Wimbledon - Hewitt backs Murray to beat Roddick

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 12:07:00 2009

Former champion Lleyton Hewitt has backed Britain's Andy Murray to overcome Andy Roddick in Friday's Wimbledon semi-finals.

2009 ATP Queen's Lleyton Hewitt - 0

Hewitt believes Murray is more than a match for the big-serving American and has improved since he defeated Roddick in straight sets in the third round here in 2006.

The feisty Australian also hinted that Roddick's game has hardly altered in the intervening three years.

"I think it's going to be a tough one for Roddick to win. When I've seen Andy Murray at his best, I think he matches up extremely well against Roddick," said Hewitt who lost a five-set thriller to Roddick in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

"A couple years ago I saw them play here because they were in my section, and Murray took care of him convincingly. Murray's a lot better player now than he was then. Roddick's going to have to play a helluva match to beat him."

Roddick is a two-time runner-up at Wimbledon and is desperate to add to his one Grand Slam title so far, the 2003 US Open.

However, Hewitt believes that the American's game hasn't adapted enough for the challenges ahead.

"His strengths are still the same. His slight weaknesses are still pretty much the same, as well," added the 2002 Wimbledon champion.

"He's maybe trying to stand up in the court a little bit more than he was a couple of years ago, especially returning serve and not trying to get dictated too much behind the baseline.

"He mixes it up well. When you've got a serve like he has he can take a few chances, a few risks on his opponent's service game."

Roddick refused to get drawn into a slanging match with Hewitt over his semi-final chances.

"That's fine," he replied when told of the Australian's opinion. "I'm not here to make predictions."

AFP

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    British people don't know anything about tennis­ and­ ANDY MURRAY is the proof !
    I am a tennis player ,­ myself and yes I haven't won a slam yet. But COME­ ON! compare MURRAY WITH SAMPRAS You'll see what­ I mean . British people , yes you invented tennis but­ didn't improve it so you became nothing but a loser

    From ozlenhakan, on Fri 3 Jul 12:13AM

  2. Think Joe Bloggs summed it up the other day when he­ said that Murray didn't suffer against Karlovic.­ Murray is a great defensive player and he tends to get­ a lot of serves back into court. Once in the rallies,­ he's gonna have the upper hand and if he serves as­ well as against Ferrero it's sure gonna be tough­ for Andy Roddick. So I think Lleyton is right, though­ IMO Roddick has improved and especially wrt the sliced­ backhand which has added a new dimension to his game.­ Murray's the favourite for me but I don't think­ Roddick is to be taken lightly. Take Care

    From rhymes450, on Fri 3 Jul 12:12AM

  3. well Leyton is probably the most qualified of anybody­ to make an intelligent prediction, having just been in­ an epic with Roddick. Sad to see he lost that one.­ Helluva fighter that little guy! It's great to­ hear. I doubt we'll see the Andy Murray of old any­ more - the one that used to get in a tizzy at times and­ throw away a match - he's mature mentally now and­ will give it his all and we know what a fighter he is.­ He also doesn't seem to get nervy when it comes to­ the crunch. As far as the final is concerned, I do­ think he has a chance (if it's Fed of course) = he­ has got nothing to lose really and he isn't afraid­ of Federer. I know this is Fed and this is Wimbledon­ however, but Andy believes in himself and Federer has­ pressure on him to regain his crown here. I don't­ believe it when they say he's free of pressure -­ this is his favourite tournament and he wants it back.­ The title is for the taking and I hope it#s a great­ match and not one sided....

    From wendy, on Thu 2 Jul 11:00PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Dont like Murray...unfriendly uncommunicative scots­ git..!1

    From ,...,, on Thu 2 Jul 10:40PM

  5. I look forward to reading all the posts from the Murray­ doubters - this is the fewest so far, lol. Roddick will­ be no problem. King Fed, on the other hand....

    From RICHARD K, on Thu 2 Jul 10:14PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Roddick will detroy "dandy andy." ­ Lleyton's just pissed becaused he got toyed with by­ Roddick. Mabye your brit golden boy can get some­ pointers on how to comb his hair as well. Go Andy­ RODDICK.

    From Tigger Sucks, on Thu 2 Jul 10:00PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    murray might win ,but he`s still gonna lose to king­ fed in the finals as far as fed qualifiesi`m sorry 4­ the British especially the scots who think that their­ countryman is gonna b the one to break a record that ha­ stood since since 1936

    From TheGurl2126, on Thu 2 Jul 9:59PM

  8. PS hadjeseles, you obviously aren't the­ "expert" you think you are..... Please take­ the blinkers off. Your dislike of Murray is obviously­ subjective. Has he beaten or dislodged one of your­ favourite players?

    From RICHARD K, on Thu 2 Jul 9:57PM

  9. Andy Murray is a taciturn (look it up!) Scot - who is­ not going to please a lot of the media with his low-key­ interviews.
    That's just the way he is - deal with­ it! BUT - he's as passionate and determined as­ anyone on the tour - with the most interesting and­ varied game. He's a more complex character than the­ usual cliches - let's enjoy his rise to prominence.­ Please bear in mind the grinding boredom of the huge­ servers (Karlovich, Roddick etc.) and enjoy the Murray­ game. Fingers-crossed we get a Federer v. Murray­ final. That will be the final Wimbledom, and the­ viewing public, truly deserve

    From RICHARD K, on Thu 2 Jul 9:54PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Scott,I knw what I'm talking about,and I'­ haven't invented anythg.Why are there so many­ people criticizing him(in any country,he's not­ popular at all)?Being Scottish does not prevent you­ from being objective.Whatever,the truth is,he's not­ appreciated at all abroad,and the reasons are­ numerous.If you followed the ATP tour weekly,you would­ realise plenty of things abt your­ "hero"...Whatever,your opinion doesn't­ really matter,if you like him,that's your pb.I like­ gentlemen,not slappy spoiled kids/Go A-ROD,you can do­ it!

    From hadjeseles, on Thu 2 Jul 9:44PM

  11. go on andy my son u can do do it for scotland and for­ britian wish u all the best and i hope u do get to the­ final

    From John, on Thu 2 Jul 9:22PM

  12. hadjeseles, what a load of cr*p, Murray is nothing of­ the sort. I have never seen him do any of the things­ you mention. Anyway, you are not british so who cares­ what you think, so what if you lived in London, Murray­ is only a resident and a true Scot. C'MON MURRAY

    From MAUNRE-ATER, on Thu 2 Jul 8:53PM

  13. hadjeseles, what a load of cr*p, Murray is nothing of­ the sort. I have never seen him do any of the things­ you mention. Anyway, you are not british so who cares­ what you think, so what if you lived in London, Murray­ is only a resident and a true Scot. C'MON MURRAY

    From MAUNRE-ATER, on Thu 2 Jul 8:53PM

  14. You can not be serious ... he likes to wind it up­ does Murry! Murry to be champ!

    From bryjones71, on Thu 2 Jul 8:51PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The only thing I can say is: Murray is already such a­ hateful player,bad mannered,arrogant and extremely­ unpleasant,grumpy, talking to ballboys like s h i t­ ...If he was to win the title,OMG,he will be even­ worse,bigheaded like never before.That's a pity­ because as a former resident of London(which I love)I­ would have been delighted to see one of your brits guys­ win wimbledon on Sunday,but Murray makes me sick,I­ would be gutted to be represented bu s.o like that­ slappy bloke.I'm sorry guys but I'll be 100%­ behind A-Rod.

    From hadjeseles, on Thu 2 Jul 8:13PM

  16. pablodcorrea.
    So does that mean I can't support­ him?

    From big_davey_b, on Thu 2 Jul 8:03PM

  17. I've just watched my replay of the match if only to­ confirm what Charlie Bricker said which was that Andy­ won for 2 reasons. One 47 aces and two on break point­ he hit the ball at Lleyton which hit his hand and went­ into the net. It was just a matter of a point here and­ there and considering Lleyton was coming back from a­ hip op he played some great tennis but remember­ he's still not 100% For him to say that Our Andy­ has a good chance of winning means he has. Lleyton has­ always said that he usually loses to the winner but­ this time he puts his money on Our Andy. I hope­ he's right. Roddick is too scared to beat Federer­ but Murray isn't having already beaten him many­ times. Don't forget Haas almost beat Fed at RG so­ maybe we're looking at two 5 set matches.

    From Katy, on Thu 2 Jul 7:46PM

  18. i totally agree with hewitt but it doesnt meen he­ should go out and say how roddick hasnt improved and­ that hes got no chance against murray after just losing­ to the guy. obviosly it wouldve been much more­ difficult for murray against hewitt. i think roddick a­ real man and a good sport for not getting back at­ hewitt. hes probably the best sportsman out there right­ now. any way, federer is gonna crush haas and then will­ probably beat murray in the final.

    From fyaamon, on Thu 2 Jul 7:29PM

  19. i wish Eurosport would update this comments section ,­ so that you could directly reply to someone stupid­ comment.. Murray winning wimbledon would be a change,.­ this is for the bloke who said let "Hass or­ Roddick win for a change" ...gosh

    From muyiwa o, on Thu 2 Jul 7:27PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The winner of this match will have no gas left for Fed.

    From x, on Thu 2 Jul 7:20PM
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