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

Comment 2 - 21 of 81

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  1. Jimmy - How does Federer have a smug look on his face??­ You just seem like a bitter twisted fool to me, who­ hasn't doesn't know the first thing about­ tennis. Hopefully everyone see's the dream final­ and lets hope the quality matches up to expectations.

    From doubt.it.man, on Thu 2 Jul 1:46PM

  2. I think andy v's andy will be 5 monster sets with­ murray winning out. Fed to win his match in straight­ sets!
    Final: Fed to win in 4 sets

    From bazza, on Thu 2 Jul 1:46PM

  3. Jimmy I think Hewitt knows a bit more about the game­ than you. Seeing as he's played both Murray and­ Roddick.

    From doubt.it.man, on Thu 2 Jul 1:44PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AHM LASTNAN TAE SUM TACHNO MUSAC. FACKAN BANGAN.

    From JEEMS, on Thu 2 Jul 1:43PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hewitt yo are such a hater,..!!
    just shut up you are­ out off the
    major,..!!

    From Mootje M, on Thu 2 Jul 1:36PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I too hate the smug look on Federer's face but not­ as much as I hate the smug look on Murray's face.­ At least I admire Federer as a player. Murray, no. And­ yes, I do know that Murray (or Federer) doesn' t­ give a damn whether I like him or not. I hope Roddick­ or Haas lift the trophy, for a change.

    From Jimmy, on Thu 2 Jul 1:35PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hewitt is disgunting. And he is also an idiot. He just­ lost a match to Roddick and he has the gall to say that­ Roddick isn't good enough. So, what does that make­ him? Pray, tell us, o Hewitt, you would have better­ chances with Murray? So howcome you lost to the useless­ Roddick? Just shut up and go home and try to play­ better next time, or beter still, find something else­ to do.

    From Jimmy, on Thu 2 Jul 1:32PM

  8. LETS HOPE NOT

    From Louise P, on Thu 2 Jul 1:26PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i'd really like to see Roddick beat Murray­ tomorrow.
    it should be a v good match

    From lisa w, on Thu 2 Jul 1:24PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    TENAS AS AH SPART FAR GLUDATARS

    From JEEMS, on Thu 2 Jul 1:16PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I LOVE MY OWN! to be honest i don't read anything­ about Murray!!!these british people is talking only­ about this player, very unfair... there are more­ interesting matches which is better than this player­ (Murray)..why don't you write these stories..only­ Murray Murray Murray... that's why many tennis fans­ don't like this Murray because of too much­ attention given to this ordinary player... also, you­ focus only to willaims sister...you are insulting other­ players... Safina is the number one player in the­ world... beacuase of her consistency and staying­ power...wish her good luck with all her matches...

    From rodee, on Thu 2 Jul 1:13PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Murray is ugly and his behaviour on court is awful... I­ don't like his game because he's so defensive,­ not playing aggresive and waiting for the opponent to­ make errors. He's attacking 1 of 10 points, the­ other 9 he waits for unforced error from his opponent.­ Nadal in the early days of his career was playing the­ same type of game, but improved a lot by putting more­ aggression in play, more offense. Murray is not a­ gentleman, Wimbledon is a place for gentlemen and­ that's one of the reasons not to deserve the­ title!!!

    From jraykov, on Thu 2 Jul 1:07PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    why is this guy still playing tennis?

    From recruitmentch, on Thu 2 Jul 12:50PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Has Murray actually played anybody of note yet?
    Not­ being much of a tennis fan, could someone let me know­ if it's true that, as well as sitting down every 2­ mins, they now get a 10 min "heat" break? If­ true, I find this totally unbelievable, surely, part of­ the game is about who has trained the hardest and is­ therefore the fittest. Have a break at the end of each­ set and that's it. Talk about pampering.

    From jumper, on Thu 2 Jul 12:50PM

  15. Roddick is great at what he does best but his skills­ and dexterity are limited.Muzza has had the easiest­ route thru to the semis and i hope arod can make an­ impact, a 5 setter if possible to test him.fed v muzza­ in the final probably i hope fed wins no disrespect to­ andy.

    From mac w, on Thu 2 Jul 12:44PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hope murray beats fed.. i hate the smug look on his­ swiss face.. i wish he'd dissapear and eat some­ toblerone or something... smug tw*t...
    can't see­ murray losing to roddick.. especially after that­ mammoth match with hewitt..

    From mark, on Thu 2 Jul 12:43PM

  17. Murray only got through the Round of 16 because of the­ home crowd. Murray-Roddick should be a great match,­ but I'll give Murray an edge over Roddick because­ of home field advantage, but not against Federer.

    From David, on Thu 2 Jul 12:31PM

  18. murray in 4, although i wont be to disheartened if­ murray looses as roddick is a joy to watch and deserves­ his semi final appearence

    From ajpbolton, on Thu 2 Jul 12:20PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hewitt is a hateful fool,when he won Wimbledon in 2002­ he was going on as if he could never be beaten­ again,he's just peeved with Rodders cos he taught­ him a lesson,Roddick in 3 or 4 no bother!!!

    From Prague H, on Thu 2 Jul 12:18PM

  20. Murray goes to the final for sure. His game is so much­ improved he took the best from Nadal and Federer mixed­ it up with his own and the result is a player who can­ beat those two legends and be no1. I believe that if it­ comes to Federer-Murray final then Britain will finally­ have their long desired champion. Murray's game is­ now much more accomplished than the one of Federer. I­ am sorry to say that coz I am a big Federer supporter.

    From risimko, on Thu 2 Jul 12:15PM
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