Wimbledon - Murray: I'll come back stronger

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 20:52:00 2009

Andy Murray vowed to return to Wimbledon a better player next year after Andy Roddick ended his hopes of being a first Briton in the men's final since 1938 with a clinical masterclass of power serving and variation in pace.

TENNIS 2009 - Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball to Andy Roddick of the US during their semi-final match at Wimbledon - 0

Murray hit more winners than Roddick, more aces, and made fewer unforced errors, but was cut down in front of a shell-shocked Centre Court crowd 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6 by the American sixth seed, who now faces Roger Federer for the third time in a Wimbledon final on Sunday.

Murray, the third seed and warm favourite to progress from Friday's semi-final, said he would not dwell on the unexpected defeat and would look to grind out his first Grand Slam success at the US Open later in the year.

"I'll move on very, very quickly and go and work on my game and improve and come back stronger," said Murray, who was bidding to become the first British man to hold aloft the Challenge Cup since Fred Perry in 1936.

"That's a pathetic attitude to have, if you lose one match and you go away and let it ruin your year.

"I've had a very good year so far. I'm very close to the top of the game," said the 22-year-old Scot, who has won four titles this year including the grass warm-up event at Queen's Club and the Masters Series title in Miami.

Murray held a 6-2 career record against Roddick going into Friday's match, including a straight-sets win over the American at Wimbledon in 2006, but Roddick executed his gameplan to perfection, subtly varying the pace, hitting deep corners with relentless regularity and advancing to the net with great effect.

"If someone serves 130 miles an hour consistently throughout the match, and above, it's very tough to break them, especially on a court like this that's quick," he said.

"You always expect your opponents to play well, especially at this stage of the tournament. And he served great. Served really, really well in the tiebreaks. I think he maybe missed two first serves."

Murray will now take a five-week break from tournament competition before focusing on the American hardcourt swing, culminating in the August 31-Septemer 13 US Open, an event which has held a special place in his heart since winning the junior title there in 2004.

"The US Open I've always said is my best surface, my best chance to win a Slam, and I'll give it my best shot there," he added.

Reuters

Comment 165 - 184 of 184

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  1. WELL DONE ANDY - you have age as your advantage - you­ will surely be NO.1 soon - keep focused

    From dorothy B, on Thu 16 Jul 2:12PM

  2. Murray is like SAFINA...Overrated. No. 1 and will never­ win a grandslam....

    From Lito J, on Wed 15 Jul 7:42AM

  3. murray is dreaming too much,..!!
    and i dont think­ he's gonna be at least the runner up
    of the us open­ 2009 too defend hiss points on the world rankings.
    if­ he gonna meet juan martin del potro, are roddick­ again,.. gael monfils/ tjonga
    f. gonzales who thrashes­ him att the french open,.. and soderling, if those guys­ are in the same half of the draw murray,.. haha he can­ be packing hiss baggs inmediately,..!!

    From Mootje M, on Tue 14 Jul 4:28PM

  4. Scotsmen don't play tennis.Gay game for­ middle-class snobs,ie Cliff Richards. Murray gay icon.­ He'll get Scotsmen a bad name.

    From Haunchy P, on Wed 8 Jul 12:27AM

  5. Another Henman, sad to say but true, he is not bad BUT­ been lucky to have won against players not at their­ best on the day.

    From Bill, on Mon 6 Jul 6:32PM

  6. I see the woodwork and from under a rock still produce­ their quota of legless creatures.Mostly English what­ she is spoke innit!!!
    Long live democracy.

    From Ploderan, on Sun 5 Jul 11:34AM

  7. LOL he'll be finished before he even starts­ winning, just like nadal, the difference is nadal won­ something before destroying his knees, while murray­ didn't and he won't, at least as long as­ federer is alive...

    From Ferrrrrrr, on Sun 5 Jul 11:23AM

  8. Post 155 is Brilliant anr right on the­ mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From barcelona_sure_kicked_your_arse, on Sat 4 Jul 10:49PM

  9. Of coure Simon Reed was right. Murray has a 8-1 record­ against Federer whereas Roddick has lost 18 times and­ tomorrow it will be 19 times only because he's­ frightened to win
    just as Haas was. Roddick has played­ 2 fantastic matches to beat Lleyton and Andy but how­ will he play tomorrow?

    From Katy, on Sat 4 Jul 9:38PM

  10. "Andy Murray is young enough to come back­ strong" and we hear it year-in, year-out! But why­ is he not always back and why does he keep on coming­ back? To be honest, he has a lot to improve and it is­ as huge as the highest african mountain. He shld forget­ the hype by the media and start working on tennis,­ instead of concentrating to become a celebrity! The guy­ plays very good and has improved much in his game, yet­ he needs to forget about the crowd and media and what­ they say. However, at this stage, he is not ready to­ win anything yet. He should have been ousted by­ Wawrinka earlier!

    From owen, on Sat 4 Jul 9:23PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    murray the turd

    From Colin H, on Sat 4 Jul 7:58PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    haggis murray turd

    From Colin H, on Sat 4 Jul 7:58PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    jock McSnot murray

    From Colin H, on Sat 4 Jul 7:57PM

  14. After this I am going to stop reading some of the bull­ that gets submitted. Murray kept the nation enthralled­ and did not let anyone down. To say anything against­ him is a bit like the idiot fringe of the Man Utd­ supporters who called for Fergies resignation after the­ defeat to Barcelona simply because winning the league­ cup, becoming world club champions, winning the­ league......was not quite good enough if they could not­ win the Champions cup in the final two years in a row.­ Murray will comeback. Just like Fergie!

    From Andy, on Sat 4 Jul 7:53PM

  15. The referee made a wrong decission in favor of Murray­ in the 3. set that almost cost Roddick the set and­ maybe the match as a consequence. Roddick actually won­ the 3. before the tie break as the hawk eye proved. A­ mayor blunder.

    From Andreas, on Sat 4 Jul 7:42PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Murray ya @#$%

    From christoffercirillo, on Sat 4 Jul 7:37PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Murray ya @#$%

    From christoffercirillo, on Sat 4 Jul 7:37PM

  18. i think that colin h is great,TRD

    From sambellamy1995, on Sat 4 Jul 7:28PM

  19. Well, I think I finally figure it out who Simon Reed­ is. Most probably, Reed would be a secret partner of­ the bookmakers. Now Mr. Reed should be dancing around­ in his own bed room while a lot of his followers­ loosing their money.

    From CK, on Sat 4 Jul 7:25PM

  20. i knew roddick would win as i said that his serve is­ practically unbrakeable and murray could no cope with­ the pressure, he is scottish now because he has lost

    From sambellamy1995, on Sat 4 Jul 7:25PM
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