Murray Struggling

[stotty]

Andy Murray is still struggling with his hip problem. I spoke to a physio last week who says a labral tear can be a real problem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/41917209

Andrew Castle, former British number one and commentator, doesn't like what he saw when Murray player Roger recently. Andrew had a hip replacement himself aged just 49.

Anyway, it's looking dodgy for Murray.

[klacr]

Will Andy Murray ever capture #1 again? Only when Fed, Nadal and Djokovic are out. Which is what happened in 2016. If Djokovic returns to glory which I believe he will, Murray will be the quintessential #2 all over again. If he can stay healthy.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

Yes, but when Fed, Nadal and the Joker are out, others are looming...

[arturohernandez]

I think Murray is done. He was lucky to be that good given his demeanor and his aversion to risk.

He is so wound up and the aggression goes inward.

Even Lendl the consummate introvert couldn't get him to turn his aggression outward.

Lendl's psychologist did all she could to help Murray.

He should be proud of his accomplishments given his roots.

But I don't think he will get back physically or mentally again.

It took too much out of him to get to where he got in the first place.

[don_budge]

Will Andy Murray ever capture #1 again? Only when Fed, Nadal and Djokovic are out. Which is what happened in 2016. If Djokovic returns to glory which I believe he will, Murray will be the quintessential #2 all over again. If he can stay healthy.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

That's a big if wouldn't you say klacr? That hip injury is a tricky one. It may never be the same. But here is some more news for Andy Murray fans. Ivan Lendl has once more jumped ship. An unlikely pair from the start. Lendl is too much for Murray to get his head around. This article raises the specter that Ivan was looking for more money.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/17/andy-murray-ivan-lendl-split-coach-tennis

The tour certainly could use a healthy Andy Murray. He didn't look all that good in the exhibition against Roger Federer. These guys are going about it the hard way. All of that dashing from side to side. What a mistake. Murray isn't built like that. He's looking like some kind of freight train with those heavily musceled legs. That service motion is certainly not going to propel he anywhere in the vicinity of the net. He doesn't have any options other than to grind it out.

I think Murray is going to be more and more vulnerable against players that he used to approach as cat food. The tour needs every solid performer they can muster now. It's looking like a plummet downhill now. The snowball is gathering momentum. With the Never Generation washing out and the older professionals starting to show real decline we are left looking for able bodied prospects. There aren't any coming.

I don't see Murray doing much on a consistent long term basis barring some miraculous new steroid that heals hip injuries as never before.

[stroke]

I think Murray is done. He was lucky to be that good given his demeanor and his aversion to risk.

He is so wound up and the aggression goes inward.

Even Lendl the consummate introvert couldn't get him to turn his aggression outward.

Lendl's psychologist did all she could to help Murray.

He should be proud of his accomplishments given his roots.

But I don't think he will get back physically or mentally again.

It took too much out of him to get to where he got in the first place.

He won 3 Grand Slams and 14 Masters playing against 3 of the top 5 of all time, Fed, Nadal, and Novak. He is probably done.

[stotty]

I think it unlikely Murray will get back to where it was, not because of his mentally, which is nowhere near as detrimental as some seem to think, but because the type of injury he has is so chronic and impairing.

Where he has shot himself in the foot over the years is playing way too often when he hasn't been fully fit. When he's moving well he is probably the quickest of the lot. He simply eats up the ground moving forwards in a way that Nadal and Novak don't.

While his on-court angst is unbearable to watch, he his mental strong and difficult to beat for anyone else on the tour other than the other 3.

[don_budge]

I think it unlikely Murray will get back to where it was, not because of his mentally, which is nowhere near as detrimental as some seem to think, but because the type of injury he has is so chronic and impairing.

Where he has shot himself in the foot over the years is playing way too often when he hasn't been fully fit. When he's moving well he is probably the quickest of the lot. He simply eats up the ground moving forwards in a way that Nadal and Novak don't.

While his on-court angst is unbearable to watch, he his mental strong and difficult to beat for anyone else on the tour other than the other 3.

Actually Andy Murray mental does work for him. It works exceptionally well by any measurement. The question is...is it optimal? Is there room for improvement? I think Ivan Lendl had a big impact to Murray's mental approach if not his behavior which are two separate and distinctly different factors in a player's makeup.

The movement is the key. He is incredibly tough to get the ball by. To get it to bounce twice. But the hip is such an important factor in the movement and if he is not able to move pain free he is in big trouble.

If he cannot move...it is going to impede him mentally as well. It's going to be a tough ask. But he has become a much tougher customer...since Lendl was the handler. It is going to be all about the hip. This is the kind of injury that can last a lifetime.

The modern game is extremely tough on the body. The side to side is more destructive on the body than the forwards motion.