Madrid Masters Thread

[JuliusHMarx]

First topic message reminder :

Take it away Jahu.

[Jahu]

Followed by a crazy shot.

[LuvSports!]

Breaks back.

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray digs in and breaks back.

[Jahu]

Kei gifts back the break with some useless UE.

Andy got his breath back, looking better.

[Jahu]

Why are ball girls so mature or old or whats the word, on this tournament?

They look like 18, never seen older.

And a little like school girls uniforms, just how japanese man like 'em.

I think Kei is lost cause of that...

[Guest]

Murray in straights.

Hand Rafa the trophy now.

[LuvSports!]

Murray wins, wow.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well done Andy. Into his first Masters clay court final in beating Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4.

[Jahu]

Andy wins.

Kei not at his best today, so good that it ended in 2 sets, to give Andy a quick match and to relax for Nadal.

[Jahu]

Murray in straights.

Hand Rafa the trophy now.

Look who is jinxing now

[summerblues]

Pretty impressive from Murray. Nishi was not quite at his best, but was playing well enough so that he could have won if Murray had not been playing well.

[Guest]

Murray in straights.

Hand Rafa the trophy now.

Look who is jinxing now

I just want it to be as painless as possible so he doesn't get lead in the legs.

[summerblues]

So, Nole skips the tournament and Fed goes out early, yet we get two of the Big 4 in the final once again (including Andy on clay).

Good luck Andy for tomorrow.

[CaledonianCraig]

So all in the last week Andy has won his first clay court title and reached his first clay Masters final. Like anyone speaking truthfully and not jinxing, Rafa will be hot favourite tomorrow. He's playing much better now and Andy has had a tough week. If he is competitive and if it is a couple of tight sets then I'll be pleased.

[Guest]

Andy pondering skipping Rome depending on what happens tomorrow

[summerblues]

Andy pondering skipping Rome depending on what happens tomorrow

I would not be surprised if he does skip Rome - he has now been in back-to-back clay court finals. May as well rest for the FO.

Which goes back to my Rome thread thoughts that Nole's draw may end up easier than it looks.

[Jahu]

He should skip Rome.

He done enough clay for now, rest for RG.

[Jahu]

Murray in straights.

Hand Rafa the trophy now.

Look who is jinxing now

I just want it to be as painless as possible so he doesn't get lead in the legs.

He has those industrial strength carbon fiber insoles and those wrapped around ankles, he can take it

[CaledonianCraig]

Andy pondering skipping Rome depending on what happens tomorrow

Hmm not sure about that.

I am sure he must be feeling a bit knackered just now as he has played 8 matches in the 7 days so I can understand how he probably wants to guard against burn-out for RG. However, he has a big stack of points to defend in Rome (QF last year) so it makes sense to attempt to defend them. There again though he has banked a lot of points (probably much more than even he expected) in the last seven days so that would compensate for dropped points in Rome. Tough one.

[laverfan]

Good to see Murray in a Clay MS final. He needs to forget past history, and play controlled aggression.

@BS... Nishikori is no where near the form that he needs to challenge at RG.

[CaledonianCraig]

He should skip Rome.

He done enough clay for now, rest for RG.

And give Roger a chance.

[Jermaine2015]

Andy Murray would be ill advised to skip Rome, as Rome is far more similar to Paris than Madrid is.

[laverfan]

@CC ... Federer has his hands full Nadal, IIRC.

[CaledonianCraig]

@CC ... Federer has his hands full Nadal, IIRC.

Oh yes but of course.

[Jahu]

CC, after elections, some dose of fun has been injected into you, I see.

GOOOD!!! Happy for Nicola?

Fed will do good to go to a Rome SF

[Jahu]

Good to see Murray in a Clay MS final. He needs to forget past history, and play controlled aggression.

@BS... Nishikori is no where near the form that he needs to challenge at RG.

I think Kim is taking care of that now and teaching him step by step

[Silver]

He should skip Rome.

He done enough clay for now, rest for RG.

And give Roger a chance.

Hold your horses, he's only just reached his second final!

Fantastic win for Andy, I am shocked.

[laverfan]

Good to see Murray in a Clay MS final. He needs to forget past history, and play controlled aggression.

@BS... Nishikori is no where near the form that he needs to challenge at RG.

I think Kim is taking care of that now and teaching him step by step

He has Kim, Mauresmo, Bjorkman, Judy,... all teaching him the The [Gentle] Art of War vis-a-via Tennis.

[Haddie-nuff]

So all in the last week Andy has won his first clay court title and reached his first clay Masters final. Like anyone speaking truthfully and not jinxing, Rafa will be hot favourite tomorrow. He's playing much better now and Andy has had a tough week. If he is competitive and if it is a couple of tight sets then I'll be pleased.

See you on the dirt CC

[Belovedluckyboy]

Murray played very well on clay this season, but I was surprised by how Kei played in the SF match. I thought he played better vs Ferrer. Rafa vs Murray should be a good one, and this is a good test for Rafa, to see if he's still consistent enough to play well match after match. Rafa needs to play well from now on, in Rome, he has tough opponents in his way -Isner, Stan, Fed or Berdych again, and then most likely Djoko in the final should Rafa make it that far. Rafa has many points to defend too and has to at least defend his 1600 points to stay at no.4 seeding for the FO.

[temporary21]

What time is the final on UK time? Ive gotta head out and I dont wanna miss it.

[CaledonianCraig]

What time is the final on UK time? Ive gotta head out and I dont wanna miss it.

It will be startng shortly after 6pm (UK time) temp.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Andy seemed ready for any way that Nishikori went with his serve, great performance by the veteran. Can he still play so freely when returning Nadal's serve? I very much hope so

[It Must Be Love]

Murray will take this one I feel, and will probably be one of the biggest victories outside slams in his career.
Nadal has to play at a high level to beat any of the top 4, and atm he just isn't playing at that level, and hasn't done all year.

[Haddie-nuff]

Murray will take this one I feel, and will probably be one of the biggest victories outside slams in his career.
Nadal has to play at a high level to beat any of the top 4, and atm he just isn't playing at that level, and hasn't done all year.

He played the best match yesterday that he has played all season.. what match was you watching.??? Jixing again IMBL

[temporary21]

Its a rarity for these two to meet, almost as rare as Fed Nadal nowadays. As such it should be something to savour. I think it will be close, but if that semi Rafa turns up then Murrays gonna go the way of Scottish Labour

[It Must Be Love]

He played the best match yesterday that he has played all season..

I agree with that actually, but his standards as a whole have been quite low this season.

[Jahu]

Come on Andy, bake him like a haggis.

[summerblues]

Andy

[CaledonianCraig]

Nadal 80% at his best I reckon will win regardless - he is that good on clay. Remember this is Murray's first Masters clay court final whereas Rafa has won NINE slams on clay. No contest.

[Jahu]

So if Rafa wins, stays within top 4, if he loses drops to 7.

Quite some incentive there before RG seeding.

[Jahu]

Nadal 80% at his best I reckon will win regardless - he is that good on clay. Remember this is Murray's first Masters clay court final whereas Rafa has won NINE slams on clay. No contest.

It's the opposite, Andy will NOT think its his first Masters clay Final, he will just crush the ball I hope, why scare yourself with facts if I was Andy.

[Jahu]

If Andy serves like yesterday, it will be all sexy in 2 sets, to the delight of Spanish Public and Brit Holiday Home owners

[CaledonianCraig]

There is a difference between scaring myself and recognising the presence of a legend.

[Jahu]

CC, inject yourself with some Kyrgios power, see how he slapped the legend and his idol, fearless ball hitting.

Think Andy ain't lacking in that department.

Nadal to get 1 time violation I think, on a game where he will know he will get broken.

[summerblues]

Sweet return. Just like last night.

[Jahu]

That's it, pound him, 3 BP for Andy.

Break him NOW.

[Jahu]

Andy breaks, don't let it go, boom boom boom.

[summerblues]

Good start. Keep it up boy.

[Jahu]

Nadal has no feel for the ball on cold clay, spin and bounce ain't working like when sunny and heat.

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