Match report 30 Sept 2014
Live reporting
Andy Murray fights back to win a title in Szechuan last week, and moves on to Beijing. He risks an early exit to an opponent who beat him comfortably in their last encounter
Murray starts in hesitant mood against Janovicz. He doesn’t look a player capable of beating this opponent.
Murray loses first service game then goes 0-2. Then 0-3 to a second break.
Immediate and longer term problems
The immediate problem is a flatness to his play. Former coach Mark Petchey lists the problems. A tough schedule the previous week. 1500 mile trip to Beijing. Murray likes to feel his way into the game.
Longer term problems
Murray admitted in an interview that negativity had crept into his play. Maybe, he said not entirely convincingly, the win will help.
The match continues
First serve 30% . Overall play poor.
Breaks but then is broken. 1-4.murray has been broken three times in succession. Has one 1 out of 13 second serves. Can’t deal with J. ‘s drop shots.
1-5. Still hasn’t won a serve. J is winning without being tested. Murray wins a serve by J errors. 2-5 j takes eye drops.
M loses first point to another drop shot. But due to his own weak return. Still mostly winning points by J errors. Enough to win game.
‘He carried a bit of momentum forward.’ Petchey. Gets two first serves in. Back to 5-4.
‘He’s got some momentum’.
Tighter game. Murray breaks again. Wins serve. M playing better
Murray reaches tie break. Gets to 5-5. 6-6 7-7 8-8 9-9 11-9 J wins tie break
Murray could have been more aggressive
Second set
J. wins serve 1-0
Games closer. J still the more aggressive. Neither player precise. 2-2 3-3 4-4 M still too timid in rallies.
Murray breaks. 5-4 Both players played nervous game. And serves out
1 set all
First games follow similar pattern. Murray little less nervous than before?
1-1
Murray breaks. And then holds serve 3-1 3-2
And 4-2
J drops a second serve. 5-2
Murray serves out and wins two sets to one
Was there a momentum swing? If so, how did it disappear as AM led in tie break and then lost tie break in first set?