This is from the Wimbledon website- a preview of Murray and Rafa today- so I'll post it here and on Rafa's page:
Murray v Nadal preview
When Andy Murray sealed his epic comeback win over Richard Gasquet to advance to the quarter-finals, he turned to his support team in the stands, drew up his shirtsleeve and flexed a pale bicep by way of celebration.
Later he would say the act was in tribute to his personal trainers, who have been working hard to build up the young Scotsman’s strength. But he may have been sending a subliminal message to the man with the biggest biceps in the sport – Rafael Nadal, his opponent in the last eight on Wednesday.
Murray will certainly have his work cut out against the Spanish No.2 seed, who has more than proven his grass court credentials over the past couple of years. Last year he stretched Roger Federer to five sets in a thrilling Wimbledon final, and a few weeks ago he won the Artois on grass at Queen’s Club. Underlining his growing comfort on the surface, against Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth round here on Monday, the Spaniard even won 21 of his 24 forays to the net.
The head-to-head record between Murray and Nadal is 3-0 in the Spaniard’s favour. As might be expected, the clay court maestro had a relatively straightforward time of it the last time they played, in the round of 16 at Hamburg in May, winning 6-3, 6-2.
But the two matches they played on hard courts were much closer. At the Masters Series in Madrid in October, the Spaniard prevailed 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, and at the Australian Open in January, Murray held a two-sets-to-one lead before Nadal finished strongly for a five-set triumph.
Still, Murray, the 12th seed here, says that match taught him he could play at Nadal’s level. “For probably 4½ sets I was up there with him and definitely had my chances,” he said.
Of course, both players’ have evolved since then.
“He’s definitely playing better on grass than he has in previous years,” Murray said. “[And] I like to think I’m playing a bit better.
“It is going to be a completely different match to a year and a half ago. I have to look at the guys that have given him trouble - and the way that Tsonga played against him in Australia this year.
“It is really important to serve well, be aggressive and not give him a chance to start dictating the rallies.”
For the winner, the prize is a semi-final against either Arnaud Clement or Rainer Schuettler, both surprise, unseeded quarter-finalists.
Against Nadal, Murray will be hoping his relationship with the crowd, which shifted gears on Monday night, will be an asset. Indeed, the 20-year-old admitted that without the monumental level of support against Gasquet, “I don’t know for sure if I would have won.”
“Obviously Nadal is the favourite for the match. But I do think that I can win,” Murray said.
For his part, the 21-year-old Spaniard is taking things in stride, whether it is a twinge suffered behind one of his knees in his last match, or the prospect of playing a homegrown favourite. He insists he is not fazed.
“The Wimbledon crowd is always very respectful with everybody. And with me, when I go on court, I feel the people are with me always, so that’s very nice.
“I just can say thank you very much for the England people and the London people. I felt the same last week in Queen’s. I know if I play against Andy Murray, probably the crowd is going to be with him. But I think with me they are going be nice, too.”
Ever the charmer, he is probably right.
