Your view: Murray will never be No.1

Eurosport - Sat, 18 Jul 21:57:00 2009

Earlier this week, Bjorn Borg said Andy Murray is a future world number one - despite being knocked out at the semi-final stage of Wimbledon by American Andy Roddick.

TENNIS andy murray great britain - 0

"He's going to be up there fighting with Nadal and Federer from now on," said the 11-times Grand Slam winner.

"One day I think he might be the number one player in the world."

When a legend of the game makes a statement like that, what can we do but open the debate up to you?

That's exactly what we did - and a quarter of you thought Borg was correct, while the other 74 per cent reckon he was talking out of the top of his headband.

The young Scot often draws extremes of opinion, and this was no exception, with plenty of people lining up to rubbish the notion that he could overtake Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

So heated was the debate, in fact, that dozens of comments disappeared from view on the board as contributors furiously clicked the 'thumbs down' button!

Among the shouting, however, many people made the valid point that Murray's style seems overly defensive at the moment.

One contributor, song_dp, went further than most in claiming that the Scot's glut of ranking points to defend this summer will see him drop out of the top five - despite the massive gulf of several thousand points that separates the top four from the rest.

Several of you were of the opinion that Murray could make it to the summit of the game.

"Andy has beaten all of the top 10 so why shouldn't he be a number one?" said voice of reason katy.hulme.

Nclsaverio agreed - after carefully pointing out that he or she is Italian, and therefore unbiased - but feels that Murray is yet to get the most out of his power and technique.

As ever, there were a few oddball suggetions - and this week they mainly revolved around Murray's personal grooming.

"Andy needs a real makeover in his appearance before anyone non-British can support him," insisted kayangmo.

"Federer looked like a grandmother before his curly-hair makeover and it has worked wonders for him ever since. This is not a joke."

If you say so, my friend. If you say so.

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We asked: Bjorn Borg believes Andy Murray could become world number one. Do you agree?

Yes - 26 per cent

No - 74 per cent

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Best of your comments:

katy.hume - Andy has beaten all of the top 10 players so why shouldn't he be number one sooner rather than later?

Nclsaverio - Andy could be number one by the end of 2010, but he must learn how to use his tennis potential. Roger will concentrate on Grand Slams, Nadal will continue to suffer and Andy is able to make points everywhere. He is one of the few who combines great technique with power and endurance; he has only to learn how to use them.

diegopacheco0988 - Murray has barely proven anything in best-of-five sets: he's a best-of-three specialist. That is largely related to his passive, boring, feeding style.

janell.lovell - If Murray wants to win a Grand Slam then he needs to be more aggressive in his play - period! Roddick beat him because Murray thought A-Rod was going to hand him the errors. Well, he didn't - hence him winning the match.

yossinetz - I used to be a faithful fan of Borg. I never missed his matches back in the 70s and the early 80s. However, I do not agree with his assessment. Murray is able to handle Federer, but in no way can he deal with Nadal. He hasn't got the strength in his "upper floor".

Mileta Cekovic - With Nadal off court, it is just that Borg needs another defensive player to support. I feel pity for Murray, but the number one will be either an offensive player, or a defensive player with extraordinary skills like Borg or Nadal - not Murray.

song_dp - Number one? I don't think so. With Federer and Nadal above him, and Djokovic, Roddick and Del Potro all playing good tennis, he'll drop out of the top five soon. After Cincinnati, which he somehow won last year, and the US Open, where he got to the final, he'll lose so many points that he might even be out of the top 10.

kayangmo - Andy Murray needs a real makeover in his appearance before anyone non-British can support him. Federer looked like a grandmother before his curly-hair makeover and it has worked wonders for him ever since. This is not a joke.

Aaa - If he continues to play well, and both Nadal and Federer lose vital points along the way, Murray could top the ATP ranking without winning a Grand Slam. It will be interesting to know how the media (especially the British press) will react to him then. Would they have the same (biased) attitude toward him that they have against Dinara Safina?

Eurosport

Comment 107 - 126 of 126

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  1. Oh come on please tennis fans this debate about Andy­ Murray being number one still going on.Lets all just­ wait and see if he becomes number one and wins a­ grandslam.Good luck to him if he can enough said.

    From AJ, on Tue 21 Jul 1:22PM
  2. is this a joke or what? I doubt it will happen but if­ so he ll be the first and only number one player­ without a Grand Slam trophy...

    From Ferrrrrrr, on Tue 21 Jul 11:19AM
  3. Murray's an amazing player who is going to get much­ better,but the majority of british people don't­ like a sporting hero.guy's like Andy murray,Lewis­ hamilton and jenson button,they don't get any where­ near the support that other countries give there­ sporting heroe's.and that is a sad fact.

    From alord72, on Tue 21 Jul 9:41AM
  4. Totally agree with you John!

    From Nicholas, on Mon 20 Jul 9:47PM
  5. i beat 70 % ofthe voters were english its just a simple­ fact of sheer jealousy he has calmed his attitude down­ but sadly morons out there will not accept a scotsman­ being british number 1 he will easily be number 1 in­ the world federer is getting on age wise now nadal will­ control clay but murray will beat him more on hard­ court which he proved in us open last year he will make­ semis and finals this summer so wont lose many points

    From john, on Mon 20 Jul 9:43PM
  6. Peter lol
    The vile Murray haters are always hiding­ under a rock ready to pounce!

    From Nicholas, on Mon 20 Jul 8:22PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i dnt tink e can ever be number 1! cos he is nt serious­ enough.!!!!

    From kacey, on Mon 20 Jul 8:10PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The chances are small but never say never. Nadal is­ hurt. Who knows if Federer is hungry enough after he­ has a couple of babies.
    Without the top 2, everybody­ has a chance. And Andy Roddick has a better chance. ­ He could be a 4, 5 Grand Slam winner if without­ Federer. That could be said to others too.

    From Silver N, on Mon 20 Jul 6:36PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    basically i find several articles on eurosport very­ sadistic and churlish.
    this article is case in point.­ personally speaking, i cant stand the arrogant and­ cocky murray. having said this, this article is­ pointless. if andy has worked hard enough to be number­ 3, logically speaking some day he might be no.1, or he­ might not.
    how would a poll predict what his future­ ranking would be? very disrespectful.
    last year when­ federer was down and out, i remember this site running­ a poll which asked viewers, " will federer ever­ win another grand slam title".
    at that time, the­ hate federer brigade, which infests this site, ran­ amock. it virtually spewed venom on federer and mocked­ him derided him abused him and insulted him.
    time has­ shown how they were all wrong.
    the usually LOUD federer­ haters are all nowhere to be found these days. probably­ they are licking their wounds and wallowing in self­ pity and burning up with their hatred.

    this poll is­ nothing but a similar oppurtunity to generate more hits­ on this sight and more hate on this site. I personally­ dont like Murray but why should I bother if he would be­ number 1 or not?

    does this mean if majority say he­ wouldnt become number 1, will ne never become number­ 1?

    absolute rubbish. its time eurosport came up with­ credible articles. enough of federer bashing, murray­ bashing and nadal a$$ licking. will the next poll be­ " will nadal ever reach his steroidal heights­ again?"

    From aaditya, on Mon 20 Jul 3:45PM
  10. I spoke too soon. See below.

    From Peter, on Mon 20 Jul 3:05PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Not only is he @#$% at tennis, but he's also an­ ugly f@&* with the personality of an overcast­ miserable rainy day in Scotland!

    From tinkerdarryl, on Mon 20 Jul 1:54PM
  12. Andy Murray played tennis since he was 2 years old, so­ he started playing tennis earlier on age than most guys­ on tour. He is already world number 3 this means he has­ an advantage to be world number 1 some day.

    From Kin-King T, on Mon 20 Jul 10:13AM
  13. There cant be a lot going on in the world of tennis­ right now as this thread feels like its been running­ for about a week now! Even the normally abusive posts­ have disappeared!

    From Peter, on Mon 20 Jul 8:56AM
  14. you never say ''never'' specially for a­ young men like murray

    From Helen A, on Mon 20 Jul 8:12AM
  15. "May the best man be number 1."

    and so is RF­ the best man! yet, it changes nothing to what am­ saying: AM needs to get us a GS title!!! ranking is­ secondary for now! if he wins a GS and is No.100, who­ will care about his ranking? People will see the­ silverware! Yet, can he get one? Ranking yes, he most­ assuredly will get there, but GS, I don't see him­ so soon, not while RF and RN are still on course! May­ the best man win a GS title!

    From Pooks, on Sun 19 Jul 10:24PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    he might be for a bit then go back 2nd best player in­ the world.

    From BETHANY, on Sun 19 Jul 10:20PM
  17. Owen, yes I did say I'd had enough and then I was­ inspired to reply to you. With the new points system­ nobody's going to be number 1 without winning a­ slam. Look what's happened to poor Rafa. Sore knees­ 2 slams missed and he's now number 2 and if he­ doesn't win something soon will be number 3. There­ are a lot of points to be won and lost this American­ summer especially by Andy so it's going to be­ interesting. May the best man be number 1.

    From Katy, on Sun 19 Jul 10:17PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    murray just aint as classy and talented as federer and­ nadal, hes to defensive in an aggresive world

    From joanna.m.harris, on Sun 19 Jul 10:10PM
  19. Yo katy,
    also, why the fuss about what I say. you are­ simply confirming my points! at least u agree to RF­ beating AM in a GS final but not the reverse. AM beat­ RF in an ATP final, but which had more value? lol! Does­ Roger need to be No1 again? He has once been there for­ a record weeks and is now again! When it comes to­ rankings, that's no longer RF's battle. He has­ set the bar high! AM is the one to show he can make it.­ At his age, RN has won 6GS tittles and has been No1. AM­ still has a long long way to ever win a GS title, so­ long as RF and RN are on course! But, let's be­ honest: AM is not after rankings, but after GS titles!­ If he is on for rankings, how abating that is for his­ ambitions!!! The truth hurts and the thumbs go down but­ it's just a refusla to see thru the glass!

    From Pooks, on Sun 19 Jul 10:00PM
  20. katy.hume,
    yes you can be right and for that reason I­ said he can and would be No1. He is an ATP winner but­ NOT a grand slam winner. His record against Federer is­ good but only on ATP and besides, I am not one to­ bother about Federer's illness, because if a player­ plays, it means he is sure to compete. the excuses of­ injuries are just ludicrous. I thought you had nothing­ more to say about this thread and you've had­ enough. what makes you come back? Besides, am I wrong­ to say we need GS titles from AM? It's a shame­ people only think about the rankings, which to me,­ don't last too long but GS titles last forever,­ isn't it? The hopes of a nation on Andy is that he­ wins a GS title sooner or later, but whether he's­ No1 is not much important these days if there's no­ GS title. Safina's No1 ranking has no real value,­ even to herself!

    From Pooks, on Sun 19 Jul 9:52PM
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