Sir Andy Murray

[Nando]

[Damian]

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray moved past David Goffin after the eighth seed was forced to retire having lost the first set 6-2. It is the first time Murray, who saved both break points he faced against Goffin in the 46-minute opener, has reached a tour-level semi-final since Antwerp in 2019.

The Scot went on to win the title in Belgium three years ago, defeating former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final.

Murray has earned wins against Norway’s Viktor Durasovic and second seed Nikoloz Basilashvili this week and now leads Goffin 7-0 in their ATPHead2Head series.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/karatse ... 2-thursday

[Bombardiero]

822 dni. Tyle dokładnie minęło od ostatniego półfinału Murraya w rozgrywkach ATP.

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[Bombardiero]

Okrzyk radości.

[Damian]

[Damian]

Murray Blunts Opelka's Serve To Reach Sydney Final

Spoiler:

Scot through to first ATP Tour final since 2019
Andy Murray remains on course for his 47th tour-level title after he outgunned World No. 25 Reilly Opelka 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 in the Sydney Tennis Classic semi-finals Friday.

“It’s already been a great week for me, big progress from anything I’ve done in the last year or so, to string four matches together like this and against top players in Basilashvili and Opelka,” Murray said. “I’ll go for 47 tomorrow. It’s been a good week, I’ve played better with each match, so hopefully I’ll step it up again tomorrow.”

The former World No. 1 used his trademark returning prowess to effectively nullify the American’s big serve and reach his first ATP Tour final since he won the title in Antwerp in 2019 (d. Wawrinka).

Despite Opelka serving 20 aces, Murray was still able to find the right moments to effectively counter-attack. “You can’t really prepare for it, to be honest, you just have to try and adjust while you’re out there. I chose to block quite a few returns, to get lots in play today, which worked pretty well,” Murray said. “It’s tough but returning has always been one of the strongest parts of my game, and I used it well today.”


Opelka looked to have finally taken control of a tight first set after surging into a 5/1 lead in the tie-break, but the British World No. 135 fought back to 6/6 before the American prevailed 8/6.

Murray bounced back early in the second set, breaking for 2-1 with the help of two double faults from the American. That opening was enough for the Brit to level the match, as he dropped just one point on serve in the set and surprisingly out-aced the American seven to four.

Both players had to dig deep to save break points in the decider. Opelka recovered from 15/40 in the opening game before some trademark Murray defence ensured that he stayed on serve at 3-3. The Brit finally broke for 5-4 before holding his nerve on serve to set up a clash with fellow Brit Daniel Evans or Russian Aslan Karatsev in Saturday’s final.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/murray- ... ssic-final

[robpal]

[robpal]

[DUN I LOVE]

69. zawodowy finał Rudego (46-22).

[Bombardiero]

[Nando]

[Damian]

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[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

KEEPING IT REAL: ANDY MURRAY STILL HOPES FOR GLORY, BUT HE LIVES FOR THE FIGHT

Spoiler:

Murray’s determination is an inspiration, in victory or defeat. At the tour level, those results were nearly equal in 2021: 15 wins against 14 losses.

By
Steve Tignor
Published Jan 15, 2022


Flashback: Andy Murray hits a forehand passing shot in the 2021 European Open.

He spends more time dashing from sideline to sideline, chasing after his opponents’ groundstrokes, than he once did. He’s forced to go to his defensive slice a lot, even on his forehand side. He can’t quite match the 100-m.p.h. pace or dive-bombing topspin that his younger and taller opponents put on their shots. He doesn’t howl at an invisible tormentor or bare his teeth quite as often as he once did. When you’re 34, you conserve energy wherever you can.

Such is life for Sir Andrew Barron Murray, 16 seasons and 905 matches into his Hall of Fame career. If he were an iPhone, he’d be up to version 10.0.

It’s been three years since Murray said he’d retire, convinced that his right hip was beyond repair.
It’s been three years since Murray said he’d retire, convinced that his right hip was beyond repair.

© Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

It’s been four-and-a-half years since the Scot was No. 1, and three years since he tearfully said he’d retire, convinced that his right hip was beyond repair. While old rival Novak Djokovic continued to pile up major titles in 2021, Murray traveled the pro-tour backroads through Metz, Antwerp, Winston-Salem and Rennes, fighting to survive first-round matches. He finished the year ranked 134th.

At first, Murray said he didn’t need to win Slams to find satisfaction in his late, Lion-in-Winter phase. But high standards die hard for ex-champions, even one with a metal bar in his hip.

“My goal is not to get in the Top 100,” he said in September. “The Top 10 would be more something that would motivate me in terms of a goal. Winning tournaments and getting up towards the top of the rankings is motivating to me.”

Murray has been criticized for taking wild cards that could go to players who don’t have $62 million in prize money to fall back on. And he may want to heed those critics some day. But for now he has earned a leg up. He’s a three-time Grand Slam champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a player fans will pay to see. As his expectations rose in 2021, so did his results: In the fall he beat Jannik Sinner, took Stefanos Tsitsipas to five sets and outlasted Frances Tiafoe, 11 years his junior, over nearly four hours.


Winning tournaments and getting up towards the top of the rankings is motivating to me.
Andy Murray

Whatever you think of his on-court mutterings, Murray is a role model worth listening to. He promotes women’s tennis, has sung the praises of many WTA players, and has worked with a female coach—while retaining the respect of the male colleagues who may not agree with everything he says. That’s a message and a world-view our sport should be sending to all young players.

By playing on with only scant hope of reliving his past glory, Murray sends another message worth hearing: Not everyone can be Novak Djokovic, but that shouldn’t keep us from competing and expecting the most from ourselves. The fight, as Murray showed in 2021, is the thing.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the men's GOAT race plays out this season. I’m also looking forward to seeing Murray sprint from sideline to sideline in his dogged quest to keep up with the new generation. With Andy, the struggle seems more real, and more relatable, than ever.

https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/ke ... -the-fight

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Barty]

Finał w Sydney.


unewbalance.com

Bardzo dobrze zaczął nowy sezon Szkot. Na kortach w Sydney dotarł do finałów, gdzie przegrał z Asłanem Karacewem. Murray ma na koncie 69 zawodowych finałów (46-23).

[Damian]

Murray: 'I'll Keep Trying My Best To Have More Nights Like This'

Spoiler:

Former World No. 1 reflects on his run to the Sydney final
Andy Murray has won 46 tour-level titles, reached No. 1 in the ATP Rankings and accomplished plenty more in his distinguished career.

But the Scot is hungry for more. That was plenty apparent on Saturday evening during the Sydney Tennis Classic trophy ceremony following his loss in the championship match against Aslan Karatsev.

“What an amazing atmosphere to play in, thank you, it was so good. I've really missed playing in front of these sorts of crowds and these sorts of matches,” Murray said. “Unfortunately the result didn't go my way tonight but I'll keep trying my best to come back and have more nights like this."

The 34-year-old has played on the biggest stages in the sport countless times. However, he still is keen to return to those big matches. And Murray made it clear this week he does not just want to play in those moments, but succeed in them.


The No. 135 player in the ATP Rankings, who is still working towards his best form following hip surgery, has said on multiple occasions one of his big goals is to reach 50 tour-level titles. He currently has 46.

“I have made some of my shorter-term goals quite clear and things I still want to try and achieve,” Murray said earlier in the week. “I want to try and win tournaments again. That's one of the reasons why I'm still playing, because I believe I can still do that.”

Karatsev had too much firepower on Saturday. The Russian, who broke onto the scene in Australia last year by reaching the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier, saved all five break points he faced. It was their first ATP Head2Head clash.

“What he [is doing], for me it's unbelievable… I arrived a bit late to this kind of level, but especially to get this kind of player, one of the greatest players in the world and all time, for me it was a really important match,” Karatsev said. “I think it's a huge comeback from him to play at this level after what he had in the past with the injury.”

It was a positive effort for Murray, who did not reach an ATP Tour semi-final in 2021. Now he will travel to Melbourne, where he will play Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of the Australian Open.

Murray is not just doing this for himself, either. The 34-year-old made that clear during his speech Saturday.

“I would like to thank my family back home,” Murray said. “I don’t know if you’re all watching, but I miss you all.”

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