Topic: How Andy Murray will get to the top

[Alex]

and where does he go to get a forehand?

bingo, big problem ... it's a little bit better than last year but nowhere even close to Djokovic, Rog and Nadal. I'm actually not sure he can do anything about his FH at this stage ... he is almost 25 yo... I hope I'm wrong because I really like Murray. How can he improve his FH? What kind a different technique can he employ?

[hercules]

in order to be the king of this sport you have to have a dominating forehand with massive finishing power. and it has to be consistent as hell in the clutch when you have to have it.
 
that is a big problem. but that is not his biggest problem. he has a much bigger problem which has no answers:
 
he knows deep inside he does not measure up to the 3 all time greats of the sport right now. he really does not measure up to fed, clay warrior, and no-djok.
 
it is a tough and a brutal reality and all of the rest of the players have to deal with it too. the top 3 are just too damn good.

[Babblelot]

 I can't wait until it's our turn to say our top players fail because the weight of the world to be the next #1 is on their shoulders. Or maybe you Brits should own the copyright to that one.

Andy's forehand can be coached up but not his desire and will to win. His best chance is through attrition: Roger and Rafa leave the game and Andy's efficient style translates to longevity. 

Btw, did Andy ever say he wanted to be #1? It's well documented that the other 3 had and at an early age.

[Alex]

I can't wait until it's our turn to say our top players fail because the weight of the world to be the next #1 is on their shoulders. Or maybe you Brits should own the copyright to that one.

Andy's forehand can be coached up but not his desire and will to win. His best chance is through attrition: Roger and Rafa leave the game and Andy's efficient style translates to longevity. 

Btw, did Andy ever say he wanted to be #1? It's well documented that the other 3 had and at an early age.

well, I don't know if he said it or not, but he is a pro, you'd assume he wants to be #1. He is a pretty modest guy. It would sound silly if he brags about it in the era of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer. I do agree with you regarding the British press and all of that hype, but Andy needs to learn how to deal with it. and I'm afraid that by the time Fed and Nadal leave the game it's going to be too late for Murray. Nadal is only 11 months older than Andy. Djokovic is still going strong.

[Djokovic Champion]

and where does he go to get a forehand?

I think the problem is not the Murray's forehand. I think the predicament it is the emotional imbalance.

[swish]

and where does he go to get a forehand?

I think the problem is not the Murray's forehand. I think the predicament it is the emotional imbalance.

Hopefully Lendl will have an impact on that. But the forehand could use a little more pace to it.
 
 
On the other hand Murray was good enough with the forehand he has to take Djokovic to 5 sets at the AO.
What that means is the forehand does good enough if everything else is working well.
 
 

[Djokovic Champion]

and where does he go to get a forehand?

I think the problem is not the Murray's forehand. I think the predicament it is the emotional imbalance.

Hopefully Lendl will have an impact on that. But the forehand could use a little more pace to it.
 
 
On the other hand Murray was good enough with the forehand he has to take Djokovic to 5 sets at the AO.
What that means is the forehand does good enough if everything else is working well.

His forehand was good in that match.

[Tennis4you]

I can't wait until it's our turn to say our top players fail because the weight of the world to be the next #1 is on their shoulders. Or maybe you Brits should own the copyright to that one.

Andy's forehand can be coached up but not his desire and will to win. His best chance is through attrition: Roger and Rafa leave the game and Andy's efficient style translates to longevity. 

Btw, did Andy ever say he wanted to be #1? It's well documented that the other 3 had and at an early age.

Andy should outlast the other top 3, should be interesting to see if he can stay healthy.

[Alex]

I can't wait until it's our turn to say our top players fail because the weight of the world to be the next #1 is on their shoulders. Or maybe you Brits should own the copyright to that one.

Andy's forehand can be coached up but not his desire and will to win. His best chance is through attrition: Roger and Rafa leave the game and Andy's efficient style translates to longevity. 

Btw, did Andy ever say he wanted to be #1? It's well documented that the other 3 had and at an early age.

Andy should outlast the other top 3, should be interesting to see if he can stay healthy.

what do you mean by 'outlast top 3'? Nole is a week younger than Murray, Rafa is 11 months older than Nole and Andy.

[Babblelot]

For the same reason we speculate that Rafa's body will wear down first. Nole plays a physically taxing game. He really pushes his body to extremes and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a serious knee or ankle injury. Andy's movement is very efficient, similar to, but not exactly like Roger in that respect.

[Alex]

For the same reason we speculate that Rafa's body will wear down first. Nole plays a physically taxing game. He really pushes his body to extremes and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a serious knee or ankle injury. Andy's movement is very efficient, similar to, but not exactly like Roger in that respect.

OK, I get it but, but, but ... except for allergies, some shoulder issues (which I'm not sure it was really valid, as I think Djokovic  was simply too tired at the end of the season last year, he played and won so many matches), Djokovic has never had any serious injuries in his career ... unlike Murray who injured his wrist ... I'm not saying this as his fan, but Nole is a super fit athlete ... Rafa is another story ...

[Babblelot]

Forgot about the wrist! Those things can stay with you.

[Alex]

Forgot about the wrist! Those things can stay with you.

yeah, he was out for a very long time with that wrist injury. I mean we don't know what's going to happen but I disagree with Scott. Murray is spending plenty of energy on the court. Maybe his game is not as physical as Nole or Nadal but it's still very demanding. He is running like a rabbit all the time, Murray is a grinder in a way. However, he is not as flexible as Djokovic who is super elastic ... but again Novak has never had any serious injuries in his career. 

I'm afraid that if Murray doesn't win a major by the end of 2013 (or let's say next 2 years or so), it'll never happen. He is going to be 25 in a month. Time is running out.

[hercules]

time is running out on andy. he needs some sort of a break in the next 2-3 years.

[foaquin]

Forgot about the wrist! Those things can stay with you.

I'm afraid that if Murray doesn't win a major by the end of 2013 (or let's say next 2 years or so), it'll never happen. He is going to be 25 in a month. Time is running out.

time is running out on andy. he needs some sort of a break in the next 2-3 years.

Andres Gomez won his first and only major at the age of 30 (RG1990) .. So Andy gots plenty of time..... He will get there..

[Djokovic Champion]

time is running out on andy. he needs some sort of a break in the next 2-3 years.

It's true.

[hercules]

i dont see lendl helping him to be brutally honest here. all lendl can do is calm him down a little but how is that helping.
 
murray actually does better when he is allowed to get all emotional and angry on the court.
 
he is the modern johnny mac without the endless weeping and whining about line calls.

[Djokovic Champion]

i dont see lendl helping him to be brutally honest here. all lendl can do is calm him down a little but how is that helping.
 
murray actually does better when he is allowed to get all emotional and angry on the court.
 
he is the modern johnny mac without the endless weeping and whining about line calls.

Yes, I think Murray Lendl does not need to run your best tennis.

[falcon]

The only two things that bother Murray from the start and even today are the weak forehand and the whining nature. I have no idea how Lendl can improve these two for Murray. Lendl can at best provide strategies. He is not a psychiatrist.

[swish]

I would suggest Murray get in some high intensity forehand work.
 
Make it part of his schedule, just add 20% more velocity to the forehand, work on accuracy later.
He needs to get the feel of blasting that ball.
 
What he's doing now isn't working well enough, he HAS to change even if it means his level goes down for awhile. Doing the same thing will only give the same results.