Marseille - QF: Murray vs Mahut

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Marseille - QF: Murray vs Mahut

john · Top national player

Edit: Turns our you're right wolf, for this tournament you don't need the funded account. I'm pretty certain I remember that for other tourneys it needed to be funded

-- Edited by john at 15:29, 2008-02-15

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

With Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet out, Andy is probably expected to win the title now but his form hasn't been too convincing and you get the sense that any of the players left in the tournament might be able to beat him.

First serve percentage a lot higher today so that's something. Opportunities to break are likely to be few and far between from now on; Andy needs to avoid giving away his own serve with a series of careless errors, as he is prone to do.

-- Edited by kundalini at 15:36, 2008-02-15

helki · Futures qualifying

kundalini wrote:

With Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet out, Andy is probably expected to win the title now but his form hasn't been too convincing and you get the sense that any of the players left in the tournament might be able to beat him.

First serve percentage a lot higher today so that's something.

It wouldn't surprise me if Ancic had a say in the outcome of this tournament. A tight match for Andy today but... he's still winning.

First into the semis.

seagull · Hall of fame

Next up either Mathieu - who he beat in a tight 3 setter in Miami last year, or Simon who he lost to in Rome (again last year) on the clay.

Simon the defending champion here so maybe Mathieu a better bet (can be quite hit & miss)?

Drew · Feb 15, 2008

Well done Andy...a nice but tight two set win !

johnnylad · Tennis legend

The Murray singles record this year (minus AO) continues to be GREAT!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

seagull wrote:

Next up either Mathieu - who he beat in a tight 3 setter in Miami last year, or Simon who he lost to in Rome (again last year) on the clay.

Simon the defending champion here so maybe Mathieu a better bet (can be quite hit & miss)?

PHM it is: beat the defending champion 3 & 4! wink

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Andy Murray defeated Nicolas Mahut in two close sets 7-5 7-6(5) to reach the semi-final stage in Marseilles, where he will meet another french player Paul-Henri Mathieu.

While the previous meeting between these two players had been rather one-sided, Murray winning 6-1 6-3 in Indian Wells last year, there was little between the players this time around.

Serve dominated throughout this indoor contest, 14 aces from the Scot, 10 from his opponent, as both players found their rhythm on the delivery. Not surprisingly, there were few opportunities to break; the british number one gaining the only break of serve during the whole match, as he took the opening set 7-5.

The second set was just as tight. Andy saved a break point early in the set then missed out on two match points as Mahut served himself out of trouble. Into the tiebreak, mini-breaks came and went before Murray gained the crucial edge at 6-5 then held on for the win.

An impressive first serve percentage 66% was the highlight for Andy after struggling with his serve during his opening two matches in this tournament.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Thank you for that, Kundalini: I have put it up on bt.net

I'm useless at writing match reports myself!

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Great to see Murray's service stats vs Mahut. Didn't expect Murray to out ace Mahut.

Is Mahut known for his return or is he more of a server?

john · Top national player

Yeah, Mahut is pretty reliant on his serve really. Serves and volleys quite a lot, but his returning game was very poor this week. I watched him against both Murray and Ferrero and he struggled on return. As I say though, his serve was exceptional in both games and kept him in the matches.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Seem to remember it was his serve that led to that run at Queens last year!

Hopefully Andy's return game fires again against Ancic!