Wimbledon - Reed: A tale of two players
Eurosport - Wed, 17 Jun 12:22:00 2009
Eurosport commentator Simon Reed reflects on the contrasting fortunes of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic one week before Wimbledon.
It was a very interesting start to the grass court season with Andy Murray winning the title at Queen's and Novak Djokovic losing to Tommy Haas in Halle.
I'm not sure what is going on with Djokovic at the moment. Obviously I was head down concentrating on Murray at Queen's so I didn't see the match with Haas.
Recently I had the feeling that Djokovic was finally starting to click after a poor start to the season. He had some very impressive performances in the Masters Series but then came his poor performance at the French Open and now he has gone and lost to Haas.
I think he has the game for grass and I could see him getting to the semi-finals, but I'm not sure he can do any more than that.
In contrast, there was a real sense of occasion in watching Murray at Queen's.
He has lifted his game a division above from where he was, even at the start of this year, and is now certainly way beyond his level at Wimbledon last year.
There is a lot of buzz around him right now and it is difficult not to get caught up in all the excitement.
I do think that he has the game to win Wimbledon and in many ways I see him now as the favourite for the event.
The package is just all there. From a grass court perspective I think the key ingredient to his game is the improvement in his serve. His serve looks so much better than it did last year, and mentally he seems much more in tune with things.
The way he immediately took control of matches at Queen's was something I have never seen from him before.
Previously he seemed to go into his matches without any pre-conceived ideas. This meant he often started slowly and had to suss out things on the court to find a way to win.
At Queen's he was more aggressive, started positively, knew exactly what he wanted to do, dictated more and did not run into any problems at any stage of any match.
To be fair, he didn't play anyone who is going to win Wimbledon - he had a pretty easy path - but his mindset was still mightily impressive.
The final was a perfect example. Blake is a player we thought might be a threat, but Murray knew exactly what he wanted to do and just went out and did it.
Another key moment at Queen's was how he dealt with the on-court interview with Sue Barker after the final. When it began I thought to myself this could be one of the moments that defies his approach to Wimbledon.
I thought he was realistic, not unduly modest, but he really played down the significance of the win. I was as impressed with the way he conducted himself afterwards as I was with his play.
He's a genuine guy with his feet firmly on the ground and I don't think external pressures will get to him at all. In fact, I can see him relishing the pressure and using it as a positive.
I think the only danger is that he might put too much pressure on himself because Wimbledon has now become such an important event in his season.
He has to make sure this doesn't become a factor in the early rounds. I believe if he gets to the final and meets someone like Federer or Nadal then he can beat them.
What I'm more worried about is if he comes up against an inspired player in a third or fourth-round match.
If someone like Philipp Kohlschreiber or even Marat Safin, for example, is playing exceptionally well and if Andy's game is not where he wants, then there is a danger he might get frustrated with himself.
The inner pressure he puts on himself, nothing to do with anything external, might be the one thing to get him into trouble.
However, if he gets to the semi-final or final, I think he can ride that wave of pressure and hype and really make it work for him. You could see he loved it on Sunday at Queen's when the crowd were roaring him on and expecting him to win. I think that again could make the difference at Wimbledon.
Going back to Djokovic just for the moment, I wouldn't put him in the top division with Federer, Nadal and Murray for Wimbledon.
I would put in the group just below that with the likes of Fernando Verdasco, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Roddick and possibly Safin - if he turns up - or Robin Soderling, if he can repeat his French Open form.
Looking at the 'big two', well Nadal's fitness makes him somewhat of an unknown quantity. I suspect he is not quite right. His play was strange at Roland Garros. Yes he was beaten by an inspired Soderling, but he hadn't been playing his best even up to that match.
If you had to nail me to the floor I would say that Wimbledon is between Federer and Murray.
I think the win at Roland Garros helps Federer's chances. In the past couple of years I feel he has been putting too much pressure on himself to win the French and equal Pete Sampras's Grand Slam record.
But now that he has done that I think there is a huge weight off his shoulders.
If he hadn't won the French I would have felt that a handful of players could have beaten him at Wimbledon. But I've changed my tune and feel that on current form Murray is the only player who can stop him.
It would be great to see them contest the final and if they did, as I said before, I'd fractionally favour Murray.
I say that because he has such a good record against Federer, because they are playing in the UK and because Murray is playing so well at the moment - while Federer hasn't had a grass court build-up.
We are still only talking in fractions though - for me it would be a 55 to 45 per cent match in Murray's favour.
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Comment 86 - 105 of 105
Reed is talking as though he is an observer above all the hype! It is clear from this article that Reed IS the hype! My eyebrows hit the roof when he said that Murray is the only one who can stop Federer. It's a joke! Murray did nothing in the French and if he beat a buch of no-hopers in Queens. Federer on grass, where he has gotten to the last six finals and won five, HAS to be the favourite. Reed is showing disrespect by saying otherwise.
Ha ha ha!! If Andy Murray wins Wimbledon I will never watch tennis ever again.
It would be a traversity that an agressive, foul mouthed player such as he should ever get past the first round. Tennis used to be sport for gentlemen and now it is being used as some of macho power struggle.
There can be no comparison to be made between him and Roger Federer as he in not in the same league as Federer.
There are many other young players who are far more worthy to hold up the trophy should Feds lose. Del Potro, Tsonga, Soderling to name but three.
It will be wide open this year but for sheer grit and determination my money is, as always, on Mr Federer........
THIS IS FOR No.4 [janekrap!!!] if you don't follow the game, and the reason for the players being there - no matter where in the world they come from - PLEASE STOP WATCHING NOW, it would be good riddance to bad rubbish or, should I say, good riddance to bad sportsmanship!!!, the game certainly DOES NOT need followers like you.
To all the REAL TENNIS FANS, who are looking forward to Monday - let's hope for a great tournament at Wimbledon .
THIS IS FOR No.4 [janekrap!!!] if you don't follow the game, and the reason for the players being there - no matter where in the world they come from - PLEASE STOP WATCHING NOW, it would be good riddance to bad rubbish or, should I say, good riddance to bad sportsmanship!!!, the game certainly DOES NOT need followers like you.
To all the REAL TENNIS FANS, who are looking forward to Monday - let's hope for a great tournament at Wimbledon .
THIS IS FOR No.4 [janekrap!!!] if you don't follow the game, and the reason for the players being there - no matter where in the world they come from - PLEASE STOP WATCHING NOW, it would be good riddance to bad rubbish or, should I say, good riddance to bad sportsmanship!!!, the game certainly DOES NOT need followers like you.
To all the REAL TENNIS FANS, who are looking forward to Monday - let's hope for a great tournament at Wimbledon .
No offense Simon, but of course Murray is a great player but until he actually does something other than a master series title and wins a slam I think the media should just calm down! I open the paper this morning and it says Murray serving for the championship whilst he is practising with Rafa @ wimby yesterday! come on folks! give it a rest! Yes Murray made it at the Us last year but Nadal was knackered, Del potro too after his big run and in the final he didn't give Fed any resistance! far far too much hype, its ridiculous! Don't get me wrong I hope you are right and prove us all wrong! and Murray does pick up the trophy, can he do it? toughest one for him and hard for even him to predit how he is going to feel if? he makes it to the final!
oh yes his mental game was really PERFECT against Gonzales in Roland Garros
please don't hurt Murray with such analysis, he really deserves better!!!
It's abvious he didn't play against strong opponents.. at Queen's
Murray is the best ! Murray will win Wimbledon ! Oh wait ! What has Murray won ? How many grand slams ? 0 !
It's seems Murray isn't going to win :) . Eurosport always write Murray this Murray that . They made him a lot of bad publicity outside of UK . Murray is great player and he will win grand slams for sure but you can't write like he is favourite for Wimbledon when he didn't make good result in australian open and in rolan garos
Simon Rees ia uauLLY good commentator, but here I think he's watching through rose coloured spectacles. I watched a fair amount of what they showed of Murray at Queens & when we joined his 1st match they said something like "Murray is playing spectacular tennis" and all I saw was him pushing the ball & eternally defending. I saw no sign of this 'Murray started by being agressive from the start'! He's a defender and as a friend of mine says, he bores his opponents to death.
He playd Spaniards mainly & quite frankly it was hard to believe they were playing on grass. They should have looked to see what was under their feet and stop playing a clay court game. Any decent player, with a knowledge of grass court tennis would have had a chance vs Murray playing that game. He was just lucky he didn't meet any of them.
totally agree re view on biased comments by Reed, but this follows on from the very unbalanced television commentary on the Queens tournament by Andrew Castle, David Lloyd et al. One would have thought there was only one player on the court! good play by his opponent was ignored while Murray apparently had the best one handed backhand return in the game, the softest hands and the best drop volley. With this array of armoury you wonder why he has not won almost everything in sight. I do like Murray's play, and there is no doubt he will one day win a slam, but please let's have some perspective and applaud the varying talents of all players rather than concentrating on Murray. Even during matches where he is not playing these commentators compare the players with in their view Murray's exalted talents extolling his superior return/serve etc...Perspective please, he has yet to win his 1st slam, let alone compete with Rafa's 6 and Fed's 14!!
Here we go again Simon Reed hyping up Murray but forgetting all of Murray wins over Roger Federer were at master series and not at GS level. Indeed Federer taught Murry a lesson in tennis at the US open last year. Federer just knows how to win majors where as Murray has never been tested. Nothing against Murray but I sincerely hope he doesn't get to the Wimbledon Finals because i just cannot stand the hype and biased commentry towards him.
I thought this was eurosport, not britishsport..
With French Open win, Federer will be much confident as ever. In 2008 when he keeps on losing to nadal, djokovic, and even murray he still manage to get to 5 slam finals since roland garros 2008 and won 2 out 5. I think a super-fit Nadal will be the only one capable of beating Roger at wimbledon. Murray? a semi-final showing is the best he can do at wimbledon this year. Djokovic? same misfortune will happen to him in early rounds. As expected for Roger, he is always there for the semi/final waiting. For them to beat HIM they should manage first to get to the grand slam final 4!!
is this a joke ? who is murray ?
91 - would do but Simon Reed's already behind him, trousers round his ankles
Murray For Wimbledon!
Stop argueing you stupid brainless turds, get behind the brit if your british!
This article is highly illogical, Simon.
So many people on these comment pages criticize Simon Reed, particularly in terms of a UK - Andy Murray bias. Whether the bias is there or not, right or wrong, is open to discussion of course. But please, why are some people rather venomous to the article writer? If you don't want to read an article that may have some bias, and is subjective -- don't open the web page! Or do... as you prefer, but how about leaving out the constant same criticism?
Simon Reed is a consummate sports commentator, my favourite in tennis in fact (tho all the other English lang. commentators, such as Chris Bradnam, Frew MacMillian, David Mercer and Jo Durie are also superb, I think).
So leave the dude alone!
hahahahahahaha :))))) Very good, indeed...
Oh, i am sorry! This is eurosport??? I thought that it was a joke-site...
Murray is one of the favorites,not THE favorite,winning Queens, as history has shown us down the years is often the prelude to taking the Wimbledon crown,so Murray has put himself in the picture definitely.Still,i have to put Federer as the favorite,he was close to taking his 6th straight Wimbledon last year,and will be desperate to claim it this year.Nadal if fit,is not just going to lie down either,he will fancy his chances of a fourth straight final.Djoko,not sure he is with it at the moment,so not expecting miracles from him.Ralph,keeping my eye on Delpo again,interesting to see if he deals with the nuances of the green stuff,his serve and forehand should put him in the mix.Every year i expect Karlovic to do some damage and he blows it in the 1st round,can he go on a tear this year,maybe,he has the potential to give one of the top seeds a nightmare on grass,he just needs to make it past the 1st round !!!
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