Top

AEGON Champs: Murray bows out


 

Originally published on: 11/06/10 14:37

Bad light brought an end to play just when Andy Murray had found his groove against Mardy Fish, and with the momentum – and the crowd – firmly on his side when he won three games on the bounce to draw level at 3-3 in the final set, Murray was left fuming after play was suspended at 8:30pm.

“That came out of nowhere. The weather was absolutely fine. It’s ridiculous,” he told the umpire, before trudging off court.

On resumption of their tie, apparently the events of the previous evening hadn’t been totally forgotten by the world No.4. Fish proved the fresher, and though both players comfortably held serve to ensure a deciding set tie-break, Murray failed to find a footing, handing Fish a 5-2 lead, before the American served out the match.

With a day to reflect on the incident, Murray said: “It’s been tough, yesterday was difficult conditions, very heavy on the court and blustery. We got stopped at a tough stage of the match and today I didn’t play a good tie-break.

“I think it’s always good that both players have a say in what happens out there but nobody mentioned anything to me and that’s why I was disappointed.”

After recording his second consecutive victory over Murray – and the third of his career – the world No.90 defended his actions after urging the umpire to suspend the tie.

“It was extremely dark last night, I told the chair umpire at 3-2 it was pretty dark, so we played one more game. I didn’t do any pleading or anything,” Fish said.

“Today the wind’s died down and it’s much better conditions. I’m happy obviously, but when you can’t see the ball there’s no point.”

Fish faces Frenchman Michael Llodra for a place in the semi-finals later today, while Murray follows fellow top 10 players Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick and Marin Cilic out of the tournament at the third hurdle.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.