Andy Murray: Pic: ©Reuters
Andy Murray has failed to secure his first Grand Slam victory after Stanislas Wawrinka beat him 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3 in the third round of the US Open. Despite both players suffering minor injuries the Swiss player proved better able to cope and after a closely played start to the match Stanislas triumphantly finished three sets to one.
The first set began slowly for Andy Murray as he struggled to keep pace with the world number 27. Once warmed up however he managed to win three consecutive games to equalise at 5-5 on the Louis Armstrong court.
The set ended in a tie-break, with Murray losing his temper on the third point when his backhand hit the top of the net. Wawrinka shouted a triumphant “Allez” but the ball kept going and he quickly composed himself to return it. When Murray’s return hit the net the Scot raged at umpire Steven Ullrich: "It's okay for him to scream 'Allez' when the ball has not crossed the net?", to which Ullrich replied: "As long as the ball is going towards him."
Despite this outburst, Murray once again managed to demonstrate his desire to win with a surprising 7-3 finish to the tie-break.
The second set again saw Murray take three games in a row, but Wawrinka was only taking a breather and took the next three. By constantly picking at each other the two men reached a second tie-break, but this time it was Wawrinka who pulled ahead and finished 6-7 (4-7) for the set.
Murray seemed furious during the break after a number of unforced errors had cost him the set. He raged into the third, confidently breaking Wawrinka’s serve, but his mood only got worse as Wawrinka began to rack up the points to take a 4-1 lead.
With the pressure of the game getting to both players Murray took a break to receive a massage to his left thigh, shortly followed by Wawrinka taking a full medical timeout during the next game so that his own thigh could be bandaged. The injury seemed to have little effect on the Swiss player as the score hit 5-2, but when Wawrinka then received treatment to his other thigh it seemed that things must finally be turning in the Scot’s favour.
For Murray it wasn’t to be. After three hours and six mintues, Wawrinka took the set 6-3 to lead two sets to one
By the fourth set the Scottish star seemed to be struggling psychologically as well as physically. The players took turns to break serve until Wawrinka tore ahead to finish the set with a 6-3 lead on Murray, taking the match three sets to one, in three hours and 56 minutes.
Murray explained after the match: "He just played well. He served well when he needed to and just played a better match. I have no idea if I will win a Grand Slam or not. I want to but I don't know. But if I give a hundred percent and do everything I can, that is all I can do. I don't know if I will win one but I will give it my best shot."
