Madrid Open

Second round result:

A MURRAY GB v S BOLELLI Ita

7-6 (11-9) 6-4

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By Saj Chowdhury

SECOND SET

Murray 7-6 6-4 Bolelli
Murray pulls a couple of deep looping forehands out of the locker that deceive Bolelli and take him to match point. But the Italian pulls an ace out of somewhere. Deuce. Murray steals the advantage then Bolelli finds the net and hands Murray the victory.

"This week, players lose their ranking points from the Hamburg Masters last year, so Murray is defending 150pts whilst Djokovic defnds 450pts, leaving a gap of 370pts between the two before this weeks points are added on. So realistically, Djokovic would have to win in Madrid, or at least go deep into the tournament with Murray losing a few rounds earlier, to get back to number 3."
readie111 on 606
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All agreed?

Murray 7-6 5-4 Bolelli
Another comfortable service game for the world number three. But can he break Boli?

Wait a sec on the ranking and points debate - "No, Hamburg points from last year drop off this week so Murray defending 150 points, Djoko defending 450 and Federer defending 700."
Yvonne, Motherwell via text on 81111

Murray 7-6 4-4 Bolelli
Bolelli surges ahead in the game but Murray pulls it back to 30-40. Unfortunately for the Scot, he smacks one into the net. Panicked a bit.

Murray 7-6 4-3 Bolelli
Murray seems to be struggling with the light inside the Magic Box - it's not all magic. Murray the conjures up a great trick at the net (I'll stop soon) by producing a disappearing act with the ball with a quick-reaction volley. He goes on to hold serve.

"According to the ATP rankings breakdown, the Madrid points don't expire until October, so Murray would need to effectively match Djoko's points here."
Paul, Cardiff via text on 81111

Good homework Paul.

Murray 7-6 3-3 Bolelli
Not a patch on the great play of the first set. Murray hits a forehand too long and snaps the strings on his racket. Second change of the match.

Murray 7-6 3-2 Bolelli
Easy service game for Murray. A bit of a pre-season friendly feel at the moment.

"As this is a new place in the schedule for this Masters, to stay at number 3 in the world, does 'Our Hero' have to at least equal Djocko this week?
Phil, Baker St via text on 81111

I'll try to find out. Or can anybody help?

Murray 7-6 2-2 Bolelli
Bolelli seems to be cruising at 40-0 then unforced errors let him down. Deuce. Unforced errors from both parties follow. Boli holds on with a cheeky dink at the net that Murray fails to reach. Well done Bologna's finest.

"Uh oh...too close for comfort that one..best game of the match...wake up call."
sebadono on 606
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Murray 7-6 2-1 Bolelli
Boli's not got past the third round of any of the major competitions. He looks better than that. Two break points for the Italian. Murray wins one with a deep forehand at the net. The brings the game to deuce with a cracking ace down the middle. That's world number three nerves. He then sees out his service game.

Murray 7-6 1-1 Bolelli
A noisy plane passes over the Magic Box. Bolelli levels thanks to Murray's shot into the net - a very unspectacular game. It's quiet in the arena.

Murray 7-6 1-0 Bolelli
The ball boys and girls all look under 10. Don't they have school? Murray eases to the first game of the second set on his serve.

FIRST SET

Murray 7-6 Bolelli
Ready? Bolelli has a mini-break to go 2-1 ahead thanks to a bit more net-cord lady luck. Oh my, oh my. What a rally in the next point - not Guinness Book standards - which Murray wins thanks to Bolelli's attempted backhand down the line which is ruled out. Murray breaks back. Bolelli's getting far too excited - not helping him. Two set points for the Brit. Murray thinks he has taken it with an ace, but the umpire is called down by Bolelli, who rules it wide. Murray goes back to check the umpire's decision and disputes it as the players change ends. My word - what a deft volley at the net for Murray to save break point. The Scot has another set point but cannot deal with Bolelli's volley at the net. Murray takes the fourth set point with a very deep return that Bolelli scoops up, but hits long. Finally - Murray wins the tie-break 11-9.

Murray 6-6 Bolelli
Muzza should have done better with dink over the net, but he redeems the situation with a good forehand for 30-30. He wins the game thanks to another unforced error from the baseline by the Italian. Who can answer the tie-break question?

"According to Guinness World Records (TM), the longest "contrived" tennis rally is 25,944 strokes by identical twin brothers Angelo & Ettore Rossetti set on 9-10 August 2008 at the North Haven Health & Racquet club in North Haven, CT. The rally lasted 14 hours and 31 minutes."
gabriel 959 on 606
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I love facts.

Murray 5-6 Bolelli
If I was Andy - which I'm not for many reasons - I'd engage Bolelli in some long rallies. It seems the Scot has too much tactical nous and the Italian starts panicking in looking for a winner. He does that on the third point and pushes Bolelli into making an unforced error. Luckily for Boli (if I can call him that) he has a decent first serve and...erm... he then comes out on top in a long rally. Just forget how I began this entry.

Murray 5-5 Bolelli
Murray about to be broken? No. Stayed cool. Unflustered, Positive. Backhand swept across the court. 5-5.

Murray 4-5 Bolelli
Bolelli hasn't actually been put under much pressure by Murray. The Scot seems a little frustrated, but of course we all know that doesn't mean he's not on his game. A good kicking first serve is too awkward for Murray to return and the Italian needs one more game to take the first set. Who would have thought it eh?

Murray 4-4 Bolelli
Almost shot-of-the-match from Bolelli with a punchy forehand - but it was called wide. Bad luck Michael Jackson fan. Despite not being at his best with his serve, Murray finds a bullet when it matters to take the game. All square again.

"How long was the longest rally ever?"
Liverpool110 on 606
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The Paris-Dakar Rally's quite long. Sorry.

Murray 3-4 Bolelli
He's doing alright, Bolelli. Vast improvement from the version that lost to Murray 6-0 2-1 (retired hurt) last October. The net cord comes to the Italian's rescue again having been 15-30 down. Muzza seems to thrive on being under pressure and hauls the game to deuce. Murray has the advantage and asks the umpire to get out of the chair to check whether a Bolelli serve was long. It wasn't. More exercise for the official. Murray needs a new racket, but he fails to dig out a long forehand from his opponent with his new piece.

Murray 3-3 Bolelli
What a forehand return off Murray's wide first serve - 15-15. The Italian trumps Murray again with a backhand down the line at the net. But the Scot keeps calm and bounces back and comes out on top in a mini-rally to take the game.

Murray 2-3 Bolelli
Amazing forehand from Bolelli. Hit the power-up button to bring it to 15-15. Another angled forehand is followed up by a low angled backhand that drops over the net. However, in his attempt to get to the shot Murray smashes his knee against a mini-advertising hoarding. Painful. He seems OK, I think. But, who put that there?

Murray 2-2 Bolelli
Great backhand from Murray but he's still suffering with his first serve. Under pressure though Murray takes the score to deuce before seeing out the game with another strong serve that Bolelli cannot control.

Murray 1-2 Bolelli
Bolelli's got the umpire out of his chair again. Forget step-aerobics. This is the new exercise. On this occasion he's right to get the official out of his chair. Game to the Italian.

"My mum is Sky-less and as I am staying with her I have to follow the game on the BBC website I am trusting it to be almost as exciting... we will have to wait and see"
ChrisOverthrow on 606
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I'll try, but can't promise. But I'll try.

Murray 1-1 Bolelli
Hey kids, it's a bit zippy on this clay surface.What kind of clay is it? Bolelli aks the umpire to check a shot to see if it was in - it wasn't. More exercise for the umpire. Murray holds his first service game thanks to an unforced error on the forehand from his opponent.

Murray 0-1 Bolelli
Bolelli serves.Murray's first attempt at a deft dropshot in successful, but the Italian takes the game thanks to a lucky break with forehand.

1832: They're about to start. Muzza seems to be in decent nick. Bolelli is wearing a headband.

1830: By the way guys and gals, what do you make of the Magic Box? The name and the arena? Sounds mystical.

1826: "Boli to be Muzzled in an hour and 20 mins to 3 and 4...Andy losing serve once in each set...it was in my tea leaves at lunch-time..."
Sebadono on 606
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1825: Britain's finest Andy Murray and now world number three, opens his Madrid Open campaign against Italian world number 61 Simone Bolelli shortly.

They've played each other once before, ironically at last year's Madrid Masters - Murray beat Bolelli 6-0 2-1 (the Italian retired hurt).

The super Scot went on to win the October event, which this year is in May and called the Madrid Open and... er...moved from indoors to clay. They've tinkered with the ATP Tour calendar, you see.

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