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.
"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?
Comment 107 - 126 of 126
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.
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...
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.
Totally agree with you John!
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
Peter lol
The vile Murray haters are always hiding under a rock ready to pounce!
i dnt tink e can ever be number 1! cos he is nt serious enough.!!!!
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.
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?"
I spoke too soon. See below.
Not only is he @#$% at tennis, but he's also an ugly f@&* with the personality of an overcast miserable rainy day in Scotland!
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.
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!
you never say ''never'' specially for a young men like murray
"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!
he might be for a bit then go back 2nd best player in the world.
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.
murray just aint as classy and talented as federer and nadal, hes to defensive in an aggresive world
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!
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!
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