So there you have it. Andy Murray is through to yet another final – that’s 10 and counting in 2016 – and will feel he has every chance of clinching his sixth title of the year against an opponent he has beaten in each of their previous two meetings. He wasn’t always at his best against Gilles Simon, but he got the job done at the key moments and rediscovered his service rhythm with a vengeance in the second set. The No1 ranking will have to wait until next year, given that he lags Djokovic by nearly 4,000 points. But the points differential in terms of the race to London – where Murray trails Djokovic by 9,285 points to the Serb’s 10,600 – is indicative of the strides he has made since the turn of the year. Thanks for reading and enjoy your afternoon.
Of Sunday’s final against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, Murray says: “He’s had some very good wins this week. He beat Tsonga the round before [beating Djokovic] and is obviously playing very well. He’s improving all the time and will be highly motivated playing his first Masters Series final. It should be a good match.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Murray has this to say of the suggestion that he has Novak Djokovic’s No1 ranking in his sights: “He’s still a long way ahead of me. His loss today helps a little bit, but I’m still a long way behind. I’m not thinking about that right now.”
Game, set and match Murray, 6-4, 6-3!
Second set: Murray* 6-4, 6-3 Simon (*denotes server)
It’s taken an hour and 43 minutes of sometimes patchy tennis, but Andy Murray has won in straight sets again. His 22 winners were largely cancelled out by an uncharacteristic 30 unforced errors, but he found an extra gear in the second set, not least on serve. He will now play his 10th final of what has been a remarkable year.
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Second set: Murray 6-4, 5-3 Simon* (*denotes server)
Either Simon has forgotten the scoreline or this is a classic case of a player relaxing and playing his best tennis once victory seems beyond reach. My money’s on the latter. A great game from the Frenchman, full of confidence and authority, belies his match-long struggle with ball in hand and gives Murray plenty to think about as he prepares to serve for the match for a second time.
Second set: Murray* 6-4, 5-2 Simon (*denotes server)
A loss of focus from Murray or a final gesture of defiance from Simon? However you read it, it’s a break of serve. Some gritty play from Simon carries him to 15-30 on the Murray serve, at which point Murray drives long for no apparent reason. He saves the first by clinching a gruelling, 23-stroke rally, but is unable to stave off the second. Great tenacity from Simon, but probably a case of delaying the inevitable. Probably.
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Second set: Murray 6-4, 5-1 Simon* (*denotes server)
Some mesmerising baseline play from Murray yields another break. It’s not that Simon has played badly here, it’s just that Murray has got progressively better as the match has worn on and the Frenchman has been unable to keep pace with him. Murray to serve for the match and deservedly so.
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Second set: Murray* 6-4, 4-1 Simon (*denotes server)
Another peerless service game from Murray, who has certainly rediscovered his serving mojo in this set. Christine Herbert will be pleased indeed. “Looking at the points difference between Murray and Djokovic at beginning of the season,” she writes, “I would never have thought Murray could have been this close by the end of it. Shame there’s not quite enough points on offer to make it this year – but all to play for next.” Indeed there is, Christine, especially with Djokovic looking so vulnerable just now. Andy appears to be targeting the French Open next year, but the Aussie Open – where he has lost five finals – would seem to offer an equally promising opportunity.
Second set: Murray 6-4, 3-1 Simon* (*denotes server)
Finally, having been broken five times in succession, Simon holds. Not that you’d know it. There’s no celebration from the Frenchman as Murray fails to make a forehand over the high part of the net, and that suggests he considers himself still very much in this match. He may be alone in that belief.
Second set: Murray* 6-4, 3-0 Simon (*denotes server)
He’s battling all the way, is Simon, and Murray is struggling to find fluency off the ground. Nevertheless, although breathing heavily at times – and rolling his eyes in dismay when Simon carves out a break point at 30-40 – Murray finds a way. His serve has picked up markedly in this set – he’s missed just one first delivery so far – and he emphasises the improvement with a booming ace to hold. Break consolidated.
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Second set: Murray 6-4, 2-0 Simon* (*denotes server)
All too briefly, the rallies begin to hark back to the opening games of the match, when the players were moving each other around the court with the measured air of chess grandmasters. The difference now is that the exchanges are being punctuated by mistakes. Twice Simon makes lamentable errors to fall behind, flirting with a potentially fatal break of serve. But Murray, seemingly rattled by a poor call that required a successful challenge, struggles to summon his trademark consistency, handing Simon a lifeline. Deuce turns to advantage, advantage to deuce. More break points go begging. Neither man can land the decisive blow. Finally, though, Murray constructs a fifth break point, Simon failing to whisk a forehand pass off his shoelaces, and this time the Scot makes the most of it. Another brutal, probing rally concludes with a whirring forehand placement, and Simon has it all to do now.
Second set: Murray* 6-4, 1-0 Simon (*denotes server)
It’s a measure of Murray’s mettle that he took that opening set despite making 18 unforced errors and winning just 40% of the points played on his second serve. Not that he seems to be dwelling on it much, judging by the alacrity with he wraps up the opening service game of set two. The next game could be crucial for Simon.
Murray wins the opening set 6-4!
First set: Murray 6-4 Simon* (*denotes server)
Wonderful, wonderful tennis – and that’s just the opening point, which culminates with a lovely exchange of touch shots between the two men. Murray comes out on the wrong side of that one, watching helplessly as Simon caresses an angled winner across the face of the net, but hits back from 40-15 down with a combination of gritty defensive play and carefully judged aggression. It carries the world No2 to a set point that he converts in quite delightful fashion, responding to a lob volley from Simon (and when was the last time you saw one of those?) with an exquisite lobbed winner of his own. What a beautiful game tennis can be. Although don’t mention that to Simon, who looks decidedly rueful as he makes his way to the chair.
First set: Murray* 5-4 Simon (*denotes server)
What is it about this match? Murray has been serving brilliantly all week, but his first delivery seems to have deserted him today. After an error-strewn start to the game, the Scot rolls a topspin forehand into the net for 15-40 and, although he staves off the first break point with some good attacking play, he concedes the next with another unforced error. Dear me.
First set: Murray 5-3 Simon*(*denotes server)
As Simon moves 30-0 ahead courtesy of a netted backhand volley from the stretching Murray, Simon McMahon writes: “You’re right that us Simons are unassuming, but so is Andy to be fair. And he’s acquired a ruthlessness on court that both Gilles and I can only dream of. I’ll settle for unassuming, though. Which is why I’ll never be world No1.” Neither will Gilles at this rate, Simon. First he misses a forehand, then he double-faults. Sensing vulnerability at the other end of the court, Murray pounces, another foray into the net reaping dividends. Even so, he’s not having the best of days in the forecourt, Murray, and a volleying error sees the break point go begging. No matter. More aggressive play brings up a second chance, and this time the Scot nails it with a superb return. You could stick Marmite on that second serve from Simon and call it toast. Assuming you can find any Marmite, obviously. Ruthless did you say, Simon? You’re not wrong.
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First set: Murray* 4-3 Simon (*denotes server)
The pendulum swings again as Murray struggles to find fluency on his serve. The point is underlined at 0-30 when the Scot produces a wretched double-fault that leaves him gesturing in frustration. If he was upset about that, he’ll be a good deal unhappier about the inelegant forehand volley that he then puts wide to concede the game. The quality has dropped off somewhat, but the contest remains compelling.
First set: Murray 4-2 Simon* (*denotes server)
Outrallied at 30-30, Simon betrays a first sign of frustration, swatting at a stray ball. An uncharacteristic error from Murray, who drives a straightforward ball long, gets the Frenchman off the hook, but the reprieve proves temporary. A double-fault at deuce lands him in the soup again, and Murray then conjures a penetrating return to get Simon on the run. A deep approach seals the deal and that’s four games in a row for Murray.
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First set: Murray* 3-2 Simon (*denotes server)
Simon looks to be wrestling with a tactical quandary. Should he hit to Murray’s forehand, which has been as solid as the proverbial rock this week? Or should he steer the ball to the Murray backhand, which the world No2 is loading with slice, giving his opponent low, skidding balls on which he can get scant purchase? The Frenchman is confounded further when Murray unexpectedly leans a little harder on a two-hander, rushing the scrambling Simon into a backhand error, before finding some extra heat on a second serve to bring up 40-15. Murray seals the game with an imperious backhand winner that his opponent can only stand and admire. Lovely play from the second seed.
First set: Murray 2-2 Simon* (*denotes server)
Four games in and already this is a thoroughly absorbing match, the rallies full of subtle changes of pace and direction. A cerebral exchange at 15-15 culminates with Murray working his way artfully into the forecourt, where he angles away a lovely forehand volley. Another lengthy baseline duel goes in Murray’s favour when a Simon forehand drifts wide, and the break is sealed when the Frenchman nets off the same wing. Great response from Murray.
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First set: Murray* 1-2 Simon (*denotes server)
That’s more like it from Murray, who holds to love courtesy of some excellent serving. He seals the game by slamming a forehand winner off a short return, and that should make him feel a lot better.
First set: Murray 0-2 Simon* (*denotes server)
The quality of the rallies remains high as the players trade blows from the back of the court. But it’s Simon who has settled the quicker – there’s a hint of tension about Murray – and he sees out his opening service game to consolidate the advantage. Plenty for Murray to ponder here already.
First set: Murray* 0-1 Simon (*denotes server)
Andy Murray hasn’t lost his serve all week. Until now. Simon, never the quickest player out of the blocks, finds a telling forehand pass at 30-30, and rams home the advantage with some typically probing play from the baseline.
Still, Novak Djokovic. What an idiosyncratic figure he’s looked this week, humming between points, ripping his shirt, racking up errors. Here’s a report of his defeat.
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Amid the usual pre-match razzmatazz, the players have made their way out on to court. Murray looks confident and relaxed. Simon looks unassuming. Of course he does. No one does unassuming quite like Simon.
Well, well, well. As he tries to make inroads on Novak Djokovic’s points advantage at the top of the world rankings, Andy Murray could have been forgiven for having half an eye on a potential final with the Serb. But the world No1 has crashed out in the semis, losing to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets. That ought to put a spring in Murray’s step as he prepares to face Gilles Simon, the wily Frenchman over whom he holds a 14-2 head-to-head advantage.
Not that Murray needs much by way of encouragement just now. Maintaining the momentum of last week’s China Open victory, Murray has been in dominant form in Shanghai, accounting for Steve Johnson, Lucas Pouille and David Goffin without the loss of a set. If Simon is to notch up his first win over Murray since besting him on an indoor hard court in Rotterdam in February 2015, he’ll need to find something special.
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