Andy Murray In The French Open 2011

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Wow the tennis gods have decided to be kind to Andy Murray this year in Paris. Andy Murray faces french qualifier Eric Prodan, if everything goes to script Andy's 3rd round opponent could be big hitting up and coming young gun Milos Raonic and if Andy goes deep into the draw potential quarter finalist could be Roger Federer's conquerer in Monte Carlo World No.8 Jurgen Melzer. If Murray manages to make it to the semi's, the man standing in the way will be 5-time champion and King of Clay one Rafael Nadal. There is no question why Andy Murray should not be considered a favourite at Roland Garros. There are players above him as favourites, the Nadals, Federers and Djokovics and rightly so. Murray though has found a rhythm to his game on clay and has certainly had the best run on clay since becoming pro and looks like he is over his Australian Open heartache. Another important part of Andy Murray's French Open campaign is his box. Will Darren Cahill be there? That for me is a big deal because if he can work with Andy during these next 2 weeks it will be a massive boost to his campaign. It would be the first time Andy has gone through a Slam without a coach. It is debatable the level of input Alex Corretja had during the US Open campaign of 2010 and the Australian Open 2011 campaign. Both campaigns brought mixed performances. We had the Andy Murray 'didn't want it and totally lost it' performance against Stanislas Wawrinka at the US Open and the Andy Murray 'planned everything and got outgunned at the end' performance at the Australian Open. What is certain is that Andy will come in without any pressure from the press because in some quarters players like David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro are considered favourites ahead of Andy based on previous results against the Scot on clay and also Clay is their preferred surface. Andy needs to let his tennis do the talking and really put himself in a position to be a serious threat at this French Open. I would hate for Andy to look back at this and like Marlon Brando in the Waterfront say "I coulda been a contender"

Second serve from Troicki and Andy again pushes Troicki to the baseline and forces the error from Troicki. 0-15. Troicki. Boom. Ace. 15-15. Another first serve and Andy puts the return out 30-15. Second serve and Murray hits a brilliant up the line backhand and Troicki unable to return. 30-30. Second serve. Troicki second and Andy pounces on it and Troicki goes long on the backhand. 30-40. First serve and Murray lands a beauty of a forehand return and Murray goes long on the backhand crosscourt pass. Deuce. Second serve and Andy pummels Troicki with the forehand and Troicki goes wide. Adv Murray. First serve and Troicki nets. 1-5.

This is amazing. One leg and he still breaks serve.

Murray on the board at least he's not getting bagelled...

Very nice 2 aces there.

Second serve. Troicki goes long on the Murray return. 15-0. Second serve. Murray goes long on the forehand. 15-15. Andy is not playing anything short. Big first serve and Troicki nets. 30-15. Ace. 40-15. Another ace. 2-5. If Andy wins this set, sod what socal says about Djokovic being the greatest, this will eclipse the streak.

Troicki to serve for the set. First serve and Andy goes wide on the serve. 15-0. First serve and Troicki nets a sloppy forehand. 15-15. Big serve and Murray catches Troicki in no mans land. 15-30. Murray returns the serve and forces Troicki back. 15-40. Murray breaks. This is brilliant.

I run out of superlatives for this man.

Big first serve and Andy is powering his way back into this. 15-0. Big serve and Troicki goes long. 30-0. Second serve. Andy puts away a forehand. 40-0. These commentators deserve humble pie! Andy big first serve and nets the Troicki return. Big serve out wide and Troicki nets the return. 4-5. Remember Lazarus?

Troicki looks stunned.

Troicki to serve for the set, again. Big serve and Troicki tries a drop and Andy puts away the volley. 0-15. Troick tries a drop shot and Andy volleys into play and Troicki goes wide. 0-30. Troicki big serve and comes to the net and puts away the volley. 15-30. Another big serve and Troicki comes in and puts away the volley. 30-30. Troicki finds another first serve and a backhand rally develops and Troicki tries the drop shot and gets burnt again. 30-40. Second serve. Murray misses the forehand. Unlucky. Deuce. First serve in. Troicki is trying to play the Murray way and it is not working. Adv Murray. Troicki finds a big serve and plays the better drop shot. Deuce. Big first serve and Murray tries a drop shot and Troicki picks it up and puts the ball away. Adv Troicki. Big serve and Andy goes long on the backhand pass. 6-4 Troicki. Lucky lucky man.

Right guys I will be back soon.

He may look good but the problem their is he has clawed his way back only to lose the set. Now needs to go 4 sets, can his ankle hold out that long!?

Murray needs to win this set otherwise match over! Match will probably finish tomorrow

Murray breaks 4-2 second set

Murray breaks Troicki just needs to hold his serve to win the set.

Grrrr Andy handing the break back!

Andy needs to stop beating himself up and focus. In the first there was none of this self berrating and now he is doing it. Andy calm down for crying out loud.

poor Andy, he's trying his very best, but there's not a lot he can do right now, just got broken again...

Well that's it then !

Ankle let him down !!!!!

Retire NOW Andy PLEEZE !!!!!!111

yes he shouldn't berate himself so much, but it must be incredibly frustrating for him, on one leg he's losing 6-4 6-4 and he must be thinking if he was at even 80% he'd be beating this guy fairly comfortably...

I think the ankle has been more of a mental distraction than a physical one. Wish he wouldn't tangle himself up like that.

nah legendkillar, he's not moving as well as usual I don't think.

trouble is yummy, he's probably thinking he's not so far away, and if he can just nick a set tonight he could feel better tomorrow and still come through...

It has been a great effort from Murray. It really has. I wonder who in the top 3 could perform to a standard that can beat a world number 15?

there's the break, Andy looking utterly dejected, I feel so sorry for him...

Murray breaks straight back, showing fantastic courage in doing so!

John Lloyd: "it's not about the ankle". What rubbish! Try beating a guy ranked n°15 in the world on one leg and see how you do! Anyway Andy pulls out some big serves and decent forehands to hold for 3-2.

John Lloyd talks garbage. I am sure he feels bitter for Andy not playing Davis Cup.

Now the pressure is on Troicki now. Shall be interesting to see how he handles this next service game.

Andy loses the first point, but then plays some superb tennis and holds to 15 for a 4-3 lead.

Come on Andy, Great Tennis!

Troicki is struggling to handle Murray. 5-3. Murray serving for the set. I am amazed how John Lloyd and Andrew Castle are debating about the extent of Murray's injury!

COME ON!!!

There we go. Murray takes the 3rd set. I think Troicki Would want to take the light.

All the momentum is with Murray.

Andy you beauty! That was brilliant tennis at the end of that set, just brilliant! As for Castle and Lloyd, did they even see the state of Andy's ankle when the strapping was removed, eugh!

I cannot believe the amount of pigeons flying about.

have you ever been to Paris legendkillar?

Good hold from 0-30 down

I haven't MFC. And nor will I

It was a good hold. Can only see one winner from this stage.

606 is closing tomorrow at mid day peeps, last chance to say goodbyes and try to get the stragglers over here.

I can't BEAR the SUSPENSE !!!!!!!!!

:run2:

I am wumming there as we speak!!

Routine hold for Murray, good stuff!

Sorry Y I - Our posts crossed

I know of a few peeps from 606 that have signed up to 606v2
but haven't posted YET - All *good'uns* too

Murray Breaks!!!!

Yummy he has broken!! Woot

Murray just misses a pas, his 50th UE, Troicki's made just 26, make that 27. Murray races in to dispatch a dropshot. and a couple of minutes later he breaks with a stinging return, great stuff!!

Some pics just posted on Twitter of Murray in action:

RolandGarros English
A couple of twitpics http://yfrog.com/gy36gzsj http://yfrog.com/gywx9ycj #rolandgarros #tennis

Great resolve from Murray, hopefully he'll win the set and resume for the 5th tomorrow. A further night's rest for the ankle and a one set shootout has to favour Murray

oh that's so clever, short angled forehand topspin and troicki's too far back to reach it. Troicki in danger of losing it right now...