By: mokibra

mokibra — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:20:38 +0000

Anyone who has played this game understands that the imperative is to sometimes hit to the opponents strength, in order to open opportunity to the weaker side. As in Federer’s rivalry with Nada, Murray is a poor matchup for Rafa. Why. Murray has a diversified game, capable of keeping Nadal off balance. Critical is that Murray’s stronger side is his backhand, Murray is a tall man with two hands, has less difficulty handling the heavy ball up high. I agree completely that strategically it was wise for Murray to play deep on the return, again, he moves well enough, and secondly two-hands afford him more variety on the return, than Federer. However, in the final analysis I believe this match was rather more of an anomaly, than one that will lend to predictable results in the future. I believe Rafa played a poor match, for Rafa, and never really found his form. I believe the rain delays, and the extremely heavy conditions were also instrumental in this defeat. Having watched the match, what stood out most for me was Nadal’s inability to hit deep, his shots were predominantly landing in the service box or a foot beyond enabling Murray easy access to the net with penetrating approaches. I recall Nadal sending racket after racket off court in an effort to gauge the right tension, to accommodat the conditions, heavy air, heavy balls. Nadal never achieved any comfort in this match, and in my opinion never got his game in full flight. Granted Murray had much to do with this as Murray feasted off the short-ball time and time again. I don’t like to go beyond what is clearly present in a match, much prefering to simply view that which is the actual construct of the Match: without speculating as to injury or fatique, in this instance, in light of year Nadal had I would say there is a chance that he simply could not muster the needed energy to compete at a level we are accustomed, or he is accustomed to. If there is any validity to this assertion, it would be found evidenced b the fact that Nadal ostensibly withdrew from the tour for the remainder of the year, with rumoured shoulder and knee injuries. Ostensibly not returning until the Austrailian of 09. Therefore, though I agree the analysis of Murray’s “tactics” carry weight; I would also caution that this match and thus the Murray win, carry’s an asterisk*………the validity of this win will only be bourne out with a string of successes against Nadal by Murray. Though I have questioned this performance by Nadal, and have weighed it thoroughly, in the context of my prediction for 2009 that Nadal will be the first Man in Tennis History to hold all four titles on four different surfaces in a calander year. Aloha…..Mokibra

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:56:00 +0000

They are good tactics, however I feel a fresh nadal would have punished Murray a lot more with that forehand, and won’t work on clay attacking Nadal’s forehand….

By: george

george — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:05:35 +0000

As a Federer fan, I hope he took note of Murray’s tactics and use them in future encounters against Rafa. I especially agree that Roger should stand back a bit while receiving Rafa’s serve since I recall him missing a lot of seemingly easy returns in there recent matches.
How well would these tactics work against a less tired Nadal, especially on clay?

Comments on: 4 Tennis Tactics Murray Used To Outplay Nadal

By: mokibra

By: Jim

By: george