Do you agree with Boris Becker?

[ANILTJE]

Murray was in tears after Sunday's 6-3 6-4 7-6(11) defeat by Roger Federer in the Australian Open final, his second Grand Slam final defeat after he was swept aside by Federer in the 2008 US Open.

Sunday's loss was closer, but not much, as only in the third set did the Briton begin to show the aggression and risk-taking necessary to disturb Federer's cruise to his 16th Grand Slam.

Becker said that Murray had played the best major tournament of his career in Melbourne but that it had also revealed that he needs to work on his aggression.

"How assertive he was in the final was always going to be crucial. At the very start of the match he went head to head with Roger, but he then reverted to his usual defensive game, and allowed Roger to play such great tennis," Becker wrote in Britain's Daily Telegraph.

"Even when he had set points, in the third set, he could not take the big step. He tried to attack, but a mid-court forehand let him down. It is not a shot he would usually select, and on the big points, tennis players revert to instinct.

"It was a revealing moment, and one which showed that Andy now needs to improve technically, to ingrain the killer shot so deep inside him that it becomes instinctive to play it at the right moment, like Roger. That is the next stage in his progression.

"I was looking at Andy's box during the match and there was no one up there who knows what it is like to be out in a Grand Slam final.

"Don't get me wrong, "Team Murray" are first rate - they have made Andy the third best player on the planet - but you cannot learn the skills you need out on the centre court from a book, or from hearsay.

"You need to talk to people like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, someone Andy would listen to and respect. For Murray, it is now about playing the right shot at the right time, not running or going to the gym."

Becker, who won Wimbledon three times, the Australian Open twice and the US Open once, ruled himself out of the job but said Murray needed someone who has achieved the ultimate in the game to be alongside him in the slams to "talk about the five or so make-or-break shots in a match, and how best to play them."

"Andy will be among the top men's players over the next five years, but if he wants to be above them, not amid them, he needs to have someone in his corner who knows what it is like to win a Grand Slam, to climb the Mount Everest of tennis," Becker said.

"The air is thin up there, and Andy needs to surround himself with people who have been to the summit, who can describe to him how they got there, and how he can as well."

[jayl0ve]

A little over-dramatic ('the air is thin up there', omg gag me), but I agree. Murray's gonna be stuck right where he is if he doesn't gain CONSISTENT power on his groundstrokes. I know for a fact that he uses one of the heaviest racquest on tour (after modifications), and you can tell. His groundstrokes are just so lazy and clumsy looking, like he's REALLY struggling to whip that log of a racquet around. Federer on the other hand, seems like he has a feather in his hand, even though his racquet is almost as heavy as Murray's.

His serve is terrible, as well, so he really needs to work on that too. I know he's hit 138 mph serves before, but it really doesn't matter, when your 1st serve percentage is always around 55% and your 2nd serve is a complete travesty...

[ANILTJE]

But does he need a GS winner in his box though .

It doesn't man because people were good players they have the tools to guide somebody well.

[Moralspain]

Becker wants to be Murray´s coach, that´s all.

[SoundfSilence]

Becker wants to be Murray´s coach, that´s all.

Or he is getting commission from McEnroe and Connors if one of them get the job

[Cro Morgan]

Becker is spot on.

The Aussie final was the dullest GS match I have seen in ages. Murray's game plan: keep hitting the ball over the net and wait until Federer hits the ball into the net. Can't say that's the reason Murray lost as Federer was in the zone (again) - but at least the match would have been entertaining (if Murray actually tried to win a point or two).

[SoundfSilence]

Becker also said this:

Andy Murray does have the mental toughness to win a Grand Slam - or more.

The more often he gets to a semi or a final and doesn't win, I think the media over here is going to put even more pressure on him. I think we should all relax a little bit.

The guy did amazing. There isn't another player in sight from this country who can do what he did.

But when he was serving for the third set, those are the opportunities you have to make to beat Roger Federer in a Grand Slam final - you don't get many opportunities in the whole match.

Andy still sometimes expects opponents to lose finals, that doesn't happen, especially against Federer.

Of the few chances he has, he needs to be more aggressive but that's not his natural game. He likes to wait behind the baseline and wait for his opponent to make the initiative. He needs to work on that part of his game.

He will have a sleepless night thinking about the five set points he had in the third set, but overall he should be happy with his performance.

At this point in his career he has to accept he was defeated by the better player.

While the final was two hours and 40 minutes, it wasn't a grinding five-setter where you have to physically recover for two weeks.

He looked as if he was ready to go again next week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8489968.stm
(The link has Tim Henman's view also)
--

The 3rd set was not bad though Cro, really tense battle. You are absolutely right though, Murray's tactics seem to be keep the ball in play! He did break Federer in the 3rd set with such tactics as Federer hit everything out. He desperately needed to serve out the set at 5-3.. but got tight.

Lets not be too harsh on Murray, he was only one shot away from taking it to the 4th set. He had the midcourt forehand which was probably the easiest chance, and the backhand volley, against anyone else he would have made these.

Also, the tie break was quite amazing... He saved a few matchpoints in style. Federer was too good with 1st serves, where Murray was giving him easy 2nd serves.

[venom400]

Federer is playing the best tennis a player can play period , Nadal was able to beat him for 1 straight year or so , but by doing so he made Federer a better player , as we all know losing makes you a better player , and over exploiting one of the few holes in his game (top spin to his backhand ) he made Federer want to learn to make his backhand better , now his backhand is almost as good as his forehand , and Federer has proven that the one hand backhand can be just as good as the two handed one with enough work .

Nadal , is now hurt , I blame Federer for it , as playing those long finals probably took a toll on the Spaniers body , Federer , trough his superior more effortless technique was able to take less abuse .

I honestly think Nadal is done , for Nadal to keep playing he will need to change his game style , and by doing so it will turn Nadal into just another player Federer can roll over .

I'm sorry to say this but I think this will be the year that Federer completes his Grand Slam , winning all 4 mayors and leaving a painfully hard record to break.

[Moralspain]

Federer is playing the best tennis a player can play period , Nadal was able to beat him for 1 straight year or so , but by doing so he made Federer a better player , as we all know losing makes you a better player , and over exploiting one of the few holes in his game (top spin to his backhand ) he made Federer want to learn to make his backhand better , now his backhand is almost as good as his forehand , and Federer has proven that the one hand backhand can be just as good as the two handed one with enough work .

Nadal , is now hurt , I blame Federer for it , as playing those long finals probably took a toll on the Spaniers body , Federer , trough his superior more effortless technique was able to take less abuse .

I honestly think Nadal is done , for Nadal to keep playing he will need to change his game style , and by doing so it will turn Nadal into just another player Federer can roll over .

I'm sorry to say this but I think this will be the year that Federer completes his Grand Slam , winning all 4 mayors and leaving a painfully hard record to break.

Boris Becker??, i hope you´re wrong btw

[Rob ITST]

I'm sorry to say this but I think this will be the year that Federer completes his Grand Slam , winning all 4 mayors and leaving a painfully hard record to break.

I think it may be his best chance. With Nadal's injury, Fed is the clear favorite going into Roland Garros, and he's dominated Wimbledon and the US Open for the past 6-7 years, only losing in each of those tournament twice.

[djarvik]

I totally disagree. I mean, how can you discount Gulbis? He is the obvious choice for RG, WIM and USO for all the cool kids.

[Moralspain]

I don´t know if you remember this but Federer had a lot of trouble to reach the final last year in France, he was a bit lucky in my opinion.
He played 5 sets against Acauso, Haas and Del Po, i mean this is not like playing in Wimbledon where he can reach the final without having to play a 5 sets match.
I´m not quite sure but i think that against Acauso and Haas, he saved match points(not sure though).
That said...he´s one of the favour¡tes, no doubt about it

[Rob ITST]

He had a lot of tough matches. He also had a lot of pressure, with Rafa being out. But almost beating him in a Slam, and actually beating him are two different stories.

It's all going to depend on Nadal's knees: If he's healthy, he wins. If he's not, I'd bet the house on Fed.

[ANILTJE]

Ok but just back to the topic.

You think it would matter if Murray would take a GS winner as a coach.

Give him the edge to win one?

[Rob ITST]

Not really. I think he's already working on what he needs to win these matches (he did it against Nadal) - he just has to get more comfortable playing aggressively.