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8/29/08 4:34 AM | Cheryl Murray
British hopeful Andy Murray took on the big serving Frenchman and reknowned jokester Michael Llodra in the second round of the US Open on Thursday.
The first set looked like business as usual for Andy Murray. The Scotsman broke Llodra’s serve at 2-3 with one of the twelve aces he struck for the match. That single break gave Murray the first set 6-4 and control of the match.
As relatively crisp as Murray was in the first set, he was equally as sloppy in the second. He did not make a catelogue of unforced errors, he simply sat at the baseline and permitted Llodra to execute his game to perfection. Llodra is a doubles specialist who is at his very best at the net. Murray could not pass Llodra and the Frenchman served and volleyed his way to a 6-1 scoreline in the second. The Scot looked completely befuddled.
Murray came out of his fog somewhat in the third set. He continued to have difficulty with his second serve, but he managed to hold onto his own serve, which is precisely what he could not do in the second set. The two men went toe to toe until 6-5 on Llodra’s serve. Murray finally got off a passing shot winner to set up a trio of break points. Llodra’s volley sailed long on the first.
Llodra came storming back immediately in the fourth, breaking Murray in the first game of the set, but Murray broke right back. The men would trade breaks of serve once more, forcing the tiebreak. Llodra had a set point at 5-6 in the breaker, but a brilliant backhand pass from Murray erased it. A volley into the net set up Murray’s first match point, and a backhand winner sealed the deal. Murray plays Jurgen Melzer in the third round.
Murray says both players had questions about some of the line-calling.
Llodra actually played an excellent match and took Murray by surprise for most of the match.
Strange choice of tactics for Murray for most of the match. He did not look like himself.
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Our transmission was interrupted for a footie match so only the first set was shown live. I foolishly thought Andy was home and dry and was going to win easily in three sets and only tuned in for the last part of set 4 which went out much later. Forgot Llodra can be the sleeping stalker. I think Murray will benefit enormously from having had to work so hard and will sharpen up his game for the next round.
ed251137 , 8/29/08 9:47 AM
The match could have gone either way. Lodra's patchiness cost him the third set. Andy got stroppy A LOT. I had a good look. If Andy's shorts were longer and sideburns shaped instead of being allowed to go wild, he would look a lot better.
sstay , 8/29/08 2:30 PM
Did you know that... Ivo Karlovic and Joachim Johansson shares the record of most aces (51) in a match.
gordana, Dec 3, 2008 9:29 AM
RickyDimon, Dec 3, 2008 5:21 AM
Navratilovastillplay, Dec 3, 2008 12:32 AM
tennisgirl, Dec 1, 2008 11:48 PM
lendl, Dec 1, 2008 6:17 PM
Navratilovastillplay, Dec 3, 2008 1:32 AM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:02 PM
Michael Llodra
Andy Murray
US Open
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Michael Lodra is a moral winner of this match, but unfortuntely there is a little consolation in that. Murray's confidence will deflate.
posmatrac , 8/29/08 6:03 AM