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  • #1

    Federer eyes Australian Open

    Roger Federer has written off rival Andy Murray as he prepares for the Australian Open, beginning on Monday. Who will win the first Slam of the year?

    http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...20090113083409
    Roger Federer is surprised Sky Bet have made Andy Murray favourite for the Australian Open.

    Murray has started the year in red-hot form, beating Federer twice on the way to back-to-back titles in 2009.

    His hot streak has seen Sky Bet install him as 9/4 favourite for the tournament with Federer 5/2 and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal 7/2.

    But Swiss star Federer, who will be gunning for a record-equalling 14th grand slam title when the Australian Open kicks off next Monday, admitted he was shocked to learn that Murray had been installed as favourite.

    "He's playing well and finished strongly last year. But I'm surprised that the bookies say that," Federer said ahead of the AAMI Classic which begins at Kooyong on Wednesday.

    "He's never won a slam ... it's surprising to hear."
    9
    Federer
    33.33%
    3
    Murray
    44.44%
    4
    Nadal
    11.11%
    1
    Djokovic
    0.00%
    0
    Other
    11.11%
    1

    The poll is expired.

    Last edited by The Boss; 13 January 2009, 11:22 AM.
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    Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli
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  • #2
    Murray is at the moment in top form and could be a contender for the title. For me he is somehow similar to Nadal because he runs after almost every ball and he tries to play it back. Trust me, this is very annoying to your opponent, the fact that every time he plays a shot that 99% is a winner, the ball comes back to him.

    That is Murray's main advantage because in terms of "game knowledge" Federer is way above Andy Murray...he has shots that 90% of the field can only dream of.

    ATM Federer's problem seems to be concentration...he plays well and at one moment he seems to lose it and his game drops. A few years ago he had those moments but he was capable of getting over them, nowadays it seems more complicated for him.

    To summarise, Murray has a chance to win but i think he will not win because there are too many long matches in just a few days, the fatigue will install, and he will not be able to recover from one match to another in the final stages of the tournament.
    "There has only ever been Alex Higgins, myself and now Ronnie O'sullivan who play the game the way it should be played with such excitement - I know the fans love it this way" - Jimmy White

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    • #3
      Desperate for Rafa to do it but he's never going to be the favourite for a hard court event.

      Can't see Fed doing it really, his forehand has gone to pot during the last nine months or so, it's such a liability now in my opinion.

      Djokovic doesn't seem to be as consistent as he was a year ago and will have a lot of pressure on him, but a good run in Sydney this week would give him confidence going into the event.

      Murray looks good but I can't stand him so hopefully something goes wrong for him.
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      • #4
        Originally Posted by Matt_2745 View Post
        Desperate for Rafa to do it but he's never going to be the favourite for a hard court event.

        Can't see Fed doing it really, his forehand has gone to pot during the last nine months or so, it's such a liability now in my opinion.

        Djokovic doesn't seem to be as consistent as he was a year ago and will have a lot of pressure on him, but a good run in Sydney this week would give him confidence going into the event.

        Murray looks good but I can't stand him so hopefully something goes wrong for him.
        It think Federer's problem is his backhand, not his forehand...i've seen him play and these days he tries to play most of his shots with the forehand because he does not trust his backhand....last week Murray saw that and played the majority of the shots on his backhand.
        "There has only ever been Alex Higgins, myself and now Ronnie O'sullivan who play the game the way it should be played with such excitement - I know the fans love it this way" - Jimmy White

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        • #5
          Traditionally I'd agree and yeah Murray did target it to good effect, but over the last few months I think that there is a big problem with his forehand too. The match that stands out the most would be against Simon last year in Canada, it just completely disintegrated and the other day against Seppi he made a load of unforced errors with it...I dunno, I think he's lost a bit of confidence in it at the moment.

          Still he's a great player of course...I just think he's struggling at the moment.
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          • #6
            Come On Andy!!!!!!!!!!!
            :snooker:

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            • #7
              Federer is not at the top of his game at the moment. but he can still win any tournament (except Roland Garros...). He's not that strong mentally as he used to be and he knows that he is not unbeatable.
              I'd say Murray is top favorite, he's in splendid form.

              Federer's backhand by the way is one of the best in the tournament.

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              • #8
                Like Matt I'm not a big fan of Murray's but he is playing some superb tennis and is exciting to watch. I think he's playing well enough to win and could do it!
                Winner of Crucible 77's 2009 World Championship Lucky Dip.

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                • #9
                  Federer had Glandular fever before the Australian Open last year and simply isn't the same player since (he came back too soon without giving himself time to recover properly).

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally Posted by attilahun View Post
                    To summarise, Murray has a chance to win but i think he will not win because there are too many long matches in just a few days, the fatigue will install, and he will not be able to recover from one match to another in the final stages of the tournament.
                    Murray lost today against Verdasco in a 5 sets match...i was right in my previous post, he is not mentally anf phisically prepared to win a Grand Slam Tournament.

                    EDIT Also Federer was right to be annoyed by the fact that Murray was made favorite for Australian Open.
                    Last edited by attilahun; 26 January 2009, 01:11 PM.
                    "There has only ever been Alex Higgins, myself and now Ronnie O'sullivan who play the game the way it should be played with such excitement - I know the fans love it this way" - Jimmy White

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      GREAT game with Murray today, now its down to Federer or Nadal-
                      Good to see them in the fianl

                      Its bthe final we all want to see..... Number one Vs two
                      Photos from the masters 2011
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                      • #12
                        Federer v Nadal

                        http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7858463.stm

                        Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the Australian Open final after the world number one battled past fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on Friday.

                        Nadal won a magnificent match 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 to reach his first final in Melbourne.

                        Verdasco's extra power looked capable of causing an upset throughout as he fired an incredible 95 winners.

                        But Nadal made the crucial breakthrough in game 10 of the fifth set to seal a dramatic win in five hours 14 minutes.

                        Nadal, 22, and Federer will meet on Sunday for the 19th time and seventh in Grand Slam finals, with the Spaniard leading 12-6 overall and 4-2 in major finals.

                        However, it will be the first time they have played each other in Melbourne and on hard courts in a Grand Slam final.
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                        • #13
                          Watched the match this morning with Nadal and Verdasco, what a terrific match it was too, one of the best i've seen!
                          :snooker:

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                          • #14
                            Was an amazing match but absolute torture for me as a huge Rafa fan. Nervous wreck by the end of it.

                            Think it's a shame that he's had such a long match today while Fed has had an extra day off, puts him at a huge disadvantage for Sunday's final really.

                            Fair play to Fed for getting there btw, as I said earlier on in the thread I was starting to fear for him but ever since 2-0 down in that Berdych match he's found some of his best form. Having such a scare in that match is probably the best thing that could have happened to him as it turns out.

                            Would love Rafa to win on Sunday but after today that would be a bonus.
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                            • #15
                              Am I right in thinking if Roger wins this he will go equal on Grand Slams with Pete Sampras?
                              :snooker:

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