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[boogers]

Andy Murray was eventually victorious in a staggeringly poor quality second round match against Jeremy Chardy. The Scot spurned multiple breaks to edge out a 6-3 6-7 6-2 victory in a little over two hours.

Murray started the match brightly enough, cantering through the first set with the loss of just three service points. Unfotunately, second set slumps against lesser players are becoming something of a theme in Murray's early round encounters. This match was to be no exception. The pair exchanged service holds until 2-2, when Chardy apparently forgot he was playing singles. The Frenchman sprayed unforced errors like a leaky hosepipe and, at a set and a break up, Murray was heading for an easy win.

If by this point Chardy was dreadful, Murray was eager to sink to the same level. The Scot immediately gifted the break back with a sackful of unforced errors of his own and the screaming vortex of fail began to gather speed.

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Both players seemed to be troubled more by the sun than each other and more hideous play ensued. Murray seemed to be content to roll in second serves and wait for an error. Chardy was happy to hit his forehand into the tramlines. Breaks were swapped until 5-4, with Murray attempting to serve for the match. Despite holding a match point, he failed and the score advanced to 5-5. After six straight breaks of serve, it was inevitable that someone would finally hold. Chardy was the lucky recipient of this honour – the Frenchman clinging on to take the set to 6-5. Murray eventually followed to drag the set, kicking and screaming, into a tiebreak.

The Scot has an atrocious tiebreak record this year – before this set he had lost 9 and won 5. Rather unsurprisingly, ten points later the statistic stood at 10 lost, 5 won. The third set was marginally better from Murray and he broke twice to take the set and the match 6-2.

There's an old saying that any victory is a worthwhile one, but this match really was scraping the barrel.

Next up is Ernest Gulbis, who Murray will presumably bother to show up against.

[Quackers]

Can't believe he dropped that second set!

[Aileen]

^ Think you have a good point.  I missed the match, although I'm not surprised at the result.  I think if there had a longer break between tournaments things might have been a bit different, but Andy does seem to have problems playing players at Chardy's level, his focus just deserts him, yet other top 20 players seem to manage OK.  THis is something he's going to have to work on when he gets a new coach.

[Bevc]

Screaming vortex of fail. Harsh words. Just watching the 2nd set now. Chardy erratic at times, as is Andy, though I have read somewhere that Andy said that his timing was off during this match.

[Philip]

I watched from the end of the 2nd set onward and noticed that Andy was only able to fully feel out the court pace at the very last game. This is when he was able to flatten out his FH and hit the ball fast and deep to both sides driving Chardy back forcing the errors.

Prior to this, Andy had to hold back and add some topspin for margin.  He was more shaping/guiding the ball at ~70% power and wait for an UE. Hitting it too hard would either result in it going into the net or out.

This is the problem when the court surface is faster here and Andy didn't have enough time to acclimatise having just played 1 full tournament and travelled in a cramped car for 400+ miles.  One shouldn't underestimate the physical and mental fatigue of having played 1 full MS tournament. Tim and Greg only won 1 MS tournament throughout their entire career and they were consistently in the top 10 in the world.

Andy should improve tonight.  He did say he will go and practice to get used to the faster court surface.  

[ILW]

good to see Andy win again but not the most impressive of wins but never mind that will do for me!!! 

[janscribe]

I watched from the end of the 2nd set onward and noticed that Andy was only able to fully feel out the court pace at the very last game. This is when he was able to flatten out his FH and hit the ball fast and deep to both sides driving Chardy back forcing the errors.

Prior to this, Andy had to hold back and add some topspin for margin.  He was more shaping/guiding the ball at ~70% power and wait for an UE. Hitting it too hard would either result in it going into the net or out.

This is the problem when the court surface is faster here and Andy didn't have enough time to acclimatise having just played 1 full tournament and travelled in a cramped car for 400+ miles.  One shouldn't underestimate the physical and mental fatigue of having played 1 full MS tournament. Tim and Greg only won 1 MS tournament throughout their entire career and they were consistently in the top 10 in the world.

Andy should improve tonight.  He did say he will go and practice to get used to the faster court surface.  

Excellent posting, Phil - I remember Mark Petchey saying that the courts here were faster than Toronto so that must be bit off-putting until you get used to it and may have accounted for Chardy's off-beam first set. I've watched him play recently and he's good but Andy did not have too much trouble in the first set. Perhaps today he will have got things under control - he'll need to be a bit sharp because Gulbis can play very well when he's in the right frame.

As to the drive from Toronto, 400 miles is nothing in America - they had a driver I believe and no doubt a very comfortable car and did not have the airport hassle. Time to sit back and enjoy the scenery. I've not been to that part of America so don't know what it is like but flying all over the country can't give you much idea of the scenery and that in itself could constitute a 'mini holiday',a complete break from airports and tennis.

[killieboyd]

It's in Ohio, so he would of passed some of the great lakes, which are worth a look at, from my experience over there.