Here is Rajat’s side for M-Andy (forthcoming)

Introduction: A-ROD (or ROD, or R-Andy) plays his namesake, M-Andy and about 15,000 other Brits on the most famous court tomorrow afternoon

Will Win If: If he actually imagines what he told us he would after winning Hewitt. ‘Everytime they say come on Andy, I am just going to pretend that it is me they are screaming for’. ROD must be tired a bit, at least less fresh than M-Andy. Can he win – he can am sure, but will he win – that’s the tricky part. The only way I see ROD pulling through is, if he keeps the points absolutely short and embrace his ‘Lock and Load’ 1-2 punch. His down the line backhand drives were stunning against Hewitt. But he really does not want to get into baseline exchanges with Murray … that will not go well. Control from the mid court without retrieving too much, keep the points short, return well, try to come in when he can. Above all, don’t try to get into the cat and mouse rope-a-dope game Murray plays, he owns that game and there is no point in playing it with him. Ohhh, and also – bomb heavy, bomb big and bomb merciless. Lock and Load – that’s the key. If Murray returns mediocre, ROD has a great chance.

Will Lose If: It is not a good match up, tennis is about match ups and this isn’t a good one for R-Andy. Murray plays an incredibly lethal type of game to neutralize the power baseliners. I am not going to get too negative on ROD by thinking he will not win any of the baseline exchanges, but if he does not take the initiative –he will lose most of them. Sometimes, Murray does not let you take the initiative as well. Forehands are about equal, Murray has a better backhand, ROD has a bigger serve … this is close. But in the end I think the Scot will prevail.

Intangibles: There is a feeling around the tennis world that –for the London final to be competitive we need a Scot on the Second Sunday. As much as I love A-ROD I agree with that notion. And the Fred Perry line …. First British bloke since him to win London tale (for a more detailed account on that, check my preceding piper article)

Shots to Look for: The missiles from ROD (and he had 46 of them against a returner like Hewitt in the quarters). The down the line backhands. Watch out for Murray’s returns, if they are subpar he will be in trouble.

Final Call: LOCK ‘N’ LOAD R-Andy. That’s the only way to get through, if you went down, at least you did not die wondering. I do predict, being the bloke he is, R-Andy is going to say ‘thank you’ on center court when the crowd says ‘Come on Andy’ tomm.

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