This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/may/14/andy-murray-marcel-granollers-rome-open
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Andy Murray beats Marcel Granollers in Rome Open second round | Andy Murray beats Marcel Granollers in Rome Open second round |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Andy Murray tamed the wind and erased one dreadful memory when he beat Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-5 on Campo Centrale here on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Rome Open. | |
| It was here a year ago against the Spaniard, almost to the day, that the Scot's back finally gave up on him, forcing him to miss the French Open before returning to play through the pain and win Queen's, then Wimbledon. | It was here a year ago against the Spaniard, almost to the day, that the Scot's back finally gave up on him, forcing him to miss the French Open before returning to play through the pain and win Queen's, then Wimbledon. |
| Murray was No2 in the world when he played Granollers on the same court in 2013, and was hoping to celebrate his 26th birthday with a straightforward victory – until the stiffness in his lower back that had dogged him for nearly two years spread into an unbearable pain that all but immobilised him. He nevertheless managed to win the second set before leaving the court, desolate. | Murray was No2 in the world when he played Granollers on the same court in 2013, and was hoping to celebrate his 26th birthday with a straightforward victory – until the stiffness in his lower back that had dogged him for nearly two years spread into an unbearable pain that all but immobilised him. He nevertheless managed to win the second set before leaving the court, desolate. |
| There were no Scottish tears on Wednesday. Murray was just about shot-perfect in awful conditions in the first set, grinding Granollers down with his patient, artful tennis. The turning point after an even and entertaining start arrived after half an hour of quality jousting when everything went wrong for the Spanish clay-court specialist. | There were no Scottish tears on Wednesday. Murray was just about shot-perfect in awful conditions in the first set, grinding Granollers down with his patient, artful tennis. The turning point after an even and entertaining start arrived after half an hour of quality jousting when everything went wrong for the Spanish clay-court specialist. |
| At 40-30 on his serve, he saw Murray's shot drift into the tramlines but chose to play it, even though it was obvious to everyone in the stadium it was out. He double-faulted to give Murray his third break point of the match then a minor sand storm blew up in his face in mid-shot and he could do little more than pat the ball back, for Murray to stick it away for the easiest of winners. | At 40-30 on his serve, he saw Murray's shot drift into the tramlines but chose to play it, even though it was obvious to everyone in the stadium it was out. He double-faulted to give Murray his third break point of the match then a minor sand storm blew up in his face in mid-shot and he could do little more than pat the ball back, for Murray to stick it away for the easiest of winners. |
| Murray held and broke to take the set and seemed set for an easy win. However, Granollers broke him at the start of the second, before giving up his own serve immediately, and they settled down to some high-grade exchanges until the 12th game, when Granollers pushed his final shot of the match inches long. | Murray held and broke to take the set and seemed set for an easy win. However, Granollers broke him at the start of the second, before giving up his own serve immediately, and they settled down to some high-grade exchanges until the 12th game, when Granollers pushed his final shot of the match inches long. |
| This was Murray's fourth win in five matches against Granollers. Coming off the disappointment of losing to Santiago Giraldo in the third round in Madrid last week, the world No8 will now take on Jürgen Melzer in a much better frame of mind. The Austrian, ranked 67 in the world, has lost all his five matches against Murray – although he was hitting the ball well on Wednesday, when he beat the unpredictable Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in a tight contest. | This was Murray's fourth win in five matches against Granollers. Coming off the disappointment of losing to Santiago Giraldo in the third round in Madrid last week, the world No8 will now take on Jürgen Melzer in a much better frame of mind. The Austrian, ranked 67 in the world, has lost all his five matches against Murray – although he was hitting the ball well on Wednesday, when he beat the unpredictable Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in a tight contest. |