Serve and Volley

Re: Roddick

mal1219 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:42:13 GMT

Scoop, funny that you say that Murray seems to bring the best out of some players. Prolly due to his counterpunching style of play. Ferrero didnt have the firepower to force Murray into the D, and Murray dictated play. Against someone with the firepower, he will always fall back and be defensive. Moreover, I think this is true for Djokovic and Nadal as well. Personally, thats why I think Roger and Roddick have had this success as Wimbledon.

Re: Roddick

Scoop — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:40:50 GMT

Murray could never get in the match, he was never ahead, never had any breathing room, Roddick was like a boa constrictor strangling him. Put him undre constant pressure with his serve and his power and consistency. Thsi really was an incredible performance by Roddick, Murray did nothing wrong he just couldn't come up wiht anything to discourage or disturb Roddick from what he was doing. Murray's game seems to bring out the best in some players, like Tsonga in Australia, didn't he lose to Verdasco this year in Australia? Bottom line is Roddick played the best of his life yesterday, hugely impressive performance by Arod.

Re: Roddick

DMan1 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:54:54 GMT

I thought it was the best I have ever seen Roddick play. Was impressed with his backhand. He really hammered some bh returns. Was surprised how often he came to net. Much more than Murray, who needs to do that more often if he ever wants to win Wimbledon.

Murray was oddly passive today. Not sure if it was pressure, nerves or what. Winning the first set certainly hepled Roddick's cause. But I do recall thunderous applause for Henman when he was playing. It was loud, but ont thunderous for Murray, even compared to some of his other matches.

Re: Roddick

robertk29 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:24:27 GMT

how sweet it is..Better powerful Andy whupped Wee Andy (mommy's boy whiner).. Wimbledon so much better this year, and how much better can it get Sunday morning?? I am luvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvving it..

Re: Roddick

Scoop — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:50 GMT

Well this was probably the best match Roddick ever played. he was near perfect if not perfect. First set he was not missing, he was hitting everything so clean and hard and Murray was rattled. Murray played very well but he ran into a guy having a career day. Tough one for Murray, he deserved to win too. Whoever deserves the credit along with Roddick for this win deserves it, the coach, his wife, etc. I'll take some too for just about calling it yesterday, hence redemption from the failed Monfils pick to win the French Open.

Roddick's volleys are amazing now. Murray turned up the intensity and raised his game several times, but Roddick never buckled and kept battling. I'd say this was the finest most impressive performance of Roddick's career. He absolutely can win on Sunday.

Re: Roddick

Peggye1 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:59:14 GMT

As Andy said no one can accuse me of not trying. Murray started off a little slowly but Roddick played with more variety and intelligence than I have seen him use in the past.We did the old Wimbledon thing from those days of no live tennis and did not look at the score so it was great to watch the match unfold. Oddly the crowd has not yet warmed to Murray the way they did to Henman but after this match and the ones to come I think they will. What on earth do the Brits want? he's only number three and clearly is going to be a great champion. They should have been screaming for him from the first ball.

Re: Roddick

RP — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:55:58 GMT

That was one hell of an effort from Roddick. Particularly, as you say Mal, when Murray came back from 2-5 down in the third. Roddick just kept battling and what I like is he used all that variety he's tried to develop. he took pace off at times, showed the slow slice, hammered his forehand when he got the mid-court ball, attacked fearlessly in that third set nd really gave up his body laying out for some of those dives. All credit to Roddick - just a tremendous effort against an opponent who, absolutely had a ton of pressure on his shoulders but who had owned Roddick in recent years. Even if he had lost have to respect how hard he fought and the way he played - one of the most composed and intelligent matches I've seen him play in a long, long time.

Re: Roddick

mal1219 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:50:42 GMT

Wow, what a match by Roddick. He played so well, even after Murray came back from that 4-1 in the third set. Just wow. By no means will Federer have an easy match, Roddick is different now and has added so many elements to his game. Gotta credit Stefanki for this, and his new conditioning. I think Stefanki said that he needed to lose 10 pounds, he looks leaner, fitter and can hang with the top guys in the rallies. Interesting final on sunday, Federer because he is just the best, Roddick because he is rejuvenated and such a likeable and funny character.

Re: Roddick

Scoop — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:26:04 GMT

If anyone can do it Roddick can. I agree with Mal A-rod is different now, he's rejuvenated, the inspiration of his new wife, the new coach. They solved Djokovic who was a problem and they might be able to solve Murray here. Roddick has the weaponry, he will have to play near perfect match. You gotta believe Stefanki will come up with some kind of strategy here, a way to put Murray under pressure, this one could get very interesting.

Roddick solved Djokovic, Murray will be a tougher cookie to crack but this one is winnable.

Re: Roddick

mal1219 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:46:36 GMT

This is a different Andy Roddick we are watching. In the beginning against Hewitt he was mixing it up quite well and at the end he was thumping backhand winners down the line like crazy. Maybe wishful thinking, but I think A-Rod can take out Murray.

Re: Roddick

LendlFan1 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:39:24 GMT

If Roddick serves and stays back with Murray on grass his chances are Hantuchovalike, very slim.

Roddick

RP — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:10:14 GMT

His style isn't as pretty as Fed, Murray or Haas and I could do without his tendency to badger the chair umpire on changeovers (seems like a stress reliever or maybe he's just a talkative guy), but always have a lot of fun watching Roddick scrap, fight and dig down in these five-setters. And have to give Hewitt a lot of credit for his run because after the surgery a lot of people assumed he'd be toast as his mobility and tenacity were always two of his best assets.

Really respect the way Roddick used everything at his disposal - even went to the forehand drop shot in the tie break (Hewitt caught up to it quickly, probably should have made the shot too), but was fun seeing those two go at it. Both so intense. Roddick has a history of these grueling five-setters (Remember the El Aynaoui match in Australila) and even when he comes up short (the US Open match vs. hewitt when he got hooked on the call in the 5th set, the loss to Ljubicic in the Davis Cup in Carson, the loss to Tursunov in the Davis Cup match in Moscow) he forces the opponent to step up and beat you.

You know the guy's a work-horse when you see his baseball cap soaked in sweat. It looks like somone turned a shower heard on directly over his head he's dripping sweat out there. I just don't think he matches up well with Murray and I think Murray really feels comfortable playing him, but gotta give Roddick credit for all the work he's put in on and off court and the effort he brings to every match. He never shortchanges you on effort.