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[Mark]

Andy Murray stepped up a gear in his second-round match against Marco Chiudinelli in the Dubai Desert Classic today. The Scot needed just 83 minutes to overcome the Swiss qualifier 6-3 6-4 and reach the last eight.

After a worrying first-round encounter yesterday with Michael Berrer, during which Murray said he felt sick, the world number four got back on track with a routine victory over his 185th-ranked opponent.

Murray's breakthrough came in the fourth game, with an astute backhand to the Swiss man's ankles. He then duly held serve comfortably to see out the set. Indeed, the world number four will be delighted to have won 84% of all points on his serve.

In the second set, though, it was Murray's return game that impressed the most and he went close to breaking in the first and seventh games before securing the decisive break at 4-4. Some sweet groundshots sealed the match as the Scot became the first player through to the quarter-finals.

This was an improved performance, but what will please Murray fans most is the absence of the post-Australian Open funk that has blighted the last two seasons. Murray's resolve will be fully tested tomorrow, though, as he faces Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych for a spot in the semis.

[janscribe]

Andy plays at 10.a.m. again tomorrow and its Berdych.

[lashurst]

Andy Murray stepped up a gear in his second-round match against Marco Chiudinelli in the Dubai Desert Classic today. The Scot needed just 83 minutes to overcome the Swiss qualifier 6-3 6-4 and reach the last eight.

After a worrying first-round encounter yesterday with Michael Berrer, during which Murray said he felt sick, the world number four got back on track with a routine victory over his 185th-ranked opponent.

Murray's breakthrough came in the fourth game, with an astute backhand to the Swiss man's ankles. He then duly held serve comfortably to see out the set. Indeed, the world number four will be delighted to have won 84% of all points on his serve.

In the second set, though, it was Murray's return game that impressed the most and he went close to breaking in the first and seventh games before securing the decisive break at 4-4. Some sweet groundshots sealed the match as the Scot became the first player through to the quarter-finals.

This was an improved performance, but what will please Murray fans most is the absence of the post-Australian Open funk that has blighted the last two seasons. Murray's resolve will be fully tested tomorrow, though, as he faces Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych for a spot in the semis.

Thanks Mark for the match autopsy! It's the news I wanted to hear. Yippee   Hope he gets past Berdy tomorrow.

[Grabcopy]

No problem but Nigel wrote all that post, he replaced my holding article.

Don't spoil it - I tried to write it in your style.

[Alis]

I think the schedulers are taking it out on Andy because of the comments he made about the Tipsaravic match a few years ago and for not being there last year.  They'll be sorry if he decides not to go next year when he's number 1!

[Aileen]

Can anyone please tell me why Andy always seems to be first on court. I know he has not complained about it but it is very unfair. Yet Mr Smug mostly gets the evenings when it is a lot cooler even ak400 cannot dispute that. It is time other players kept a note of Mr Smugs game times I am sure they will find he gets preferential treatment by always playing when it is cool.

Also the crowd is much smaller at that time and Andy likes crowd involvement.  And I agree totally about SmugFed, particularly as he does his training in Dubai where he has resident status (and probably why he's getting all the preferential treatment here), so the heat should be no problem for him either.  Unfortunately, though, as Alis points out Andy could be persona non grata with the tournament organisers for the reasons stated.  Some people don't forgive and forget too easily.

[Mark]

Don't spoil it - I tried to write it in your style.

[NDMS]

Fedouche's 3 favorite tourneys outside of the big ones are:  Dubai, Halle, Basel.  I think it's just expected that these three favorably return his dedication and patronage by giving him the marquee matches.

This is not an issue with me.

Agree with Katie on the advantage of not playing Berdych in slower/cooler conditions and with Aileen on the sooner the match is over, the more rest he would get.

Remember, the next match is SF presumably with Nole.