Murray digs deep to sink Bjorkman - 美網 Tennis

Last Updated: Thursday, 30 August 2007, 18:47 GMT 19:47 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6969620.stm

Murray digs deep to sink Bjorkman
By Caroline Cheese



British number one Andy Murray came through a gruelling match against
Jonas Bjorkman 5-7 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-1 to reach the third round of the US Open.

The 20-year-old was in trouble when he dropped a tight first set and
quickly went a break down in the second.

But from 2-3 down, he reeled off nine games in a row to take control.

Bjorkman, 35, took advantage of a weary Murray to force a decider but
the Scot found the energy to break serve early and the Swede could not
recover.

Murray will face an unexpected foe in round three after 31-year-old
Korean Hyung-Taik Lee stunned 14th seed Guillermo Canas 7-5 7-5 6-3.

The Briton said he was pleased to come through a five-set match
after spending four months out with a wrist injury.

606: DEBATE
I don't think Murray would have won that match last year
twocents

"It's a good win for me: to play in this heat for three hours and 45 minutes
and come through against a player of Jonas's quality," said Murray.

"I was hitting my forehand harder and more consistently - although it still
needs to get more consistent.

"Jonas is in great shape for his age and he knows how to pace himself in a
five-set match so you need to be pretty switched on.

"For me to play him is great - he's been awesome for tennis these last 15
years or so."

After a comfortable first-round win, Murray had spoken of trying to enjoy
his tennis more - but there was little evidence of that on a sweltering day
in New York.

During a scrappy first set, the 20-year-old frequently muttered angrily
to himself as his groundstrokes - in particular his forehand - failed to
find their mark.

His serve, too, was misfiring and Bjorkman took advantage of Murray's
first-serve percentage of 49% to edge a tight first set.

Matters did not improve at the start of the second set and Murray
received a warning for an audible obscenity after dropping serve to go 2-0
down.

But after breaking straight back, Murray suddenly found a rich vein of
form.

The world number 19 produced some dazzling winners, which left Bjorkman,
for all his experience, looking dumbfounded.

Murray rattled through the third set in 34 minutes - but Bjorkman refused
to capitulate.

The Swede twice went a break up as his younger opponent, who is short
on match practice after a long lay-off with a wrist injury, began to
struggle physically.

Murray hit back both times but at 4-5, his first serve deserted him and
Bjorkman put away a crisp volley to take the match into a decider.

But as the fifth set got under way, it was the 35-year-old's turn to
look weary as Murray found new reserves of energy.

Once he had broken serve in the opening game, Murray concentrated on
getting a high percentage of first serves in and it proved to be a decisive
tactic.

The Scot raced through the deciding set in 34 minutes, before slumping
into his chair with relief.



--
╔════════╦════════╦════════╦════════╗
║Name:Sugiuchi 47║Name:Saitoh 66║Name:Arakaki 18║Name:Wada 21║
║Heights:175cm ║Heights:192cm ║Heights:189cm ║Heights:179cm ║
║Weights:81kg ║Weights:96kg ║Weights:82kg ║Weights:77kg ║
║Glove:Rawlings ║Glove:Adidas ║Glove:Mizuno ║Glove:Nike ║
╚════════╩════════╩════════╩════════╝

--