Tennis

[ScouseFox]

YESSSSSSS

[marko]

Mrs Federer gracious in defeat and applauding Andy... oh wait!!!

[ScouseFox]

Murray played two of the best matches he could ever play against the best two players in the world. What a boss. Olympic champion! Delighted.

[Tielemans63]

Wow. What a performance. Let's hope he's found that extra belief to win a slam.

[leicsmac]

I've been watching Murray since his breakthrough in 2005, and I've never ever seen him play that well. Utter pinnacle.

Also...beating Federer in a BO5 final could well give him that extra belief the next time he makes a Slam final - which he will.

[Guest Bilo]

Murray wins the gold for Great Britain.

Murray stands and sings God Save the Queen.

Murray wraps himself in a Union Flag and basks in the adulation of the crowd.

Salmond cries into his Tennents Super.

[leicsmac]

Stick your neck out and make a prediction

I'll go with Federer, too much class and mentally has Murray in these situations, I'd have given Murray a dtrong chance over 3 sets mind.....

This match was over 3 sets.

[Trav Le Bleu]

And Murray goes marching on in the Mixed Doubles.

[purpleronnie]

And Murray goes marching on in the Mixed Doubles.

Empty seats for the final, I guess we haven't learned.

[Guest Bilo]

Destroying the Belarusian pair at the moment.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Less so now...

[Guest Bilo]

Aye, tide has turned considerably. Set point.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Gold medal point to the Belarussians...

saved one...

and another...

[Guest Bilo]

Silver for Murray and Robson.

Still a pretty good afternoon for Murray though!

[marko]

Booooo, I blame Bilo for jinxing them

[Tielemans63]

Robson is a prospect but she needs to work on that backhand - couldn't even keep it in the court half the time.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I blame the Aussie!

[Guest Bilo]

Booooo, I blame Bilo for jinxing them

Don't blame me, blame fooking Wellens.

[foxesfan1989]

Looks like Andy is going to overcome the old man to reach another masters final! Djok awaits the winner there, been a good tournament!

[marko]

I bet the ball boy saved that for dinner!

[Guest MattP]

Got to hand it to Murray, he's got milk at the minute.

[leicsmac]

Got to hand it to Murray, he's got milk at the minute.

Seems like as well as coaching him, Lendl recommended the same sports psychologist that he himself has used in the past to Murray.

The resultant increase in his mental strength speaks for itself in the results he's had recently. I've watched him since he won the junior USO in 2004 and he's always had the natural ability (remember him being the only guy to beat Federer except Nadal in his amazing 2006 campaign)...his weakness was always between the ears. That weakness now seems to be practically removed.

I would actually make him at least even against Djoko on all surfaces except clay now (possibly a marginal favourite in BO3 matches), and a favourite against Fed on hardcourts, even money on clay/grass.

In fact - on any surface but clay - I reckon when any of the top 3 are playing each other you may as well flip a coin, it's that close.

Big question is now can Murray take advantage of the form he has at the moment, have a good end of year in London and (more importantly) back up his first Slam with another in Aus next January? Think if he does well at the World Tour Finals he'll be a (marginal) favourite.

[Guest shearfox]

First set Murray 7-5. Best racquet smash I have ever seen by Djokovic there.

[leicsmac]

Sensational racquet abuse from Nole. Hopefully there'll be a Youtube clip up of it soon.

Murray looking good to continue his record of never having lost in the Shanghai Masters here.

[Guest shearfox]

One game away from retaining his title and unbeaten record at shanghai.