2011 Hopman Cup: Review Session 3 – Potito Starace vs. Andy Murray
With Italy leading 1-0 in the score against Great Britain, pressure fell on world number four Andy Murray as he played Potito Starace in a men’s singles match yesterday. These two players are amongst fourteen others competing at
the 2011 Hopman Cup (HC). A mixed team event, HC is the first event on the ITF circuit.
Playing the first match was Laura Robson as she met much higher ranked Francesca Schiavone. As expected and predicted by many, Schiavone defeated the Brit in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. Next up was Murray, needing a win to stay in
the running, and Starace, who needed one to seal Italy’s victory.
Finishing last year fourth in the rankings, Murray registered a 46-18 win loss mark for the season. He defeated world number two Roger Federer in the Montreal and Shanghai Masters to win his two titles for the season. Murray also
put in final appearances at Los Angeles and the prestigious Australian Open. Although he lost his fourth ranking to Robin Soderling after the BNP Paribas Masters, Murray was still a part of the elite eight-man field at the season finale event in London. Moving
past Soderling and David Ferrer in the round robin stage, Murray was able to secure a spot in the semis. He failed to make it to the finals after his loss to world number one Rafael Nadal.
Starace, on the other hand, finished 2010 with no singles titles; a final appearance at Umag and a win loss mark of 26-25. However, he did win the doubles title at St. Petersburg alongside Daniele Bracciali. He also put in doubles
final appearances at Acapulco with Fabio Fognini and at Santiago with Horacio Zeballos.
Meeting for the second time on the court, Murray extended his career head-to-head against Starace to 2-0 today. The Brit had already defeated the Italian once before in the round of sixty-four at the 2009 Roland Garros.
Winning the toss, Murray opened serve in the first set and with each of them winning on their service, they took the score to 6-5. Breaking Starace’s service in the twelfth game, after two deuces, Murray was able win the first
set 7-5.
Opening serve in the second set, Murray rushed into a 6-1 victory losing only the fourteenth game to Starace. Murray enjoyed a straight set victory in seventy-eight minutes with ten aces and only two double faults. His win levelled
the score 1-1 between the two teams, bringing it down to the deciding mixed doubles match.
Content with his victory, Murray said, "It was a tough match today. It’s so hot, so humid in here I was struggling a little bit with my breathing, but it was really good atmosphere and great on a Monday to have a full crowd. I
didn’t feel very fit today, I was breathing so hard after four or five games, so hopefully that will improve over the next couple of weeks, but that’s the goal to try and beat those guys in the big events and try and win my first Grand Slam."
Given Starace’s doubles performance in 2010, it came as much surprise to fans when the Brits managed to win the first set 7-6(1) on tiebreaker. However, determined for a win the Italians bounced back in the second winning it 7-6(6)
and taking the match into a tiebreaker. The Italians continued their form into the tiebreak eventually winning it 10-2, securing a 2-1 win for Italy.
Now, Italy goes on to face the United States on Wednesday morning, while Great Britain plays France in the evening of the same day.
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