Madrid Masters R3: Murray v Cilic

The Hoose · Satellite level

RE: Madrid Masters R3: Murray v Cilic

The Hoose · Satellite level

Murray gets to 30-30 but Cilic holds for 5-5.

The Hoose · Satellite level

The overpriced Muzza bear holds to love. 6-5*.

The Hoose · Satellite level

A good overrule helps Murray to 15-15 on the Cilic serve, but next point he goes long. Hard hitting from Murray forces Cilic to hit wide - 30-30. A Murray lob goes long to give Cilic game point and a big serve forces the tiebreak.

The Hoose · Satellite level

Got dragged away there - nice to get back to see them shaking hands at the net! Looks like Murray stormed the tie-break to win 7-5 7-6(2). Hardly vintage Murray but he's through to the next round.

-- Edited by The Hoose at 14:37, 2008-10-16

Drew · Oct 16, 2008

Ta for the updates hoose !
I thought he would do it in 2 and a good turn around at 40-0 and 5-3 down.. !

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well, that was a bit

Well done Andy for grinding it out despite the problems. I didn't have time to post during the match, my computer is not fast enough to cope with anything other than the livestream, but I did manage to read a post or two: so to whoever it was who was questioning whether Andy was using gamesmanship when clutching at the knee, I would just like to take up this point.

I can understand that anybody without any such recurrent problem would be sceptical about it. I however have a "dodgy" ankle in much the same way Muzza has a "dodgy" knee. I can have no problems for weeks, then suddenly while merely walking down the street there is a sharp pain and I can barely walk at all for a while. Then, I can manage to hobble onwards. The problem may go away completely in a matter of minutes, or it may last hours, or even days.

So no, Andy's problem with the bipartite patella is genuine and well documented. The fact that it gave him problems at times and none at others is expected.

P.S. - thank the Lord Activeboard's problems seem to be similarly over for at least the present!

-- Edited by Madeline at 14:49, 2008-10-16

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Only saw 2nd set. Andy looked comfortable until he served for the match (though according to his post match interview he didn't realise the score was 5-3, thinking that it was 4-2). Anyway, no first serves in 5 attempts and Cilic's brutal returns set up two break points then Andy went for a reckless backhand down the line and missed by miles.

The tiebreak was all Cilic. Andy played safe which turned out to be a sensible move on his part. Cilic produced a big serve + aggressive forehand to win one point and a stunning forehand return winner off a decent first serve for his other success. The rest was made up of a double fault and plenty of weak groundstrokes that went long or landed in the net.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Andy spoke about his knee problem after the match. Said it was painful today and thought it might be the different court and slightly grittier surface. Says he sometimes has to 'put it back' himself. Didn't seem too worried about it though.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Well done to him on winning the match and getting to the Quarters here, as Cilic is a tricky opponent, but did exactly as anyone would expect him to do and choke at the big occasions.

Didn't see the match (MS TV doesn't work at Uni unfortunately) but from the reports I've heard about it it sounds like Cilic threw away the first set and the tiebreak in the 2nd set, while Murray wasn't at his best today but did enough to get the win.

Monfils in the next round will be another tough match, but I'd fancy Murray to come through it again as he's got a bit more to his game about him, even though Monfils's defence is very good.

Drew · Oct 16, 2008

Andy said at 5-4 he thought it was 4-2..."first time on tour ive done that"...."quite bad for me" i had to smile !

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, it was actually at 5-3 in the second set when he was serving for the match ( and lost his serve ! ) when he says that he actually thought it was 4-2 smile

So just to let folk know it was nothing to do with serving out the match that his serve rather let him down in that game. We believe you, Andy

-- Edited by indiana at 19:44, 2008-10-16

Drew · Oct 16, 2008

Andys post match video interview HERE