Murray wins on Masters Cup debut - 美網 Tennis

Page last updated at 14:19 GMT, Monday, 10 November 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7720080.stm


Murray wins on Masters Cup debut
MASTERS CUP, Shanghai:

Andy Murray got off to a winning start at his first Masters Cup by
defeating Andy Roddick in three sets in Shanghai.

The British number one came through 6-4 1-6 6-1 against the American in
the season-ending event for the world's top eight players.

Murray still has round-robin matches to come against Frenchman Gilles
Simon and world number two Roger Federer.

Simon caused a major shock by beating defending champion Federer
4-6 6-4 6-3 in the opening match in the Red Group.

The top two will go through to the last four, along with two from the
Gold Group of Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Juan Martin del Potro and
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"The chances of me qualifying have gone up pretty significantly after I won
my first match," Murray said.

"But in terms of winning it, there's a good chance I might still have to win
two more matches to do that. But to qualify, it's probably going to be
slightly easier than if I'd lost and if Federer had won."

Murray began in imperious fashion against Roddick, winning his first
service game with three aces and a backhand winner before earning the first
break with a cross-court forehand pass in game five.

The Scot served magnificently as he eased through the set without facing
a break point, and a fifth win in eight meetings with Roddick looked
inevitable.

But while Roddick is not the daunting opponent he once was, he remains a
fighter, staving off a break point at the start of the second set to stay in
the contest.

It proved vital because Murray then suffered an alarming slump, hitting
two double faults in the next game as he dropped serve before appearing to
conserve his energy for the decider as the set raced away from him.

Murray was breathing heavily as the third set began but his focus had
returned.

In game two, Roddick saved two break points with an ace and a volley but
could do nothing about a searing Murray backhand return on the third.

606: DEBATE
If Andy Murray keeps playing like this I could see the two Andys ending up
going through with Murray leading the pack
pottiella

The Briton secured another break in game four, setting it up with a
beautiful return at the feet of the incoming Roddick, before eventually
serving out for a victory that leaves him well placed to reach the
semi-finals.

Asked how he was feeling afterwards, Murray said: "Not great. He made it
difficult and made me do a lot of running.

"It's tough to get over the jet lag. I've been going to bed at this time and
hopefully I'll be better for the next match."

But Murray was pleased with his win despite his mid-match slump in form.

"I hit the ball well for most of the match, I just didn't serve well in the
second set," he explained. "I had a chance to break him right at the start of
the second, if I'd done that, then maybe the second set would have been a
different story.

"I'm tired, but I felt like I played well. My legs don't quite have the snap
in them that they did a few months ago."

Roddick was left bemused by the topsy-turvey nature of the match, adding:
"The first and second set were actually pretty similar. I'm tired, but I
felt like I played well. My legs don't quite have the snap in them that they
did a few months ago
Andy Murray

"I thought he played a really good game to break me in the first set. I don't
know if I missed a ball that game, I think he just came up with it.

"Then in the second, he gave one of his service games away and then I got the
momentum. But he was able to establish (dominance) early in the third."

But the American was quick to praise Murray's patient tactics and his
ability to beat him at the net.

"He's very good at taking pace off," the world number six explained. "I think
more so than his returns, it's just his ability to pass off of good approach
shots, I think that's the biggest thing.

"Even if you hit a good approach shot, a lot of times he's able to come up
with something, which makes it tough."

Murray's next match is against Simon on Wednesday and he will face
Federer on Friday.



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