TENNIS in DEPTH.

Rafael Nadal will have to raise his game a notch if he expects to beat Andy Murray in Sunday’s final at Indian Wells. He defeated Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-6 to reach the final, but was not impressive and committed far too many errors. As he did against Del Potro in the quarter final, he lost his concentration and allowed his opponent back into the match, something we do not normally see in Nadal’s game.

Andy Murray defeated Federer again in an unusual match. After losing the first set 6-3, Federer appeared to have regrouped and went on to win the second set. He played the first 3 games of the third set with some of his old flair and seemed to be in control of the match even though the players were on serve. Murray took a nasty tumble trying to get to a Federer crosscourt forehand, but brushed himself off and continued to play. Federer was at the net looking on and inquired after Murray’s condition. Federer lost 12 of the next 14 points, went down 2 breaks and lost the set and the match.

Murray demonstrated that he has Federer’s number, but does he have the game to defeat a healthy Nadal?

Bookmark It