So that’s all for now. Murray goes through to the second week, where he will play the winner of the match between David Goffin of Belgium and the Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in the fourth round, ahead of a possible semi-final against Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal. Thanks for your emails and have a good afternoon. Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s report.
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That was an impressive win from Murray. A brilliant shotmaker like Kyrgios is never an easy proposition in the third round of a major, but Murray dealt with the Aussie beautifully, bringing all his experience to bear to claim a 13th clay-court win in succession. The latter statistic offers a rather different perspective on his post-match assertion that he is no clay-court specialist. If he continues in this vein, a rethink may be in order. “It is never easy for me,” says Murray. “Clay is not a surface that I have ever felt comfortable on. The matches get tougher every round and hopefully I can play some good tennis next week.”
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Murray wins the third set 6-3. Game, set and match, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3!
Third set: Murray 6-3 Kyrgios* (sets 2-0) Kyrgios in a nutshell, this game. He hits a beautiful sliced forehand drop shot for a winner, shows some wonderful touch around the net, and then blasts a few forehands out. At deuce, he saunters into the net and seals the point with a drop volley of casual brilliance. But Murray hits back to reach deuce before moving to match point with a lovely forehand pass. The Scot then takes the match with an absolutely superb backhand return, struck past the onrushing Kyrgios at an exquisite angle. Game, set and match Murray!
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Third set: Murray*5-3 Kyrgios (sets 2-0) He’s a surgeon when in full flight, Murray. He wrong foots Kyrgios again, he slams down a couple of aces, and within moments he’s won a love game and stands a game away from the second week of the French Open.
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Third set: Murray 4-3* Kyrgios (sets 2-0) Oh dear. Things are really getting away from Kyrgios here. He falls 0-40 behind in the blink of an eye, and – though he saves the first break point with a brave drive volley – Murray is not to be denied. The Scot is now two sets and a break to the good, and it would take something seriously special for Kyrgios to turn this around now.
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Third set: Murray* 3-3 Kyrgios (sets 2-0) Murray races 40-0 up before steering a backhand into the alley. He’s not happy, and he channels his displeasure into a booming ace that leaves Kyrgios stranded. Will the “vital seventh game” cliche hold true in the next game?
Third set: Murray 2-3 Kyrgios* (sets 2-0) You really don’t know what’s coming next from Kyrgios. At 30-30 he bends a lovely forehand winner down the line, and seconds later the game is his. The difference between the two players is that you do know what’s coming next from Murray. He may not have matched his opponent’s flashier stroke play, but the Scot has certainly maintained a solid, consistent level of play so far. Still, it’s Kyrgios who edges a game ahead.
Third set: Murray* 2-2 Kyrgios (sets 2-0) At 30-15, Murray produces arguably his best shot of the match so far, flicking a running, volleyed forehand pass from the baseline – if you please – beyond the stranded Kyrgios. It sets up a comfortable hold.
Third set: Murray 1-2 Kyrgios* (sets 2-0) A woeful service game from Kyrgios punctuated by plenty of expletives – why hasn’t he been warned yet? – ends with the Aussie slamming a ball high into the stands. Finally the French umpire, Damien Dumusois, loses patience and dishes out a code violation. Not before time, although it could just as easily have been Murray, who has also uttered a few choice words this morning. Murray back on serve.
Third set: Murray* 0-2 Kyrgios (sets 2-0) Was there a slight drop in Murray’s mental focus there? He certainly fell away from a forehand at 30-30 to go wide. And this time Kyrgios needed no second invitation, clinching a brief exchange with a blistering forehand winner. Interesting.
Third set: Murray 0-1 Kyrgios* (sets 2-0) The freshly-swept court his canvas, Kyrgios produces two lovely little pieces of artistry in the form of backhand drop shots that Murray can only watch and admire. But his first serve speed has dropped substantially, and clearly that arm is bothering the Aussie. Still, he soldiers on and his efforts eventually reap dividends. A double fault at deuce produces a break point for Murray that Kyrgios saves with another deft drop shot, and the Aussie then manages to ramp up the speed of his delivery enough to clinch the game. That’s an important hold.
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Murray wins the second set 6-2
Second set: Murray* 6-2 Kyrgios (sets 1-0) “Good comments,” writes Bronwyn Mitchell as Kyrgios receives treatment on his lower right arm at the change of ends. “Viewing on my phone while watching Aussie rules on TV.” I’m not sure whether Bronwyn’s referring to my comments or the more potty-mouthed ones periodically emanating from Kyrgios, but I’m hoping it’s the former. As for Aussie rules: sorry, Bronwyn, but there’s not much sign of an Aussie reigning on Court Suzanne-Lenglen just now. At 30-30, Kyrgios works himself into a promising position only to net a forehand. It’s becoming a recurrent theme in this match, and it’s no surprise when he coughs up another mistake on the next point. That’s two sets to the good for Murray.
Second set: Murray 5-2 Kyrgios* (sets 1-0) Murray seems to be having flashbacks of his win over Kyrgios in Australia. A little belatedly, he’s starting to slow things down and take his time between points, just as he did in Melbourne. Kyrgios, who likes nothing better than to storm through his service games at breakneck pace, doesn’t like that one bit. At 30-30, Murray hits a lovely angled forehand winner. Kyrgios makes an unforced error – something we’re seeing more and more here – to concede another break.
Second set: Murray* 4-2 Kyrgios (sets 1-0) What a force this man Kyrgios is. At 15-30, Murray is on the receiving end of an absolute barrage of groundstrokes that forces him further and further back. But what a flatterer-to-deceiver this man Kyrgios is, too. On the next point, he delivers another baseline salvo to earn a short ball, only to wallop the simplest of forehands long. Let off the hook, Murray claws his way back to deuce before earning a game point. Guess what, though? Kyrgios, from deep in his backhand corner, thunders down another immense forehand to pull the game back to deuce. And then another one to earn break point. Smarting, Murray responds with a penetrating first serve before demonstrating just how to deal with a short ball. Then, just for good measure, he slams down a stinging first serve and an ace to wrap up the game and maintain his advantage.
Second set: Murray 3-2 Kyrgios* (sets 1-0) “Oh wow,” exclaims Kyrgios midpoint after being wrong-footed yet again by Murray. Generously, Murray – who loses the point after the Aussie recovers with a fine lob – doesn’t complain about the distraction, which by rights should have earned him the point. Perhaps that’s because he’s focusing instead on earning another break. At 30-40, Kyrgios saves the game with a blistering forehand that must have had tennis balls everywhere shaking their heads and wincing. But when a Murray groundstroke kisses the line two points later, Kyrgios – who goes on to call for the trainer – sportingly rules in his opponent’s favour, saving the umpire the trouble of descending from his chair.
Second set: Murray* 2-2 Kyrgios (sets 1-0) Returning to the question of colourful clothing, Simon McMahon has this to say: “Players who wear a back to front baseball cap should automatically be docked a point before the game starts. And a pink shirt with blue shorts? That’s a game penalty. Not often you can say this but, dressed all in black, Murray wins the style contest hands down.” That he does, Simon, although I think Murray would gladly trade in his sartorial splendour for a couple of first serves round about now. Rather than stripping off, though, he simply takes a bit off his first delivery to fight back from 15-30 down and keep step with Kyrgios at 2-2. We can all be grateful for that.
Second set: Murray 1-2 Kyrgios* (sets 1-0) Kyrgios starts the game with a crunching backhand winner down the line that sets the tone for a decisive hold.
Second set: Murray*1-1 Kyrgios (sets 1-0) Speaking in commentary, the former French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier makes the point that Murray and Kyrgios both know what it is to carry the hopes of a nation. It’s an interesting comparison, and it may explain why Murray has shown a certain empathy with his opponent, offering the Aussie advice and practising with him. Kyrgios looks like he could do with a few tips, too, as Murray shrugs off the indignity of being dragged back to deuce by another scintillating Kyrgios forehand. Dragging his opponent hither and thither, the Scot wrong-foots him to draw level at 1-1.
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Second set: Murray 0-1 Kyrgios* (sets 1-0) Kyrgios needs to produce some eye-catching play here to match his garish pink shirt, electric blue shorts and fluorescent yellow cycling shorts, and boy does he rise to the occasion. Even Murray acknowledges the excellence of a lovely rolled backhand winner that drags the Scot way beyond the tramlines. An exquisite drop shot is bookended by a couple of big forehands, and that’s the game in the bag. An impressive start to the second set from the ebullient Aussie.
Murray wins the first set 6-4
First set: Murray* 6-4 Kyrgios (*denotes player who just served) Clinical. Murray serves out the set to love with some really solid play. He just gets that first serve in and gets it done. There was a time when a British player on the big stage would have put us all though the wringer at such a stage. Those rollercoaster days are gone. And does anyone really miss them?
First set: Murray 5-4 Kyrgios* (*denotes player who just served) Serving to stay in the set, Kyrgios once again shows some fine touches at the net as he holds to 15. Murray will serve for the set, though, which is pretty much what Simon McMahon was anticipating. “Morning Les,” says Simon. “A tough match ahead for sure, but Murray’s superior experience and knowhow on clay, plus the fact that he is high on confidence and supremely fit, should see him through.” Well, it’s looking good so far Simon. Just about.
First set: Murray* 5-3 Kyrgios (*denotes player who just served) Amid multiple breaks of serve and some choice language from both players, you sense that the first man to consolidate a break will claim this set. It appears that man won’t be Murray when he finds himself 30-40 down again. But a superb topspin lob off his backhand side is followed by the cutest of drop shots, and when Kyrgios makes another mistake from the back, Murray has the game, the psychological edge and the momentum.
First set: Murray 4-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes player who just served) Kyrgios belongs firmly to that line of showmen that includes the likes of Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors and Henri Leconte, a point underlined by a wonderful exchange early in the game when Murray draws him in to the net before sending him scampering him back towards the baseline again with a deftly executed lob. Recalling his exploits against Nadal last summer, the Aussie hits the ball through his legs and over Murray, who gets a racket on the ball but can’t put it back in play. Marvellous stuff. Still, tennis is about consistency, not just moments of magic, and Kyrgios makes way too many mistakes. He drops serve tamely in the end and it’s advantage Murray again.
First set: Murray* 3-3 Kyrgios (*denotes player who just served) Murray is remonstrating with the umpire about the now infamous overhead camera that claimed the life of a pigeon earlier in the tournament and has been bothering him all week. He complains that the camera is getting in his eyeline as he serves. Not ideal. And it almost looks like it might prove costly. But at 30-40, Kyrgios slams a forehand out on break point, enabling Murray to open up on the serve and seal the game with an ace. Important hold that.
First set: Murray 2-3 Kyrgios* (*denotes player who just served) The danger signs are clear for Murray here: he’s being drawn into a baseline slugfest with the ebullient Aussie, and that’s the last thing he wants. Give Kyrgios the chance, and he’ll just hit right through you. He also boasts a deft touch at the net, as he demonstrates twice in this game en route to a pretty comfortable hold.
First set: Murray* 2-2 Kyrgios (*denotes player who just served) Looking to consolidate the break, Murray is outrallied on the opening point and then finds himself on the wrong end of an enormous forehand. Another huge forehand draws a groundstroke error from the Scot, and suddenly he’s three break points down. Murray comes out fighting, though, with two big serves … only to double-fault on the third break point. He swipes his racket angrily; Murray knows that was a missed opportunity to edge ahead in this set.
First set: Murray 2-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes player who just served) Kyrgios’s game plan is clear: hit the ball hard, and if that doesn’t work then hit it harder. It doesn’t do him much good here, though. The Aussie belts a reverse crosscourt forehand wide to cough up two break points, and Murray simply gets the ball back in play to claim the game. First blood to the Scot.
First set: Murray* 1-1 Kyrgios (*denotes player who just served) We’ll keep an eye on those drop shots, because Kyrgios is not the best mover when he has to race forward. It was a tactic Murray deployed to wonderful effect when he beat Kyrgios in the last eight of this year’s Australian Open … although, let’s face it, he doesn’t exactly require much encouragement on that front. Another thing Murray did well in Melbourne was to mix up his baseline play – plenty of slice, plenty of changes of pace and direction – to prevent Kyrgios from getting into a rhythm. He does much the same here, opening up a lead with a winning pass before repeatedly frustrating his opponent from the back of the court. Kyrgios digs in to get the game back to deuce, but from there it’s a comfortable hold for Murray.
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First set: Murray 0-1 Kyrgios* (*denotes player who just served) Murray won the toss and elected to receive. Straight out of the Brad Gilbert school of thought, that one: have a crack at your big-serving opponent’s delivery early on, before they’ve had a chance to warm up. The initial results look promising for Murray, who wins the opening point with a drop shot after a brief rally. At 40-30, the same ploy earns him another point. But Kyrgios finishes the game with a huge forehand winner and a cry of “C’mon!!!” Lleyton Hewitt would approve.
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The players are out and have almost finished their warm-up. Kyrgios wandered on to Suzanne Lenglen court wearing pink headphones – ever the showman. Murray followed him out looking calm and relaxed.
Speaking of that fine run, Murray has now racked up 12 consecutive clay-court wins. That impressive sequence has earned him the first clay-court titles of his career, in Munich and Madrid. But Kyrgios won’t care a jot about Murray’s form or reputation, such is his swaggering self-belief.
Good morning and welcome. Today’s narrative has a familiar ring: the next big thing in men’s tennis comes up against one of the big four, and suddenly all and sundry are hailing a new era. How many times have we heard that one over the years dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray? Whether Nick Kyrgios can live up to the hyperbole surrounding him in this morning’s papers is a moot point. Murray, his opponent today, will certainly be hoping not. Still, it can’t exactly be comforting to roll out of bed on a Saturday morning and be greeted by John McEnroe proclaiming your opponent as a potential “No 1 player in the world in the next couple of years” who – with hard work – is on the road to becoming “a truly great player”. Mats Wilander, writing in L’Equipe, was a little more circumspect, highlighting the difficulty the sport’s young pretenders face in upsetting the status quo … but still went on to predict Kyrgios would win at least one major. The young Aussie beat Federer on clay in Madrid recently – and also famously claimed the scalp of Nadal at Wimbledon last year – so Murray will certainly need to be on his guard if he is to continue his fine recent run on the red dust.
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Les will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Kevin Mitchell on Nick Kyrgios, before this third-round match at Roland Garros:
Nick Kyrgios swaggers into his third-round match against Andy Murray on Saturday overflowing with self-belief – and the backing of John McEnroe, who thinks the young Australian hotshot could be “the No1 player in the world in the next couple of years”.
That is baggage to bear but the kid from Canberra whose mother may still not be sure he is going to make it – “She’s a bit weird like that,” Kyrgios says – is not only comfortable with praise, he revels in it.
Perhaps that is because there has been so much of it since he beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year, and again when he got the better of Roger Federer in three tie-break sets in Madrid this month.
As he said when asked this week if he was annoyed some people found him arrogant: “It’s not annoying at all. The greatest people in every sport have an unbelievable amount of self-confidence. I think that’s one thing that makes me a good tennis player: I have a lot of belief in myself. You don’t see many 19-year-olds or 20-year-olds beating the greatest of all time.”
