Some telling comments from the Beeb's report on the match:

Still stunned by last week's shock loss to Brazilian Thomasz [sic] Bellucci in Madrid, the Scot never quite found his rhythm - and his familar problems at dealing with his own frustrations surfaced as he lurched in and out of form.

With the French Open fast approaching on 22 May, Murray overdid the drop shots while his first-serve percentages were way too low until the final stages.

He said afterwards: "It was a tough match. I concentrated badly throughout and I've got to get better at it. When I settled down and focused I played some nice stuff but there were too many loose games.

"On this surface you need to be patient and work harder for every point. It's good to get through but it was too up and down. I just need to get the matches now. I need to get better - the main thing for me is the concentration."

The world number four was at his most erratic in the second set, which began with an ill-tempered loss of serve, unleashing [ sic ] Malisse to play some of the best tennis of the match.

Malisse attacked at will to force a decider but Murray recovered his concentration and energy levels to break his opponent twice in the decider, and even though he remained far from decisive in some keenly-contested games - needing six game points before going 5-2 up - the match was his.

Madeline wrote:

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First. serve. %. I seem to have been saying that since 2005.

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Indeed.  Just been looking at the RICOH statistics for this year.  First serve % not at all good comparatively, but even more of an issue when you look at how he compares for second serve % points won  ( hint - just go to the bottom   )  For such a good all round player to have such bad second serve points stats is a hell of a comment on how bad his second serve itself still is. 

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/MatchFacts.aspx

Return stats still right up there, so it is no wonder so many breaks in Andy matches.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 11th of May 2011 02:45:19 PM

R16: Andy Murray (4) GBR WR 4 v Potito Starace ITA WR 44

H2H is 1-0 Andy, beating Potato 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Roland Garros two years ago. I expect Muzz to come through but it will be tough, seeing as Starace is in his home country. Starace over came Dolgopolov and 16th seed Troicki in straight sets to reach here.

The Magician Santoro wrote:

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R16: Andy Murray (4) GBR WR 4 v Potito Starace ITA WR 44

H2H is 1-0 Andy, beating Potato 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Roland Garros two years ago. I expect Muzz to come through but it will be tough, seeing as Starace is in his home country. Starace over came Dolgopolov and 16th seed Troicki in straight sets to reach here.

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He also beat Starace 5 & 1 at the Hopman Cup this year, though admittedly that may not be that meaningful.

Jankovitch just won now.

Ah - Berdy dropped the second set on a tiebreak, so Andy's start delayed still further.