Andy Murray earned his 46th ATP singles title today beating Stan Wawrinka in Antwerp 36 64 64 to win the European Cup.
It’s the first title for Murray since 2017 and his hip surgery earlier this year.
“It means a lot. The past few years have been extremely difficult. Both me and Stan have had a lot of injury problems in the past couple of years. Amazing to be back playing against him in a final like that. I think it was a great match,” Murray said on court after his victory. “I didn’t expect to be in this position at all, so I’m very happy.”
Murray, 32 years old and ranked 243, leads the head to head with Stan now 12-8.
Murray, down a set and break earlier in the match today, clinched the title when Wawrinka missed an inside in forehand wide. Murray managed to beat some formidable competitors this week en route to the ATP 250 title – Kimmer Coppejans, Pablo Cuevas, Marius Copil and Ugo Humbert. Humbert and Copil also pushed Murray to the three set limit.
“Stan is a brilliant player. He’s won many, many big tournaments. He always plays extremely well in the big matches,” Murray said. “We know each other’s games well. We played many tough matches in the past. I expected another one today and that was what I got.”
Andy Murray · Facing Andy Murray
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« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »Andrew Miller · October 24, 2019 at 9:07 am
Hartt sadly yes Yastremska strikes me as a player with a high octane juniors game on steroids on tour. I mean that in a negative way. She hits the cover off the ball, and shows light evidence of thinking. Mostly she attempts from what I can tell to blow her opponent away, so it’s a battle of wills and whoever keeps their head down when she plays someone like Vekic
Some players substitute all out aggression for more informed playing. Yastremska strikes me as a member of that club. It’s nice to see a smaller player wallop the ball. But don’t confuse her with Diego Schwartzmann, another small player who does way more with less. There’s little to know resourcefulness in the Yastremska game, and I’d guess when the chips are down there’s no plan B or plan C. There may not even be a plan A.
Hartt · October 24, 2019 at 9:12 am
Wow, regarding Yastremska, maybe no Plan A? I haven’t seen much of her, but a poster on another site who follows the WTA closely, does not like her at all, so I was somewhat prejudiced even before your post.
But I don’t watch the ball bashers in any case, unless they are playing someone I like a lot.
Andrew Miller · October 24, 2019 at 9:15 am
Maybe Giorgi and Yastremska are similar. I like Giorgi more because her groundies are A+ and she’s an adrenaline player. But if you’re looking for that pace with some thoughtfulness behind it, there’s Pavlyuchenkova of the last few weeks that backs up big groundstrokes with better patterns.
Yeah, Yastremska. I’ll have to look and see, Yastremska vs Giorgi is 1-1 with Yastremska taking their Wimbledon battle easily, and Giorgi winning a qualies. It’s like a battle of somewhat lost causes. A player has to be open to getting better. Just because you’re hitting someone off the court doesn’t mean you’re a better player today than a month ago.
Andrew Miller · October 24, 2019 at 9:18 am
Tignor at Tennis.com likes Yastremska:
“You put a shot-maker together with a fighter, and in the long run you usually end up with a winner.”
Only thing I can pick up is that she hits as hard as possible and has a drop shot. That’s it.
Andrew Miller · October 24, 2019 at 9:25 am
Muchova edges Riske, now vs Kenin today. Two smart players. This should be interesting.
catherine · October 24, 2019 at 9:36 am
Poor Dyana – I’ve seen her hit the odd volley or two.
catherine · October 24, 2019 at 9:43 am
And she’s only 19.I’ve seen her play some good matches.
After all – it took Kerber 13 years to win a GS and then she won 3. So I wouldn’t wipe out Yastremska yet.
catherine · October 24, 2019 at 10:43 am
https://www.ubitennis.net/2019/10/andy-murray-taking-high-risk-comeback-warns-top-hip-specialist/
Might make sense for Andy to play a year longer as well as possible then retire if this specialist is to be believed. He’s achieved pretty much all he wants I imagine.
catherine · October 24, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Zhuhai strikes me as rather boring this year. I’m not sure why they have the tournament at all. Why not just finish with the Finals ? We all know who’s the best.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Andrea Gaudenzi named ATP’s next head honcho to replace Chris Kermode. This move came out of the left field bullpen. No one called it. James Blake reveals he’s been working with Tiafoe, a coaching suggestion made at this site months ago.
Hartt · October 24, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Gaudenzi will be the Chairman, not the CEO, who is yet to be named.
Hartt · October 24, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Thiem lost the first set to Verdasco, but played great tennis to take the next 2 sets easily. He is a joy to watch when he plays like that.
I hope he can win his home tourney. If he continues to play like he did in those two sets he has an excellent chance to do just that.
Scoop Malinowski · October 24, 2019 at 2:41 pm
This was the first time Thiem has beaten Verdasco, 1-4 now.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 7:06 am
Muchova d. Kenin in 3 tough sets in Zhuhai. What a match. Kenin played ferociously (she is better and faster if you can believe it) and Muchova played out of this world. She was serving huge as well. Hitting volleys behind Kenin (if you can play this way more power to you!), hitting inside out backhands like Serena Williams of the past. This was amazing tennis.
I think Kenin is going to keep doing well, she’s got the tennis algorithm going where she figures out patterns. Muchova won in part because she channeled some Medvedev from the US Open, took the game to Kenin, pumped up the mph and began hitting crazy shots.
We’re lucky to have this player in the game. I’ve felt this way a few times, where you’re seeing something special out there for a period – Seles, Serena Williams, Henin, Mauresmo sometimes, Henin, Jamie Hampton, Osaka, Andreescu. Now Muchova. I don’t know how far she’ll go but she’s fun to watch.
Hitting behind a player, that’s good stuff. Volleying behind them! Hitting a slow then a fast serve. Hopefully she has a backhand volley lob in her. I’m waiting to see what shot she’ll think up.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 7:25 am
Who was Jamie Hampton ?
I saw most of that match live – pretty good but it had some scrappy patches.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 8:11 am
Kenin had strapping on her left thigh partway through the match – she’s had that problem before. Let’s hope it’s not chronic. Muchova has a more athletic build I think and is able to twist her body around more on some of those volleys and retrieves. Looks like she hasn’t a clothing sponsor – why on earth ?
I don’t know, – I can’t get enthused for this event – it could be the greatest tennis in the world and I’d think – oh, ok. I understand why a couple of players gave it a miss.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 8:39 am
The old thigh wrap bit. Bet her movement looked perfect despite the wrapping.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 8:44 am
Jamie Hampton was a young American who suddenly emerged in her early 20s out of nowhere and she got to about the top 30, then suddenly had to retire due to a hip problem. But she had a nice smooth game and a cool head. She was a nice player to watch, she reminded me of Rios, her smooth movement. I wrote about her here, search the search bar Jamie Hampton.
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 8:46 am
Kenin is as cold blooded a player as you will ever see, she has been that way since she was a kid when we saw her with Rick Macci. As tough a competitor as you can find. She is not the most talented as an athlete, but a very smart and tough fighter.
On another subject, just read a USTA report that kids are quitting tennis in the US at a record pace. 5000 between the ages of 8-17 quit in 2018 alone. Reasons cited were expense, pressure, and most of all the tournaments were not fun due to cheating and gamesmanship.
Thats the big one. Kids we have talked to over the years who quit say they would rather play a sport where they do not have to keep their own scores and argue about calls. Its certainly an environment that rewards aggressive personalities and chases away many other kids.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 8:46 am
I first saw Muchova this spring or summer, she won a final of a smaller event I think it was on Tennis Channel.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 8:54 am
Here is an old article I wrote about Hampton, she liked Nalbandian.
https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/jamie-hampton-is-reminding-me-of-marcelo-rios/
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 8:59 am
By the way Clervie Ngounoue is in China winning at the WTA future stars event. We will be hearing her name a lot in the future. The kid has some major game.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 8:59 am
Scoop – thanks – I’ll look up Jamie.
In answer to Jon K I’d agree about the exoense. I’d guess it’s the main reason kids in the UK either give up or don’t start in the first place. Tennis courts are expensive – you can’t play pick-up tennis – you need a surface, nets, lines etc. All have to be paid for.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 9:01 am
Muchova was #202 or so as of US Open 2018, where she qualied then beat Muguruza. Lost quickly to Barty a few days after the Mugu upset. Anyways – I hope we get to see more of her game, this style is fun. We’re fortunate to have a bunch of players that have some of the better combos seen on tour in a very long time. Personally I think Muchova has the best game, but the tour is so competitive that it’s going to be hard for this finesse first player to bully the top players. We shall see! I think she got hurt against Kenin, so her season may, may not be over.
If anything Kenin has become a much better athlete even in the last sixty days. Her game isn’t much different than it was this summer, but she does what she did better – her movement is better, she is faster than she was (funny how desire brings that out of a player), and she keeps her head down as she hits a shot she decides to hit.
Any player on tour that adopts the attitude of say Allison Riske and pairs it with a better game will win a lot. If it works for Riske it works for anyone. She is a confidence first player whose belief in her capabilities is so strong and competitiveness is so strong she wills herself through matches.
Could also call this learning how to Serena your way through a match. Any player can do this. Just there’s a ceiling to it – a player with a better game doing this should eclipse the player with the same level of aggression but more limited game.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 9:07 am
Jon, Clervie has everything, complete pro game at 12 and now 13 or 14. I saw her a year ago at Eddie Herr. Everything is there. She’s a machine. Strong volleys too, even from service line. She had some poor results recently (normal) but apparently is back on track. WHo is she beating?
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 9:07 am
Recommend Scoop’s pieces on Hampton! Another player that snuck up on the tour sporting a way of playing that pierced a lot of armour. She was one of the more exciting players to come along in terms of style of game. If any young player picks up even a few of the tactics used by Hampton they will win more matches. Frustrate the heck out of stronger or force only players. If you have power, pair it with finesse and knowledge. If you have finesse, develop power.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 9:08 am
Very interesting reading about Jamie H – not least all the comments from 6 years ago and comparing with now.
Days in the sun can be oh so brief.
I didn’t see Muchova hurt v Kenin. Is she going to be another Radwanska ?
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 9:14 am
Scoop, Clervie is playing the U14s so she is not losing a set. Even though she is still 13, she will have to play up in age to get competition. She and Kayla Cross from Canada are in the semis and will meet in the finals if they both win as expected.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 9:15 am
Scoop, have you seen the Muchova highlight reel for the last two weeks? It’s been insane. I swear I have seen these shots in the Rios playbook. Rios is/was better, but I think Muchova could learn even more of the Rios game and give it a winsome attitude. I don’t know if she can pull off even a Masters given you have to get through stronger players, who have the power and control. Muchova isn’t top ten material yet – she needs a few more things including the ability to win routine matches in straight sets and conserve some energy.
Anyways. Again, good to see someone play this way. She mixes it up and wins, and I think that’s good for fans.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 10:03 am
WTA site is so bad…I’m sorry players don’t complain. The site is hard to manuever and the writing often is pitiful. I’d compare the experience on the WTA website to a Giorgi post match handshake aka awful.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 10:13 am
Berretini d. Rublev. Berretini… we’ll be saying his name a lot next year because the Berretini train isn’t stopping. Rublev has been playing great but Berretini has been playing even better. Probably second best player during this stretch next to Medvedev (as big guys more or less sit this out!).
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 10:16 am
Andrew – I doubt the players spend 2 seconds reading the site. The Insider interviews are sometimes interesting but the rest is useless. You surely didn’t expect to find good writing there ? It’s a site for fans and commercial interests, if there are any, and PR.
Don’t waste your time. Actually, I don’t know where you’d find decent coverage of the women’s tour. Maybe tennis. com – I don’t like it now so don’t go there. Used to be good long ago when Bodo ran his blog.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 10:23 am
Bianca’s Nike outfit for Shenzhen will draw a few comments. Tennis Tonic have the IG. Is Coco A there ? I fear not. Maybe Hartt can tell us.
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 10:33 am
I think Bianca’s Nike outfit is pretty cool. We are not fans of the tennis dress in our group, most of the girls rock shorts over spandex of various lengths. We do thank goodness that the high sock fad has mostly passed. Nothing was funnier than going to a G12 tournament and half the girls wearing high socks up to their knees!
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 10:37 am
Catherine, expect WTA would at very least pay for decent copy on players. On occasion there’s a decent match report – today wasn’t it 🙁
The ATP puts together good match reports. Either they have better writers or better interns. The WTA has no excuses. If they can pay out record sums as they are at these year end tournaments (if that pot of money isn’t motivating parents to be tennis parents nothing will), they can invest in decent copy from people that know the sport and know how to write, or at least one of the two.
It was so bad I wonder whether it was written by an algorithm that threw together stories. It was bad.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 11:11 am
The high socks look must be outlawed.
Hartt · October 25, 2019 at 11:27 am
The WTA site is a crime. I agree with Catherine that the one bright spot is the WTA Insider.
There is no excuse for it being this bad. The ATP site is much better. They do some excellent interviews with players, often on video. Recently the ATP site has had a series of brief videos on the youngsters who will be in the Next Gen finals, and I’ve learned quite a bit about those players.
For WTA stuff I go to ubitennis.net, although because that site covers both the WTA and the ATP, the coverage is somewhat limited. One site that specializes in women’s tennis is “Women Who Serve,” although she does not post on a regular basis.
Hartt · October 25, 2019 at 11:33 am
On Match Call Migrants we’ve been having a lot of fun discussing the Shenzhen players’ outfits. We generally agree that Bianca’s Chinese-style dress is a nice idea, but it does not suit her. The worst dress, by far, is Simona’s, which is simply weird.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 11:42 am
Andrew – there’s very little good writing about the women’s game in general. Books about the men’s side proliferate but I’d be hard put to it think of a worthwhile read on the WTA side. I’d say Grace Lichtenstein’s ‘You’ve come a long way’ is probably the the best but that was long ago and the WTA made pretty sure no such access was permitted again.
Books mentioned on T-P are the fairly recent one on Althea Gibson (forgotten the author) and Julie Heldman’s autobiography – again, both about the past.
Otherwise, there are a few decent reporters around in the UK and US but they aren’t going to work for the WTA. Not a question of $$$ – more likely they’ll tell the truth.
Women tend to be much more reserved when it comes to revealing details of their public and private lives. And you don’t get those slightly embarrassing fan worship productions that men produce about other men. Women don’t do that.
Hartt liked Maria Sharapova’s book but I haven’t read it.
Petko writes well I think, but mainly in German, and she’s not going to be revealing any secrets.
Hartt · October 25, 2019 at 11:49 am
Yes, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Sharapova’s autobiography, because I’ve never been a fan. I put off reading it until I was totally desperate for a tennis book!
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 11:51 am
I get the impression the WTA doesn’t take its site seriously when it comes to writing. Much rather do fashion photos of the outrageous outfits players wear at the Players’ Parties etc.
It all seems slightly childish and a bit out of date.
Hartt – why don’t they just wear normal outfits at the Finals ? It’s supposed to be about tennis, not fashion. Or does the WTA suspect the tennis might not be good enough ?
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 11:54 am
Ha Scoop, yes indeed, the high socks look was never good even a little bit. Mattek-Sands was fine because she is a one of a kind personality and did it as a unique part of her thing. But some looks are best left to the very few people who can pull it off.
Junior girls are great at getting in and out of fads. These days its kinesio tape, even if they have no pains at all. And never mind that research shows that it does absolutely nothing physically and is just a placebo.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Sabalenka bts Mertens in another 3 set special. So Aryna has won 2 matches. I must rush to read the WTA report 🙂
Hartt · October 25, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Catherine, I often wonder if the WTA thinks that tennis isn’t enough and they need all this other stuff. It is not even just the outfits, but they have professional hair and makeup as well. Someone posted video of the players at the evening event. It wasn’t even a players’ party, because there were a lot of people (and it looked like mainly men) seated at tables. The players had to walk through the tables on their way to the stage, as though they were models. I cringed when I saw that.
Jon King · October 25, 2019 at 12:29 pm
I also cringe at the WTA player party stuff where the players look like they are being displayed. But then again so many of them use their Instagram to post lots of photos in outfits and poses on their own personal time so apparently many of them are into it.
Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2019 at 12:50 pm
You were totally desperate for a tennis book Hartt and you still bypassed mine? 🙂 Yes I loved the Maria book also, much better than expected, she revealed a LOT. Her story, her journey is amazing. Even if she seems cold hearted on and off court.
Hartt · October 25, 2019 at 1:04 pm
Scoop, I would love to buy your books, but I don’t order things online, partly because delivery is a big problem for me. Before I moved and sold hundreds and hundreds of books I vowed that I would no longer buy books – it was an addiction. I could only get books from the library. But I would have made an exception for some of your books.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 2:08 pm
WTA site has some good content. Emphasis on the word “some”. Player profiles are awful. The marketing side of it is hideous. There is no way players see themselves the way the WTA pitches. The pink site has to go. It’s bad.
catherine · October 25, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Well. I agree about the marketing side and I make sure I skip over it if I’m looking for something, which I seldom am.
What’s the ‘pink site’ ? If it’s what I think it is then yes, it should go.
Really, I think the people who developed the whole site are from the marketing and PR side of things and don’t know much about tennis at all, except it’s there to sell something.
Andrew Miller · October 25, 2019 at 3:58 pm
WTA site just has a lot of problems. To be mean, they emphasize glamour over game, and celebrity over competitors. These ladies are first class athletes. There’s no reason to have a terrible website that can’t get basic information right about top hundred players and that puts out puff pieces or simply poorly written ones.