Woohoo.

I don't know what's been done with Muzza's head in the last few weeks, but his mental strength has been amazing!

No longer do we get proper murraycoasters (no, that's not a complaint LOL) - the pattern now against lower-ranked players seems to be dodgy start (the earlier the start, the dodgier), then flick the switch and dominate the match completely with one break of serve wobble in the winning set but when he's already a break up ... not to mention that he never gives up any more if he does get in trouble.

Of course, he now has his biggest ever points haul from a single week - brilliant

-- Edited by steven at 20:31, 2008-08-02

Andy Murray's sublime return of serve earned him a place in his first Masters Series final, defeating Ivo Karlovic 6-4 6-4 in Cincinnati.

Coming into the semi-final stage the croat had lost serve just the once in four matches but the expected tiebreak shoot-out never happened, due to Murray putting far more pressure on the Karlovic serve than previous opponents had managed.

Both players faced break points in their opening service games. Karlovic coming up with a big first serve to get himself out of trouble and while Murray initially did likewise, he then went on to miss a couple of first serves, presenting Ivo with the chance to attack, a poor forehand passing shot from Andy landed in the net, then Karlovic fired a forehand winner to break.

Murray's backhand passing shot created an opening at 0-30 and when Ivo carelessly volleyed wide, Andy had the chance to break back immediately; which he did as his fierce return was volleyed into the net. Serving at 3-3 Karlovic's unwise drop shot failed to make it over the net. Murray's forehand pass was a beauty and he then volleyed crisply into the open space after an aggressive forehand return. A fierce return was enough to gain the break, Ivo netting the volley. Andy served out the set without difficulty 6-4.

The croat's opening service game in the second set was an epic battle between serve and return. Seven break points created with a collection of superb returns and delightful passing shots, seven break points saved, mostly with unreturned first serves, until Murray forced Karlovic to hit two tough volleys, one landed in the net, the other clipped the top of the net and fell wide to give Murray the early break.

Andy merely needed to hold serve for the rest of the set against the worst returner in the game, to make it into the final. But regular Murray watchers will have hardly been surprised that this was beyond him. Opting for a high first serve percentage, he gave Karlovic the initative and found himself 0-40 down when serving at 3-2. Andy saved two but a safe first serve allowed Ivo to attack, Murray's initial backhand passing shot clipped the net but Karlovic responded well on the volley and a second attempt by the scot touch the top of the net again, this time the ball falling back on Murray's side of the net for the break.

The momentum appeared to be with Karlovic but Andy's return was still keeping him alive. From 40-15 down he came up with a series of fine returns, making life extremely difficult for Ivo, taking four points in a row when Karlovic fired a loose forehand into the net. A weak sliced backhand into the net from Ivo ending the contest 6-4 6-4.

Murray's returning was exceptional, winning him 39% against first serve and 59% against second. There was plenty of opportunity to display his natural talent, 6 passing shot winners, three lobs that were clean winners and plenty of fierce returns that forced Karlovic into making tough volleys down by his toes.

While he had a clear plan for his own service games, achieving an astonishing 77% of first serves in play through reducing the pace, being broken twice by the weakest returner in the game was very disappointing but ultimately not fatal. Certainly not a perfect display but still a good performance overall.


-- Edited by kundalini at 23:04, 2008-08-02

Yes, a good indepth report as usual Kundalini, most of which I agree with.
 
I do tend to daisgree with your implication that Andy's service stategy caused him to be broken back in the second set. From my memory it was more just a poor game, and started off with simply a loose forehand.

As well as getting 77% first serves in, he was winning 80% of these first serve points. He was only winning 42% of second serve points.  So, to me the strategy of taking pace off, deny Karlovic a look at second serves and reduce his own chances of double faults was the right one.  He was entitled to think that strategy should see him home without a further break, and I think it was a sensible one.
 
I also think his general positiveness / aggession level was right. what I have described as the in-between, i.e.  not his real passive self which I hope is a thing of the past but not the aggesion I would expect against Nadal, so here I disagree with gingerlightbulb, and possibly yourself, Kundalini, since I know you have previously wanted more like full aggression in all Andy's matches rather than try and switch it on and off.

It was certainly not a pefect match, in that he didn't start well ( again ! ) and he didn't execute well at times ( such as when broken in the second set ), but I really did think he played the match entirely the right way, and in general it was a really good performance.

Missed the beginning of this match due to a rather lengthy traffic jam but pleased to join the match at 3-3, so didn't suffer the initial anguish of first service game lost. Amazed at just how well Andy returned serve today, his attitude on court throughout, his ability to break back at just the right moment and some of his shots were sublime. Love those lobs.

Think he has a good chance tomorrow. Excellent week.

Well done to Murray, and breaking Karlovic 4 times on these courts is a pretty good achievement (although being broken by him twice is less impressive, but we'll ignore that for now...)

Seems like a good performance, especially off the return of serve, and shows why he is one of the best returners in the game (Nalby is better when he's interest still), and if he returns like that in the final he should be able to break Djokovic and Nadal a few times.

It's a great week so far for him, and up to 6 in the rankings which is great to see, but I'm not sure whether it's going to be a first MS title for him though...