Murray crashes out of the US Open-Simon Reed has to eat his words AGAIN!

While ESPN is once again showing the Serrena Williams match instead of something much more interesting (Tsonga vs Gonzalez), it gives me a chance to write this post for you. Andy Murray crashed out of the US Open today when he was given a tennis lesson by Marin Cilic. The score was 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. I can’t say this is much of a surprise to me, although I’m sure many people are shocked by the result. I did make him my second favorite for the title, but after I saw him against Capdeville I promoted Del Potro to my second favorite, and I still think he is on his way to the final. There is two reasons why I am not surprised about this loss. Murray has not stepped it up in the slams the way he was expected to, and the reason for it I have outlined before.

Murray is too defensive a player and pushes when the pressure is on. What does Roger do under pressure? He goes for his shots. No better example is needed than the inside out forehand he hit against Tommy Haas when he was down a virtual match point at the French Open this year. For me that is the difference between a champion and a choker. Fortune favors the brave and Murray is not brave when it matters. The other reason I am not surprised is because of Murray’s attitude. He is cocky and arrogant. Still don’t believe me? Look at this picture:

Just terrible sportsmanship. I’ve talked many a time about Murray’s annoying ‘Mon!’ when his opponents hit a double fault or make an unforced error. It’s childish and silly. You don’t see Roger or Rafa doing that. He just doesn’t strike me as classy or someone with the heart of a champion. Murray had two set points at 5-4 in the first set on Cilic’s serve, and when he failed to capitalize, Cilic made him pay in the next game by breaking him and served out the first set. That was the turning point and afterwards Murray never looked to be in the match, as Cilic broke him twice in both the second and third sets.

You have to say it was a pretty shocking performance from someone who was one of the pre tournament favorites, and the out right favorite of many. Of course he was the clear favorite of Simon Reed, who not only said that Murray will win the US Open, but also that Murray is the true world number one. I refer you to my article ‘Simon Read is a Clown’. It is this kind of hype about Murray that makes me believe even less that he is the real deal. Was Roger and Rafa hyped this way before they won their first grand slam? I doubt it. But even if they were, then at least they lived up to the hype. What so far makes people believe that Murray can win a grand slam? The fact that he won Masters Series events?

Many players have won Masters Series events that never won a grand slam. You don’t call a player the favorite to win a grand slam unless he has won at least one grand slam before. That should be obvious. You don’t count out someone that has won fifteen grand slams either. That should be even more obvious. I don’t care if Roger lost every match this whole year, but if you are the five time defending champion you are the favorite. Period. It’s sweet to see the so called experts and critics silenced time and time again. I really never get tired of it. Maybe this loss by Murray will make people appreciate even more what Roger has been able to do in the grand slams. Roger has now made 21 consecutive grand slams semi-finals, while someone as hyped up as Murray has never made two in a row!

Rafa now only has to beat Monfils to take back his number two spot in the rankings. Simon Reed’s true number one doesn’t even deserve to be number two. He is only there because Rafa got injured, and there is now a very good chance that he will already lose it today. Right after Murray lost I started getting traffic to my post ‘Simon Reed is a Clown‘. I think this is now the final straw for Reed. If Eurosport doesn’t fire him now they will start losing credibility. After this loss many people will want answers from Reed, but of course he doesn’t have any to give them. So when they do a search on Simon Reed they will find my blog, and find out that they have been lied to all this time. Maybe people will then start realizing that reading what the so called experts say is not so wise after all.

Fact is the so called experts make silly predictions just to get readers. It’s no secret. That’s one of the reasons I don’t have loads of readers. Why would I say dumb things to get readers? If I did that I would have no integrity like the rest of them, and I won’t be happy with myself. I’d rather have a small, loyal following that is interested in the truth and can appreciate real beauty on a tennis court. Murray is not beautiful on a tennis court, that much is sure. His junk balling and boring personality hardly makes tennis interesting for the fans, and neither does his arrogance. Anyway I’m wasting way too much time writing about something that I don’t like. Lets get back to something a little more interesting.

Last night after Djokovic beat Stepanek in three easy sets, he decided to have some fun with the crowd. In the post match interview he was joking around and then he asked Jon Mcenroe to come down from the commentary booth for a hit on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Of course Mac was not going to say no to a chance to entertain, and he came running without changing his clothes. He just put on a pair of tennis shoes and took off his tie. In the mean time Djokovic was doing one of his famous impressions when he imitated Mcenroe’s serve. After that they played three points and at one point Mcenroe threw his racquet after losing a point. It was just hilarious stuff and great to see the crowd embrace Djokovic after he fell out of favor with them last year.

Djokovic may not always be a classy individual but at least he entertains. Murray brings nothing to the table really. As far as the tennis goes, Djokovic looks awfully good for a semi-final spot. Today Del Potro easily disposed of Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. As I’m writing this post, Tsonga and Gonzalez is involved in an epic struggle, now tied at 3-3 in the fourth set with Gonzalez up two sets to one, after losing the first set. I’m still hoping Tsonga can pull off the win because I’d like to see him against Rafa. But of course Rafa still has to play Monfils tonight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he lost either. He certainly has to raise his level from his last match if he wants to get past Monfils. It definitely looks like Del Potro will make the semi-finals now, and he is also my favorite to make the final.

To me this kid deserves the hype, not Murray. With the exception of  Wimbledon he has done better then Murray in every slam this year. And aside from getting the results he is a humble young man who has great respect for the game and for champions like Roger. I mean his attitude is just light years better then Murray’s. If no one will hype this kid then I will do it. I think he will make the final of the US Open and will soon be in the top four, if not the top two. It’s just a question of time before he wins a grand slam as far as I’m concerned, and I predict he will pass Murray in the rankings in the not to distant future as well. He might even be Roger’s next big rival. With Rafa possibly on his way down and the marathon match Roger had with Del Potro had at the French Open, it could well happen.

I mean the guy has a serve that is a big weapon, he has huge ground strokes, he moves well for a big guy and his all court game is improving all the time. Actually I don’t remember if I have felt as excited about a player since Roger came on the scene. I just checked the scores again and unfortunately Tsonga lost, but all credit to Gonzalez who staged a great fight back. At least Gonzalez is an attacking player and will at least to some extent test Rafa. It doesn’t matter though because Del Potro will thoroughly test Rafa if they meet in the semi’s. Well the Williams match is thankfully almost over and the match I was waiting for is just about to start. Tomorrow will be two more blockbuster matches when Roger faces off against Soderling and Djokovic takes on Verdasco.

I don’t know about you but the US Open has probably become my favorite grand slam and I am having a blast watching how it unfolds. Good luck Rog!