[blue4578]

Just about to get underway.

May well lose a set if he reproduces the level of performance from the Devvarman match. I just feel like Haase is always prone to having a meltdown at the wrong time. Anyone who can lead Nadal two sets to one at Wimbledon deserves respect though and if his serve is on it could be a tricky evening. I reckon Murray will need four sets to do it.

[IrishBhoy]

So far Murray has done absolutely nothing to hurt Haase on his serve. The break was only a matter of time.

Albeit, ridiculous shot choice in that game there.

[blue4578]

Yes, been another quite indifferent performance thus far. No doubt this thread will get a bit busier if Murray loses a set or two. I'm struggling trying to watch three matches at once at the moment.

[IrishBhoy]

Yep I decided to dip my toes on the Murray game. Went horribly got out rather quickly.

Murrays playing quite poorly here but Haase really did throw that away. That is something which Murray does alot though in the opening rounds of slams, plays pretty crap but still gets through usually in 3 or 4 sets.

[blue4578]

Woeful collapse from half way through the tie break, and it's carried on into this set as he still can't make a forehand. Murray will be in a very deep hole pretty soon unless he can snap out of it.

[IrishBhoy]

Scratch that last post. Murrays turn to throw it away.

[IrishBhoy]

I dont like Murrays attitude on the court today. Has all the hallmarks of Cilic/Wawrinka games here tbh.

[blue4578]

Haase briefly went favourite for the match there, probably will be odds on if he can somehow hold serve here. A good bet to be had one way or the other, I'm just not sure which way so I'm not bothering.

[blue4578]

IrishBhoy, on 02 September 2011 - 20:34, said:

I dont like Murrays attitude on the court today. Has all the hallmarks of Cilic/Wawrinka games here tbh.

Difference is Cilic and Wawrinka both played really well in those matches, although of course Murray was slightly below par as well. Haase just hasn't had the anywhere near the same results at the highest level that those two have either. He soiled himself when it came to the crunch against Nadal when a set away from victory, what will he do here? Murray has just completely gone at the moment.

[IrishBhoy]

I backed 3-1 Haase at 7.0 after the first break of serve in the first set. Not too much on so I will let that run.

I actually backed Murray just before the tie break expecting his price to fall, it didnt so Ive traded out to a small loss.

[IrishBhoy]

blue4578, on 02 September 2011 - 20:39, said:

Difference is Cilic and Wawrinka both played really well in those matches, although of course Murray was slightly below par as well. Haase just hasn't had the anywhere near the same results at the highest level that those two have either. He soiled himself when it came to the crunch against Nadal when a set away from victory, what will he do here? Murray has just completely gone at the moment.

Yeah suppose your right. I think if Murray is going to win this it will be in 5 sets.

[blue4578]

For the record, I am pretty sure that Haase will crumble at some point and I think Murray will find a bit of form. I've had a small wager on Murray at odds against. Although I did that with Sharapova, let it ride despite being able to trade out twice in the final set at 1.3, and ended up with my first loss of the US Open. Been a great betting week for me thus far.

I had that post written before the last game I promise. I think if you're backing in-running on grand slams, backing the top players when they're in a spot of bother is the way to go, as long as you know what they're up against. As I said, Haase isn't Cilic or Wawrinka.

[blue4578]

I do wish someone would help Murray find his forehand though. Disappeared without trace the past half hour. Disgraceful service game that. Haase didn't have to do much at all to break serve.

[IrishBhoy]

Forehand half way up the net to give the set to the Dutchman.

[blue4578]

Murray winning 21% of points on second serve, Haase 55%. That's the key difference, second serve is even more of a liability than usual. Double the amount of unforced errors too, 34-17.

Will take some explaining if he is not injured.

[IrishBhoy]

Murray favourite ?

[blue4578]

For a five set men's match that is only two and half sets old, the odds have been all over the place, just like both players at times. Murray just needs to stop beating himself up and looking like he thinks he is going to lose. Whatever your opinion on his body language, that can't fail to give Haase a boost. Needs a few more come ons rather than the moaning and groaning.

On the plus side, if Murray can pull this out of the fire, Wawrinka (who has been struggling lately anyway) just lost to Donald Young in a final set tie break. Murray would face Lopez or Pospisil, then Young or Chela. That is as good a draw as you can get in order to get through to a quarter final.

[the jambo-rocker]

blue4578, on 02 September 2011 - 21:21, said:

For a five set men's match that is only two and half sets old, the odds have been all over the place, just like both players at times. Murray just needs to stop beating himself up and looking like he thinks he is going to lose. Whatever your opinion on his body language, that can't fail to give Haase a boost. Needs a few more come ons rather than the moaning and groaning.

On the plus side, if Murray can pull this out of the fire, Wawrinka (who has been struggling lately anyway) just lost to Donald Young in a final set tie break. Murray would face Lopez or Pospisil, then Young or Chela. That is as good a draw as you can get in order to get through to a quarter final.

Have to admit even I'm baffled at how quickly the odds are changing. In the space of 5 minutes, Murray went from 6/5 which I took up to 2s!

[blue4578]

Look at the whole match. Murray was 1.08 to start with, drifted to about 1.45 when Haase serve for the first set. When Murray was 4-1 up in the tie break, he was matched at 1.05. Then suddenly he lost the set and was back to the low 1.4's. Then to 2.26 when a break down in the second (I backed shortly afterwards a bit lower). He went to 1.4 when he got back on serve at 2-3, then 2.2 when he was broken next game and then 3.5 when he lost the second set. At one break up in the third he went favourite at slightly odds on, and now he's won the set (and Haase is getting treatment) Murray is 1.31.

There could well be a few more twists to come, although if Haase is injured hopefully not! I have seen Haase absolutely lose the plot a couple of times before when things started going against him. In particular at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 event against Melzer this year. He was going absolutely mental in the third set, shouting and swearing at everyone and blasting balls everywhere. In that match he looked great winning the first set 6-3, but then lost the next two 6-1 6-2. He can be very erratic as we saw in that last set. When he is bad, he is very bad. The normal Andy Murray is just the sort of opponent who he normally would struggle against.

[blue4578]

That's the end of my betting on this one, layed 1.18 on Murray even though I think he'll do it. You could've been a millionaire if you'd called all the twists and turns correctly on this match!

Trying to watch Nadal at the same time so I'll think I'll stop posting nonsense on this thread till at least one match is over.

[ICTJohnboy]

Cracker of a game...

Andy getting on top now, but will still be mightily relieved to win it.

[blue4578]

What a contrast in Murray between that third game of the final set and the whole of the second set. One reason why you can't beat best of five sets when it comes to tennis.

[nessies long lost ghost]

This game has been really enjoyable. Murray should be able to close this out.

[FC_1919]

The ball boy feeding the balls in at the end away from the camera looks about 30.

[Stella]

Very reminiscent of the Melzer match back in 2008