Davis Cup Day 1 - Match Reports

Drew · Apr 6, 2007

Davis Cup Day 1 - Match Reports

Drew · Apr 6, 2007

Playing well within himself Andy broke the first Dutch service game and never looked back. At times Sluiter looked out of his depth...and when he did get chances andy stepped things up to ensure the first point went to Britain. Twice Murray was down 15-40 and twice his serve got him out of jail.

Murray took the first set 6-3 without being troubled too much and with no sign of injury. An array of drop shots, sliced back hands and forehands with numerous outright winners brought him the set easily.

The second set was slightly better for the Dutch No 2 as he went for bigger shots and had chances to break Murray. But Andy threw away multiple break points in back to back service games until it got to the serious end of the set. As he has done in previous matches (Several times v Roddick) Andy broke in the 11th game to go up 6-5 and served out the set with some ease.

Andy kept up the momentum at the start of the third set as he broke in the 3rd game to lead 2-1. From 15-40 down in the 4th game he serve himself out of the hole he put himself in to consolidate the break for 3-1.

Sluiter managed to keep his serve in the next game and took Andy to deuce in Andys next game but Andy held for 4-2. Sluiter never looked like threatening after that despite a wonderfull forehand pass when Murray was serving for game 6. All the net chords were going for Murray also and the double break game soon afterwards for 5-2. Murry comtinued to play outstanding tennis in the final game with a great volley at 30-30.

Sluiter got it to deuce twice and then with Murray seemingly cruising two errors gave Sluiter a break point. Murray promtly served a second serve ace and then a Sluiter error gave Murray the match.

Murray has now won 22 out of 29 matches played this year and with that win gave Great Britain the 1st point of the tie.

Great Britain 1 Holland 0

Drew · Apr 6, 2007

A Winning Return for Tiger Tim !

Tim won through a tight match 7-6(4) 6-3 7-6(4) against the young dutchman Robin Haase.

Tim got off to a nervous start dropping his opening service game but hit back right away breaking young Haase in the very next game. Tim had the dutchman 0-40 down only for Haase to find some big serves and he fought back to level it at 2-2. Tims next service game went to 0-30 down but this time it was tim who fought back taking the next 4 pts to go up 3-2.

Both players held their next few service games and when Haase held for 6-6 it was tie break time.

Tim gave Haase a mini-break right away but fought back and led throughout the remainder of the breaker and took it 7-6(4)

Tim took charge in the second set from the 4th game when he broke Haase and held on to wrap it up 6-3.

The third set sprang into life when Henman gave Haase a nice double fault on break point to help Haase to a 3-1 lead. The young dutchman was now taking on all sorts of shots especially the Henman 2nd serve and could have went a further break up but it was Henman who hit back in the 6th game when the in experience of Haase led to the break.

More drama was to come as both players dropped points in their next service games but both held on and it was Haase with more big serves who held on in the 12th game to take the match into a 3rd set breaker.

This time Tim was never behind and with a great lob from Tim and some naive play from Haase Tim wrapped up the win 7-6(4).

Tim on being back in the Davis Cup arena : "With the emergence of Andy and watching the home ties I just felt it was right to come back....actually its the best timing for me"

I asked Tim how he felt playing against a young player who was going for some many shots from all areas of the court.. "His shot selection will improve for sure but he has a great first serve and like a lot of the younger guys these days goes for lots of shots..."

RobC · All-time great

Drew: you're doing a fantastic job: thanks for brining it alive for us!!

johnnylad · Tennis legend

fantastic! Great day and great coverage!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

i second that completely, thanks a lot Drew.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

And I third it. I caught most of Andy's match, but missed Tim's until just before the end, so I enjoyed the reports and also reading through the DC thread. Well done Drew!

Sally · Grand Slam Champion

I totally agree - great work!