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Amélie Mauresmo late for Andy Murray as Dan Evans and James Ward tumble Amélie Mauresmo late for Andy Murray as Dan Evans and James Ward tumble
(2 months later)
Andy Murray will practise with Amélie Mauresmo for the first time on Wednesday morning, just hours before he begins his Queen’s title defence against the Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. But while Murray has to quickly get to grips with a different surface and a new coach, he should have few difficulties with his opponent. Murray has won all five of his matches against the 32-year-old Frenchman, dropping one set, and the sixth is unlikely to end any differently.Andy Murray will practise with Amélie Mauresmo for the first time on Wednesday morning, just hours before he begins his Queen’s title defence against the Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. But while Murray has to quickly get to grips with a different surface and a new coach, he should have few difficulties with his opponent. Murray has won all five of his matches against the 32-year-old Frenchman, dropping one set, and the sixth is unlikely to end any differently.
Mauresmo’s arrival at Queen’s had the photographers excited but the specially erected platforms they had built to capture her first training session with Murray proved fruitless. She turned up too late to see his leisurely morning hit with the Slovenian Aljaz Bedene, and after an equally leisurely lunch with Murray and his entourage in the players’ lounge, the British No1 cancelled his afternoon practice.Mauresmo’s arrival at Queen’s had the photographers excited but the specially erected platforms they had built to capture her first training session with Murray proved fruitless. She turned up too late to see his leisurely morning hit with the Slovenian Aljaz Bedene, and after an equally leisurely lunch with Murray and his entourage in the players’ lounge, the British No1 cancelled his afternoon practice.
While Murray recharged his batteries after the grind of Paris, a familiar tale played out on centre court as Britain’s No2 Dan Evans lost 6-2, 6-3 to the South African Kevin Anderson before James Ward, the nation’s No3, suffered and succumbed to the fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 6-3. While Murray recharged his batteries after the grind of Paris, a familiar tale played out on centre court as Britain’s No2 Dan Evans lost 6-2, 6-3 to the South African Kevin Anderson before James Ward, the nation’s No3, suffered and succumbed to the fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 6-3.
Evans is one of British tennis’s never-ending frustrations. He is talented enough to beat Kei Nishikori at the US Open last year and reach the semi-finals of an ATP event in Zagreb in February, where he toppled Philipp Kohlschreiber, but on occasion he has lived more like a playboy than a monk, which goes some way to explaining his world ranking of 139.Evans is one of British tennis’s never-ending frustrations. He is talented enough to beat Kei Nishikori at the US Open last year and reach the semi-finals of an ATP event in Zagreb in February, where he toppled Philipp Kohlschreiber, but on occasion he has lived more like a playboy than a monk, which goes some way to explaining his world ranking of 139.
No amount of hard graft could have prepared him for Anderson’s venomous first serve, which won him 32 of 34 points when it landed in. At one point Evans, who had impressively fought back from a break down in the final set to beat Jürgen Melzer in the first round, thumped the ball into the hoardings in frustration. But the aces – 10 in all – and clouting deliveries kept coming.No amount of hard graft could have prepared him for Anderson’s venomous first serve, which won him 32 of 34 points when it landed in. At one point Evans, who had impressively fought back from a break down in the final set to beat Jürgen Melzer in the first round, thumped the ball into the hoardings in frustration. But the aces – 10 in all – and clouting deliveries kept coming.
“It was an annoying match,” Evans said. “I didn’t really get a chance to play tennis. Today wasn’t a nice feeling. No continuity on the court. No rhythm. He served a hell of a match.”“It was an annoying match,” Evans said. “I didn’t really get a chance to play tennis. Today wasn’t a nice feeling. No continuity on the court. No rhythm. He served a hell of a match.”
Evans tried to rouse himself with cries of “Come on Dan!” and had the crowd purring after a drop volley at 2-2, 30-30, on Anderson’s serve in the second set. It was all to no avail as his opponent held and then broke in the next game.Evans tried to rouse himself with cries of “Come on Dan!” and had the crowd purring after a drop volley at 2-2, 30-30, on Anderson’s serve in the second set. It was all to no avail as his opponent held and then broke in the next game.
A lob from Evans at 5-2, followed by an ace to hold serve, was the final act of defiance. Appropriately, Anderson ended the match with a 141mph serve.A lob from Evans at 5-2, followed by an ace to hold serve, was the final act of defiance. Appropriately, Anderson ended the match with a 141mph serve.
Ward’s resistance was ended almost as bluntly. He is ranked 168 in the world but quietly fancied his chances, especially given that 11 of his 18 career ATP Tour wins have come on grass and he had reached the semi-finals at Queen’s in 2011.Ward’s resistance was ended almost as bluntly. He is ranked 168 in the world but quietly fancied his chances, especially given that 11 of his 18 career ATP Tour wins have come on grass and he had reached the semi-finals at Queen’s in 2011.
Dimitrov, watched by his girlfriend Maria Sharapova, broke at 5-5 in the first set and comfortably sealed the win in the second. “It’s never easy to play those first matches and when you play a Brit it adds that extra tension,” said Dimitrov, who believes he has the game to do well at Queen’s and at Wimbledon. “I want to become a member at Wimbledon this year and the easiest way to do it is by winning seven matches,” he joked.Dimitrov, watched by his girlfriend Maria Sharapova, broke at 5-5 in the first set and comfortably sealed the win in the second. “It’s never easy to play those first matches and when you play a Brit it adds that extra tension,” said Dimitrov, who believes he has the game to do well at Queen’s and at Wimbledon. “I want to become a member at Wimbledon this year and the easiest way to do it is by winning seven matches,” he joked.
On court one the Australian Marinko “Mad Dog” Matosevic, who Murray beat in three sets at the French Open, dismissed last year’s finalist Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 and then did pretty much the same to Mauresmo’s appointment.On court one the Australian Marinko “Mad Dog” Matosevic, who Murray beat in three sets at the French Open, dismissed last year’s finalist Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 and then did pretty much the same to Mauresmo’s appointment.
“For me, I couldn’t do it, since I don’t think that highly of the women’s game,” he said. “But Andy’s mum coached him and she did a great job with him, so we’ll see what happens. It’s all equal rights these days, you’ve got to be politically correct, so someone’s got to give it a go – it won’t be me.”“For me, I couldn’t do it, since I don’t think that highly of the women’s game,” he said. “But Andy’s mum coached him and she did a great job with him, so we’ll see what happens. It’s all equal rights these days, you’ve got to be politically correct, so someone’s got to give it a go – it won’t be me.”
But Andy’s mum, Judy, insists that Mauresmo’s appointment had “nothing to do with gender” – and pointed out that a female coach may have advantages. “They certainly have softer skills than male coaches,” she said. “They are probably better listeners and there is less ego with women than men.”But Andy’s mum, Judy, insists that Mauresmo’s appointment had “nothing to do with gender” – and pointed out that a female coach may have advantages. “They certainly have softer skills than male coaches,” she said. “They are probably better listeners and there is less ego with women than men.”