Oui le joueur de foot colombien : Escobar pendant la coupe du monde 1994

Spotlight: Why Murray can win the Open

Thursday 11 December 2008
By Eleanor Preston

In our special series we look at the standout threats at Australian Open 2009 – those who have never won a major before but could play a leading role on the world’s biggest stage in January.
It has been nearly 73 years since Great Britain last had a male Grand Slam champion so it is no wonder that the Poms are a little bit excited about Andy Murray.

Murray will go into the Australian Open as the tournament’s fourth seed and with what appears to be a golden chance to end a drought that dates back to Fred Perry in the 1930s. His first round loss to eventual finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open in January turned out to be an anomaly, for the tousle-haired 21-year old went on to enjoy a stellar 2008 season, marked by five titles on the ATP Tour, including prestigious Masters Series trophies in Cincinnati and Madrid and wins over Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer (twice) and Novak Djokovic. At the US Open, Murray cut a swathe through the draw and showed himself to be the equal in talent, fitness and ambition to the three players he went on to join in what has become known as the ‘big four’ at the top of the men’s game. No wonder he is being touted by many observers – even away from the fevered expectation that has exploded in his home country – as a Grand Slam champion-in-waiting.

Murray’s recent leap into the elite of men’s tennis owes much to his decision, announced in November 2007, to replace his former coach Brad Gilbert with a kind of tennis brains trust, a panel of experts hand-picked to help maximise Murray’s talent. Gilbert had helped make Murray savvy and match-tough but the Scot felt that both their relationship and his development had stagnated. He found being on the road with a one-on-one coach difficult and much prefers the less intense experience of travelling with a group. Since the start of the 2008 season, Murray has been advised on coaching matters by Zambian-born Scot Miles Maclagan, a far more low-key and more self-effacing character than Gilbert but a clever coaching mind nonetheless. Usually to be found alongside Maclagan in the Players’ Box during Murray’s matches are fitness trainer Jez Green, strength and conditioning expert Matt Little and physiotherapist Andy Ireland.

“At the end of 2007 I wasn’t particularly enjoying myself,” explained Murray. “The whole set-up that I’ve got now, I love the guys that are with me. We get on great, they’re all really good fun and they make me feel good about myself and about my game. I needed to start travelling with a fitness trainer and a physio, as well as a coach, to make sure that I was doing all the right things. It was the best decision I ever made.” Murray’s fitness, thanks to hours in the weight room and on the running track, has built up his stamina to the point where he has become one of the fittest, fastest men on the Tour. His December training regime to prepare for the 2009 Australian Open has included hours on court at Nick Bollettieri’s Academy in Florida complemented with punishing sprint drills on the running track, painful weightlifting and Bikram yoga in steaming hot temperatures. It is not for the faint-hearted.

“I’ll do similar stuff that I did last year but obviously my base will be a lot better than it was, so I’ll be able to run a little bit faster, lift heavier weights,” said Murray of his plans for a not-so-Merry Christmas. “When you do 10 sets of 100m sprints, on the sixth, seventh one you’re not feeling too great and at the end of it you’re thinking, ok, this is when it counts and this is why I’m doing it. It’s so tough that you are pushing yourself in every session but you get the rewards when you’re on the court because playing tennis matches feels so much easier afterwards. When the physical side is right then you become mentally stronger as well.”

He might have been caught cold by Tsonga last Australian Open but the Frenchman has proved since that he is no slouch and in any case, Murray comes to the 2009 tournament a far more accomplished competitor – particularly on hard-courts – than he was a year ago. Britain’s long wait for a grand slam champion might just about to come to an end.

Five reasons why he might win it:

• Movement – Murray has often been compared to Miroslav Mecir because of his cat-like court coverage.
• Speed – He might look like a punch-drunk boxer between points but don’t be deceived. Murray is one of the quickest players on the Tour.
• Guile – Murray always thinks several points ahead and he is so crafty that opponents are often left befuddled and flapping at thin air.
• Fitness – Murray has spent December working his sinewy body into peak condition. Once a notable weakness, Murray’s fitness is now a major strength.
• Form – He was one of the standout players of the 2008 season and was runner-up to Roger Federer at the US Open.

Five reasons why he might not:

• Drought – 73 years is a long time to go without a male Grand Slam champion for British tennis fans and all that expectation could be suffocating.
• The competition – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the main contenders and none of them will be inclined to step aside.
• His record – Murray has never got past the fourth round of the Australian Open and got ambushed in the first round in 2008 by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
• His temper – Murray has struggled in the past to control his temper during tense moments in matches. Could the Australian summer see him overheat?
• Injury – Murray was born with a deformed kneecap which can flare up without warning. Playing successive matches after the Christmas break might not agree with that pesky patella of his.

Trouvé sur ce lien: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2008-12-11/200812111228974080871.html

Pas de place pour les seconds ici

A l'instar de Monfils, Murray s'est renforcé musculairement durant la trève. Il s'est entraîné ces dernières semaines à Miami. Il avait pour but de prendre jusqu'à 4kgs de muscle.

L'article plus détaillé ici
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Andy-Murray-Back-home-to.4812165.jp

J'espère que ca portera ses fruits. Parce qu'il a le niveau le Andy, y peut faire mal si y joue bien ^^

C'est bizarre que ça soit des joueurs comme Monfils ou Murray, qui sont pourtant puissants et rapides, qui décident de prendre du muscle. Pour Simon, je comprendrais mais là... Enfin bon, on verra bien, je ne sais pas trop ce que ça peut apporter.

Battre le record du service le plus puissant de Roddick ?

Un bon match d'entrainement face à Federer et une nouvelle victoire... Dommage la fin de match catastrophe ou il se fait remonter 2 break en multipliant les erreurs... Nadal a l'air en très bonne forme de son coté

Cette fin de match chaotique rappelle un peu les débuts de Murray. J'espère pour lui qu'il ne va pas retomber dans ses travers. Maintenant, il va jouer contre meilleur défenseur que lui, ça risque d'être dur.

En fait, elle est pas mal cette exhib, je trouve que les joueurs jouent le jeu. Enfin, on n'a pas des gars qui font des simulacres de match (excepté Davydenko mais lui est hors concours )

Il devait revenir pour la Coupe Davis l'année dernière mais son poignet douloureux l'en a empêché. C'est ce que j'ai lu sur le site officiel.
http://www.paradornsrichaphan.com

Il a eu un accident de scooter aussi il me semble. Bref, la guigne... Mais apparemment il compte revenir.

Murray nous a fait un 3ème set de toute beauté.... de très bonne augure tout ca

sublime Andy merci pour ce spectacle

Murray a marché sur l'eau aujourd'hui sublime match contre un bon Roddick...