Murray Defeated By Hrbaty - 3rd Rnd - Paris Masters 2006
Hrbaty started strongly with solid ground strokes and agressive on the return of serve, quickly racing to a 3-0 lead. Murray by contrast looked tired and this was reflected by a first serve percentage that dipped below 30%.
Murray raised his game and his first serve to level things at 4-4. After another trade of breaks, a tie-break was needed to seperate the two players.
The key point came at 5-5. An incredibly long rally with both players showing their range, Hrbaty came out on top and, although Murray saved one set point, he couldn't save the second.
After that, the fight seemed to go out of Murray. The first serve percentage dipped again and the ball started to find the wrong side of the baseline. Hrbaty raced through the second set and the final score read 7-6 (8-6) 6-0.
Not the most thrilling way to end the season, but credit to Murray for helping to make a thoroughly entertaining first set, depsite obviously feeling below par.
The memory of this match will quickly fade but, when we think back to 2006 and Andy Murray, we'll remember Federer, Ljubicic, Roddick, Gonzalez and Hewitt.
My wishlist for Murray's 2007 is some improved stamina, a more consistent first serve, breaking into the top ten, winning a Masters tournament and reaching the semi-final of a Grand Slam.
That might sound anbitious, but I'd bet good money that Murray's own ambitions for the next year are even loftier.
Source:
BBC SPORT | Tennis | Hrbaty win ends Murray's season
Murray raised his game and his first serve to level things at 4-4. After another trade of breaks, a tie-break was needed to seperate the two players.
The key point came at 5-5. An incredibly long rally with both players showing their range, Hrbaty came out on top and, although Murray saved one set point, he couldn't save the second.
After that, the fight seemed to go out of Murray. The first serve percentage dipped again and the ball started to find the wrong side of the baseline. Hrbaty raced through the second set and the final score read 7-6 (8-6) 6-0.
Not the most thrilling way to end the season, but credit to Murray for helping to make a thoroughly entertaining first set, depsite obviously feeling below par.
The memory of this match will quickly fade but, when we think back to 2006 and Andy Murray, we'll remember Federer, Ljubicic, Roddick, Gonzalez and Hewitt.
My wishlist for Murray's 2007 is some improved stamina, a more consistent first serve, breaking into the top ten, winning a Masters tournament and reaching the semi-final of a Grand Slam.
That might sound anbitious, but I'd bet good money that Murray's own ambitions for the next year are even loftier.
Source:
BBC SPORT | Tennis | Hrbaty win ends Murray's season
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