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2/23/09 6:19 PM | Ricky Dimon
Andy Murray comes back from a set down to defeat Sergiy Stakhovsky in three sets at the Barclays Tennis Championships. David Ferrer does the same against Ivan Ljubicic.
Andy Murray d. Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7(3), 6-3, 5-3, ret.
Murray had plenty of chances in the first set, but gave Stakhovsky an opening and the underdog seized it. The fourth-ranked Scot broke for 2-1 and squandered more break chances to take a 4-1 lead. Stakhovsky instead held for 2-3 and then broke back for 3-3. That started a streak of three straight breaks, taking the set to 4-4. While serving at 30-15, Stakhovsky--despite winning the point--suffered what appeared to be a match-ending ankle injury. After getting treatment, however, the Ukrainian came back strong and held for 5-4 before a tiebreaker was needed to decide things. Murray's game really collapsed in the 'breaker and Stakhovsky cruised through it seven points to three. Stakhovsky immediately extended his shocking advantage to a set and a break, but he gave it right back with two backhand errors for 1-1 in the second. Murray, despite showing signs of his own ankle trouble, never looked back. He broke again for 3-1 and held serve the rest of the way to force a decisive third set. The No. 2 seed broke at love right away in set three and that was enough as Stakhovsky's ankled flared up again. Just two points away from defeat while serving at 3-5, Stakhovsky finally called it quits. The retirement sent Murray into the second round, where he will meet either Arnaud Clement or Rainer Schuettler.
David Ferrer d. Ivan Ljubicic 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Ferrer took the brunt of an impressive first set by Ljubicic, but the No. 4 seed stormed back to take the next two sets easily and prevail in one hour and 45 minutes. The only real difference in the opening frame of play was break-point conversions. Ljubicic capitalized on one of three chances while saving all three of the break points he faced. Serving at 66 percent helped the Croat's efforts in set one, but it all fell apart for him after that. Ljubicic put in just 43 percent of his first delivieries in the second set and only 47 percent in the third. Ferrer, meanwhile, did not face a single break point the entire rest of the way following set one. Two breaks in each set--thanks to jumping all over his opponent's second serves--were enough for Ferrer to prevail with relative simplicity. The Spaniard won 13 of 17 second-serve return points in set two and seven of eight in the third. Next up for Ferrer is either Philipp Kohlschreiber or qualifier Michael Lammer.
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