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Andy Murray reaches US Open fourth round with defeat of Andrey Kuznetsov Andy Murray reaches US Open fourth round with defeat of Andrey Kuznetsov
(35 minutes later)
If Andy Murray reaches the quarter-finals of the 2014 US Open, he should pray he does not meet Novak Djokovic there because, on their performances in the third round on day six, the Scot’s chances of going any further are nowhere near as good as the Serb’s.If Andy Murray reaches the quarter-finals of the 2014 US Open, he should pray he does not meet Novak Djokovic there because, on their performances in the third round on day six, the Scot’s chances of going any further are nowhere near as good as the Serb’s.
For the second time in six days, Murray flirted with disaster in the Louis Armstrong Stadium he has come to fear and loath over the years before outlasting the determined if limited world No96 Andrey Kuznetsov 6-1, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. For the second time in six days, Murray flirted with disaster in the Louis Armstrong Stadium he has come to fear and loathe over the years before outlasting the determined if limited world No96, Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-1, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
Djokovic, meanwhile, strolled into the fourth round, beating the unseeded American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on the bigger stage of the Arthur Ashe Court to confirm he is back to his best after a recent dip in form and focus. The comfortable win followed his destruction of Paul-Henri Mathieu, who could take only four games off the world No 1 in the second round. “I have a good feeling about myself,” Djokovic said later.Djokovic, meanwhile, strolled into the fourth round, beating the unseeded American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 on the bigger stage of the Arthur Ashe Court to confirm he is back to his best after a recent dip in form and focus. The comfortable win followed his destruction of Paul-Henri Mathieu, who could take only four games off the world No 1 in the second round. “I have a good feeling about myself,” Djokovic said later.
Murray, who was near flawless beating Matthias Bachinger on Thursday night but way short of that form on Saturday , said, “I got off to a good start. He played some good stuff at end of the second set and all the way through the third. I tried to stay solid in the fourth.”Murray, who was near flawless beating Matthias Bachinger on Thursday night but way short of that form on Saturday , said, “I got off to a good start. He played some good stuff at end of the second set and all the way through the third. I tried to stay solid in the fourth.”
If Murray had one wish, it would surely be that the dynamite the United States Tennis Association intend to put under Armstrong before rebuilding it with a retractable roof in time for 2018 arrive as soon as possible.If Murray had one wish, it would surely be that the dynamite the United States Tennis Association intend to put under Armstrong before rebuilding it with a retractable roof in time for 2018 arrive as soon as possible.
Stanislas Wawrinka beat him here in 2010, he had desperate battles in the same claustrophobic setting against Robin Haase in 2011, as well as tough wins over Feliciano Lopez and Marin Cilic in 2012. Then five days ago, he almost blew a two-set lead against Haase as cramp raced through his body in the third and fourth sets. Stanislas Wawrinka beat him here in 2010, he had desperate battles in the same claustrophobic setting against Robin Haase in 2011, as well as tough wins over Feliciano López and Marin Cilic in 2012. Then five days ago, he almost blew a two-set lead against Haase as cramp raced through his body in the third and fourth sets.
“I feel better than I did in the first match,” Murray said. “My preparation was good I ate properly, drank properly.” But there was something missing from his game, a certain rage or vitality that had defined his growth under Ivan Lendl. “I feel better than I did in the first match,” Murray said. “My preparation was good I ate properly, drank properly.” But there was something missing from his game, a certain rage or vitality that had defined his growth under Ivan Lendl. His concentration wandered on key points and it was not until near the end of the two hours and 35 minutes of the match that he regained his earlier sharpness.
His concentration wandered on key points and it was not until near the end of the two hours and 35 minutes of the match that he regained his earlier sharpness. He could not blame the court, however, for 47 unforced errors and some indifferent serving. Against a better opponent, he surely would have been on his way home. Three double faults cost him breaks, the third of them cost him the third set.
He could not blame the court, however, for 47 unforced errors and some indifferent serving. Against a better opponent, he surely would have been on his way home. Three double faults cost him breaks, the third of then cost him the third set. The lightness he seemed to have acquired in recent months under his new coach Amélie Mauresmo has dimmed a little. Still, on a warm, slightly breezy day on the Labour Day cusp of the American autumn, he started confidently against Kuznetsov, the 2009 Wimbledon boys champion who hit a peak at SW19 this summer when he beat David Ferrer over five sets only to fall in the next round against Leonardo Mayer. Here he took three hours and 12 minutes to get past Fernando Verdasco – and then ran into Murray.
The lightness he seemed to have acquired in recent months under his new coach Amelie Mauresmo has dimmed a little. Still, on a warm, slightly breezy day on the Labour Day cusp of the American autumn, he started confidently against Kuznetsov, the 2009 Wimbledon boys champion who hit a peak at SW19 this summer when he beat David Ferrer over five sets only to fall in the next round against Leonardo Mayer. Here he took three hours and 12 minutes to get past Fernando Verdasco – and then ran into Murray.
Nerves struck the 23-year-old Russian early and he was a break down within five minutes. This was the sort of start Murray had against Haase in Monday’s killing heat but conditions on Saturday were milder, the thermometer closer to the mid 70s than the high 80s.Nerves struck the 23-year-old Russian early and he was a break down within five minutes. This was the sort of start Murray had against Haase in Monday’s killing heat but conditions on Saturday were milder, the thermometer closer to the mid 70s than the high 80s.
Kuznetsov continued to go for his shots but, at a little over 70kgs (11st) and standing 6ft 1in, he was a light-middleweight to Murray’s cruiser and pushed a concluding limp forehand into the net to hand him the first set after half an hour. Kuznetsov continued to go for his shots but, at a little over 70kg (11st) and standing 6ft 1in, he was a light-middleweight to Murray’s cruiser and pushed a concluding limp forehand into the net to hand him the first set after half an hour.
After an hour Murray was a set and 4-3 up and all was well with the world. After an hour Murray was a set and 4-3 up and all was well with the world. He then served his first double fault of the match to surrender his serve in the eighth game and Kuznetsov, who had stuck doggedly to his assignment, was briefly encouraged to believe he might get back into the match. He knew there was retribution to come, as Murray held, broke then served out the with the help of a third ace, but there were worrying crack’s in his tennis.
He then served his first double-fault of the match to surrender his serve in the eighth game and Kuznetsov, who had stuck doggedly to his assignment, was briefly encouraged to believe he might get back into the match. He knew there was retribution to come, as Murray held, broke then served out the with the help of a third ace, but there were worrying crack’s in his tennis. Behind in the serving cycle, Murray hit a fourth double fault and shoved an anaemic forehand into the bottom of the net to hand Kuznetsov a break for 3-1. For the third time, Murray handed Kuznetzov a break with a double fault – and this time it cost him the third set.
Behind in the serving cycle, Murray hit a fourth double-fault and shoved an anaemic forehand into the bottom of the net to hand Kuznetsov a break for 3-1. For the third time, Murray handed Kuznetzov a break with a double-fault – and this time it cost him the third set. Murray’s tennis was fraying at the edges in the fourth but he broke twice for 4-1, dropped serve for 4-2, had two break points in the seventh game and was thankful for a dumped backhand by Kuznetsov for 5-2.
Murray’s tennis was fraying at the edges in the fourth, but he broke twice for 4-1, dropped serve for 4-2, had two break points in the seventh game and was thankful for a dumped backhand by Kuznetsov for 5-2. Serving for the match, he rushed to the net and confidently patted away a backhand volley – then looked to the skies as if he had been let out of Sing Sing. Serving for the match, Murray rushed to the net and confidently patted away a backhand volley – then looked to the skies as if he had been let out of Sing Sing.