Week 16 - Monte Carlo Masters 1000 - Red Clay

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 16 - Monte Carlo Masters 1000 - Red Clay

Jan · Hall of fame

a real pleasure to watch that match!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

R3: (3) Andy Murray WR 4 vs Julien Benneteau (FRA) WR 31

The head-to-head is 2-0 in Andy's favour, but it's three years since they last met & neither was a straight-sets win: Wimbledon in 4 in 2006 & Cinci in three in 2009!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
R3: (3) Andy Murray WR 4 vs Julien Benneteau (FRA) WR 31
The head-to-head is 2-0 in Andy's favour, but it's three years since they last met & neither was a straight-sets win: Wimbledon in 4 in 2006 & Cinci in three in 2009!

Blimey! Must be a bit of a "slug-fest" going on on the devil dirt: they've been going for an hour & minutes & they're only in the eleventh game, with the score in the first set standing at *5-5 30-0 to Andy! Unfortunately, however, there's been an injury break. hmm

wolf · Tennis legend

Benneteau was getting inside Andy's head with some quality drop shots and Andy showed some great defence but was a bit too passive at times and made a few uncharacteristic errors.

Benny went over on his ankle in the same place Monaco did a couple of days ago, replay was pretty nasty. Tried to play on but clear he couldn't continue.

Andy wins 6-5 ret.

Mikeduke · County player

Benneteau eventually retired trailing 6-5 on serve.

Nishkori and Berdych are 1 set all.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Very nasty-looking injury for Benny, just watching the replay made me feel sick. The match was good to watch before it happened, Andy certainly not at his best (that first-serve % again!) and seemed pretty grumpy at the start. I think he still doesn't care for early starts, but probably had to agree to it because of playing doubles later. The Frenchman was playing very well, but I think Andy would have worn him down eventually.

Very nice gesture from Andy when Benneteau was receiving treatment just after the fall, running over with a couple of ice-bags.

Mikeduke · County player

I find it really weird Andy playing the first matches of the round. It always seems like he is playing last, or at least on the last day possible.

wolf · Tennis legend

Berdych beats Nishikori 6-4 in the 3rd.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Andy on the skids & Berd-brain about to make the semis? 7-6(4) 2-6 *1-3 cry

indiana · Tennis legend

* 3 - 5 cry .

Last chance saloon. Stats suggest Berdych well deserves to win.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

That's it! Curtains! Andy loses by 7-6(4) 2-6 3-6. Never looked like threatening Berd-brain's service in the deciding set & was always chasing the match: he was lucky to take the first set into a tie-break! disbelief

MiloTheCat · Lower Club Player

Only saw the last few games - one nice backhand down the line at 15-30 in the final game - it was said in commentary that he hadnt used it enough.

It used to be such a feature of his game - I get the feeling we havent seen it as much lately.

Jan · Hall of fame

Berdy definitely the better player today.

Armchair · County player

Berdy just looked a winner, surprised he lost the first set really.