Well andy murray has just made a fine start to the 2009 tennis season by winning the season opner in abu dhabi, he beat rafael nadal (big coup) in the final aswell as knocking out federer and blake on the way, surely we have a british grand slam winner in 2009?

Yes.

Murray's on fire, he beat Federer AGAIN today

Well played Murray - isn't that five wins out of seven against Federer or something?

Yep, he should go on to win it now, seeing he's playing Roddick in the final

Is he British now then?

Anyhooo.... he may not be fot for the final today, got a bad back.

I've seen enough tennis over the years to know that a player in such devastating form as Andy Murray will win a Major this year. He is already far better than Tim Henman ever was and I expect him to win either the Australian or US Open where he is clearly at home on the harder courts. The French he may never get near to winning and Wimbledon may not suit his style either though other similar players have gone on to win there also.

He is British by the way

I hope it's wimbldeon, I know he prefers hardcourts but with the crowd on his side you never know, wimbldeon means so much more than any ohter major. I think beating nadal again a few weeks ago was what assured me that he is capable of a grand slam, he can beat federer any day of the week, but that second scalp against nadal will hopefully give him a physcological edge. should be a good year

Apparently, Andy Murray's maternal grandmother hails from Newcastle.....which makes him quarter Geordie

Anyway heres the draw for the Australian Open

MENS TOP 8 SEEDS
1. Rafael Nadal (SPA) ...... v ...... Cristophe Rochus (BEL)
2. Roger Federer (SUI) ...... v ...... Andreas Seppi (ITA)
3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) ...... v ...... Andrea Stoppini (ITA)
4. Andy Murray (GBR) ...... v ...... Andrei Pavel (ROM)
5. Jo Wilfried-Tsonga (FRA) ...... v ...... Juan Monaco (ARG)
6. Gilles Simon (FRA) ...... v ...... Pablo Andujar (SPA)
7. Andy Roddick (USA) ...... v ...... Bjorn Rehnqvist (SWE)
8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) ...... v ...... Mischa Zverev (GER)

WOMENS TOP 8 SEEDS AND TIES INVOLVING BRITISH PLAYERS
1. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) ...... v ...... Yvonne Meusberger (AUT)
2. Serena Williams (USA) ...... v ...... Yuan Meng (CHN)
3. Dinara Safina (RUS) ...... v ...... Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)
4. Elena Dementieva (RUS) ...... v ...... Kristina Barrois (GER)
5. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) ...... v ...... Julia Gorges (GER)
6. Venus Williams (USA) ...... v ...... Angelique Kerber (GER)
7. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) ...... v ...... Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) ...... v ...... Anastasia Rodinova (AUS)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Marion Bartoli (FRA) ...... v ...... Melanie South (GBR)
17. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) ...... v ...... Anne Keothavong (GBR) (could do well this year, now up to a world ranking of 53)
Monica Niculescu (ROM) ...... v ...... Katie O'Brien (GBR)
Anna-Lena Gronefeld (GER) ...... v ...... Elena Baltacha (GBR)

Well that was simple for Murray was'nt it?

Also well done to Elena Baltacha, the only british woman into round 2, she plays Amelie Mauresmo next

at least murray's match tommorow will be watchable, on around 9:30

Murray hits himself in the face with his racket:

Seriously though, he could go all the way if he plays like he did today, he breezed it.

Also Elena Baltacha, unlucky, she ran Mauresmo really close, i think she'll be a top 100 player very soon.

Going into the 2nd week

MENS SINGLES - 4th ROUND DRAW
1. Rafael Nadal (SPA) ........ v ........ 13. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
6. Gilles Simon (FRA) ........ v ........ 12. Gael Monfils (FRA)
4. Andy Murray (GBR) ........ v ........ 14. Fernando Alonso (SPA)
5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ........ v ........ 9. James Blake (USA)
7. Andy Roddick (USA) ........ v ........ 21. Tommy Robredo (SPA)
3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) ........ v ........ Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) ........ v ........ 19. Marin Cilic (CRO)
2. Roger Federer (SUI) ........ v ........ 20. Thomas Berdych (CZE)

WOMENS SINGLES - 4th ROUND DRAW
1. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) ........ v ........ 16. Marion Bartoli (FRA)
7. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) ........ v ........ 10. Nadia Petrova (RUS)
3. Dinara Safina (RUS) ........ v ........ 15. Alize Cornet (FRA)
29. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) ........ v ........ Jelena Dokic (AUS)
21. Anabel Medina Garrigues (SPA) ........ v ........ Carla Suarez Navarro (SPA)
4. Elena Dementieva (RUS) ........ v ........ 18. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) ........ v ........ 22. Zheng Jie (CHN)
2. Serena Williams (USA) ........ v ........ 13. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

Fernando Alonso thought he was that annoying idiot who fell out with young Lewis Hamilton,anyhow don't matter Murrary will still win.

i hope the whinging scottish twat gets knocked out.

should be an easy win for a tennis player aginst a f1 driver

verdasco u mean

Bloody spaniards called Fernando, too many of them

Yep, its Fernando VERDASCO

He lost in 5 sets. Weena.

Very dissapointed, Murray had him at 2 sets to one and let the spaniard back in.

Not sure if the heat got to him or his flu affected him but Murray did look tired in the fifth set. Congrats to Verdasco but what is really annoying is that overall, Murray actually won more points than his opponent over the course of the game!

Scottish bottler.

:)

flippin scots!


roger for me now

Verdasco won it on one factor, his monster serve, Murray just could'nt cope with it. Oh well, roll on the French Open for scotland's finest

Dont know what you think but im actually more impressed with the British women, managing to get 4 of them to successfully qualify (2 of them automatically) is great for British womens tennis, Keothavong's already on the verge of the top 50 plus i would'nt be suprised if Baltacha and South both break into the worlds top 100, oh and theres still Laura Robson to come, both she and Heather Watson are in the last 32 of the girls junior singles

Both Robson and Watson won their 2nd round games over night in the girls singles

GIRLS SINGLES LAST 16 LINEUP

1. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) ........ v ........ Olivia Rogowska (RUS)
2. Ana Bogdan (BLR) ........ v ........ Ksenia Kirillova (RUS)
3. Ksenia Pervak (RUS) ........ v ........ Beatrice Gumulya (INA)
4. Elena Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ Yana Buchina (RUS)
5. Laura Robson (GBR) ........ v ........ Silvia Njiric (CRO)
7. Kristina Mladenovic (RUS) ........ v ........ Victoria Kamenskaya (RUS)
8. Lauren Embree (USA) ........ v ........ Anna Orilik (BLR)
Miyabi Inoue (JPN) ........ v ........ Heather Watson (GBR)

Also very suprising to see Djokovic retire from his quarter-final against Roddick today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7847927.stm


anyone seen this

apparently jamie murray hasn't been doing well recently, so we are screwed in davis cup, we need sme better youngsters coming through

give me strength

absolute masterclass from the swiss genius there, quater final of a grand slam against the number 8 seed, and federer demolishes him, 6-3 6-0 6-0.
nothing will stop him now,what a player and what a performance

I felt for his opponent, Del Potro, he was simply blown away by Roger.

Both british girls have won through to the quarter finals of the Girls singles, Robson is still yet to drop a set.

GIRLS SINGLES QUARTER FINAL DRAW

1. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) ........ v ........ Anna Orlik (BLR)
2. Ana Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ 7. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
3. Ksenia Pervak (RUS) ........ v ........ Heather Watson (GBR)
4. Elena Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ 5. Laura Robson (GBR)

Laura Robson won again, she was one set up against the number 4 seed Elena Bogdan when the romanian retired injured, In the semis she'll have a repeat of the Wimbledon girls final against the number 1 seed, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn from Thailand. Heather Watson though is out, losing in straight sets against the number 3 seed Ksenia Pervak

GIRLS SINGLES - SEMI FINAL DRAW

1. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) ........ v ........ 5. Laura Robson (GBR)
2. Ana Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ 3. Ksenia Pervak (RUS)

Robson into final

justw atching nadal v verdasco. cerdasco takes 1st set on a tie break.
I think this title is federers

5 hours 17 minutes (well i only watched the final hour) but what a fight Verdasco put up.

Here's hoping Laura Robson wins that junior girls final overnight, if she does, then she might just get that wildcard to Wimbledon later this year

Robson was totally outclassed in the final by Pervak, at least though she's had a cracking 2 weeks and will go home with some good hard earned prize money.

Same goes for Dinara Safina, crushed in just 58 minutes by Serena Williams in the womens final, ouch

didn't catch the womens final but heard it was very one sided, can't wait for tommorows mens final, should be a cracker, but I think Federer will show his class, im going for a 4 set victory for fed

good final I suppose, but I'm a big federer fan,so really dissapointed he lost, I f it wasnt for a few errors he could have won that match, I really hope he gets those 2 more grand slams, because on topo from he is the best player I've ever seen

aye me to,
the difference today was the break points won ,fed won only 6 from 19 great match though,I had 4 against me ,the misses and all the brats wanted rafa

I'm actually a massive Nadal fan (due to seeing him as an 18yr old win the heineken open over here) so always glad to see him win.

1 thing is both Federer and Nadal to me seem like genuinely nice guys, which is strange for top sportsman

Updated World Rankings

MENS
1. Rafael Nadal - SPA
2. Roger Federer - SUI
3. Novak Djokovic - SRB
4. Andy Murray - GBR
5. Nikolay Davydenko - RUS
6. Andy Roddick - USA - UP 3
7. Juan Martin Del Potro - ARG - DOWN 1
8. Gilles Simon - FRA
9. Fernando Verdasco - SPA - UP 6
10. David Nalbandian - ARG - UP 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
181. Alex Bogdanovic - GBR - UP 4
195. Josh Goodall - GBR - UP 9

WOMENS
1. Serena Williams - USA - UP 1
2. Dinara Safina - RUS - UP 1
3. Jelena Jankovic - SRB - DOWN 2
4. Elena Dementieva - RUS
5. Vera Zvonareva - RUS - UP 2
6. Venus Williams - USA
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova - RUS - UP 1
8. Ana Ivanovic - SRB - DOWN 3
9. Agnieszka Radwanska - POL - UP 1
10. Nadia Petrova - RUS - UP 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
54. Anne Keothavong - GBR - DOWN 1
99. Melanie South - GBR - UP 3
108. Elena Baltacha - GBR - UP 26
155. Katie O'Brien - GBR - UP 5
514. Laura Robson - GBR - NEW ENTRY

federer GBR? hell yes

silly moi

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7983446.stm
good for murray win in the masters today, he beat djokovic 6-4 7-5 (coming from 4-1 down in second set) and is closing in on the world number 3 spot

Federer beats Nadal on clay! lets just hope he can repeat it at the french open
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8054525.stm
also, there was a match at wimbledon introducing the new centre court roof, with Agassi, Henman, Graf and Clijsters.

I think its a one off, Nadal always saves himself for this one grand slam

Draws for the french open starting on Monday

MENS SINGLES - TOP 10 SEEDS (Seeded players on left)

1. Rafael Nadal (SPA) ........ v ........ Marcos Daniel (BRA)
2. Roger Federer (SUI) ........ v ........ Alberto Martin (SPA)
3. Andy Murray (GBR) ........ v ........ Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)
4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) ........ v ........ Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) ........ v ........ Michael Llodra (FRA)
6. Andy Roddick (USA) ........ v ........ Romain Jouan (FRA)
7. Gilles Simon (FRA) ........ v ........ Wayne Odesnik (USA)
8. Fernando Verdasco (SPA) ........ v ........ Florent Serra (FRA)
9. Jo Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ........ v ........ Julien Bennetau (FRA)
10. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) ........ v ........ Stefan Koubek (AUT)

WOMENS SINGLES - TOP 10 SEEDS (Seeded players on left)
* Number 6 seed Vera Zvonareva pulled out injured

1. Dinara Safina (RUS) ........ v ........ Anne Keothavong (GBR)
2. Serena Williams (USA) ........ v ........ Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
3. Venus Williams (USA) ........ v ........ Bethanie Mattek (USA)
4. Elena Dementieva (RUS) ........ v ........ Chanelle Sheepers (RSA)
5. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) ........ v ........ Petra Cetkovska (CZE)
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) ........ v ........ Claire Feuerstein (FRA)
8. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) ........ v ........ Sara Errani (FRA)
9. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) ........ v ........ Roberta Vinci (ITA)
10. Caroline Wozinacki (DEN) ........ v ........ Vera Duschevina (RUS)
11. Nadia Petrova (RUS) ........ v ........ Lauren Embree (USA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melanie South (GBR) ........ v ........ Michelle Larter de Brito (POR)
Katie O'Brien (GBR) ........ v ........ Olga Govortsova (BLR)

well big suprise there, 4 times regining champ nadal is out!
hopefully federer can get his hands on the trophy for the first time

Murray now has a chance of getting to a major final. Won't win though, he's pretty poor on clay.

Its really opened up the draw that, both Nadal and Djokovic are out, and Federer doesnt have an easy game against Tommy Haas tomorrow.

Oh the juniors start tomorrow, Laura Robson is the top seed leading a decent British contingent

GIRLS FIRST ROUND - TOP SEEDS

1. Laura Robson (GBR) ........ v ........ Karina Pimkina (RUS)
2. Ana Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ Lesley Kerkhove (NED)
3. Ksenia Pervak (RUS) ........ v ........ Vivien Juhasova (SVK)
4. Timea Babos (HUN) ........ v ........ Hannah James (GBR)
5. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) ........ v ........ Richel Hogenkamp (NED)
6. Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) ........ v ........ Clothilde de Bernardi (FRA)
7. Lauren Embree (USA) ........ v ........ Nastja Kolar (SLO)
8. Elena Bogdan (ROM) ........ v ........ Grace Idisora (INA)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Heather Watson (GBR) ........ v ........ Gracia Radanovic (FRA)
Stephanie Cornish (GBR) ........ v ........ Solene Ficheux (FRA)

nadal + djokovic out and federe down 2 sets, what is happening this year!

He got through though, what a comeback.

Of the juniors... Cornish, James and Watson are all out, Robson though won through to Round 2 coming back from a set down.