We’re going to wrap this blog up now. Murray is safely through, and he’ll face Kei Nishikori or Karen Khachanov in the next round. It’s currently one-all in sets, and four-all in the third set – but they’re in a rain break just now.*
*Apologies! He’ll play Simon or Lorenzi. My bad.
Thanks for reading. Goodbye.
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Andy Murray speaks!
On the roof and the rain: “It’s tough. You couldn’t really hear the ball at all, but we’re lucky that we get to play under the roof, so it’s good for everyone.”
On the game statistics: “I hit quite a lot of winners, and although my first-serve percentage wasn’t great, I won a lot on my second serves.”
On the end of the first set: “It was tough, having led 5-2 and had a bunch of set points, but thankfully I got through. It’s tough, and he’s a very tricky guy to play against.”
On Ivan Lendl leaving quickly: “He’s heard me talk enough, so they just want to get off. They never hang around for the interviews.”
Game, set and match Andy Murray!
Murray 6-4 6-1 6-4 Granollers
A slice of luck for Murray: off the top of the net and out of Granollers’ reach. 30-0, and now 40-0, and Andy Murray, after two hours and 22 minutes, has three match points. He spurns the first, but not the second! He’s safely through in straight sets.
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Third set: *Murray 6-4 6-1 5-4 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Oh, that’s a bad miss at the net from Granollers, and this has the feel of a danger game. 15-30 becomes 15-40, and this is the moment for Murray to make it count. Granollers saves one break point, but he can’t save the other, and Andy Murray is one game away from the third round.
Third set: Murray 6-4 6-1 4-4 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Third double fault from Murray, and we’re level at 15-15. He just can’t get these first serves in. Fortunately, Granollers can’t seem to make anything happen on Murray’s second serve – but this is a chance for Granollers at 15-30, second serve. Oh, unlucky! Super rally, and then Granollers with a net cord that just fell the wrong way. 30-30, and now 40-30 Murray, and now game Murray.
Third set: *Murray 6-4 6-1 3-4 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Trouble for Granollers at 15-30, but that’s a 123mph ace to draw level at 30-30. Another big serve to move 40-30 ahead, and another! Game Granollers. Good service game from the Spaniard.
Third set: Murray 6-4 6-1 3-3 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Murray’s hit 29 winners and made 20 unforced errors. Granollers has hit 20 and made 41 errors, which tells a story of its own. But Murray hasn’t quite gotten his serve going – his first-serve percentage is still down in the 40s. But he holds here with ease, and we’re level at three games each.
Third set: *Murray 6-4 6-1 2-3 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Better from Granollers, and that’s an excellent backhand winner for 40-15. Right on the line. He’s long with the next point, but Murray mistimes a service return, and Granollers holds again.
Third set: Murray 6-4 6-1 2-2 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
It looks pretty bleak for Granollers, but if he could find a break from somewhere, Murray might have some work to do. It’s 15-15, and Murray is carping about something or other, but he makes a lovely passing shot for his 27th winner. 30-15 soon becomes 40-15, and now that’s the game. Murray’s under very little pressure on his serve.
Third set: *Murray 6-4 6-1 1-2 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Granollers throws in a double fault at 30-15, and he’s under the pump again. But Murray can’t find a backhand lob, running back, and Granollers has 40-30, which he converts. Game Granollers.
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Third set: Murray 6-4 6-1 1-1 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
That’s a fabulous two-hand backhand winner from Murray, down on one knee, to move to 40-0, and he wraps up the game with a hefty first serve. After that unyielding end to the first set, we’re really rattling through the games now.
Third set: *Murray 6-4 6-1 0-1 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Murray’s first-serve percentage is down at 46% – but he’s winning 79% on his first serve. Granollers, by contrast, is 50 and 56. He just hasn’t got the weapons to hurt Murray. And he seemed to lose some of his puff in the latter part of that second set. But he moves to 40-0 here, and wins the game with a sweet drop volley.
Murray wins the second set!
Third set: Murray 6-4 6-1 0-0 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
No time-wasting from Murray here: Granollers has just lost his way, and that’s the second set! Thirty-five minutes to win that one, and Murray is rolling towards the third round.
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Second set: *Murray 6-4 5-1 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Murray chides himself after missing a makeable forehand down the line that would have given him two break points. No matter: and Murray produces a sumptuous backhand volley to set up another break point. Granollers tonks one into the seats, and Murray breaks serve again. He leads 5-1 in the second, and will serve for the second set.
Second set: Murray 6-4 4-1 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
What a point from Murray! Superb athleticism at 30-0 – he really dug in to reach a drop-volley from Granollers and put it away nicely. Excellent service game from the No2 seed, and he’s slowly looking more like it.
Second set: *Murray 6-4 3-1 Granollers (*denotes next server)
It’s really hammering it down outside. Pools of water on the uncovered courts at Flushing Meadows. But we’re undercover here on Arthur Ashe, so we’ll continue as normal.
Murray still hasn’t quite found his rhythm, but Granollers floats one wide after a 26-ball rally, and it’s 15-30. Murray is unlucky with a net cord and we’re level at 30-30, but that’s a fine forehand that Granollers can’t return, and a break point for Murray. He can’t take it. Deuce.
But this time he can! Break Murray, and he leads 3-1.
Second set: Murray 6-4 2-1 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Granollers has changed his shirt, incidentally, from white to blue.
A weird moment: Granollers hit one that was good, but was called out, and Murray hit the subsequent ball wide. Granollers challenged the call, and he was right to, but the umpire called a let, rather than giving Granollers the point. Granollers was unhappy, and protested to the the umpire, so Murray gave Granollers the point! 15-15, and good sportsmanship from Murray.
30-30, and then Murray puts a volley long! Break point for Granollers, but he can’t take it. Deuce. Now a second chance for Granollers, and again Murray saves it! No further slip-ups, and it’s game Murray.
Murray got out of a jam there. Two-one in the second.
Second set: *Murray 6-4 1-1 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Granollers moves to 30-0, and then throws down a 130mph ace for 40-0. John McEnroe on commentary can’t believe the rain: “I can barely hear myself think.”
Game Granollers.
Second set: Murray 6-4 1-0 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
That first set took an hour and seven minutes, and they played 46 points in the last three games of it. Granollers really showed some fight and determination to stay alive, but Murray became uncharacteristically sloppy. Still, he’s ahead now. It’s raining really hard outside, and you can hear the sound of the raindrops on the roof. It’s loud!
Murray comes through the first game and pumps his fist. He’s on the board in the second.
Murray wins the first set!
Second set: *Murray 6-4 0-0 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Murray’s trying to get himself pumped up, but this set should be over. Did he get tight in that last game? Chance at 30-30, and Murray finds the passing shot! Fourth set point, but Granollers saves it! Deuce.
Advantage Murray, but Granollers saves another break point! He’s really battling here. Deuce again, and this time Granollers takes the advantage. But he misses an easy ball at the net! Deuce again! This is interminable.
How many deuces is this now? Four? Five? 73? Murray challenges a call he knew he wasn’t going to win, and Granollers has the advantage again. Which he can’t take. Lol. Deuce again!
Now advantage Murray: his sixth set point. But he can’t take it! Back to deuce.
Finally Murray takes it at the seventh attempt! First set Murray, and that was nearly ridiculous.
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First set: Murray 5-4 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
A giant yell of anguish from Granollers as he goes down 0-15. Murray quickly makes it 30-0, but that’s a nice point from Granollers to cut the deficit. 30-15, and another good piece of play from the Spaniard! 30-30. And again from Granollers! He really dictated the point there, and he’s got break point! 30-40.
But that’s a huge serve from Murray, and a big forehand to back it up. Break point saved. Deuce.
Murray dumps an easy forehand into the net. Another break point for Granollers, but copies Murray and can only find the net! Deuce again.
From Murray’s perspective, this set should be over already – but he can’t get over the line. Fourth deuce. And fifth deuce! A double fault at set point. Grr!
This is crazy. A sixth deuce! Murray can’t finish this. Now Granollers has the advantage, and Murray is wide with the volley! Amazing. Granollers breaks, and we’re back on serve.
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First set: *Murray 5-3 Granollers (*denotes next server)
At 0-15, Murray misses a chance when his forehand passing shot from midcourt is too long. He draws back level at 30-30, but he doesn’t do enough with the volley, and Granollers finds a passing winner for 40-30. Game point, but Granollers puts an easy smash into the crowd! “That’s something you might see in the clay courts of Riverside Park!” says Chris Fowler on commentary. Deuce.
Things are sliding away for Granollers here: Murray has the advantage, and this is set point. But that’s a big ace from Granollers! Deuce again.
Wow. Granollers unfurls another big serve for the advantage, and then shows some soft hands to win the game. Five-three.
First set: Murray 5-2 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Murray’s pretty happy to stay back, and let Granollers make the mistake – that’s 14 unforced errors now from the Spaniard. An easy service game from Murray, and he’s just one game away from the set.
First set: *Murray 4-2 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Granollers looking more secure on his serve, and he moves to 40-0 with little fuss. Game point, and he takes it. A solid hold to love.
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First set: Murray 4-1 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Easy hold to 15 from Murray, the highlight of which was a superb forehand cross-court winner from an almost impossible angle. Ivan Lendl looks happy.
First set: *Murray 3-1 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Nice drop shot from Granollers, who you feel has to try something different to stem the tide. And another! 30-0, but Granollers throws in a double fault, and then he can’t get his racquet to Murray’s return. 30-30. But that’s an ace! Murray challenges. It was good, and it’s 40-30, but you can’t keep Murray down, and that’s a lovely backhand winner that has Granollers befuddled. Deuce.
Oh, what a chance! Murray had half the court to pick his spot, and missed by an inch. Advantage Granollers, but Murray comes to the net and puts a volley away, so we’ll have second deuce.
Murray with a lovely disguised lob for another break point, but Granollers saves it, thanks to a meaty first serve. Third deuce.
Nice from Granollers, who brings Murray forward and then delivers the smash, but then throws in a double fault! We’re back to deuce.
Finally Granollers finishes it, and he’s on the board.
First set: Murray 3-0 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
Granollers comes forward for the first time, and Murray is just wide with the passing shot. 0-15. It’s pretty gloomy with the roof on, and the ambient noise from around the court is giving this a slightly eerie feeling. Grunts of despair from Murray as he misses wide left side, and this is 0-30. Chance?
Granollers dumps one into the middle of the net for 15-30, and then Murray burns him with a lovely inside-out forehand. 30-30, which soon becomes 40-30 after Granollers is long again from the baseline. Game point, and Murray takes it. He leads 3-0, and this is good stuff so far.
First set: *Murray 2-0 Granollers (*denotes next server)
Granollers is happy to stay back, and so is Murray. Both players just feeling each other out, but Granollers is long again from behind the baseline, and it’s 15-30. Chance for Murray here, and then Murray jumps all over a weak second serve: 15-40, and Murray has double break point. He only needs one! Break Murray, and this looks ominous for Granollers.
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First set: Murray 1-0 Granollers* (*denotes next server)
And Murray wins the first point of his second-round match after a multi-stroke rally. Granollers responds for 15-15, but then he’s long from the backcourt. 30-15. Murray misses right, and we’re 30-30, and Granollers has a chance on the second serve, but he’s way long. 40-30, and then Murray unleashes a 120mph serve, and that’s the game . A slightly nervy opening game from Murray, but no real worries.
We’re ready. Murray to serve first. Let’s play!
And Murray has been to seven finals in his last seven events, and Brad Gilbert on ESPN is full of praise for the Scot.
“He made Lukas Rosol look so pedestrian. He’s looking really phenomenal.”
Some stats before today’s match:
- Murray is 6-1 against Granollers, having never lost a set to him in three hard-court meetings.
- Murray has reached the third round or better in 33 consecutive grand slam appearances, highlighted by three straight finals this season.
- If Murray advances to his third US Open final, he will be the fourth man in the Open Era to play four grand slam championship matches in a calendar year (Djokovic in 2015; Federer in 2004, 2006 and 2007; and Rod Laver in 1969).
Hello and welcome
Andy Murray continues his quest for another US Open title against Marcel Granollers – and we’re almost ready to start! It’s cloudy in New York, and we’ve had rain this morning, so the roof on Arthur Ashe will be closed for this match. Murray is the strong favorite to win today: Granollers has never been past the fourth round in a grand slam, while the Scot has had a summer to remember, with victories at Wimbledon and at the Olympics. The players are just knocking up, and we’ll begin shortly.
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read how Andy Murray has the inside track on his Spanish opponent:
As for Granollers, the 30-year-old world No45 whom he has beaten six times out of seven – most recently in straight sets on the hardcourt of Indian Wells this year – Murray said: “No one plays like him really. He comes forward a lot, has great hands and a really good feel.
“He moves really well and, although he doesn’t have a lot of power from the back of the court, he uses a lot of spin on his forehand and then hits his backhand extremely flat. I’ve known him since we were 12 years old. We grew up in the juniors together and I get on well with him. I think we know each others’ games.”
Murray also revealed he and his coach, Ivan Lendl, have not discussed the specific length of their renewed partnership, something which suggests a relaxed attitude on both sides. “When we spoke before anything was agreed or finalised, Ivan knows how much time it takes to do the job properly. I said I’d be happy to come to him for some training blocks but I haven’t spoken to him about a length of time. I’m happy with Jamie Delgado when Ivan’s not there. The time when Ivan is there, I find him very helpful and I’m happy with how much he is working with me just now.”
