Well, well, well. After 91 minutes of tough action Murray packs up and heads for the exit – via a few autographs – while Nadal takes more time to enjoy his moment. “Thank you London,” he says, beaming. “Against a home player the crowd is unbelievable. It’s an important day – one of my best victories of the season in difficult circumstances. I played well in general – the tactic against Andy is to play very well. The only way to damage him is to play with high intensity and aggressively. I played well, not many mistakes. I’m very happy and working hard to play these matches.” That’s his first win over the other big three in 2015 and he looks very impressive despite Murray’s slack performance. Victory for Stan Wawrinka over David Ferrer tonight will see him through with a match to spare. Murray will likely need to beat the Swiss if he is to qualify. Thanks for reading – standby for Kevin Mitchell’s report from the o2 shortly. Until next time!
Nadal wins the second set 6-1 – and the match (6-4, 6-1)!
Murray 1-6 Nadal*(4-6, *denotes server of described game): Murray scrambles but returns brilliantly for 0-15 before pausing to stretch his hamstrings. It doesn’t appear to be worth too much concern but he loses the next two points, before hammering a forehand to the right corner of the baseline for 30-30. No matter, Nadal earns match point and the king of clay seals it with a wonderful backhand at the end of a long rally.
Murray* 1-5 Nadal (4-6, *denotes server of described game): This one is done. Murray slackens at 30-30 and a pair of successive errors gives Nadal a fourth break of the game. The Spaniard has 10 break points to Murray’s one and is about serve for the match with new balls.
Murray 1-4 Nadal* (4-6, *denotes server of described game): He is unable to break but at least applies a bit more pressure, winning two points in another physically demanding game. He overhits at 40-30, though. Murray’s first serve has been quite poor – only 42% hitting the target (though Nadal’s is also poor at 49%) with four doubles faults to nil.
Murray* 1-3 Nadal (4-6, *denotes server of described game): A better game from Murray here. He sets the tone with a delicious dropshot and although he lets two points slip and hits a double fault, gets off the mark and stops the rot. Now can he break?
Murray 0-3 Nadal* (4-6, *denotes server of described game): Nadal holds without much to trouble him. Murray does plant a good crosscourt shot for 40-15 but the unforced error count in this second set so far reads: 10-0.
I blame this …
Murray* 0-2 Nadal (4-6, *denotes server of described game): Dear, oh dear. Very poor from Murray, who double faults to give Nadal three set points. He requires just one – Murray overhitting a return of a return on his second serve. The last 20 points read: 16-4 in favour of the Spaniard and 8-0 against Murray’s serve.
Murray 0-1 Nadal* (4-6, *denotes server of described game): Nadal, quiet and concentrated, holds the first game while Murray, whose concentration is a little off, continues to mutter his annoyances at various things. He needs to focus or this match will be out of his reach in no time.
Nadal takes the first set 6-4!
Murray 4-6 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Nadal wins the first point by passing a forehand out of Murray’s reach after the Scot crept gradually towards the net. Murray overhits the next point – and challenges without success – before Nadal smashes an absolutely brilliant forehand to earn three set points. He sends Murray running and only needs one to take the set. Impressive!
Murray 4-5 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Murray is competing better on the longer points – winning a rally for 15-15 but Nadal holds well as they head back to their seats to wipe some sweat from their brows and take in some electrolytes.
Murray* 4-4 Nadal (first set, *denotes server of described game): With the new balls Murray fails to land an overhead reply to a tasty Nadal lob, affording the Spaniard two break points. Murray saves the first by planting a belter on the baseline and Nadal misses the second with an off-radar backhand. Nadal then finds the net with a backhand, and Murray holds. He pumps his fist. Fifty minutes in, safe to say we are in this for the long haul.
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Murray 3-4 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Another tight game gets to deuce and it’s already a physically gruelling encounter. Nadal sends a ferocious forehand past his opponent for the advantage and holds thanks to another strong showing on a long point. On rallies in double figures, Nadal has won 11 of the 13 points.
Murray* 3-3 Nadal (first set, *denotes server of described game): Murray is in one of those moods at the moment but after a battle he holds. At 15-15 he sarcastically asks for the court to be dried, and then races to the net to return a deft drop shot and sends it wide for 15-30. Nadal gets himself a couple of break points. He squanders the first when failing to return a serve. Murray manages deuce via a slight deflection off the net with a backhand before banging in his first ace. Back to deuce, Nadal gives an increasingly angry and sweary Murray the run around. The Scot saves on a strong second serve and finally closes.
Here was Murray cutting his hair earlier!
Is this Murray's secret to success? Sky Sports 1 or LIVE here: https://t.co/3BjVa59mAD #MurrayNadal #FinalShowdown pic.twitter.com/HppAIYfdVl
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) November 18, 2015
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Murray 2-3 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Despite looking good in rallies, Nadal’s first serve has yet to really fire with a measly success rate of 38%(6/16). He still holds from 15-30 after forcing Murray back. The Scot has another whine though about Nadal taking his time between points – he wanted his sweat wiped off the court in the middle of this game.
Murray* 2-2 Nadal (first set, *denotes server of described game): After a sloppy start, Nadal is looking sharp so far – especially during lengthier rallies. He wins the first point but Murray closes the game out without any trouble and shows signs of settling. During the break before this game, by the way, Murray trimmed his hair. Maybe that’s what had him so annoyed.
Murray 1-2 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Meow! Nadal challenges the first point (correctly) but Murray complains because it took his opponent so long to make the challenge. He takes that irritation out with a tasty crosscourt backhand for 30-15 but his backhand on the next point hits the net. Nadal holds with a short forehand after taking Murray off balance with his serve. They head for their seats and Murray is still complaining.
Murray* 1-1 Nadal (first set, *denotes server of described game): Nadal breaks back immediately – it’s down to errors from Murray rather than brilliance from the Mallorcan, though. The opening point is a belting 25-shot rally that ends with an unforced error from Murray. The Scot levels by moving towards the net, Nadal cannot return the next serve, but Murray overhits the point after that by a long way for 30-30. He overhits again to give Nadal a break point – challenges and it was a good call – and then finds the net. Game on!
Murray 1-0 Nadal* (first set, *denotes server of described game): Murray breaks early! Nadal takes the first point after Murray’s drop shot is too short and ends up meeting net. Murray wins the second point by landing a forehand on the baseline – Nadal challenges but the call is good. The Spaniard then hits the net with a forehand for 15-30, and repeats the trick to concede two early break points. Murray comes to the net and gains the upperhand quickly. Great start for the Scot but we could be asking a lot of questions about Nadal’s lack of confidence for the next while.
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Nadal will serve! Let’s tennis.
How’s it gonna go? Murray in three sets anybody?
I appreciate that most in the media will disagree with me but i'd be quite happy with an easy Murray victory here #bbctennis @alansmith90
— Andrew Neill (@andrewsneill) November 18, 2015
“I’ll try to be aggressive like I was the other day,” Murray says in response. The loud music is on and they players are coming down the corridor. Are you ready? I am. This will hopefully be the match that gives this thus far lazy tournament the jolt it needs.
Nadal speaks! “The last couple of weeks I have been improving. Today is an opportunity to compete with a fantastic player … who likes to play at home. I’m excited about it. He’s a very complete player and to be competitive I need to be at a high level.”
Doubles result for the record: Herbert/Mahut have beaten Matkowski/Zimonjic 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
I was lucky to be at Federer’s win over Djokovic last night – and especially delighted to see that every ace was “powered by” a car manufacturer. But the best thing of all was the couple sat next to us who spent the entire match reading a kindle and playing candy crush. Why?!
What a way to spend a Wednesday afternoon! Andy Murray v Rafael Nadal – two of the four best players from the greatest era of men’s tennis taking each other on in a tent in south-east London in front of 20,000 people.
But let’s face it, this tournament has not been great so far. Only one game has reached a third set – yesterday afternoon’s win for Kei Nishikori against Tomas Berdych – and several of the players look tired and jaded at the conclusion of hard, testing season. Novak Djokovic certainly looked oddly lethargic in the second set against Roger Federer last night and the less said about Stan Wawrinka’s feeble surrender to Nadal on Monday evening the better. Murray also won his opener, against David Ferrer, but we can not but mention him having one eye trained on next week’s Davis Cup final.
Still we live on in hope of a thriller – one like the 2010 semi-final at the dome, a three-setter that led Kevin Mitchell to declare: “If there has been a better tennis match in recent times … it must have been played on another planet.” Nadal has a superior head-to-head record but considering the recent fortunes of both, it should not count for too much. The last time they met Murray won 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Madrid Masters in May – the Scot’s second clay win in seven days having never won a title on Nadal’s favourite surface before that.
Play begins a little after 2pm. Buckle in!
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