Can you say cheese! Newly crowned US Open mens singles champion Juan Martin del Potro has become the fifth player to qualify for the end of year Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. He has joined Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic for the event which takes place at the O2 in London from 22-29 November.
Andy Murray has entered the debate over the value of the tennis world rankings by questioning the Williams sisters’ interest in tournaments outside the grand slams.
The rise of Russian Dinara Safina to No 1 has raised the question of whether it is justifiable for a player without a grand slam title to be on top. Serena Williams has won three of the last four grand slam women’s singles titles, however she only stands at No. 2 in the WTA Tour standings. Men’s world No. 2 Murray, who has also still yet to win one of the four top tournaments in tennis, believes there would be little merit in raising the points on offer at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open just to ensure the winners of those events have a better chance of topping the rankings.
Murray understands why the issue is being discussed, and why there are varying views, but he is convinced the ranking systems as they stand have plenty of merit.
The Scot said:
“Do you not agree that it’s important for the top players like Serena to turn up at the other big events? “Tennis (has) an 11-month calendar. If you have ranking points which are too small for Serena to turn up at some of the smaller events, then all of a sudden the whole calendar is completely pointless and she can turn up — which is probably what she wants to do — at the four slams and play, and then not play for the rest of the year. And I think you have to be rewarded for consistency, and her consistency in slams is great, but in the other tournaments I don’t think it is.”
There seems to be a lot of celebrities heading over to SW19 and Wimbledon this year. Andy Murray mentioned on his Twitter that Justin Timberlake was wondering around the grounds, but he was still yet to see him. I love it when even the top players are really keen to meet other celebrities. Just really proves that even the top players are just normal people and they still admire people in other industries and areas.
Both Tommy Haas and Andy Murray had great weekend the pair each won their respective tournaments.
Tommy Haas, ranked 41 in the world, came into the Gerry Weber Open with a wild card and scored a major upset over Novak Djokovic in the finals on Sunday: 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1. This was the first German singles victory in nine years in Halle, and Haas’s first singles title (and final appearance) since Memphis, 2007.
Andy Murray beat up James Blake in straight sets on his “home” turf of London: 7-5, 6-4. He becomes Great Britain’s first Queen’s Club singles champion in 71 years – since Bunny Austin beat Sin-Khie Kho of China in 1938.
Here is an interview with Andy Murray about his thoughts leading up to the Queens Club Tournament in which he is the number one seed and favourite.
Robin Soderling (23) vs Nikolay Davydenko (10) = This is going to be a great match. Robin Soderling beat four time reigning champion Rafael Nadal in four sets in the previous round and Davydenko defeated Fernando Verdasco in straight sets. I think Robin will be still on a high from his last victory, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep it going. This could be a five set match with Soderling taking the first few sets then Davydenko coming back.
Andy Murray (3) vs Fernando Gonzalez (12) = Andy and Fernando have been in great for in this tournament so far and they both didnt lose a set in their fourth round matches. Murray has had quite an easy draw so far and I think Gonzalez might actually cause a big upset in this match.
Juan Martin Del Potro (5) vs Tommy Robredo (16) = Juan Martin Del Potro has been playing some great tennis and beating good opponents so far in the tournament. However, in this match he will coming up against Tommy Robredo who has a huge amount of experience on the clay courts of Roland Garros. I can see Robredo winning this match in a long five set match.
Gael Monfils (11) vs Roger Federer (2) = This is another exciting match with Roger on the back of coming from two sets to love down to win in five, while Monfils played one of his greatest matches at the French Open defeating Andy Roddick in straight sets. I think this will be Rogers match to lose.
Dinara Safina (1) vs Victoria Azarenka (9) = Azarenka had a great previous match disposing of the defending champion Ana Ivanovic in straight sets. While Safina hasn’t put a foot wrong and has been demolishing her opponents. I think the first set is going to be very tight and Azarenka really needs to win it, cause I cant see her coming back in three sets.
Dominika Cibulkova (20) vs Maria Sharapova = This is going to be a very interesting match, Maria hasnt been in the greatest of form but she has been grinding out wins. Cibulkova has been playing some good tennis, but hasnt really played a major name at this years French Open. I can see Maria winning in another three set match.
Sorana Cirstea vs Samantha Stosur (30) = Cirstea has had a great tournament so far, especially with her win in the last match at 9-7 in the third set over Jelena Jankovic. Stosur has been going through the draw very quietly. Clay is not Stosurs best surface but she has a great kick serve for a female player and I can see her demolishing Cirstea in straight sets.
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7) vs Serena Williams (2) = The girls have a great rivalry and have played some great matches over the years. I think Serena is in great form and the quick clay surface this year is suiting her game and I cant really see Kuznetsova getting into the match from the beginning.
New world number three Andy Murray hit back at number four Novak Djokovic on Thursday after the Serb said the current rankings system was cruel. Djokovic was leapfrogged by Murray in the rankings on Monday despite landing a second title of the year in Belgrade at the weekend and reaching the last three Masters Series finals.
“There always seem to be problems and now it’s obviously the rankings,” Murray told a news conference after beating Tommy Robredo in the third round of the Madrid Open. It’s great that Novak’s done well the last few weeks but the first three or four months of the year I played a lot better than him so I think the rankings reflect very well how the guys are playing. Until this week I’ve never heard anyone complain. I think maybe only in the last week it’s become a problem for Novak.”
Players on the ATP tour have to defend the points they earned during the same week a year earlier, so the reigning champion at an event can only maintain his points tally, not improve it. “Playing three Masters Series finals in a row and winning a 250 event is incredible success and even then you are dropping a spot down in the rankings,” Djokovic said on Wednesday. “That shows how cruel the ranking system is in this sport.”
Is it just me or does this seem like another pretty pointless publicity stunt from the WTA and ATP tours? Andy Murray and Venus Williams have a hit of tennis in the main street of Miami on top of cars to promote the tournament. Im sure it didnt cost the tours that much to hire cars and get the players to turnout, but Im sure the money can be better spent elsewhere!
I just think that the level of prizemoney on the lower level tours isnt up to scratch and this kind of makes tennis look like a sport just keeping the rich and top players entertained.
Andy Murray and his brother Jamie have signed to CAA and 19 Entertainment. CAA is a top Hollywood talent agency in which will help manage the Murray’s ratings as they both try to climb the tennis ladder. This simply just amazes me, because Andy Murray is not the best looking guy in the world and even has a personality to match. It is going to be tough work for both of these agencies, maybe they will get Andy to relax a bit more because then he might have a chance of making them some big bucks.
19 Entertainment is best know for managing David Beckham, so at least they signed with a top agency!
Andy Murray appeared to place a question-mark against his own future Davis Cup participation after Britain’s relegation from the elite World Group.
US Open finalist Murray won both his singles matches but was powerless to prevent a 3-2 defeat against Austria at Wimbledon today, which saw Britain demoted to amongst the also-rans in the Europe/Africa zone.
Murray did all he could to maintain Britain’s place in world tennis’s top 16 nations with a 6-4 5-7 6-3 6-1 victory over Jurgen Melzer.
But then British No.2 Alex Bogdanovic once more lost a Davis Cup match, beaten 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 by Alexander Peya as Austria won the tie in the final rubber.
It left Murray questioning the resolve of his team-mates.
“If I make a sacrifice I think every single person in the team should be willing to make those sacrifices and say they will give it all they’ve got,” said the world No.4.
“I want them to say they are physically able to play even if they have to play three days of five-set matches. Then I know everyone on the team wants to play as badly as I do.”
His comments are bound to lead to speculation as to whether Murray is willing to give up his time to play the minnows of world tennis if he feels he is not going to get sufficient support from his compatriots.
The Scot said the rest of the team needed to demonstrate greater intensity.
“In both my matches I showed a lot of emotion and got the crowd involved. You have to do that in Davis Cup, especially when you have home ties.
“The guys in the other matches didn’t get the crowd involved as much as I would have liked.”
Murray’s criticisms might have carried greater force had he stayed in the stands to cheer on Bogdanovic, rather than watching the match on television to relay messages on technical issues to coach Paul Annacone.
Bogdanovic’s defeat meant he had lost his sixth straight ‘live’ Davis Cup tie to go with seven consecutive first round defeats at Wimbledon.
Murray didn’t play in the doubles, which Britain lost on Saturday to go 2-1 down in the tie, with brother Jamie partnered by Ross Hutchins.
At the time, British team captain John Lloyd defended his selection policy by saying Murray had a slight knee injury that needed rest ahead of the final-day singles.
However, after today’s defeat, Lloyd – himself a former grand slam singles finalist – admitted: “If Andy had played the doubles it would have been closer and I’d like another go at it.
“But it was my decision and you’re wrong sometimes and other times you are right.”
Source: (Tennis Australia)
