Will Andy Murray ever win another Grand Slam ?

[Butts]

Following yesterdays defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Final will Andy ever again win one of the big four ?

He must be sick of Djokovic as that was his fourth loss to him out of five losses in the final of the Australian Open

Can't someone crock the Serb and give someone else a chance ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I can take some comfort that he actually achieved something that Tim Henman never did, despite all the past frenetically worded "Henman" articles that the media so loved to bore us all to death with incorporating banner headlines to match.

The best riposte to those was something I heard at "Wimbledon time" quite some years ago in Macclesfield town centre, with two young lads singing to the tune of the "Bob the Builder" signature tune....
"Tim Henman, will he win it
Tim Henman, no he won't"

 

[radamfi]

I can take some comfort

Comfort? Does it really give you comfort that a British person has won something?

 

[DarloRich]

Scottish Tennis failure Andy Murray crashes out? British Tennis hero Murray powers through? Murray comes over as such a miserable, dour, Caledonian so and so that I find it impossible to like him. I have never forgiven him for that any one but England "joke" in any event.

Who cares anyway? Tennis isn't a real sport.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Comfort? Does it really give you comfort that a British person has won something?

It most certainly does when it is in an event that British success has not been seen in for a considerable period of time.
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Who cares anyway? Tennis isn't a real sport.

If tennis is not a real sport, why then is the need for the Wimbledon grand-slam tournament to offer large sums of prize money to the professional players who participate in that tournament, noting in particular the amount of prize money made available to the winners of both the Mens and Womens singles titles.

The first tennis club in the world was established in 1872 in Leamington Spa.

 

[Phil.]

Scottish Tennis failure Andy Murray crashes out? British Tennis hero Murray powers through? Murray comes over as such a miserable, dour, Caledonian so and so that I find it impossible to like him. I have never forgiven him for that any one but England "joke" in any event.

Who cares anyway? Tennis isn't a real sport.

Of course tennis isn't a real sport. No more than cricket, football, fishing or golf. You don't have to like someone to accept that they're good at what they do.

 

[DarloRich]

It most certainly does when it is in an event that British success has not been seen in for a considerable period of time.
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If tennis is not a real sport, why then is the need for the Wimbledon grand-slam tournament to offer large sums of prize money to the professional players who participate in that tournament, noting in particular the amount of prize money made available to the winners of both the Mens and Womens singles titles.

The first tennis club in the world was established in 1872 in Leamington Spa.

I don't care.

It is dull, boring, priggish, conservative, elitist, traditionalist and effete.

Tennis is about as accessible to the masses as the Mongolian language. Even cricket, which god knows has enough of the same, is open to the oiks!

 

[me123]

Following yesterdays defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Final will Andy ever again win one of the big four ?

He must be sick of Djokovic as that was his fourth loss to him out of five losses in the final of the Australian Open

Can't someone crock the Serb and give someone else a chance ?

Murray's an excellent player who has reached his peak at a time when tennis has never been better. Murray's up against some of the best players tennis has ever seen - Djokovic, Federer and Nadal (the latter was plagued by injury and I don't think has reached his full potential) to name but three of the very strong male tennis players today. It's been brilliant for the sport because they're all pushing each other to new heights. The sport has never been more competitive and is thrilling.

Murray will probably win more grand slams - it won't be an easy job for him. He's in the top ranks of the sport and, whilst he might not have the best rate of actually getting the title, it's not through lack of trying. Murray puts his all into every game, and I've never seen him lose through lack of trying. I think it's likely that he will win another slam.

 

[Senex]

Scottish Tennis failure Andy Murray crashes out? British Tennis hero Murray powers through? Murray comes over as such a miserable, dour, Caledonian so and so that I find it impossible to like him. I have never forgiven him for that any one but England "joke" in any event.

Who cares anyway? Tennis isn't a real sport.

Agree completely -- incluiding the "Who cares anyway?" bit!

And why "British" in any case? Can't tennis go down the same route as football and let people play as English, Welsh, or Scottish?

 

[radamfi]

When watching sport, I don't care what nationality the player is. What counts is whether I find the way he plays entertaining. In some other sports, the nationality is far less important to the fans. Darts is considered to be a very down-market sport, if indeed it is a sport, yet the fans care more about the play and the personality rather than the nationality. The top darts player at the moment is arguably Michael van Gerwen, a Dutchman, but he gets a warm response at tournaments played in England, even when playing an Englishman. The crowd may well be supporting Michael. Argos even sell Michael van Gerwen branded darts.

 

[Busaholic]

I like Murray because he doesn't conform to the cuddly loser type that the British (and specifically English) tennis world aspired to for so long, Tim Henman and Sue Barker being prime examples, and he's a thorn in the side of the tennis establishment - a few more thistles up their collective backsides would be great, and I hope he continues to provide them.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I don't care.

It is dull, boring, priggish, conservative, elitist, traditionalist and effete.

The LTA are all those things.

Which is the main reason why Andy Murray trained himself well away from the LTA.

I think Murray will win more, he's won two along with an Olympic gold and he's consistently getting to semi-finals and finals.

 

[Oswyntail]

I don't care.

It is dull, boring, priggish, conservative, elitist, traditionalist and effete.

Tennis is about as accessible to the masses as the Mongolian language. Even cricket, which god knows has enough of the same, is open to the oiks!

So a real sport has to be played by oiks?"Dull" "Boring" and "Conservative" I'll grant you - but the same is true of soccer. What is wrong with "traditionalist"? "Effete"? What on earth do you mean by that? The physical toughness and fitness levels of professional tennis players far exceed anything found in the sport of oiks. You have obviously never seen tennis clubs holding "camps" for youngsters if you think the game is not open. Or did the local club turf you out?

 

[DarloRich]

So a real sport has to be played by oiks?"Dull" "Boring" and "Conservative" I'll grant you - but the same is true of soccer. What is wrong with "traditionalist"? "Effete"? What on earth do you mean by that? The physical toughness and fitness levels of professional tennis players far exceed anything found in the sport of oiks. You have obviously never seen tennis clubs holding "camps" for youngsters if you think the game is not open. Or did the local club turf you out?

I don't mean the players - they are clearly prime examples of physical fitness. I mean the types of people who watch the sport, particularly at Wimbledon.

Effete: affected, over-refined, and ineffectual or (of a man) weak or effeminate. take your pick. Either definition works.

As for the sport it does not have appeal to the majority. it has a perception amount many people as being inaccessible, aloof, privileged, snobby, elitist, expensive, middle class and private. Clubs are not seen as welcoming places with silly dress codes and outdated rules. That may be wrong but it is the perception that the governing body of the sport have to change. Why aren't they, especially with the relative success of British players recently?

A sport has to have a wide appeal to create a base of players. Children aren't going into Tennis in great numbers. I had to search for a local tennis club just now. With many other sports I know where they are based. That cant be a good thing.

And why "British" in any case? Can't tennis go down the same route as football and let people play as English, Welsh, or Scottish?

Murray, as portrayed by the press, is a British champion but a Scottish looser so it clearly matters to someone.

As Murray reaches semi and final stages of tournaments on a regular basis he must have a chance of winning other "slams" :roll: (hate that phrase) However he has Djokovic ahead of him, and is playing in a period of very high quality players at the top level which must count against him.

 

[Domh245]

I would say that whilst Djokovic is still strong, it is very unlikely Murray, let alone anybody else will win any slams. Djokovic has almost double the amount of points of the second placed man (Murray) according to the ATP rankings.

 

[Kite159]

The LTA are all those things.

Which is the main reason why Andy Murray trained himself well away from the LTA.

I think Murray will win more, he's won two along with an Olympic gold and he's consistently getting to semi-finals and finals.

Although that expensive (£10,000+ if I recall) academy in Spain probably helped him along the way.

 

[Liam]

Although that expensive (£10,000+ if I recall) academy in Spain probably helped him along the way.

That was funded by his parents and grandparents. Andy Murray believed the LTA system set his brother's career back a few steps so wanted nothing to do with it. Although Jamie Murray is now the number 2 doubles player in the world and not far off number 1.

 

[greatkingrat]

I would say that whilst Djokovic is still strong, it is very unlikely Murray, let alone anybody else will win any slams. Djokovic has almost double the amount of points of the second placed man (Murray) according to the ATP rankings.

Just because Djokovic is clearly the best player, doesn't mean he will win every single match and tournament he ever plays.

 

[ExRes]

I don't mean the players - they are clearly prime examples of physical fitness. I mean the types of people who watch the sport, particularly at Wimbledon.

Effete: affected, over-refined, and ineffectual or (of a man) weak or effeminate. take your pick. Either definition works.

As for the sport it does not have appeal to the majority. it has a perception amount many people as being inaccessible, aloof, privileged, snobby, elitist, expensive, middle class and private. Clubs are not seen as welcoming places with silly dress codes and outdated rules. That may be wrong but it is the perception that the governing body of the sport have to change. Why aren't they, especially with the relative success of British players recently?

A sport has to have a wide appeal to create a base of players. Children aren't going into Tennis in great numbers. I had to search for a local tennis club just now. With many other sports I know where they are based. That cant be a good thing.

You clearly don't like Tennis but I fail to see why you have to be so rude about those that do, I assume you don't watch Wimbledon, let alone go there, so how do you profess to know that your 'descriptions' relate to those that actually do go ? Your 'perceptions' mean nothing to anyone except yourself, how would you know how welcoming the clubs in your area are ?, how do you know which clubs still have dress codes for example ? Most people are fully aware that the governing body of Tennis leaves much to be desired, that point is relevant to many sports and it's for those that participate to force change if they think it necessary

The most local Tennis club to me at my previous home was welcoming to youngsters and had many who were interested, mainly when Wimbledon was being played of course, but that's the same with many sports, as for finding your local club or clubs it takes nothing more than a few seconds research on google, something I'm sure most children are aware of and quite capable of

The 'elitist' tag is one I find the funniest, I know times change but in the 1960s my Comprehensive school had courts that we could use anywhen we wished to, yes, we kids of working class parents trotting off from our council houses to play rugby, tennis, basketball, volleyball, cricket

I personally loathe, hate and detest football, I find the players quite disgusting with their moronic tattoos and total disregard for anything other than money but do I abuse people on this forum for watching it ?

 

[Clip]

Who cares about Murray when we now have a Hungarian Australian Brit to win in the women's some day soon

P.S Ive been to Wimbledon a few times and im not any of the things Darlorich tells me I am.

 

[DarloRich]

You clearly don't like Tennis but I fail to see why you have to be so rude about those that do, I assume you don't watch Wimbledon, let alone go there, so how do you profess to know that your 'descriptions' relate to those that actually do go ? Your 'perceptions' mean nothing to anyone except yourself, how would you know how welcoming the clubs in your area are ?, how do you know which clubs still have dress codes for example ? Most people are fully aware that the governing body of Tennis leaves much to be desired, that point is relevant to many sports and it's for those that participate to force change if they think it necessary

The most local Tennis club to me at my previous home was welcoming to youngsters and had many who were interested, mainly when Wimbledon was being played of course, but that's the same with many sports, as for finding your local club or clubs it takes nothing more than a few seconds research on google, something I'm sure most children are aware of and quite capable of

The 'elitist' tag is one I find the funniest, I know times change but in the 1960s my Comprehensive school had courts that we could use anywhen we wished to, yes, we kids of working class parents trotting off from our council houses to play rugby, tennis, basketball, volleyball, cricket

You are making my point. I asked the 10 or so people near me in the office what they thought about tennis clubs. The majority (6) of these people have school age kids who are into all kinds of sports - not one of them used words like friendly or welcoming or open or approachable to describe a tennis club. That perception is probably wrong but it exists. If it exists then people are missing out. Why is that not being challenged?


People only have their perceptions or opinions to call upon without first hand knowledge. If that perception exists (and it does, despite what you may think) it needs to be challenged. Why isn't it? Why the complacency? Why does no one feel change in those at the top is necessary?

Also not one of those children plays tennis. Why? Not one of them has been offered a chance to learn tennis at school, unlike other sports. Why is that?

The tennis clubs don't go into schools and try and win over kids, at least not the schools any of my family go to. Why? The mainstream sports (obviously) do that but even badminton, roller hockey (!) hockey, ice hockey, American football and more go into the schools. But not tennis. Why?

It cant be money. Wimbledon must earn the LTA a fortune and with Murray and now Konta doing well they wont have a better advert for the game than they have at this time. That they aren't using that performance to drive out the old stereotypes that I and others seem to hold and inspire people to take up the game is worryingly complacent in my mind.

I would agree that the provision of council run sports facilities is terrible and is having an impact on access to all kinds of sports. In Darlo we used to have a load of municipal tennis courts and I played on them. The last time I was home the one near me had flats on it.

I personally loathe, hate and detest football, I find the players quite disgusting with their moronic tattoos and total disregard for anything other than money but do I abuse people on this forum for watching it ?

That is your opinion and perception which you are entitled to hold and express. I doubt I could change your mind even if I tried. However, you will note I don't criticise you for holding or expressing that view.

 

[Senex]

Who cares about Murray when we now have a Hungarian Australian Brit to win in the women's some day soon

Surely Hungarian Australian English -- and a far more attractive character than Murray.

By the way, does anyone else share my loathing of the term "Brit", now very much taken up by the BBC, which I always associate with the terminology used by the IRA and their North American supporters to describe the people of the larger island, but with special reference to the English?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Surely Hungarian Australian English -- and a far more attractive character than Murray.

The "nowhere woman" player that media hopes once trumpeted, Laura Robson, was born in Australia.
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Tennis isn't a real sport.

I would like to see the reaction of Serena Williams to that statement being made to her...

 

[Tetchytyke]

Although that expensive (£10,000+ if I recall) academy in Spain probably helped him along the way.

Of course it did, but it was an expensive training academy in Spain that he and his family paid for, not the Lawn Tennis Association. Murray and his mother thought the LTA did a lot of damage to Jamie's career, so stayed well away from them.

The most local Tennis club to me at my previous home was welcoming to youngsters and had many who were interested, mainly when Wimbledon was being played of course, but that's the same with many sports, as for finding your local club or clubs it takes nothing more than a few seconds research on google, something I'm sure most children are aware of and quite capable of

I'm well aware of where my local tennis club is, just as I'm well aware of where my nearest golf club is.

My nearest tennis club charges £160 per person per year for membership, with additional access fees being charged for most events. If that's too expensive, there's always the family membership at £320 per year. You have to have a test of your ability before they'll let you join.

One tennis club here charges £120 per month for access, with additional lawn fees, but in fairness that one does include a gym.

I'm sure most tennis clubs are welcoming to new members, young and old. Just so long as they have the money.

In the grand scheme of things it isn't a huge amount of money- I pay a tenner a month for my gym- and there are overheads that need paying for. But let's not pretend it is an accessible sport.
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Tennis isn't a real sport.

That's a bit unfair.

Golf, on the other hand, really isn't a real sport.

Any competition where the winner is the person who's earned the most money is not a sport. It's competitive banking.

 

[DarloRich]

I would like to see the reaction of Serena Williams to that statement being made to her...

She is more than welcome to pop over for a chat over a jaffa cake and a brew. It might be best for her to come on the bus. Parking is terrible and you need a permit

That's a bit unfair.

Golf, on the other hand, really isn't a real sport.

Any competition where the winner is the person who's earned the most money is not a sport. It's competitive banking.

Neither of them are snooker are they

 

[misterredmist]

...Aye

 

[Clip]

Surely Hungarian Australian English -- and a far more attractive character than Murray.

?

Very true.

By the way, does anyone else share my loathing of the term "Brit", now very much taken up by the BBC, which I always associate with the terminology used by the IRA and their North American supporters to describe the people of the larger island, but with special reference to the English

No.

 

[St Rollox]

Scottish Tennis failure Andy Murray crashes out? British Tennis hero Murray powers through? Murray comes over as such a miserable, dour, Caledonian so and so that I find it impossible to like him. I have never forgiven him for that any one but England "joke" in any event.

Who cares anyway? Tennis isn't a real sport.

I heard strangers more than once mention Murray being somewhere "on the spectrum"???

 

[Bevan Price]

I don't mean the players - they are clearly prime examples of physical fitness. I mean the types of people who watch the sport, particularly at Wimbledon.

Effete: affected, over-refined, and ineffectual or (of a man) weak or effeminate. take your pick. Either definition works.

As for the sport it does not have appeal to the majority. it has a perception amount many people as being inaccessible, aloof, privileged, snobby, elitist, expensive, middle class and private. Clubs are not seen as welcoming places with silly dress codes and outdated rules. That may be wrong but it is the perception that the governing body of the sport have to change. Why aren't they, especially with the relative success of British players recently?

A sport has to have a wide appeal to create a base of players. Children aren't going into Tennis in great numbers. I had to search for a local tennis club just now. With many other sports I know where they are based. That cant be a good thing.


.

So I presume you share a similar opinion of golf (dress codes, expensive clubs, etc.) and horse racing (unaffordable for most people to own a horse, etc. )

Or that engineering competition masquerading as sport, F1 car racing ?

 

[Butts]

I think the "anyone but the English" jibe is an urban myth - he can hardly be described as being anti - English when his wife is English and he lives in Surrey

I think he has achieved quite a lot after that "Thomas Hamilton" incident in his childhood (younger members google it) which could have scarred him for life.

He is outside the tennis establishment as was Fred Perry in his day. Tim Henman was definitely "in" through no fault of his own.