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[Clydey]

Andy Murray has lost in the quarter finals of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, finally falling to Mardy 'Suddenly I'm Playing Like a Grand Slam Champion' Fish 7-6, 1-6, 6-7.

There are no jokes, nor are there any puns today. The headline reflects the mood of the website, as we mourn yet another loss to Mardy 'The Second Coming of Stefan Edberg' Fish. Just watching today's match was tiring. However, Murray's body language throughout the contest left no room for us fans to speculate as to how he was coping with both the conditions and the cruel scheduling.

The Scot was suffering. In the grand scheme of things, this loss will likely benefit Murray. Having to endure another contest in the searing Cincy heat could have seriously dented his hopes of lifting the US Open trophy in 3 weeks time.

Read more (265 words)

There appeared to be a bit of needle between the two at the start of the contest, as they exchanged words at the net. Fish came out serving well, rarely giving Murray an opportunity to build any momentum. The world number 4 was similarly stingy on serve, despite a characteristically horrific first serve percentage.

The pair traded comfortable holds until 5-5, at which point the Scot both created and squandered multiple opportunties to break. The eventual tiebreak and its outcome appeared to be equally inevitable, yet despite Murray's less than stellar record in breakers this year, he somehow managed to edge out the American to clinch the first set.

It was at this point that the tide turned, however. Upon reentering the arena after a toilet break, Murray was hit with, in his own words, "a wall of heat". He suddenly began to struggle physically and was attended to by the ATP trainer on several occasions throughout what turned out to be a lopsided second set, which the American took 6-1.

Murray dug his heels in at the start of the third set and attempted to make a contest of it. Despite shuffling around like a zombie between points, the world number 4 managed to force a tiebreak. At one point Murray looked like he might pull off an unlikely win, as he raced to a 4-2 lead. Unfortunately, Fish benefited from a poor line call and pulled back the mini break. Buoyed by this, the American rallied to win 4 of the next 5 points to beat Murray for the third time this year.

Murray's post-match interview (1 video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brI1gJ_h-Yw

[Bevc]

No punny title? Disappointed.

Like Murray Flounders or something

[Bevc]

I thought Andy done well to get as far as he did do in the match. 

And someone should tell Fish that was a Master QF he won and not a grand slam final. I've seen lesser celebrations for winning a grand slam title. 

I honesty didn't think he'd make it past 2 sets.    Such an ass! 

[araminta]

Doesnt Fish realise he can only just beat someone practically on his knees? I thought he would have crushed Murray in that last set but Andy kept coming out and holding his serve. All credit to the boy for having the guts to see it through.

[tennis_girl]

Puns are predictable. I went for the most straightforward headline possible.

Duly noted by the first sentence of your post.

[janscribe]

Doesnt Fish realise he can only just beat someone practically on his knees? I thought he would have crushed Murray in that last set but Andy kept coming out and holding his serve. All credit to the boy for having the guts to see it through.

My sentiments entirely - and it could so easily have gone the other way with Andy as the winner.

[Tessie]

The scheduling definately favoured the American, know he had doubles and all that but looks like Novak is going home too so with Fed and Nadal due to play each other in the semi it could be another very one sided final like wimbledon was. Cant beleive Fed has played 28 minutes and still gets another nice night match, wonder if Daveydenko with show up. Ha Ha

[araminta]

Bit of a who ha on the other site about what Fish wrote on the camera after the match.