. “I think part of that is the mental side of it. Tennis is a difficult game in that respect. When you're struggling, you're out there on your own, it can be difficult at times. Part of it is that.

“The way you're playing, when you know you're capable of doing more than what you are, if you're not happy with the way you're hitting forehands and backhands and serving and those sorts of things, there's the technical aspect as well. Fixing some of those problems has helped me feel better on the court. Definitely some focus on the mental side, reframing the way you look at things helps.”
..
The 46-time tour-level titlist starts this year’s Australian Open campaign against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, with Novak Djokovic a potential third-round opponent. Murray played the Argentine twice last season, with both matches tight three-setters. Split at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, the three-time major winner is expecting another physical battle.

“I made most of my matches quite physical last year,” Murray said cracking a smile. “I don't know if that was necessarily him. He has a game that can make the matches that way. We played in Basel, I don't know if it was over three hours, but it felt like it was. In Indian Wells, another long one.

“I know that last year when I wasn't serving well, you end up getting into lots more long rallies and everything. Because of the way I return, I put quite a lot of returns back in play, you can end up getting into lots of long points when that's the case. Matches will go on. Hopefully that's not the case in a couple of days.”

[Sallydaisy]

Whilst this is primarily about Andy ...

... really sorry to read on Twitter just now that Mike Dickson, Tennis/Sports journalist for the
Daily Mail has passed away suddenly whilst out in Melbourne covering the Australian Open.

Twitter account link - it's being used by his family to post what happened.
ht tps://twitter.com/Mike_Dickson_DM

His last 'own' post was to congratulate Emma Raducanu on her return to tennis.

This is from Stu Fraser: "An extremely sad day in Melbourne.
Those of us here are in complete shock. Mike was a tremendous colleague and friend on the road.
The tennis press room will never quite be the same again."

[HoopGirl]

OMG that is such a shock. So very sad

[HoopGirl]

A lovely report in the Mail showing how much Dickson meant to the tennis world - some lovely photos of him and Andy.

Always worth re reading his report of Andy’s first Wimbledon Win - I thought Andy would have said something on social media but maybe he’s done it privately to the family.
https ://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-12982519/How-tennis-said-goodbye-Mike-Dickson-tragic-death.html

[HoopGirl]

I think Andy is twigging that he needs his anger to support his game.
Here he digs at the commentators and praises this amazing young tennis player - Mira Andreeva
She is bowled over by his comments!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25418085/andy-murray-australian-open-commentator-mirra-andreeva/[/url]

[cazza99]

It is always possible Andy did not say anything publically as he wasn't available - as wouldn't Andy have been flying back to the UK around then.

[HoopGirl]

Andy having fun as Dumbledad
http s://www.gbnews.com/sport/tennis/andy-murray-shows-off-hilarious-outfit-australian-open-fans