Wimbledon - Reed: Mature Murray shines

Eurosport - Wed, 24 Jun 13:25:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Simon Reed believes Andy Murray showed good maturity while overcoming inspired opponent Robert Kendrick.

TENNIS Andy Murray in his first round match at Wimbledon - 0

There was a sense that Robert Kendrick could not sustain such a high level for the duration of the match, and that proved the case, but Murray still had to fight all the way.

Tempers frayed slightly in the third set, and Murray was aggrieved over a line call not being referred as requested to Hawkeye, but he recovered his composure and demonstrated his ability to adapt to a match situation.

Kendrick also had his moments of frustration, and it took its toll on him as the final two sets progressed.

I thought that on the two occasions Kendrick was adjudged to have foot faulted, it created a real problem and clearly rattled him.

The American double faulted on each subsequent point, and that shows it got to him. He was, perhaps, over-thinking his service technique.

At times early on, you could see Murray was struggling with his footing, but he is by no means alone in that.

I think the grass is lusher at Wimbledon this year than it has been in the past, and that is probably a key factor.

In the next round Murray faces Ernest Gulbis of Latvia, a player that has promised to trouble the top players for some time, though never seems to deliver on that.

If I am honest, I am not a fan of his, and I believe that Murray will have too much for him, especially at Wimbledon.

Gulbis is a great talent, but is not the threat he should be right now. I don't believe he has the tools to trouble Murray.

Josh Goodall was very impressive in his match against Michael Llodra and seemed to have control, until he faltered at the end, and that proved costly.

The fifth set of a match like his is always going to be a lottery, and Llodra's experience told in the end, with one bad service game proving Goodall's undoing.

Anne Keothovong also looked set for a good performance until she reached set point, and from then onwards she seemed to just capitulate against Patricia Mayr.

It is a real shame because she has had such a good season, and I have been very impressed with the immense improvements in her game of late.

I thought it was unfortunate that she could not respond in her press conference, because it is wrong of anyone to suggest that she has let anyone down other than herself.

She will be very disappointed, and the match will linger in her mind for a very long time. But nobody should be giving her additional grief about what was a horrible day for her.

Wildcard Georgie Stoop was very courageous, and she played with real verve and passion when the pressure was off her against seventh seed Vera Zvonareva.

The quality of her opponent should not be overstated. I think that Zvonareva will not go much further in the tournament after today's showing, but Stoop played well with nothing to lose.

As it turned out, having got herself in a position to win the match, she seemed to struggle with the pressure and tightened up, and that was a real shame.

If she had continued to play with the same freedom, who knows what would have happened?

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I hope that Maria Sharapova continues to build on her terrific comeback of late against Gisella Dulko.

It will be a stiff test for her, but I would love to see her make a real run at the tournament this year.

Federer should coast through against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, and I would not expect him to lose a set in that one.

The contest I am most looking forward to tomorrow is between Sam Querrey of the United States and Marin Cilic of Croatia. It will be a real hard-hitting contest, and it is sure to be very fiercely fought.

I really rate Querrey on grass; he plays some lovely stuff on the surface. I sense an upset could be forced in that match.

Simon Reed / Eurosport

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  1. Hatsutking, I asked you to get off my back, but you­ can't even respect that. Your disguised comments­ are very transparent and it is very easy for everyone­ to see that you got nothing but air behind your­ statements. If you really want to bother me, do me the­ favour to contact me directly, this is not the media­ for personal attacks.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 7:35PM

  2. gyneineharris: Agree with you. Kendrick always plays­ well. Remember the Nadal-Kendrick match where Rafa was­ blown away by Kendrick until Nadal remembered who he­ (himself) was. Kendrick played brilliantly in the lower­ three-match league, winning often, while he was at­ university. Can't seem to maintain stamina to go to­ four or five sets but can be masterful for two sets. He­ may be 76-rank, but wonderful to watch. However, on­ Murray's best day--as we have seen--he can triumph­ over any of the other top 4 "billy boys."­ This may be his year to win Wimbledon. Will be a­ heart-breaker if Federer fails..And yet, what a blast­ if Murray wins.

    From Hatsutking, on Wed 24 Jun 5:28PM

  3. Casalpus: Yes, God. Right away, God. But allow me to­ suggest that in future you write "please do me the­ 'courtesy' (not favour)." That 'u'­ in favour underscores your 'nationality,' an­ uncreative reference you previously deplored in your­ 'creative' diatribe.. Your dime-store­ philosophy...tsk, tsk...so creative, so refreshing for­ you to know that you can walk the earth among the plebs­ and spread fodder for a new order created in your own­ imaging. Such absolute rot you're preaching. OK,­ young one, I shall leave you alone happily, thus­ casting off one of my "problems." I hope as­ you develop, your ego gradually disappears so that your­ brain has its chance. Cheers.

    From Hatsutking, on Wed 24 Jun 3:59PM

  4. Hatsutking, you have real problems. Please do me the­ favour of leaving me alone as long as you cannot be­ creative.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 3:46PM

  5. Wouldn't you know. Eurosport cut me off before I­ finished and published. Maybe they knew what was­ coming, Mr. Two People. Stop using the tennis column­ for your ego forum that sounds pretty much like­ super-clean fascism. Oh...oh..but that's just that­ bloody anglo-saxon attitude you espouse. Must not call­ it Nazi fodder. This comments forum exists for everyone­ and anyone to comment on the article above it. The­ brainless ones of us know that without an offered­ perspective by the paid professional author, one that­ stimulates us to responded un-objectively, the debate­ will be neither interesting nor inclusive. No, we have­ not been waiting with baited breath for your­ tutoring...we've had ralph r to remind us that we­ shouldn't think for ourselves, to change out hats­ when he disapproves and calls us by our rightful names.­ Chill out, get real, slam the professional authors,­ enjoy tennis and talk about the game, please. No more­ indoctrination, I beg you. Or, take it and ralph r with­ you to an obliging deserted island.

    From Hatsutking, on Wed 24 Jun 3:26PM

  6. Hatsutking, that is the big question! If you are able­ to answer it, you will also have answered my question.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 3:07PM

  7. bigjeffrules, you make the problem all visible, thank­ you.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 3:05PM

  8. Casalpusterlengho two-people: Mr. Two-people, I like­ tennis. My englishey it no to very good. You 'rite­ good english, huh? You tell people what to 'rite­ right, right? Then you tell peeople how to 'rite­ what dey 'rite. Tumps up lil biddy sign say 6­ peeoples think you 'rite right. So, one ting I ask­ you since you don't like profesonmal writer to say­ what he tinks, ;'nd 6 peeoples tink you riog then­ why Euro peeople pay him big wampum to 'rite whad­ he tink.

    From Hatsutking, on Wed 24 Jun 3:02PM

  9. oh get a life.. if you don't want to read about­ murray then go to another website.. this is a british­ website, written by a british journalist about a­ british tennis player... what did you expect??

    From mark, on Wed 24 Jun 2:57PM

  10. It is a great pity that Andy is the only British male­ in the top hundred and therefore the press feel there­ is no one else to talk about. I think he should be­ left in peace to develop his game and everyone should­ concentrate in trying to get more top players. We have­ about the same population as France and see how many of­ their players are in the top 100. I think in Britain­ tennis is considered a middle class game. If there was­ a tennis court in every school things would improve and­ it is such a great exercise for children. Come on­ Government and ATP - Do something. And Press - leave­ Andy alone.

    From gudamendi, on Wed 24 Jun 1:23PM

  11. It is a great pity that Andy is the only British male­ in the top hundred and therefore the press feel there­ is no one else to talk about. I think he should be­ left in peace to develop his game and everyone should­ concentrate in trying to get more top players. We have­ about the same population as France and see how many of­ their players are in the top 100. I think in Britain­ tennis is considered a middle class game. If there was­ a tennis court in every school things would improve and­ it is such a great exercise for children. Come on­ Government and ATP - Do something. And Press - leave­ Andy alone.

    From gudamendi, on Wed 24 Jun 1:20PM

  12. Jesus, British are so frustrated that I sometimes fill­ sorry for Murray. He’s a good player but if he wins­ Wimbledon or any other grand slam for that matter –­ British will choke the whole world for next century.­ Give us a break.

    From stanislavsr, on Wed 24 Jun 12:33PM

  13. jamie f, I believe one deserves good professional­ workmanship even in a forum called Yahoo Eurosport UK,­ after all everybody is entitled to participate,­ originating from english-speaking countries or not.­ That's why english speaking reporters (in­ particular) have to be aware/conscious of what they­ write and how they write.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 11:08AM

  14. jamie f: I'm not suggesting they stop talking about­ Murray, that would be stupid indeed. I'm just­ saying they could ALSO talk about something else once­ in a while… The rest of the tennis section is just a­ bunch of dispatches from AP.

    From geronimo_2001, on Wed 24 Jun 10:21AM

  15. ucm_edu, I wouldn't say that. Please be creative­ yourself and look for a solution. You might change your­ mind if you could experience how flexible people can­ become if seeing criticism as a way of development.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 10:11AM

  16. Simon Reed and Murray = The most stupid people in the­ world

    From ucm_edu, on Wed 24 Jun 10:04AM

  17. Please feel free to extend the list below, in order to­ give the professional Eurosport reporters some hints on­ what we/you would like to read/not read in future­ articles:

    Following a checklist of content and­ attributes for Eurosport reporters to remember when­ writing future articles:
    Facts about players (also­ includes opponents of Murray)
    Facts about­ conditions
    Objectivity
    Internationality

    Following a­ checklist of content and attributes for Eurosport­ reporters to avoid when writing future articles
    Lack of­ neutrality (concealed soft nationalism) including­ nepotism,
    Theories (most of all theories without­ foundation),
    Fortune-telling (whatsoever),
    Excuses­ (whatsoever),
    Personal dreams and other personal­ gordian knots (keep for future memoirs),

    These might­ not create the perfect article, but could be a hint­ towards more readerfriendly ones.
    Good luck!

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Wed 24 Jun 10:00AM

  18. tenbuff & geronimo_2001, Wake up genius this is UK­ Eurosport. I think the name gives it away. I dont get­ why we have all these Murray haters he is World number­ 3 and a great tennis player. So if a UK writer is­ writing a about a UK tennis player on a UK sports site­ whats the problem. You want to hear about Benneteau go­ to Eurosport France.

    From jamie f, on Wed 24 Jun 10:00AM

  19. I think that if Murray wins wimbledon, Reed will call­ Murray "The best player in tennis history"...­ LOL!

    From marioskomo, on Wed 24 Jun 9:37AM

  20. Spot on tenbuff, I also expect more from eurosport than­ just talking about Fed and the british players.
    You can­ hope and then at the end of the day you are left with­ this Simon Reed thing… Utterly disappointing.

    From geronimo_2001, on Wed 24 Jun 9:24AM
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