The Tennis Thread

The Tennis Thread

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Discussion

Bright Halo

2,976 posts

236 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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I actually got really emotional watching his news conference.
The reality that he just cannot perform at that level anymore absolutely crushed him.

it's a shame the press didn't all stand and give him a round of applause.


BlackLabel

13,251 posts

124 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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A three-time grand-slam champion - ending an ~80 year old wait for a British slam champion. 2 x Olympic single golds plus a historic Davis Cup win. And all of that in an era of Federer/Nadal/Djokovic.

What a career, what a sportsman. I’d rate him above Farrah, Wiggins, Hoy, Hamilton, McIlroy etc and think he’s the best British sportsman of this generation.


Leithen

10,941 posts

268 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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His leadership of Team GB at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil and his Davis Cup success have shown what an inspirational sportsman he is.

Perhaps not surprising given his work ethic and reputation for leaving absolutely nothing out on the court. His team leader speech in Brazil to his teammates was apparently inspirational, culminating in a four hour slug fest with Del Potro that ended with them in each other's arms.

A tough act for anyone to follow.

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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It always looked to me like he was pushing himself too hard. Watch Federer and it was effortless play, with Murray it seemed he was always punishing himself. Retired, hopefully he can encourage enough into the sport; whatever you think of him I'd hate to go back to the dark days of Henman/Bates etc.




Bonefish Blues

26,838 posts

224 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
Schmed said:
It always looked to me like he was pushing himself too hard. Watch Federer and it was effortless play, with Murray it seemed he was always punishing himself. Retired, hopefully he can encourage enough into the sport; whatever you think of him I'd hate to go back to the dark days of Henman/Bates etc.
You may remember as do I how relatively late Murray was developing physically - wonder if the breakdown is connected in some way?

Scabutz

7,645 posts

81 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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Sad to see Murray retire, especially being forced into it. 3 Grand Slams and 2 Oly Golds in an era with probably the 3 best players of all time is an outstanding achievement.

I know a lot of people thought him grumpy but he was himself, a very hard worker, dry wit. I hate the word "inspiration" when talking about people but I think he is one to many people.

SydneyBridge

8,643 posts

159 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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Hope he makes it to Wimbledon, even if he goes out in the first round , on centre court, he deserves a farewell match.

I would certainly consider him to be the greatest British sportsperson

In another era he may have won ten grand slams

Escort3500

11,919 posts

146 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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Scabutz said:
Sad to see Murray retire, especially being forced into it. 3 Grand Slams and 2 Oly Golds in an era with probably the 3 best players of all time is an outstanding achievement.

I know a lot of people thought him grumpy but he was himself, a very hard worker, dry wit. I hate the word "inspiration" when talking about people but I think he is one to many people.
My thoughts entirely

PhilH42

690 posts

103 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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I watched Murray from the beginning and believe he just lacked the mental edge In the first half of his career, which cost him untold GS titles...he had the game.

After 2016 I really thought he’d get a few more GS titles under his belt and I so wanted him to win the Aussie and French (Aussie in particular) then there was nothing left to prove. At the level he was playing and the with the drop in form of the other members of the big four he would have swept up that year.

Now it feels like unfinished business and a very cruel end. One of the hardest working guys on the tour which I have total respect for. Robbed of more titles at his peak...just when he had his best chance.

He is a legend and anyone who says otherwise knows nothing about being in the sport 24/7.

I’m just absolutely gutted for him.

JagLover

42,454 posts

236 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Pretty big claim

As far as I am aware the hip problem reached the level it stopped him playing in late 2016. Since when there has been eight gram slams.

Three of these were won by Federer enjoying a late career resurgence and for two of those he barely dropped a set in winning them.

Three were won by Nadal, two of which were on clay.

Two won by a Djokovic playing extremely well and enjoying his own resurgence.

Realistically, without the hip problem, Murray would have won a maximum of two.

JagLover

42,454 posts

236 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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Talking of retirements there is a lot of talk about this being Federer's final year.

Starting to seem likely that there is one record he will not take, which is Jimmy Connors' record of 109 tour singles titles.

He needs another 11 titles to surpass that record and realistically he is going to fall some way short.

What a record of Connors!, it may never be broken.

Bonefish Blues

26,838 posts

224 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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JagLover said:
Talking of retirements there is a lot of talk about this being Federer's final year.

Starting to seem likely that there is one record he will not take, which is Jimmy Connors' record of 109 tour singles titles.

He needs another 11 titles to surpass that record and realistically he is going to fall some way short.

What a record of Connors!, it may never be broken.
I had no idea. That's astonishing.

WJNB

2,637 posts

162 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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So a grown man whose hobby became a mere sport publically blubs like a baby & runs to mummy 'cos he can't play any more. What happened to the stiff upper lip, the ability & strength to keep private such feelings & not be attention-seeking & melodramatic? As for his pain & injuries they are self-inflicted so not worthy of sympathy & I bet he didn't have to wait months for surgical treatment.
Sure he's the best at what he does but it hardly rates hero worship. It's not as though he has devoted his life for the benefit of others, or created or invented something of consequence.
He needs to man-up, realise that everything doesn't revolve about him accept his responsibility as a father & husband, as well as take the advice of Billie Jean King that better things may await him. In these matters I wish him well.

Bonefish Blues

26,838 posts

224 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
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If that's been around for so long, then he has done remarkably well to achieve what he's achieved. Nadal only broke down after he'd won multiple slams, I think?

JagLover

42,454 posts

236 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Fair point if he has been carrying an injury all along.

It still wouldn't have been all in his control though and he would have had to beat the opponent the other side of the net.

MiniMan64

16,942 posts

191 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
quotequote all
WJNB said:
So a grown man whose hobby became a mere sport publically blubs like a baby & runs to mummy 'cos he can't play any more. What happened to the stiff upper lip, the ability & strength to keep private such feelings & not be attention-seeking & melodramatic? As for his pain & injuries they are self-inflicted so not worthy of sympathy & I bet he didn't have to wait months for surgical treatment.
Sure he's the best at what he does but it hardly rates hero worship. It's not as though he has devoted his life for the benefit of others, or created or invented something of consequence.
He needs to man-up, realise that everything doesn't revolve about him accept his responsibility as a father & husband, as well as take the advice of Billie Jean King that better things may await him. In these matters I wish him well.
There's always one isn't there!

BlackLabel

13,251 posts

124 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
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The surgeon who operated on Murray's hip doesn't think he'll make it to Wimbledon.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/13/andy...

matchmaker

8,497 posts

201 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
quotequote all
MiniMan64 said:
WJNB said:
So a grown man whose hobby became a mere sport publically blubs like a baby & runs to mummy 'cos he can't play any more. What happened to the stiff upper lip, the ability & strength to keep private such feelings & not be attention-seeking & melodramatic? As for his pain & injuries they are self-inflicted so not worthy of sympathy & I bet he didn't have to wait months for surgical treatment.
Sure he's the best at what he does but it hardly rates hero worship. It's not as though he has devoted his life for the benefit of others, or created or invented something of consequence.
He needs to man-up, realise that everything doesn't revolve about him accept his responsibility as a father & husband, as well as take the advice of Billie Jean King that better things may await him. In these matters I wish him well.
There's always one isn't there!
Yes...didn't take long!

Blackpuddin

16,567 posts

206 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Commentator on R5Live is amazing, never heard anyone describing the rallies so clearly and quickly.

Melman Giraffe

6,759 posts

219 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Murray fighting for this, do decent Tennis being played