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Murray flops to defeat in Rome

Andy Murray's struggle on clay continued as he lost 6-2 7-6 to Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the Rome Masters.

To make matters worse, his draw opened up earlier in the day with Rafael Nadal losing to Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 6-1.

Murray was broken twice in the first set but rallied in the second. However, after Murray took a 4-2 second-set lead Wawrinka broke back to take the match to a tie break, which he won 7-5 to take the match.

Murray through to face Wawrinka

A gritty performance, coupled with a slice of fortune paved Andy Murray's way into round two of the Rome Masters this evening.

The match, which was postponed due to rainfall, resumed at 1-1 in the first set, and it was Del Potro who came out of the blocks faster, as both players traded breaks. Ultimately, it was Murray's poor first serve that let him down and the young Argentinian held his nerve to clinch the first set.

Murray started to switch gears as he played more aggressively, however the crucial break was still eluding the Scot. Until the changeover at 5-4, when Del Potro seemed to make a passing comment about Judy Murray, who was spectating in the stands. This only served to fire up Murray, and he blazed his way to the second set with some devastating returns.

Heated exchange involving insult about Murray's mum

Murray: You try and hit a ball at me and you think it's fine.

Potro: You are always the same hey? You never change.

Murray: You yeah.

Umpire: OK boys, I'll handle it now.

Potro: And your mother, she's the same always.

Umpire: Just save it 'till later.

Murray: Do you want to speak about my Mum again? Huh?

Umpire: Andy...

Murray: No, no, no... that's unacceptable.

Umpire: That's what I'm just about to say, let me handle it. It's only going to get worse if you get involved, trust me.

Murray: The guy's talking about my Mum, what the hell is he doing?

Unfortunately, the deciding set was short, as Del Potro seemed to injure his back chasing a drop shot - and then ambled to his chair in agony. The signs looked ominous for the youngster, as he broke down in tears, and after consultation with the trainer, it was concluded that he was not fit to play. Play finished at 5-7 6-4 *1-0 to the British number one.

Murray will next play Stanislas Wawrinka, who defeated Marat Safin in a three set encounter.

Murray threatens to quit tennis

Andy Murray has revealed he will retire from professional tennis unless he gets back into the top-10.

The shocking comments, delivered at Barcelona's Real Club de Tenis, are likely to scare British tennis and especially his fans.

I don't really want to play tennis if I am not going to try and be around the top guys in the world. If I don't feel I can do it, then I will stop. I don't think there is much fun in me playing the game otherwise.

Last year I surely would have finished in the top 10 [he was 11th] but for injuries. I was just one match away from qualifying for the [year-end] Masters Cup, even though I missed three and a half months of the season because of my back and wrist. So, yeah, I definitely feel I can get up to the top 10 again.

I have beaten Roger Federer this year, I have had some good matches with Rafael Nadal. Bar Novak Djokovic [who he has yet to defeat] I have a good record against top players like Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko.
Murray comments on his progress with Corretja on clay
I am going to have to work on a lot more things before I can say I am a very good clay-court player. I am not anywhere near there yet. I am getting better but there are still a lot of improvements I have to make.

I just wanted to work with someone through the clay-court stretch because I hadn't had a chance to play any matches on clay for a long time. I don't plan on hiring anyone else for the grass.

The Scot responds to criticism over the size of his coaching team
I think it has kind of been blown out of proportion, the amount of people I have around me. I just want to have a coach, a physio and a fitness trainer at each of the tournaments to make sure that, unlike last year when I had a bad injury, I can prevent that.

That's why I have got a physio with me. I hear all the time that I am not in good shape and need to improve my stamina, so I have hired a fitness trainer. But, suddenly, I have got too many people around me. So it's one of those things. I made a decision to try and improve all the things I am not doing well and suddenly there seem to be way too many people at the tournament.

Over the last couple of years I have had a lot of people questioning my fitness. Now I feel much stronger because I hired a fitness trainer. I hired a physio to prevent some of the injuries I had in the last couple of years and I have not had any real niggles this year that have kept me out for any period of time. So I feel the things off court I wanted to improve on, I have done.

Fans may at least feel some comfort in that such a bold statement could suggest Murray remains hungry for success regardless of recent criticism to the contrary.

Murray gets a qualifier in Rome

The draw for Rome has been made with Andy Murray set to play a qualifier. Murray will need to to be fired up for it as the his opponent will already have played two matches.

If Andy gets past the first round he'll either play the Russian Marat Safin or Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, in what would be another tough encounter.


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Murray and Hutchins fall

Andy Murray's participation in Barcelona is over altogether, after a 6-3 7-6 defeat to Jeff Coetzee and Kevin Ullyett, in the second round of the doubles event.

The week has been largely disappointing for the Scot, but with three competitive matches on the clay over the last few days, he's had a reasonable amount of matchplay before heading to Rome next week.

Murray through in doubles

Andy Murray with partner Ross Hutchins has beaten Robert Lindstedt and Thomas Johansson 6-4 2-6 (10-3) in the doubles at Barcelona.

The Scot now advances to the second round in the doubles to face fifth seeds Jeff Coetzee and Kevin Ullyett. Their victory will be of some consolation to Murray after he lost his opening-round singles match to Mario Ancic on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, brother Jamie and partner Max Mirnyi suffered a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in their second round match.

Murray disappoints against Ancic

Andy Murray, once again, has lost to Mario Ancic. This time in Barcelona it was 6-4 6-4.

Typically, Murray got off to a slow start and was broken in his first service game of the match. Midway through the set Murray managed to break the Croat's serve to get back in the match. The good work was undone when Andy served at 4-5 and Ancic converted his second set point to take it.

In the second set Ancic saved breaks points in game three for the 2-1 advantage. Andy then surviving some of his own to keep it on serve at 4-4. Then came consistent pressure on the Croat's serve once again as a variety of deuce points ended up in a single break point, only for Ancic to hold. With Andy, again, serving to stay in the match at 4-5, his opponent quickly got up three match points and broke by converting the first to take the second set and match 6-4.

Murray will be hoping he can make some progress in the doubles, playing with Ross Hutchins, before moving onto the masters series events in Rome and Hamburg.

Murray's thoughts on the match
I didn't get that fired up for the match.

I was flat. I was going to be here practising anyway, so I had hoped to get a few matches.

But my priority is to train for Rome and Hamburg. I wanted to continue from last week, but (playing here) is not the be-all and end-all.

I've now got four or five days to get ready for Rome. It and Hamburg are the most important ones going into the French Open. All of the major players should be there, which was not the case last week.

Match statistics (1 image)

Bye for Murray in Barcelona

Andy Murray will be participating in the Open Sabadell Atlantico next week as a wildcard entry, seeded seventh.

The British number one exited the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday in tame fashion at the hands of Novak Djokovic, and it seems that Murray wants more competitive matchplay on clay, before departing for Rome the week after.

Update: Andy Murray will take on either Mario Ancic or Mischa Zverev in round 2.


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Murray demolished in Monte Carlo

Andy Murray's string of defeats against Novak Djokovic continued with a disappointing 6-0 6-4 defeat in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The British number one seemed to lose his resolve after losing his serve after seven deuces in the second game, and the first set resulted in an embarrassing scoreline for the Scot, as he was outclassed by his opponent.

However, Murray somehow found himself a break up in the second set, as Djokovic's intensity dropped, but it was another disappointment as the Brit failed to capitalise, and surrendered his break almost immediately. Murray's serve looked fragile throughout, and a few loose points gave Djokovic three match points, and the world number three sealed victory in just under eighty minutes.

Djokovic on how Murray can improve on clay
He needs to be more aggressive.

To start working with Alex Corretja before the clay season is a good move. You can see that Andy is trying to mix it up and change the pace.

I'm not 100% on clay, I still feel best on the hard courts, but I have high goals and intentions in the major tournaments on clay.

Djokovic's post-match comments
It was a great win for me, but I didn't expect such an easy first set.

At the start of the match we had a really, really long game - the second of the match - and I think it was the turning point in that set.

I was trying to stay focused and stay calm and be aggressive because Andy is a very talented player and can come back at any time.

Match statistics (1 image)

Murray victorious against Volandri

Andy Murray continued to make steady progress in the principality this week, with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Fillipo Volandri in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters. The British number one was looking for back-to-back wins on clay, something which had eluded him on the main tour, and he succeeded with a solid but unspectacular performance against the Italian clay court specialist.

Murray had several opportunites to clinch the first set in rapid fashion, but a lack of concentration relinquished the break he had just gained, and allowed Volandri back in. However, the Scot sealed the first set by breaking serve in the tenth game, and with great relief, he trudged to his chair.

The momentum carried over to the second set, with Murray hitting with greater depth and consistency, as Volandri started to misfire on the backhand wing. After Murray saved a string of break points at 2-1, the outcome looked inevitable. The young Brit had to dig deep even in the last moments of the match, saving several break opportunities on his serve, before he clinched victory.

Murray will now face Novak Djokovic in an intriguing third round encounter, as he looks to rack up his first victory against the Serb.

Match statistics (1 image)


Murray looking forward to Djokovic challenge
Novak is number one in the ATP race and won the first Grand Slam of the year, so it's going to be tough.

He's had a great start to the year and he's playing very well.

He's expected to win the match but I hope I can go out and play like I've done in the last couple of days because if I do I've got a chance of winning.

He also pointed out that he hasn't had the oppertunity to show to his full potential on this very different surface yet.

I haven't had great results on clay but I've only played 11 or 12 matches on the tour, maybe less.

I've had a few injury problems on the clay but I got a good two weeks of practice before I got here and obviously getting the chance to work with someone like Alex has helped too.

I played well as a junior on clay and I won a lot of Futures tournaments on clay when I was 16 and 17 but it's just understanding how to beat the best clay-courters on this surface.

It's tough, you've got to grind out a lot of points.

Murray comfortably dispatches Lopez

Andy Murray got his clay court season off to an encouraging start with an efficient win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. Murray calmly sealed the match 7-6(7-5), 6-4 in a little over an hour and a half.

The British number one played a smart game and despite one or two fleeting moments of genius, the first set went with serve, but Andy managed to edge out a close tie-break 7-5.

However, Murray captured the momentum at the beginning of the second set, breaking in the opening game. His superb passing was once more displayed as he took a second break at 4-2. Lopez seemed to pick up his spirits briefly as a lapse in concentration from the Scot saw him claw back one of the breaks as he served for the match at 5-2. However, Murray made no mistake as he closed the match out 6-4.

In this very composed performance, it seems Andy has taken the advive of former world number two and exercised a bit more patience. The statistics confirmed this as he managed to land 70% of his first serves in.

His next round opponent will be Italian Fillipo Volandri who enjoyed a straightforward 6-2 6-3 win over Nicolas Mahut of France.

Match statistics (1 image)

Murray returns against Lopez

Andy Murray will will make his comeback from illness this week against Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

Andy will be hoping to get this clay court season off to a flying start after withdrawing from Valencia last week.

Passage in the the second round will give him a match against Filippo Volandri or Nicolas Mahut and after that a possible, mouth-watering, clash with Novak Djokovic.

Play commences in Monte Carlo at 10AM and the match is scheduled second so Murray should be on court at around midday.


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Murray and Ullyett reach final

Jamie Murray and his temporary partner Kevin Ullyett have reached the final in the doubles event in Estoril.

They reached the final with a 3-6 6-4 10-6 victory over Frantisek Cermak and Jordan Kerr.

We played a horrible first set and really had to hustle to get the win. We're looking forward to the final now.
The number one seeds, Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie, will be the opponents on Sunday. This can be discussed in our Jamie Talk forum.