Match report

Richard Gasquet © Tennistalk.com
Wimbledon
4th round
6/30/08 1 2 3 4 5 Tot
fr  Richard Gasquet 7 6 6 3 2 4 2
gb  Andy Murray 5 3 7 7 6 6 3
Andy Murray © Tennistalk.com

  • Andy Murray makes an epic comeback, beats Richard Gasquet in five

    6/30/08 11:21 PM | Cheryl Murray
    This match had it all - brilliance, choking, fight and heart...and of course the epic comeback by Murray to the shrieking delight of the Centre Court audience.

    Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray played into the waning moments of light on Monday in a match that lasted just over four hours. Frenchman Gasquet was in firm control of the match in the first and second set. He had Murray running all over the baseline and trying ill-timed and ultimately ridiculous drop shots. Gasquet looked every bit the genius that he is often touted to be. The crowd badly wanted to get in the match, but Gasquet did not permit it. He broke Murray in the first set as the Scot attempted to force a first set tie breaker.

    Gasquet frankly bullied Murray around the court in the second. Murray got in just 50% of his first serves and he had quite a bit of difficulty with reading Gasquet's serve. The Scot overused the dropshot dreadfully and Gasquet continued to kill Murray with his backhand.

    Another break of Murray's serve in the third set seemed to indicate a straight set victory for the Frenchman. Gasquet served for the match at 5-4 but he tightened up. Stiff play and uncharacteristic errors from Gasquet brought up three break points for Murray. Good serving from the Frenchman erased two of them, but Murray converted on the third one to level the set at 5-5 and eventually force the tie break.

    Murray, for the first time in the match, played better than Gasquet. He quickly went up 4-0 in the tiebreak. He gave back one of his mini-breaks when he dumped a volley into the net. On his first set point, Murray hit perhaps the shot of the tournament. Gasquet hit what should probably have been a winner in the back corner. Murray went after it, so far off the court that he was not on camera any longer. He got to the shot in time and sent it zipping around the net post for a winner. The previously staid crowd went positively wild.

    Murray rolled over a disheartened Gasquet in the fourth set to level the match for the first time at two sets each. The fifth set was played in the last moments of light for the day. Gasquet wanted to stop, but play continued. Murray got an early break and was able to hold onto it. He served for the match at 5-4 and finally closed it out.

    Murray will have the opportunity to play on-fire Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals.

  • Thumbs up

    This was an epic match and an absolute joy to watch. Murray proved that he has heart after all, and that he can be down in a match without being down on himself.

  • Thumbs down

    Richard Gasquet choked that third set away and gave Murray the chance to get back in the match from the brink.

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Comments

What a match, four hours of absolute joy! Nadal, watch out! :)

Gameplay , 6/30/08 11:25 PM



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