Some stats before we go
Here’s the vitals for Murray: he had first serve percentage of 62 but won 85% of his points on first serve. He had 21 winners and only 12 unforced errors. Matosevic had one really important shortcoming; 49 unfroced errors to go with his 26 winners. He went all or nothing at times and has come away with the latter.
So in summary, that went pretty much as expected and Murray can be fairly content that he was able to get off court before the Melbourne heat really intensifies in the afternoon.
That’s all from us here but thanks for joining us live from Melbourne Park, where Andy Murray has progressed to the third round with an stress-free straight sets win over Marinko Matosevic.
Murray wins the third set and takes the match in straight sets.
3rd set: Murray 6-2 Matosevic - and Murray takes out this Round 2 match
Poor Mad Dog. He’s out of his depth here but still slogging away with gusto. There’s the sublime (a huge forehand smash down the line) and the ridiculous (err, another forehand smash that flies comically long). Murray earns two match points and curses himself when he nets the first and then watches on as Matosevic again smashes successfully at the net to make it deuce.
Then there’s a forehand winner down the line from Matosevic, who won’t hand this to Murray on a platter. The Aussie advances to the net in a terrific position but clumsily heaves his forehand wide and with that match point, Murray need only wait as Matosevic unleashes one last clanger on the forehand.
Murray is through to Round 3 with a thoroughly convincing win, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 over the plucky but outmatches Australian.
“He improved as the match went on,” says Murray. “It was a great atmosphere. Any time you play against an Australian in Australia they get a lot of support...it was still good fun.”
There follows much cultural cringe and compliment-begging from the interviewer. “I’m pumped to be through,” concludes Murray, “it was nice to not be out here for too long.”
And with that he’s gone.
3rd set: Murray 5-2 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
Matosevic makes another unforced error to give Murray a 30-0 lead on serve and though he’s gesticulating in some form of protest, it’s unlikely that the umpire will be willing to lower the net at this point. Evey ounce of the Australian’s frustration is packed into a jackhammer smash that bounces a few rows back behind Murray but Matosevic is his own worst enemy here and coughs up game point when he might have nailed a winner.
Judy Murray gives a bit of a grimace in amongst all this, but her son holds serve easily and needs only to do so once more to end this encounter. As all this is happening, Maria Sharapova has shown some real steal to haul herself back into that match against Panova and has two match points and does it with the second, winning 7-5 in the 3rd set.
3rd set: Murray* 4-2 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
We had some technical difficulties during that last Murray service game but it suffices to say that he won it to take a 4-1 lead. With Matosevic on serve, Murray benefits from yet another unforced error before the Aussie produces his third ace - flat, hard and down the line.
With an opportunity to hold, The Mad Dog is please to see Murray’s forehand return float wide to finish off the game and add some more respectability to the scoreline.
3rd set: Murray* 3-1 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
Andy Murray is cruising here, at least in a statistical sense, but he’s not happy with himself when Matosevic takes a 30-15 lead on serve. Perhaps the forehand winner he murders down the line please him, though you can’t tell to look at him. Matosevic aces to hold serve and avoid the dreaded ‘bagel’ on the scoreboard and rewards himself by crouching down in the shade and trying to gee himself up.
3rd set: Murray 3-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
Now it’s Murray’s turn to engage in self-flagellation. After netting a forehand that shaped as a winner - he slams his racquet into the bottom of his shoe and lectures himself - and Matosevic makes it 30-30 with a confident forehand smash at the net. When Murray coughs up a break point he’s livid with himself but he saves it with big kick serve and then holds after a pair of unforced errors from Matosevic.
Elsewhere, women’s second seed Maria Sharapova is on the verge of a shock exit against Alexandra Panova.
3rd set: Murray* 2-0 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
Murray is at his best here when he avoids getting drawn into rallies, from which Matosevic works himself to a 30-0 lead here before executing a textbook serve-volley for three game points. He’s a little down on himself though, the Mad Dog - two forehand errors and he’s arching back and screaming towards the heavens.
Murray sniffs weakness and pounces, hammering a cross-court backhand winner to make it deuce. Matosevic regains his composure to dominate a rally but the Woody Allen shrug and muttering act is back when he bunts into the net on the next point. Murray breaks and Matosevic just looks a little dejected now.
3rd set: Murray 1-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
At least the local lad is making Murray earn it. After the first set had ended in 20 minutes, he stretched him to 41 in the second. Murray means business now though and aces wide of the Matosevic forehand to bring up a love game and a 1-0 lead in the third set.
Murray wins the second set 6-3
2nd set: Murray 6-3 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 2 sets to love
Serving just to stay alive in this set, Matosevic’s plans again outweigh his abilities and a few wild unforced errors have him at 15-40 in no time. With those two set points on offer, Murray ventures towards the net but he can’t gat a handle on a flat, hard forehand from Matosevic. After an absorbing rally, the Aussie bunts into the net and then shakes his head in disappointment at handing Murray this second set. What a shame his efforts have come to nothing.
2nd set: Murray 5-3 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
Murray’s under examination now on serve. Matosevic reels him into a long rally and wins it but pegs it back to 15-15 with a fast, accurate second serve down the line. The next is even better, a swerving ace that Matosevic can’t even hope to reach, then it’s 40-15 when Murray rolls his wrists over an exquisite cross court forehand winner. Matosevic shakes his head in frustration as the Scot holds serve.
2nd set: Murray* 4-3 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
Matosevic can fight and he can scrap, but unforced errors are really killing him. Under no pressure at all he nets a backhand to make it 15-30 but claws back to claim a game point when he spears another cross-court forehand winner across the line. He holds serve admirably to stay in touch.
2nd set: Murray 4-2 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
The local broadcaster continues to show utter contempt for viewers by cutting away from this contest which is a shame, because Matosevic produces two break points out of nowhere and cracks a big forehand winner across court returning serve. That is a coup for Matosevic. He’s hanging in gamely here.
2nd set: Murray* 4-1 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
Memories of Matosevic’s last commanding serving performance fade quickly as a string of faults and unforced errors but him down 0-30. With a sliced backhand down the line he works Murray wide and then dispatches a simple winner and now it’s Murray’s turn for mis-hit, tying it up at 30-30.
Murray really climbs into his backhand return from the second serve but perhaps exerts himself a little too fully in that to backtrack and fetch a Matosevic drop-shot. The Aussie has a chance to hold but Murray finds a dominant court position to blast it back to deuce. Murray earns a break point and gives himself a very modest fist-pump but that’s probably habit more than anything. He promptly breaks the Matosevic serve and remains in complete control here. It’s a virtual practice hit.
2nd set: Murray 3-1 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
Murray’s only real fault so far has been his failure to absolutely nail his first serve but he’s playing with no real fear of his opponent conquering the follow-up, so for now it doesn’t matter. Matosevic returns another shallow ball from which Murray can hammer a winner but at 30-0, the Scot can only look on as Matosevic nails a cross-court winner from the second serve.
Murray double faults again to make it 40-30 but he holds without much trouble.
2nd set: Murray* 2-1 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
The local crowd would be packed in regardless, but they’re getting behind Matosevic on the rare occasions in which he can muster winners like the overhead smash and forehand-down-the-line duo that nets him a 30-0 buffer on serve. He works Murray left and then right to make it 40-0 and breathes a sigh of relief when Murray nets his next return to get the local man on the board in this second set.
2nd set: Murray 2-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
Murray’s a little short on his second serve here but when Matosevic sends back a shallow return the Scot is in towards the net in a flash and rolling his wrists over a contemptuous forehand winner. There follows a double fault before Matosevic assumes his standard position and pumps a forehand return at least a foot wide cross-court.
Maybe I’m being unfair because The Mad Dog forces it to 30-30 on Murray’s serve for the first time today. Next? Yep, an unforced error, this time a backhand jab into the net, before Murray holds on account of another forehand error from the Aussie.
2nd set: Murray* 1-0 Matosevic (*denotes next server) - Murray leads 1 set to love
There’s a bit of chaos here because the local broadcaster has switched the feed to a different game for no apparent reason. When they return, surprise surprise, Murray is just about to break Matosevic in the first game of the second set. Matosevic buckles with an unforced error. Looks like we’re back to normal now.
Murray takes the first set with ease
1st set: Murray 6-1 Matosevic* (*denotes next server)
Matosevic is a lot more comfortable now but he’s hampered by his own limitations - he sees open shots and takes them but the execution is not what he’d like so another forehand put-away down the line is the only point he’s able to take off Murray. The Scot breezes his way through this game to take the set within 20 minutes. Matosevic, needless to say, doesn’t quite know what’s hit him.
Daniella Palethorpe arrives with our first reader email. “What we really need to know/see (and in order) is: 1. How is Judy? 2. How is the future Mrs Angry (and her glorious mane). And what is Kim wearing today? 3. Amelie and the decimated Angry Support Team (TM)”
Err, I haven’t seen them around but I did spot Pat Rafter. Is that good enough for you? I promise I’ll try and do better.
1st set: Murray* 5-1 Matosevic (*denotes next server)
This is better from Matosevic. He moves more confidently on serve now, sending a pair of winners past Murray to set up a 30-15 buffer and then advancing to the net to swipe another one across court in a well-constructed point. Down 15-40, Murray hammers a big forehand winner down the line but his backhand goes long in the rally that follows so Matosevic finally gets a spirit-lifting notch on the scoreboard.
1st set: Murray 5-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server)
This is a real pasting at the moment. 13 minutes in and Murray’s slamming a roundhouse forehand volley at the net to set up a 40-0 buffer and then taking a seat at 5-0 in the first with barely a bead of sweat raised. The gulf in class is more than evident at the moment. Can the Aussie avoid a complete rout?
1st set: Murray* 4-0 Matosevic (*denotes next server)
Matosevic can barely catch his breath before Murray is pouncing again. It’s 15-15 after Murray fires a forehand wide but even when Matosevic works the Scot around to open up the court for a winner, he biffs a forehand volley long, one that should have been a simple winner. Murray has two break points and again needs just one when Matosevic makes yet another unforced error.
Matosevic then appears on TV screens giving a perfectly serious interview with his cap on sideways. All it needs is a propeller on top.
1st set: Murray 3-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server)
In contrast to his opponent’s struggles to make inroads on service, Murray quickly moves to a 30-0 buffer and then game point when the Mad Dog bunts his next return low into the net. Murray thinks he’s finished it off with an ace as a fault call comes late but on his second serve, Matosevic artlessly crashes a forehand return long and we’re at 3-0 in the blink of an eye.
1st set: Murray* 2-0 Matosevic (*denotes next server)
Matosevic gets a real boost to start himself off when he fires an ace wide past Murray and although the Scot doesn’t review a close call on that, he wanders down to the line to perhaps assert his presence. The chair umpire is having none of it. ‘Challenge the call or get back in position’ is his tone.
At 15-15 on the second serve, the Mad Dog sends a high, looping backhand across the line and wide, giving Murray an opening. Matosevic then nets another backhand and starts rolling his shoulders to relieve his tension. Murray nets one of his two break points on the forehand and needs only to sit an wait for the error on the next to take the early break.
Matosevic looks nervy. Natural, perhaps, but he’ll need to overcome that quick to avoid an avalanche.
1st set: Murray 1-0 Matosevic* (*denotes next server)
Murray gets straight down to business on serve, skipping quckly to a 40-0 lead after Matosevic nets a string of ground strokes. He’s not quite nailing his first serve, Murray, but he nails an ace wide to hold a love game.
He’s a strange bird, Matosevic. He didn’t rise through the typical junior pathways and he’s largely self-made. Unusually for a battler of his nationality, Matosevic remains unloved, or at least an acquired taste.
He does give a good quote though. “I guess mentally-wise I’m a late developer in that department as well,” he said after his first-round win.
Andy Murray, meanwhile, is on a collision course in this tournament and due to meet the resurgent Roger Federer in the quarter-finals if he can get through Matosevic and a few others. Here’s Kevin Mitchell with all the latest on that.
Meanwhile, Matosevic has won the toss and elected to receive. Again he wears that colourful Dutch-style orange and blue, which seems to have brought both he and fellow Aussie James Duckworth some luck so far. Duckworth is currently on court against Richard Gasquet and has just lost the first set 6-2.
And we’re on...
Welcome to this Round 2 Australian Open clash between our favourite, the sixth seed Andy Murray, and Marinko ‘Mad Dog’ Matosevic, as rank an outsider as you’re likely to see today. The pair of them are moments from entering Margaret Court Arena for their warm-up.
Murray and Matosevic, as you might have heard by now, are mates. So matey that Murray didn’t even mind it that much last year when the Mad Dog scoffed at his hiring of Amelie Mauresmo as coach and, well, also rubbished the women’s game in general. For get that though because he’s a good sort, says Murray, just a little misunderstood.
What’s better understood is that this is Matosevic’s first journey past Round 1 at his home Slam. He outlasted Russian qualifier Alexander Kudryatsev in an often-heated 5-setter on Monday. Today’s assignment is just a little bit tougher than that though, you’d think. In three attempts he’s never beaten Murray, nor taken a set off his friend. We might have to enjoy the fist-pumps while they last.
If you’d like to get in contact throughout this match, you can get me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com - go on, I won’t bite.
Russell Jackson is again the man to take you through proceedings at Melbourne Park today, with the focus entirely on sixth seed Andy Murray and home hope Marinko Matosevic. Russ has assumed full liveblogging position (somewhere between a downward dog and a couch slouch, one presumes) and will be hammering away on his keyboard before too long. In the meantime, why not take a read of his profile of “Mad Dog” Matosevic? He’s an interesting character.
In environments as parochial as Australian tennis and its home grand slam, it is quite an achievement to carry around with you a nickname as evocative as “Mad Dog” and barely raise the pulse of the nation, but 29-year-old journeyman Marinko Matosevic is not your typical Australian sports story.
Read the full piece here.
