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[boogers]

Andy Murray reached the third round of the Brisbane International event with a see-saw 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 victory over the Australian John Millman.

Millman has spent most of his career playing challengers and, until this week, had failed to post a single win on the ATP circuit. In the first set the gulf in class was absolute and Murray breezed through in under 40 minutes. The Australian wasn't completely toothless, demonstrating power off the forehand wing, but this was little more than a training exercise for the Scot.

The second set was a completely different affair as Murray's form dropped precipitously. Whether this was due to a minor injury or a simple lapse in concentration is open to speculation, but suddenly Millman looked the better player. Murray struggled to find the court, hitting long or into the net with alarming regularity. Millman capitalised on this generosity, breaking twice on his way to taking the set and levelling the match.

Some semblance of normality returned in the third set, as Millman wilted and Murray once again found his range. The Scot was again tested on his serve but this time held firm.

This was an odd performance from the Scot. Lacklustre early round performances are nothing unusual, but the brilliant first set followed by such a dramatic collapse in form was unusual to say the least.

[Ruthie]

Perhaps boogers could make a new year's resolution not to be so resolutely negative whenever Andy falters - and this could be the first opportunity to put the resolution into practice 

[teejay1]

Oh well, bang goes the 'I will not be goaded by Boogers' resolution.

Scrapes? Seriously?  6-1 5-7 6-3 is a scrape?

Blimey, now who's being a drama queen?

Andy had a second set blip, that was all. Something physical? Maybe? A bit of a dip in concentration? Almost certainly. Either way, he got the job done pretty convincingly in the third. I'm sure he'll be in good nick against Istomin.

[scotnadian]

Did everyone watch the match?

[GangstaMurray]

I think bogglers has improved. Better than some of the disgraceful headlines last year.

[counter_ puncher]

Even when reading the match thread I felt like being on the all too well-known rollercoaster. We are used to it and do we want it any different (as long as he wins his match)? From  what I saw in the first set, Millman has a solid game, esp. his groundstrokes. And when lower-ranked players face a champion, their ambitions will rise, as Andy knows from the times when he entered the senior stage. Often they cannot maintain such a high level over three or five sets. But as one of you remarked,  the other top players rarely seem to have such first-round struggles.

[boogers]

Scrapes? Seriously?  6-1 5-7 6-3 is a scrape?

Against someone ranked nearly 200 places below him? Against an opponent, who, until this week, had never won a match on the ATP circuit? Yeah. That's a scrape.

It wasn't as if Millman was overpowering Murray either. It was almost entirely unforced errors from Murray's racquet.

[scotnadian]

Thanks for the factual report, Boogers.

We both watched the same match.

A win's a win, so onwards and upwards.