Andy Murray is in the biggest match of his recent career this afternoon as he fights to draw level with world #1 Novak Djokovic after getting hammered the first set of their Miami Sony Ericsson Open final.
Andy caught a lucky break on the way to this final when his semi-final opponent, Rafael Nadal, decided he couldn’t play on a previously injured knee. So the Scot should be rested and ready to take on Djokovic, whom he hasn’t realistically got much chance of beating.
If Murray can somehow upset Djoko, it will be a great boost for his always-the-bridesmaid track record. He’s a likable guy, and I’ll bet a lot of the crowd in Miami are rooting for the underdog today.
Andy Roddick (below) and the rest of the big boys are through round 1 of the U.S. Open. So far, the tournament is unfolding as we might expect, with top seeds (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray, Fish, Ferrer, Tsonga, Monfils, Berdych, et al) winning their first matches.
Things haven’t gone as predictably in the women’s draw. Top seeds Venus Williams, Li Na, and Marion Bartoli are all now packing picnic baskets and sunblock to watch the rest of the tourney. Well, Williams may not be courtside – apparently she’s suffering from an illness that forced her to withdraw from the competition.
Watch this space for more on this week’s exploits of the world’s best tennis players.
This is more the Andy Murray we’d hoped to see in the Rogers Cup in Toronto. In the course of forcing world #1 Novak Djokovic to withdraw with shoulder pain yesterday at the Western and Southern Open (and interrupting Djoko’s incredible winning streak), Murray played this brilliant point, above.
As Djokovic moves inexorably toward the net, Murray is forced back, and you sense that he’s done…until he salvages things with some great backhand work, setting up the coup de grace past a tired and out-of-position Djoko.
Don’t count Murray out at the US Open. Or Djokovic.
Best Player has its money on Andy Murray taking the Montreal tourney and Kim Clijsters in Toronto.
Both draws are very strong. Montreal features Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Monfils, del Potro, Berdych, et al, while Kim will have to triumph over both Williams sisters, Zvonareva, Wozniacki, Li Na, and more.
Should be some great tennis upcoming.
Murray: already a two-time Rogers Cup champ
Clijsters - the toughest competitor on the women's side
