O'Connell was awful first set and Jack was playing well, but Jack really struggled with his serve and O'Connell started to play very well.
Jack looked lethargic
Watched the whole match. It was the most defensive Ive ever seen Jack play - O Connell made lots of unforced errors and stunning winners throughout, more UEs in set 1, more Ws in set 2 and then set 3 something seemed very wrong with Jack. He was 2-0 up, but that break was entirely gifted to him by OConnell. Jack then lost 6 games in a row - all very lacklustre with him sitting way back to return serve, and allowing the Aussie to dictate almost every point. Jack would normally win this match playing at 75%, so IMO his choice of game style and lack of energy and attacking intent may well be a hangover from his food poisoning in Mexico. TBF the Aussie started to really play well towards the end, but there wasnt much coming back at him.
Andy Murray goes up against David Goffin who he has never dropped a set against in 7 previous encounters, although as we saw last year this is a phase of Andy's career where a perfect h2h can be fouled.
So far it's going to plan as Andy takes the first 6-3.
Let's hope Andy doesn't folloiw Jack's example in set 2 (or 3).
-- Edited by Neil Gee on Wednesday 6th of March 2024 11:16:53 PM
-- Edited by Neil Gee on Wednesday 6th of March 2024 11:24:44 PM
Jack looked drained throughout, off the pace in shots and movement. Didn't look ill as such, as he did in Mxico, but I guess the food poisoning is now taking its toll
A glimmer of good news for once: Andy wins another match, this time at Masters level:
L96: Andy Murray WR 61 defeated (Q) David Goffin (BEL) WR 112 by 3 & 2
*****
L64: (5) Andrey Rublev (***) WR 5 (= CH) vs Andy Murray WR 61
Stu Fraser's back! His report on Andy's & Jack's matches, with Katie's sandwiched between them.
An interesting reader's comment:
Rublev will be a much bigger test for Murray (the Russian World seeded 5).
Let's face it, Andy is determined to play as many tournaments as possible to reach as high a standard as is possible for the ageing player with a goodbye at Wimbledon in his sights. The problem for the match/court officials is whether they dare put him on one of the show courts for Round 1 which rightly would attract criticism of the international officials and some high-ranked competitors.
Also:
Draper needs some consistency. Injury prone. If he's not careful he'll end up as the new Kyle Edmonds
A glimmer of good news for once: Andy wins another match, this time at Masters level:
L96: Andy Murray WR 61 defeated (Q) David Goffin (BEL) WR 112 by 3 & 2
*****
L64: (5) Andrey Rublev (***) WR 5 (= CH) vs Andy Murray WR 61
Stu Fraser's back! His report on Andy's & Jack's matches, with Katie's sandwiched between them.
An interesting reader's comment:
Rublev will be a much bigger test for Murray (the Russian World seeded 5).
Let's face it, Andy is determined to play as many tournaments as possible to reach as high a standard as is possible for the ageing player with a goodbye at Wimbledon in his sights. The problem for the match/court officials is whether they dare put him on one of the show courts for Round 1 which rightly would attract criticism of the international officials and some high-ranked competitors.
Also:
Draper needs some consistency. Injury prone. If he's not careful he'll end up as the new Kyle Edmonds
I am almost certain Rublev v Andy will be on a show court for round 2, which court was the Goffin match on? Would be hard to imagine the Andy v Rublev match not being a big pull, for lots of reasons. I dont think anyone would criticise that, rankings dont get show court status, profile gets it, albeit sometimes they go hand in hand.
Draper - not sure it is the same as Kyle at all, yes he has lots of things going wrong but this was food poisoning and it was clear his energy levels are still low.
Evo the only Brit in action today, mens singles wise, and an interesting tussle with Safiullin. He beat him a couple of weeks ago, but I dont feel confident today!