leicsmac

I did say in the Quarters of a Slam Slams are a different beast, even for Murray, dontcha know. And incidentally that last time was here in 2010 to Berdych. Agree with you about him being weak on clay though, Berdych, Ferrer and possibly Del P I'd all put as favourites against him in a match here. It's never been his strongest surface, and I don't think he'll ever get to a standard to challenge the top 3 on it. Grass and the US hardcourts are where it's at for Murray. This is just going to be him trying to make a SF and defend his ranking points.

Quarter to Ferrer or semi to Nadal, I reckon. That's depending one whether the knock he's carrying makes it even more difficult for him As for the perennial 'top 4' question...here's my take. Djokovic Nadal Federer DECENT SIZE GAP Murray MASSIVE MASSIVE MAHOOOOOOOSSIIIIIVVVEEEE GAP Everyone else. Statistically Murray is quite a bit behind the top 3, and way ahead of everyone else. In terms of head-to-heads, the gap between Murray and the top 3 is a little bit closer, and he's further away from everyone else. I saw enough in the Aus Open SF against Djokovic to suggest in one-off encounters the gap might be closing, but whether that's just a flash in the pan remains to be seen. PS. Know you were being laconic but 'Quarter final exit' is a wee bit disingenuous - when was the last time Murray actually lost in the QF of a Slam?

Can't look past Nadal here this year - he's beaten Djokovic twice on clay this year already. Think Nole would make him work for it though.

Grand Slam time again folks - this time on the red dirt of Paris. Expect rowdy fans, endless baseline rallies and another Nadal - Djokovic final. Murray plays Tatsuma Ito of Japan later today in the first round - has a decent draw but he's carrying a back injury (apparently). Got a tough potential quarter final against world no.6 Ferrer who is very handy on clay. Also some potential banana skins earlier on too. Federer and Djokovic both won their respective 1st rounders yesterday, and Nadal is playing his later today. Federer could potentially play either Del Potro or Berdych in the QF which could be tasty. Djokovic has claycourt specialist Verdasco and home favourite Tsonga in his quarter. Nadal...well, Nadal isn't going to face anyone who can trouble him on this surface until the semifinal, most likely. Should be a good six weeks coming up - French Open, Queens and Wimbledon!

Living in Korea, when I visit any city with a subway system I see this all the time. Amazing eh? The herd mentality is strong here.

Fantastic match...Djoko showing why he's world no.1.

Agree with you about the top 3 being better then Murray, particularly at the Slams (the record speaks for itself). Disagree with your insinuation that it's always going to be that way. I think the gap is closing.

Murrays game in the first set wasn't anywhere near his best - his serve was all over the shop. And in the fourth he just didn't seem to want to try. In the other three sets I think he was playing at about the limit. Agree with you on Djokovic looking a little tight at times too - thing is because of that it became a very close game, and what's to say Djokovic won't go into his next match with Murray feeling the same way? What I'm saying is based on that match the margin in ability between Murray and Djokovic in Slams appears to have decreased. What's to say it won't continue to do so? Come on man, don't be facetious. I'm assuming you watched the match and saw how damn close it was, especially considering how Murray got wiped out by Djokovic the last time they met in a Slam. What's to say the next match won't be even closer? Last night showed a lot of progression, particularly in Murrays mental state - and that's key.

And exactly how much was there in terms of ability between Murray and Djokovic last night, in all aspects?

Djokovic favourite, seriously? Might have a bet on Nadal myself.

What a match. I think today Murray showed he (if he applies himself mentally more) can mix it with the top 3 at the business end of Slams. There's no disgrace in this defeat. The old Murray would have folded when he went a set and a break down. The new one fought back. Obviously there were some 'what if' moments there (the point at 5-5 30-40 in the finale was a key one), but I think this result does show positivity for Murray in the future because today there was next to nothing between him and Djokovic in terms of skill and mental strength. If he can push on from this, I think he has every chance of breaking his Slam duck. As for the final...well, Djoko is pretty damn hardcore, but I think this match may have taken too much out of him for him to be able to deal with Nadal.

Yeah - both Djokovic and Nadal know they can beat him in Slams now, and it's likely that if he wants to win another he'll have to play both. Unlikely. He's still got the ability there, but both of the players above him can just outlast him.

Yeah - I think we'll know a lot more about Rogers return to form and Murray's possible mentality shift in the next 48 hours, as they're both playing the toughest opponents it is possible to face for them, IMO. I'm just hoping for three great matches from here, and I do hope Murray can acquit himself well and get this fvcking Slam millstone off of his neck.

Yeah...only 2 wins (both against Nadal) from 9 in Slams against the big 3 is not a good record. Still, the only one of the big 3 to put him out in Slams before the final up to now is Nadal so you never know... And on a more serious note, Djokos results against Fed and Nadal in Slams were appalling until this time last year. But he had a massive mentality change. We'll see if Murray is capable of that too - as I said before, the problem is between his ears, not with his play. We'll see if Lendl can help there pretty soon. As for Roger - he's got so much natural talent and he's a brilliant player even at this age, but I always get the air of a Schumacher about him - lots of arrogance and conceit to go with the skill. He's had a great tournament, however - definite regular flashes of the old genius.

Yeah, the serve was fvcking awful today - if he serves like that against Djoko he'll be murdered. But then he knows that too - for me that match will come down to who is better on the day in terms of mentality, because I think in terms of ability they're practically on a par. But for the last year or so Nole has been the most mentally strong person on the Tour. On Friday...we'll see exactly how much Lendl has been able to do as Murray's coach in terms of his mentality.

Top 4 all into the semifinals. Couldn't see that coming... Djoko obviously a decent favourite against Murray in one semifinal, but Murrays been on good form this week himself. Should be interesting. Federer-Nadal...well, that's impossible to predict.

All going pretty According To Hoyle at the moment. Tomic gave Federer a decent match. Murray's opponent (Kukushkin, beat Monfils in previous round) was knackered pretty much from the moment he stepped onto court so it was laughably one-sided. Djoko playing Hewitt later - might go to 4 if the crowd can lift Hewitt enough to grab one set.

Murray through to fourth round - Monfils out! Hugely entertaining match and if anyone thinks Murray doesn't have a personality, check out the postmatch interview. It might surprise you.

Yeah, that's my bad - thought he would play Fed in the QF, not R4. Think he'll push Fed but won't win. Definitely got a bright future - playing style actually reminds me of Murray at the same age. Speaking of which...Murray playing a hugely entertaining match against Llodra at the moment - some of it is pure exhibition stuff. The game that Murray won to take the 2nd set is one that'll be replayed again and again.

Was watching that match but the bastard coverage turned over to an advert just before it happened. They didn't even show a replay! Bet it'll be on The Tube soon though. That was a great game...the crowd were nuts. Baghdatis games in Aus are always good value for that reason. Kudos to Tomic for a gutsy win there - still have him pegged for the QF's. Murray to play today against a French qualifier - believe he's played him once before and it went to 5 sets...can't see that happening here though.

Been some amazing matches so far - great to watch. SoccerooFoxs favourite Bernie Tomic currently locked at all square in the third with Sam Querrey. Could go either way. John Isner (he of the 70-68 final set at Wimby year before last) just finished another marathon against David Nalbandian...10-8 in the fifth it finished. Great entertainment.

Tomic = decent run to the QF's and a heroic loss to Federer. He's not quite the finished article yet. But he's certainly got potential.

British tennis bar Murray is ridiculously crap, but then that's common knowledge. Both Monfils and Tsonga are damn good players but they're inconsistent - they can both hit you off the court and cause even the top 4 trouble if they're in the mood, or they can fold like a deck of cards. Monfils has more off days than Tsonga, which is why he has a lower ranking. FWIW I think one of them will go out before they even get to Murray, and unless they are on one of their white-hot days I'd pick Murray to outlast either of them in a best-of-5 set match, purely on consistency. The potential for a shock is there, though. Can't look past Djokovic for the other semifinal spot, and I do think that whoever wins out of Djoko and Murray will win the whole thing, as Nadal is carrying an injury and Federers stamina is beginning to flag due to his age - and I think both Djokovic or Murray could take advantage of those things. Of course you have to make Djoko a favourite in a semifinal matchup against Murray, but I think addition of Lendl (a man who has been exactly through what Murray is going through) to Murrays coaching team will perhaps give him a way to get that mental strength in crucial GS matches that he's been somewhat lacking up to now. Do like the Aus Open, as I'm working in the Far East now it's on at a good time for me too.

Legalise and tax the shit out of. No worse than alcohol for causing antisocial behaviour or disorders that would plague the NHS and the Treasury coffers could certainly do with the massive boost a tax on this would give.