[Glipseagrilia]

Reed: Murray's chance to be number one
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/08042009/...ce-number.html

Watching the final of the Miami Masters on Sunday, the overriding feeling I got is that Andy Murray has definitely got into these guys' heads - big time. I don't believe that either Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer actually believes that they can beat Murray at the moment.
Rafael Nadal's a bit different as he knows he can beat anyone on clay. But I'm not convinced that he'd feel secure playing Murray on any other surface. And I think that there is a real chance that by the end of the year Murray will be world number one. If he beats Nadal more than Nadal beats him this year, by which I mean winning the US Open, and possibly also Wimbledon, then he will be number one. And it would be justified, because I genuinely think he is the best player in the world at the moment - except on clay.
You'd have to expect Nadal to win at Roland Garros, but for every other tournament who is going to be the favourite? It's got to be Murray.
Still, there's a quantum leap between talking the talk and walking the walk. But it's there for him now and he will never have a better chance.
Of course, that feeling could put extra pressure on him and stop him going that extra yard, but right now there's no reason to think he won't do it.
The key thing is that, for my money, the others really don't think they can beat him. You could see it in Djokovic's face as he walked on court on Sunday - he hoped he would win, but didn't think he would, whereas Murray clearly believed that he would do it.
For me there's no doubt that Murray will end up winning more tournaments than anybody else this year; but for his development the only tournaments that matter now are Grand Slams.
And the question with those is whether he has it in him, mentally and physically, to come out on top after two weeks of five-set matches.
Physically, I don't think there are any question marks any more; mentally, it's all to prove.
There's a big, big difference between being the pretender to the throne and becoming the king.
Murray knows that; but then again, he also knows that there's nothing he really needs to add to his game.
Perhaps he could have a bigger second serve; sometimes he can be a little too passive. And there's still the odd gap in his experience, as he showed in high wind at Indian Wells.
The question, however, isn't whether he's capable of beating any other player, it's whether he can do it back-to-back, seven matches in a row, and win a Grand Slam.
And I really think he can.

[payporanymn]

What croc. Two of the three biggest titles are Rafa's, and that that he's playing on his worst surface. Rafa owned him at IW. Still, no respect.
Murray got to 1 GS final and lost convincingly. He disappointed in the AO.

See it to believe it. Look at Djokovic, by this time last year he was being heralded as the next number 1. Look how that worked out for him.

[skupaemauto]

Reed: Murray's chance to be number one
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/08042009/...ce-number.html

... the others really don't think they can beat him. You could see it in Djokovic's face as he walked on court on Sunday - he hoped he would win, but didn't think he would, whereas Murray clearly believed that he would do it. ...

Amazing that this appears to be a real story presented in a journalistic context, not a blog entry. "You could see it on his face" is not reporting. The idea that this guy knows for sure that #2 and #3 in the world don't think they can beat #4 is preposterous.

[CicyHannyCeli]

We will see how Murray do on the soft surfaces for the next 2-3 months

[enurneAcourdy]

Ignoring Andy's result in Australia, an event Rafa won, and IW, where Rafa thumped Andy, is ridiculous.

#2, though, is more than plausible.

[Glipseagrilia]

Ignoring Andy's result in Australia, an event Rafa won, and IW, where Rafa thumped Andy, is ridiculous.

#2, though, is more than plausible.

I think he will tell you he was sick at the AO and there was wind at IW

[johnsonjunior]

this is precisely the sort of undiluted praise, uhm i meant commentary, we get everytime andy murray plays. the biggest culprits are jason goodall and robin koenig (i think they're from the tennis channel). i think it's highly disrespectful to the fellas ranked above him and also to many of the talented lads ranked below him.

[SannyGlow]

Reed: Murray's chance to be number one
http://eurosport.yahoo.com/08042009/...ce-number.html

And I think that there is a real chance that by the end of the year Murray will be world number one. If he beats Nadal more than Nadal beats him this year, by which I mean winning the US Open, and possibly also Wimbledon, then he will be number one.

Well duh. I will also be ranked number 1 if I beat Nadal more than he beats me, and if I win 2 out of the 4 Grand Slams. At least, as long as I'm not playing in the WTA.

[Yessaniloas]

Well duh. I will also be ranked number 1 if I beat Nadal more than he beats me, and if I win 2 out of the 4 Grand Slams. At least, as long as I'm not playing in the WTA.

Second best post of the day.

[urbalatte]

I also think it is possible... I doubt it will happen this year, but I think Murray will have most hard court points at the end of the season. Clay will be big difference though as Nadal is likely to sweep everything once again. Grass will be interesting but at this point I give Nadal edge over anyone else on grass.

I think the main point of that guy is that Nadal will not be confident and comfortable playing Murray on anything other than clay. Murray beat him last 2 out of 3 on hard (plus exo in which both played like it mattered). The Indian Wells final, to me was so one sided only because of the wind, which clearly favored the guy with most topspin in tennis.

[DumErrory]

Well duh. I will also be ranked number 1 if I beat Nadal more than he beats me, and if I win 2 out of the 4 Grand Slams.

Exactly. He mentions that like "as long as Murray remembers to eat a good breakfast." It's kind of a big deal.

[Ygxejxox]

Ummm, I am I the only one who can REMEMBER WHEN ANDY MURRAY LOST IN THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?!?!?!?!?

[Glipseagrilia]

Ummm, I am I the only one who can REMEMBER WHEN ANDY MURRAY LOST IN THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?!?!?!?!?

But he was not feeling well and at Indians Wells, the wind bother him

[Gubocang]

Ummm, I am I the only one who can REMEMBER WHEN ANDY MURRAY LOST IN THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?!?!?!?!?

Now, THOSE were the good old days.

[urbalatte]

Ummm, I am I the only one who can REMEMBER WHEN ANDY MURRAY LOST IN THE FOURTH ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?!?!?!?!?

I am sure Suzana did a little better. Did she?

[Ygxejxox]

I am sure Suzana did a little better. Did she?

Zuzana doesn't have delusions of being #1.

Nor has Zuzana ever lost to Fernando Verdasco in the fourth round of the Australian Open

[indentKew]

Murray is not that close to being number 1 and it definitely seems a bit premature to discuss it.

I do think he's a slam dunk for #2 very shortly, possibly by the end of Roland Garros.

He has had great recent head to head records over the three he is chasing.

Nadal- Murray has won 2 of the last 3
Federer-Has won 4 straight and 6 of 7
Djokovic-Has won 3 straight

Of course, all of these wins were on hardcourts and I know some are doubting his clay court game. He's in top form right now and has virtually no points to defend this Spring I expect a rapid rise if and when Djokovic and Federer falter.

As for number 1, I do think he has a good chance of getting there one day but not this year.

[urbalatte]

Zuzana doesn't have delusions of being #1.

Nor has Zuzana ever lost to Fernando Verdasco in the fourth round of the Australian Open

Sorry for misspelling her name.... it's just I don't see it often enough on TV to remember it.

[SmuffNuSMaxqh]

Murray is a great player. I think he will be #1 some day as he's improving more than anyone else.

Rafa is dominant on clay, Murray's never won a GS, Federer ain't done at Wimby. Too many factors against Murray.

To stay ahead of Rafa, Rog not only was the best on non-clay surfaces but was the #2 player on clay.

Murray may get #2 but he'll need to improve a lot on clay where Rog has thus far proven to be the best player not named Rafa.

When Andy wins a Slam, I'll seriously entertain the discussion about him being #1.

[Meenepek]

I also think it is possible... I doubt it will happen this year, but I think Murray will have most hard court points at the end of the season. Clay will be big difference though as Nadal is likely to sweep everything once again. Grass will be interesting but at this point I give Nadal edge over anyone else on grass.

I think the main point of that guy is that Nadal will not be confident and comfortable playing Murray on anything other than clay. Murray beat him last 2 out of 3 on hard (plus exo in which both played like it mattered). The Indian Wells final, to me was so one sided only because of the wind, which clearly favored the guy with most topspin in tennis.

Yeah.