Summary
To recap then, after a quick start in which Arguello was evidently nervous Murray actually struggled but inevitably blew off the cobwebs and raced through the gears to seal an emphatic straight sets victory. Afterwards he had the usual platitudes for the on-court interviewer …
“I always love this tournament … I always enjoy coming here and I hope I have a good run this year but it’s obviously a very difficult tournament to go far in.”
He said a bit more but, believe it or not, that was the most interesting bit. And so, up next for the No3 seed is either Vasek Pospisil of Canada or Portugal’s Joao Sousa while there are no doubt sterner tests to come. For the time being though, that’s 11 out of 11 for Murray on clay this season and that’s all from me. So long and, as always, thanks for reading!
Updated
Murray wins 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Third set: Murray* 6-1 Arguello (sets 3-0)
Ace. Wild groundstroke from Arguello. Murray grinds away at Arguello. Arguello wallops a fine forehand back past Murray. Shank from Arguello. Game over. An apt microcosm of the match in that final match there. Comfortable for Murray in the end.
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Third set: Murray 5-1 Arguello* (sets 2-0)
The crowd is thinning out here, they’ve accepted the inevitable, Arguello is not going to break the net. He’s going to try, at least on his own serve, to entertain however and a lovely drop shot ties it up at 15-15. A sliced backhand makes it 30-15 before Murray goes long and Arguello double faults. Murray then forces things to deuce by grinding away at Arguello, who sends the next two points into the net. Murray is serving for the match, they’re both desperate to get off court.
Third set: Murray* 4-1 Arguello (sets 2-0)
Murray also seems pretty at ease with what’s going to happen in precisely nine minutes. He also holds to love with a few serves that Arguello’s attempts to return were not exactly full throttle. Murray doesn’t care though. He wants his moules.
Third set: Murray 3-1 Arguello* (sets 2-0)
A little Edmund and Robert for you now. They are, of course, not brothers. And Edmund is indeed Kyle Edmund, he of Great Britain. And he’s levelled at one set all against Stephane Robert of France. They still look like Wispas.
Meanwhile, Arguello serves out a game to love. The tension has been replaced by the freedom of a man who has accepted his fate.
Updated
Third set: Murray* 3-0 Arguello (sets 2-0)
Unfortunate for Arguello there. He doesn’t have the look of a man in need of a relentless rally but he gives as good as he gets until slipping one long. Murray does the same for 15-15 but Arguello fires into the net and sends another into orbit. He’s playing like a man who knows he’s beaten. Ace. Game. Death knell etc.
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Third set: Murray 2-0 Arguello* (sets 2-0)
Maybe he hasn’t had all his fun then after all. A cheekily disguised forehand winner follows a tired forehand and then Arguello even manages a backhand winner. Unfortunately for him, Murray follows suit with a flat backhand down the line and Arguello refocuses on the net for 30-40. The first break point is saved, the second is not. Murray can taste his moules et frites.
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Third set: Murray* 1-0 Arguello (sets 2-0)
Arguello isn’t enjoying himself out there any longer and Murray begins the home straight with a comfortable smash before a double fault reminds us that there are still a few cobwebs. Another drop shot, not his best, still puts Murray into a 30-15 lead as Arguello resumes his assault on the net. Muzza then bludgeons a backhand winner across court and Arguello sends another one long to bring the game to a conclusion.
Murray wins second set
Second set: Murray 6-3 Arguello* (sets 1-0)
Murray is scenting an early finish here and Arguello appears to have tensed up. It’s 0-30 after Murray runs Arguello around the court a bit and 0-40 when Murray punishes a poor second serve. Murray has three break points but needs only one of them when Arguello stretches for a backhand that is nowhere near to being in. It’s amazing how the top players raise their game and apply pressure when a set nears its end.
Second set: Murray* 5-3 Arguello (sets 1-0)
Arguello seems to adopted different tactics and out-Murrays Murray to level at 15-15 after a lung-busting rally but Muzza is back in the groove for 30-15. Another little blip from the Scot quickly follows though, sending one into the net for 30-30 but Murray wraps up the jeu, as the umpire keeps saying, without much fuss.
We’ve had an email from Simon McMahon who seems determined to curse Murray’s unbeaten streak on clay this year …
Evening Gerard. I say this every year and at every Grand Slam, but I’ve never really believed it in May before now. But here goes. Andy Murray is going to win the French Open. The fact that this is even halfway believable is testament to Murray’s ability not just as a tennis player but as a human being. Can you tell I like him?
I think I can tell Simon
Second set: Murray 4-3 Arguello* (sets 1-0)
Arguello is venting his frustration on the net and seems determined to rip a forehand through it. Still hasn’t managed it though, despite two attempts … 0-30. This time he misses the net but finds the court with a blistering winner and Murray sends one into the net. Arguello isn’t impressed. A wide drop shot from Murray then hands Arguello game point which he willingly takes with a bruising … you guessed it … forehand.
Second set: Murray* 4-2 Arguello (sets 1-0)
Much to my amusement, the broadcasts keep briefly switching to a match between Edmund and Robert, who appear to be wearing the same thing, dressed a bit like Wispas. Anyone know if Edmund and Robert are brothers?
Any who. Murray’s moved into a 30-15 in bizarre fashion. Taking a wild swing with a drive volley which Arguello proceeds to return long. A silky drop shot leaves Arguello rooted to the spot and it’s game Murray with another.
Second set: Murray 3-2 Arguello* (sets 1-0)
Arguello opens up with back-to-back miss-hits before a conservative smash is read by Murray, who sends a deep forehand into the corner and Arguello cannot get it back. That’s three break points for Murray, who wraps up the game with a glorious winner on the rise. As suspected, he has turned things up a couple of notches.
Second set: Murray* 2-2 Arguello (sets 1-0)
Murray into the net again, which is always exciting, to take a clinical opening point and an equally dominant serve makes its 30-0. Disagreements between the umpire and his helpers means the next point is replayed, to everyone’s palpable relief and it’s Murray who eventually takes it with another volley. Arguello shoves one into the net and it’s a game to love for Murray, who has turned things up a notch one feels.
Second set: Murray 1-2 Arguello* (sets 1-0)
Drop shots are the order of the day now and another from Murray has Arguello on the charge again. He’s got some gas though and reaches it, although he can’t get it over the net. Nor can Murray with a forehand soon after though and it’s 15-15. Arguello moves 30-15 with a body serve that Murray shanks wide before the Brit races into the net and forces his opponent long with a lob. Murray’s return is then long but some more breathtaking defence forces a deuce. Ace. Thumping forehand into the net from Arguello. Deuce. A few more booming forwards and a cross-court thwack. Advantage Arguello, who screams in delight when Murray sends a forehand long.
Second set: Murray* 1-1 Arguello (sets 1-0)
Murray hits back with an ace of his own for 15-0 before one of Arguello’s shots into orbit. A backhand into the net on the next point however prompts Murray to have a quick word with himself. The next point gets the crowd on their feet – a drop shot from Murray is chased down by Arguello, who also reaches Murray’s subsequent lob before the Scot dispatches the volley and then wraps up the game.
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Second set: Murray 0-1 Arguello* (sets 1-0)
A perfect point for Arguello to open the second set – a wide serve and a forehand down the line. Murray is long on the next point, having had a little stumble on the previous one, before Arguello wraps things up with a commanding forehand and an ace. Losing the first set does not seem to have fazed him.
Murray wins first set
First set: Murray* 6-3 Arguello (*denotes serve)
That’s the first set for Murray but he has looked more than a little rusty and produced far too many errors for his liking, another handing Arguello the first point. Fortunately for the Scot, Arguello appears to be swinging for the fences and some loose shots hand Murray a 30-15 lead. When Arguello’s forehand is firing however, it’s pretty much unplayable and another down the line restores parity at 30-30. Unfortunately for Arguello however, a backhand is launched towards the Parisian suburbs before Murray wraps up the set with a purposeful winner.
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First set: Murray 5-3 Arguello* (*denotes serve)
Arguello’s serve is not really up to much but he still manages to force the error for a 15-0 before one of his own for 15-15. A cracking rally is then decided with an equally impressive backhand volley from Arguello after some superb defence from Murray but a little overeagerness sees Arguello send a forehand long. A lacklustre Murray backhand makes it 40-30 but Arguello’s forehand lets him down again. It’s advantage Murray with another unforced error from Arguello and Murray breaks back after a deep return reaps reward.
First set: Murray* 4-3 Arguello (*denotes serve)
Murray’s trying to wake himself up and he’s helped by another wild backhand from Arguello for a 30-0 lead. Then a low forehand into the net again from the Scot, plenty of those so far, but a powerful backhand takes him to 40-15 and an ace wraps up a much-needed game for the No3 seed.
First set: Murray 3-3 Arguello* (*denotes serve)
Arguello is enjoying himself, running around a backhand to on to his favoured forehand to unleash over booming groundstroke. Murray does well to get to the ball, even better to avoid a broken wrist. Arguello then careers one off the frame and into orbit – he’s going to go down swinging at least – but follows up with a dastardly cross-court drop shot. Murray nods in appreciation and Arguello responds with another one for the game. Any pre-match nerves are well and truly gone.
Updated
First set: Murray* 3-2 Arguello (*denotes serve)
A booming forehand from Arguello is far too good and the Argentinian takes a 0-30 lead after Murray cracks another one into the net. This time it’s the backhand and it’s 0-40 for three, count them, break-back points. On the first, he shoots from the hip after a lengthy rally and is just too big. But on the second Murray flips a forehand out and the Argentinian is right back in the set.
First set: Murray 3-1 Arguello* (*denotes serve)
Host broadcasters playing silly beggars briefly there but Arguello has moved into a 30-0 lead, let’s just say there was some great tennis played, before a pretty shoddy backhand into the net from Murray makes it 40-0. Arguello responds in kind into the net and then dinks a drop shot short for 40-30 but, not to be outdone, Murray wallops another backhand into the net. Arguello is on the board.
First set: Murray* 3-0 Arguello (*denotes serve)
That’s a bit more like it from Murray but he’s given a helping hand from his opponent and a couple of wild shots produce a 30-0 lead. Make that 40-0 after another long forehand from Arguello, who repeats the trick as Murray wraps up a far more accomplished service game. At this rate it is not going to last too long …
Updated
First set: Murray 2-0 Arguello* (*denotes serve)
An impressive start from Arguello and Murray dribbles one into the net for 15-0 but Arguello is wayward on the next point before Murray strikes with an aggressive inside-out backhand. The Argentinian levels at 30-30 but a dreadful smash hands Murray a break point. It’s not forthcoming however as Murray nets a forehand. Arguello offers up a second however and, after a late out call, Murray has a break for a 2-0 lead.
First set: Murray* 1-0 Arguello (*denotes player who just served)
Arguello fails to get his first return back but Murray hits the net with a drop shot on the next point for 15-15. Arguello takes a 30-15 with a blistering passing shot but Murray returns to his drop shot and it’s perfect this time. Murray gets a timely first serve and Arguello can only just get his racket to it but a weak backhand into the net takes us to deuce. And another before a double fault from Murray, who looks rusty but Arguello is too long and it’s a third deuce. A fourth soon follows but an ace from Murray and a long backhand from Arguello sees the Scot finally close out the opening game in eight long minutes.
Updated
I stand corrected. Murray serves first…
The players are out and Arguello will serve first. It’s a touch blustery on court and the action will be underway imminently. Stay tuned.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to day two of the French Open at Roland Garros. British No1 Andy Murray begins his campaign shortly on Philippe Chatrier Court and lest we forget Muzza is in top form on the red stuff this season. He’s won 10 straight matches – a perfect 10 you might say – and is more than likely to make it a perfect 11 against the world No139 Facundo Arguello today.
Maria Sharapova has completed a straight sets win against Kaia Kanepi so Murray and Arguello will be on court shortly. In the meantime, have a read of Amelie Mauresmo explaining why she is not taking out her French Open frustrations vicariously through Britain’s finest.
Amélie Mauresmo never enjoyed Roland Garros as much as her talent deserved. From the day she drew inspiration from Yannick Noah’s win in 1983, as a young girl watching from her home in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, just north of Paris, and all through her serial disappointments in front of her home crowd over 15 years, theFrench Open represented a prize too far.
She got as far as the quarter-finals twice but prospered elsewhere, notably at Wimbledon and in Melbourne, and was No1 in the world for five weeks. Andy Murray, her most enduring client, has two semi-finals to show for eight visits to Paris and, on a roll of 10 clay wins and his first two titles on the dirt this summer, he has never been better placed to go further. Mauresmo insists, however, she is not reliving her past through the world No3.
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