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Pumped-up Murray struggles past Llodra

28/08/2008

Andy Murray was made to work hard by Frenchman Michael Llodra before coming through in four sets in the second round of the US Open.

The British number one won 6-4 1-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7), but was set point down in the fourth set tie-break before playing some inspired tennis to claim the win.

Murray started really well and broke Llodra early in the first set to take a 3-1 lead. The young Scot coasted through his service games in the first set and took it with ease.

It was a completely different story in the second set and Murray's form dipped, which allowed Llodra to come back into the match. A wayward drop shot and a wild forehand gifted the Frenchman an early break.

Llodra is one of the last remaining serve and volley players left in the men's game and he started to volley much better in the second set. He forged to a 4-1 lead in the set and another poor service game from Murray handed Llodra the set.

Murray looked to be getting more and more agitated, but he crucially managed to save three break points at the start of the third set. But a moment of controversy fired up the 21-year-old and saw him lift his game.

Llodra disputed a Murray ace, and with no hawkeye on the court, the players exchanged a few heated words. Both players comfortably held onto their serve, but Murray showed his true class at 6-5 up. The Scot hit two breathtaking back-hand winners to break Llodra and take the set.

The final set was extremely tense and as a result Murray's serve suffered and Llodra took advantage by attacking the Murray second serve. The British number one lost his serve twice, but luckily his return of serve was in working order as he broke back twice.

Murray had a match point at 6-5 up, but was unable to convert. The set went into a tie-break and both players had min-breaks. Llodra took a crucial mini-break to get a set point at 6-5. But Murray again fought back to break Llodra and get a match point himself which he took to set up a third round match against Jurgen Melzer.