Murray is Confident, More Solid and Stronger, Says Federer
Swiss says Doha semi-final with British No1 will be a challenge
Roger Federer paid Andy Murray a considerable compliment ahead of their semi-final in the Qatar Open. "It's not a final, so that's my problem," he said. "I have never beaten him when it's not a final."
It was partly a joke but for the holder of 13 grand slam titles to have said these things about the young Scot who was not in the same league a short time ago was indicative of just what an enormous distance Murray has come.
This was indicated by the course of the British No1's 6–4, 6–2 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky, the Ukrainian whom he beat in the final of the US junior open in 2004 and against whom he took 21 points out of 23 in a boiling hot streak from 3–4 down.
This spell of brilliance, in which Murray won rallies in almost every conceivable variety of ways, was triggered so he claimed, by getting a warning from the umpire for alleged unlawful coaching from Miles Maclagan.
"It's the first time I've ever had a warning in a match for coaching," complained Murray. "Miles said 'keep pushing. Keep pushing.' I asked the umpire if he heard what Miles said, and he said he saw Miles' mouth was moving for four or five seconds, so it wasn't just encouragement. I said you can't give a warning if you can't hear it. It was a little bit strange and it got me a little bit fired up."
Prior to that Murray had been covering acres of ground in containment against the Ukrainian's forthright hitting and frequent net approaches. When the adrenalin spurred him to take the match by the scruff of the neck, he was a quite different player.
"He's a good player and really improved," said the world No2 about Murray. "He's more confident, more solid and more strong. It's what I would have expected from him but six months to a year earlier. It will be exciting."
Federer burned hot too, though for a shorter time. He was three set points down at 3–6 in the tie-break against Philipp Kohlschreiber, an improving top 30 German, before unleashing five perfect points, finishing with a triumphant ace. Federer looks good and he made it clear that winning the title was an important part of pre-Australian match practice.
Rafael Nadal did not feel the same. He had five matches and would go to Australia without any bad feelings, he reckoned after a 6–4, 6–4 defeat to Gael Monfils, who in patches looked good enough to challenge the top four himself.
But Nadal, having replaced his pirate pants with shorts which revealed clearly the tapes round his troublesome knees, and minus some of his usual buccaneering swagger as well, admitted that his preparation for the 2009 season has been adversely affected.
The world number one finished 2008 unable to play the final two events of 2008, and the rest which he needed ate significantly into his practice time as well.
"I didn't play many matches in the last few months so I didn't have time for rhythm and playing well every day. But I have had five matches here and in Abu Dhabi, and I hope that is enough. I have one and a half weeks to prepare for the Australian Open."
Asked if there was damage to his confidence, Nadal denied it: "I knew before the game here that the beginning of the season was not going to be easy because, although I have had more rest than other players, I have also had more time outside of competition. So it is a bit more difficult to come back to my rhythm."
It was partly a joke but for the holder of 13 grand slam titles to have said these things about the young Scot who was not in the same league a short time ago was indicative of just what an enormous distance Murray has come.
This was indicated by the course of the British No1's 6–4, 6–2 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky, the Ukrainian whom he beat in the final of the US junior open in 2004 and against whom he took 21 points out of 23 in a boiling hot streak from 3–4 down.
This spell of brilliance, in which Murray won rallies in almost every conceivable variety of ways, was triggered so he claimed, by getting a warning from the umpire for alleged unlawful coaching from Miles Maclagan.
"It's the first time I've ever had a warning in a match for coaching," complained Murray. "Miles said 'keep pushing. Keep pushing.' I asked the umpire if he heard what Miles said, and he said he saw Miles' mouth was moving for four or five seconds, so it wasn't just encouragement. I said you can't give a warning if you can't hear it. It was a little bit strange and it got me a little bit fired up."
Prior to that Murray had been covering acres of ground in containment against the Ukrainian's forthright hitting and frequent net approaches. When the adrenalin spurred him to take the match by the scruff of the neck, he was a quite different player.
"He's a good player and really improved," said the world No2 about Murray. "He's more confident, more solid and more strong. It's what I would have expected from him but six months to a year earlier. It will be exciting."
Federer burned hot too, though for a shorter time. He was three set points down at 3–6 in the tie-break against Philipp Kohlschreiber, an improving top 30 German, before unleashing five perfect points, finishing with a triumphant ace. Federer looks good and he made it clear that winning the title was an important part of pre-Australian match practice.
Rafael Nadal did not feel the same. He had five matches and would go to Australia without any bad feelings, he reckoned after a 6–4, 6–4 defeat to Gael Monfils, who in patches looked good enough to challenge the top four himself.
But Nadal, having replaced his pirate pants with shorts which revealed clearly the tapes round his troublesome knees, and minus some of his usual buccaneering swagger as well, admitted that his preparation for the 2009 season has been adversely affected.
The world number one finished 2008 unable to play the final two events of 2008, and the rest which he needed ate significantly into his practice time as well.
"I didn't play many matches in the last few months so I didn't have time for rhythm and playing well every day. But I have had five matches here and in Abu Dhabi, and I hope that is enough. I have one and a half weeks to prepare for the Australian Open."
Asked if there was damage to his confidence, Nadal denied it: "I knew before the game here that the beginning of the season was not going to be easy because, although I have had more rest than other players, I have also had more time outside of competition. So it is a bit more difficult to come back to my rhythm."
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