Murray 0-1 Ljubicic Ljubicic holds serve, but there was a lot to like there for Murray fans - his return of serve made his older opponent scamper around the court, and it took a couple of trademark meaty serves for Ljubicic to take the game.
Murray 1-1 Ljubicic Solid from the young Scot - he holds with few alarms. Umpire Grilloti is giving the score at the end of each point in both Spanish and English, which is a nice touch for those of us currently struggling in their sporadically-attended Spanish evening class.
Murray 1-2 Ljubicic Ljubicic's slegehammer serve would scare most ordinary mortals, but Murray takes him to deuce and then a break point by keeping the ball in play and waiting for him to make the error. My sister used to use similar tactics when the pair of us played ping-pong as eight-year-olds - it used to drive me mad, although it was remarkably effective. Ljubicic saves the break and then takes the game with consecutive howitzers.
Murray 2-2 Ljubicic Murray holds well after Ljubicic initially gets his nose in front with a sweet forehand cross-court winner. Murray looks like he's lost weight in recent weeks, if that were possible. If you were his mother you'd tut anxiously next time he came home with his washing.
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
Murray 2-3 Ljubicic No sniff of a weakness from Ljubicic again. Murray mumbles to himself under his breath, but then again he is a teenager.
Murray 3-3 Ljubicic Murray plays a delightful drop-shot to begin the game, well aware that Ljubicic is staying on the baseline and isn't the fastest around court. He then polishes things off by coming in quickly to put away a high volley at the net.
Murray 3-4 Ljubicic It's as you were on the Loobers serve - no sniff of a break for Murray, who queries a line-call and looks outraged when Hawkeye disagrees with him.
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To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty