Andy Murray kept his title hopes alive today with an enthralling 6-4 6-7(4) 7-6(3) victory over Fernando Verdasco.
The permutations are complex, but Murray knew a straight sets victory would guarantee him progress to the knock-out stages. Defeat however, would give Verdasco a chance of qualifying and almost certainly end the Scot's campaign. After fighting through in three sets, things are slightly clearer but by no means certain.
Murray cantered out of the traps in the first set, immediately grabbing three break points on Verdascos serve. The Spaniard steeled himself however, and managed to hold through some fine serving and fearless ground strokes. After a service performance against Federer that was described as “pants” by Murray himself, the crowd awaited the Scots first service game with trepidation. After hitting two aces and a double fault on his way to holding, matters were no clearer.
In this fashion the pair traded service holds. Murray was exerting considerable pressure on Verdasco, playing aggressive tennis and hitting some top quality returns. His own service games were a mixed bag of huge first serves, feather weight second serves with a tasty side dish of double faults.
Read more (355 words)The crucial break came when Verdasco was serving at 4-4. Some scrambled defence from Murray forced Verdasco to play one more shot than he was comfortable with, thrashing an easy volley into the net. Serving for the set, Murray opened with two double faults to fall 0-30 behind. That deficit was erased with two massive aces and a ferocious forehand winner that left Verdasco gesticulating at the heavens. Several deuces came and went before Murray finally found the first serve he was looking for and clinched the set.
At the start of the second set, Murray immediately grabbed two break points courtesy of some wild hitting from Verdasco. Unfortunately the break was not to be and the chance went begging. As in the first set, both players exchanged service holds. The quality of play was noticeably lower, though Murray was still holding relatively easily compared to Verdasco. The Scot saw several break point chances come and go, but was unable to find the breakthrough.
Up until today, Murray had played 7 tiebreaks with Verdasco, winning them all. Verdasco was also on a losing streak of 7 tiebreaks in total, so hopes were high that Murray would prevail and wrap up the match. This was not to be however, as some woeful serving allowed Verdasco to dominate and take the breaker 7-4.
The third set was almost a carbon copy repeat of the second, albeit with a significantly higher level of play. More break points and half chances for Murray came and went but, as before, he was unable to convert and the set went to a tiebreak. Thankfully this was a 180 degree reversal from the last tiebreak and Murray took advantage of some wild swinging and village level volleying from Verdasco to clinch the first mini-break and canter through to take it 7-3.
Murray's fate still hangs in the balance as the outcome of tonight's Federer v Del Potro match-up will decide who stays alive and who falls. Any win for Federer will be enough to send Murray through, so his fans will be in the unusual position of cheering for the World #1.
BBC Sport - Tennis - Murray reflects on magnificent year
