Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Off Topic => Sports Arena => Topic started by: Comrade Blitz on January 20, 2015, 12:49:02 AM
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It was a day of high drama for the top female tennis players at the Australian Open, with eight of the top seeds losing, another vomiting on court before eventually winning, and a former champion announcing that she was pregnant.
Full story here (NY Times) (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/sports/tennis/australian-open-tennis.html?_r=0)
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Well done to Andy Murray - now in the Semi Finals of the Australian Open. Next up is Thomas Berdych...
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My friends call me Alexei Redsox
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/01/reports-kirilenko-marries-mystery-man-moscow/53797/#.VMeqlGisXQg
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Is it the same Mystery Man that's always posting Villa transfer rumours?
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Murray's playing well at the moment. He does seem to like the Aussie open - I think the final has been Murray-Djokovic a couple of times already.
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Berdych was a total arse for most of that match. Good riddance - fecking automaton like Joe Coe Vitch and Raonic.
Hoping that Wawrinka upsets the cart.
Women's final will be a screamathon. Boring.
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Murray has returned to some good form after last year's struggles, but he needs to cut out the sloppy errors.
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So he's back to being a Brit again as opposed to a Jock for the time being.
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Nah, fuck him, they can have him.
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Come on Andy!
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I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that when a rally gets going, there's only one person who's going to mess it up.
2 games up to 3-2 down and had him at 4-2 in the tie breaker.
It's like us when we play Man Utd. Mostly we're easily beat, but the few times we look like we may win, you always know we won't.
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I get that feeling here too...though the game is swinging wildly from one side to the other
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He played well for first two and a half sets but then mentally fell apart.
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The problem with individual sports is that when your mind goes you get a thrashing.
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He needs to work with a sports psychologist, because his game is back to where it needs to be but he doesn't believe enough yet.
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Come on Andy!
Was Djokovic that excited to be in a final?
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Murray needs Lendl back as his coach. He can push Murray to get that extra 5% which is the difference at that level. Djokovic was smart to recruit Boris Becker as his coach. Murray is at least getting near his best again.
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Murray was beaten today, not because of a lack of ability but because he didn't have the mental strength needed for the occasion. Djokovic's levels dropped and instead of capitalising, Murray dropped his levels and once Djokovic stepped it up again, Murray couldn't respond.
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Think talk of Murray being back to his best may be premature. He got thrashed by an 18 year old today.
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Think talk of Murray being back to his best may be premature. He got thrashed by an 18 year old today.
Enough about his private life, how's he doing in the tennis?
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GB 1 - 0 USA A win for Andy Murray in 4 sets in the first match of the Davis Cup tie, Jamie Ward up next v Isner
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GB 1 - 0 USA A win for Andy Murray in 4 sets in the first match of the Davis Cup tie, Jamie Ward up next v Isner
Isner is the most boring tennis player ever, he can't play at all, just has a huge serve as he's 9 foot tall.
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GB 1 - 0 USA A win for Andy Murray in 4 sets in the first match of the Davis Cup tie, Jamie Ward up next v Isner
Isner is the most boring tennis player ever, he can't play at all, just has a huge serve as he's 9 foot tall.
You're right it was quite amusing at the toss to see the difference in height. Ward acquitting himself so far 4-4 in the first set
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What a fantastic match Jamie Ward putting together here, if you're not watching (BBC2 Red Button) you're missing a classic. He was 2 sets down but now 12-12 in the final set.
Not saying which way it will go as i havent a clue!!!
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Absolutely brilliant Jamie Ward (Ranked 111) bt Isner (20) 15-13 in that final set. Truly amazing, he just keeps churning these Davis Cup
results out. Britain lead 2-0
Onto the doubles tomorrow
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Proper guts there from Ward. Very impressive.
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Every year I keep waiting for a really savvy coach to come along who has the ideal training approach (and match strategy) to counter the game's hit-it-as-hard-as-you-can-all-the-time trend.
I reckon that the single-handed backhand is going to disappear before I do - so sad that tennis has lost its grace and style. (Tradition-loving cricket fans will hopefully be on my side).
Didn't see the match, but, well done Jamie. Isner's another of the dreadfully dull baseline hugging big goofy automatons.....
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Think talk of Murray being back to his best may be premature. He got thrashed by an 18 year old today.
Enough about his private life, how's he doing in the tennis?
*standing ovation*
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Murray is still not right. At his best he can compete with Djokovic. I think his coaching set up is wrong. He has the game, but his mentality just isn't there.
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Murray has just destroyed Rafa on his "home" in Madrid
Beating him 6 - 3 6 - 2
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Some performancw that.
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Nice to see the arse-picker losing.
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Nice to see the arse-picker losing.
Swivel eyed loon arse picker
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Well done Murray getting to semis but think his run will end there. If he does pull off a shock though you've got to fancy him for whole thing.
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Well done Murray getting to semis but think his run will end there. If he does pull off a shock though you've got to fancy him for whole thing.
Djokovic will be desperate to win the French to complete all the Slams. Would be amazed if Murray managed to beat him, although he might put up a better fight than Nadal *snigger*.
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Real shame for Murray earlier, seemed to have the momentum but lost it. Djokovic on verge of holding all four slams at once, something Federer or Nadal never managed. For me that puts him on a higher level.
EDIT I'm talking out of my arse, he didn't win the US. As you were, he's crap.
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I doubt anyone would bet against him winning Wimbledon and then the US in September.
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Stan wins
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Two days into Wimbledon, Murray is currently British and yet there's been no H&V tennis chatter.
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Has Kirilenko played yet. That normally starts conversations.
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The former Maria Redsox (I dumped her and she ran off to marry some Russian politician) isn't playing at Wimbledon. In fact, I don't know whether she's returning to the tour.
Based on the few photos of her husband and knowing what Alex Ovetchkin looks like, appearance doesn't matter to Maria
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Is there going to be anyone that can beat Williams this time round? I'm hoping that Kerber will at least get to the final as she's in the other half and she's the one I automatically put on my betting slip.
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Federer was imperious today. Amazing that he can still hit that level.
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Cheating, grunting, sweaty, shampoo-dodging, arse-picking, glory-hunting wanker Nadal OUT.
:-)
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Brown's older than Nadal
I thought that Rafa was in his thirties but he's still only 29
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Has Kirilenko played yet. That normally starts conversations.
In true tennis tradition, "Oh, I say!"
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Not normally into tennis, but that was exciting.
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I enjoyed the final set of Dolgopolov v Karlovic
There were line judges and ball boys/girls diving all over the place to keep out of the way of the serves; especially from Karlovic when he was pushing 140mph
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Has Kirilenko played yet. That normally starts conversations.
In true tennis tradition, "Oh, I say!"
Wimbledon's just not the same without her
(https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/maria-kirilenko-1.jpg?w=1000)
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Go on Watson!
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Damn! Can see Williams winning this now
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I find Williams a horrible watch, too much screaming and free points on the serve.
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Not a fan of women's tennis but what a brilliant game that was.
Shame for Heather Watson, don't see Williams winning this, think Kivotva will take her out.
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Unlucky Watson great display. She's got to learn to be at that level consistenly now.
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Top 30 player for sure.
Laura Robson would probably be up there aswell were it not for the 18 month injury.
The women's side of British tennis isn't actually that bad.
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Watson is top 10 if she can hit that level consistently.
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The best women's match I can remember. Unfortunate that Watson couldn't complete the unlikely upset. Serena just looks to belt every single ball. There were points in that match where Watson was returning everything and forcing Williams' technique to break down.
Watson really has to build on that and look to get into the top 10.
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I'm not a sportsman so I don't really know the answer to this, but watching Murray 5-1 down in the 3rd, but 2 sets to the good and with Seppi serving. Do you just think 'f**k it' and lose that game to conserve energy and get on with the 4th set?
I don't think Murray did this even though he did lose that game and smashed the 4th set. I was thinking 'just lose it and save energy', but I'm a fat lazy bastard.
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Really cannot warm to Murray.
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Really cannot warm to Murray.
I really like him. He's self depricating (as seen in sketches) and comes across as down to earth to me. He's not as dour as people think. He can't do too much about that accent and his face.
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Upset on the cards. Djokovic is 2 sets to nil down to Kevin Anderson
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Djokovic fights back to 2-2 before play is suspended
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Think Anderson's best chance was for the game to finish last night, big men (he's 6'10") tend to struggle over longer matches and this means he'll be fairly fresh.
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Djokovic through then.
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Now that was a bit of a tonking for Murray
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If Federer plays at that level in the final then I don't think Djokovic will win.
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Federer usually goes to another level at the end of a set and he had no problem doing it again. His serving was very impressive. I still expect Djokovic to win but it could be interesting.
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Awesome from Novak, he seems a likeable guy too.
Nice £70 profit for me courtesy of a DjokoSerena double.
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Britain go 2-1 up against France in the Davis Cup.
With a lot of big-hitters already out, and Djokovic not playing for Serbia, the rest of the draw could be wide open.
Australia or Kazakhstan in the semis.
Possibly Argentina or Belgium in the final. With a fit Andy Murray, we'd be favourites to win any of those.
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Australia won, their highest ranked player is Nick Kyrgios at about 40 in the world rankings.
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Australia won, their highest ranked player is Nick Kyrgios at about 40 in the world rankings.
They're also without Bernard Tomic
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I follow tennis so much that I didn't know Tomic was Australian!
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4th match just started on BBC2 Andy Murray for GB, win this win the tie.
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Murray lost first set and is struggling in the second at 2-4
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Murray has dug himself out of hole and taken the 2nd set via tie-break 7-6
Could history happen here....haven't made semis of Davis cup since '81
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Murray 3-0 up in 3rd broke Simon in games 1 & 3
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Murray 2-1 took 3rd set 6-3
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Murray 3-0 up in 4th set.
Simon suffering with injury.
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Murray 5-0....the last time we got to the semis a certain Aston Villa were league champions!!!!
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'Golden days for British Tennis'
Murray wins 4th set 6-0
In the semis at home to Australia
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Well done GB (even though I still hate the format and think it's stupid that you can make the Semi-Final of a "team" event with one good player).
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I think the Australia match is 50:50; whoever wins the doubles should win; though Kyrgios or Tomic could push Murray close if he has an off-day.
And then it's either Argentina or Belgium - Argentina would be at home; Belgium away. So ideally, we'd want Argentina to win that one; but I think we'd be favourites against either of them; assuming Del Potro doesn't come back into some sort of form.
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Psychologically massive win for Murray over Djokovic.
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US Open - Murray and Williams to do it?
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US Open - Murray and Williams to do it?
Andy's just got married, so I doubt it ;)
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US Open - Murray and Williams to do it?
Is he homosexual now?
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Isn't Serena with some singer/rapper/famous bloke of some kind ?
She was with CC Sabathia some years ago. Those would have been some good sporting genes if they'd had kids
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Murray vs Kyrgios in the 1st rd
Please send the Chav twat back to Oz with a straight set loss.
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Players who lose in the first round of the US Open earn $39,500. You don't have to finish the match, you juts have to at least start it to "earn" the money.
2015 US Open sets first round record for number of retirements:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/sports/tennis/injured-player-lasts-long-enough-to-stir-debate-on-award-money.html
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Vinci beats Serena in one of the best women's games I've ever seen. Congratulations Roberta!
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One commentator was making a fuss that because Vinci won, this will be the first women's Grand Slam Final of the open era to feature two players over 30.
What he missed was that Serena's older than Vinci, so whoever won, that would have been the case
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One commentator was making a fuss that because Vinci won, this will be the first women's Grand Slam Final of the open era to feature two players over 30.
What he missed was that Serena's older than Vinci, so whoever won, that would have been the case
Sure he didn't say "two women over 30"? Which would not have been the case if a Williams brother had made it.
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Djokovic having a hissy fit 'cuz no one likes him. Perhaps he'd be more popular if he'd stop with the fake back injury cheating ****** tactics.
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Djokovic having a hissy fit 'cuz no one likes him. Perhaps he'd be more popular if he'd stop with the fake back injury cheating c*** tactics.
Are any of the recent top men's players likeable ?
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Djokovic having a hissy fit 'cuz no one likes him. Perhaps he'd be more popular if he'd stop with the fake back injury cheating c*** tactics.
Are any of the recent top men's players likeable ?
I like Federer, he's arrogant, but he's earned that right as very possibly the best tennis player ever. Murray's a miserable arse and Nadal is a wan*er though. Djokovic is a funny one, sometimes he comes across as a decent guy but then he ruins it by acting like a bellend for a while.
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Are any of the recent top men's players likeable ?
Feliciano Lopez
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Djokovic having a hissy fit 'cuz no one likes him. Perhaps he'd be more popular if he'd stop with the fake back injury cheating c*** tactics.
Are any of the recent top men's players likeable ?
I like Federer, he's arrogant, but he's earned that right as very possibly the best tennis player ever.
I don't even think he's arrogant, focused maybe. Seems a really nice guy.
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Djokovic having a hissy fit 'cuz no one likes him. Perhaps he'd be more popular if he'd stop with the fake back injury cheating c*** tactics.
Are any of the recent top men's players likeable ?
I like Federer, he's arrogant, but he's earned that right as very possibly the best tennis player ever.
I don't even think he's arrogant, focused maybe. Seems a really nice guy.
yeah, I should've said he comes over as arrogant sometimes, but as I say I think he's earned the right to be sure of himself.
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Davis Cup Semi final under way v Australia....lets give 'em another kicking
Murray wins the 1st set 6-3
Villa boy Dan Evans up for us in the 2nd match
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Davis Cup Semi final under way v Australia....lets give 'em another kicking
Murray wins the 1st set 6-3
Villa boy Dan Evans up for us in the 2nd match
2nd set to Murray 6-0, win it 3-0 and have a rest for the doubles tomorrow and the next set of singles matches.
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Davis Cup Semi final under way v Australia....lets give 'em another kicking
Murray wins the 1st set 6-3
Villa boy Dan Evans up for us in the 2nd match
2nd set to Murray 6-0, win it 3-0 and have a rest for the doubles tomorrow and the next set of singles matches.
I imagine who wins the tie might come down to the doubles, so they might want to play Murray.
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Wins 3rd set 6-3 so we go 1-0 up.
Come on now Dan Evans v Tomic whom Evans beat when he had that great run in the US Open two years ago.
Lets hope he's fired up cos he has to miss us v Baggies tomorrow!!!
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Evans loses first set 6-3 to Tomic
Belgium 1-0 up v Argentina in the other semi.
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Evans now lost 2nd set 7-6 and is 3-1 down in 3rd
Make that 4-1
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Evans battled back to take 3rd 7-6, brilliant performance in last few games of that set.
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Andy Murray 2-1 Australia
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Andy Murray 2-1 Australia
He might be a grumpy so and so but he is a fantastic tennis player.
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Andy Murray 2-1 Australia
He might be a grumpy Scottish so and so but he is a fantastic British tennis player.
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Andy Murray one set away from winning the Davis Cup.
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Come on Tim!
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Tennis fans are shit.
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Murray sounds like Dr Zoidberg when he serves.
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Dunblane wins the Davis Cup.
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Brilliant performance.
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What a great point to win it.
Amazing to think it wasn't that long ago that Jeremy Bates reaching the 3rd round of Wimbledon was a British tennis success.
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Andy Murray has been unbelievable in the Davis Cup run this year. There has been a lot of pressure on him, but he has produced every time. His doubles partnership with his brother has come on well over the last few months as well.