Andy Murray hits back to outgun Jarkko Nieminen in round two – Roland Garros 2012
World number four, Andy Murray, made a stunning comeback from a set down to conquer the Finn contestant, Jarkko Nieminen, with a breadstick at the French Open 2012 on Thursday. He nudged up a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory against the left-handed Finn to power
into the third round at this prestigious clay court tournament held in Paris, France.
The British number one made a drastic start due to his back injury. After trailing 0-4 in the opening set, he called his trainer for treatment. However, after suffering a brutal 1-6 defeat in the opening set, Murray started feeling better and consequently
sought his momentum. After stealing the show in two hours and 27 minutes, the Scot improved to a 4-0 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head series against Nieminen and booked a spot in the round of 32.
"I was absolutely fine yesterday in practice, no problem, went to bed and I was fine, and I woke up this morning, I couldn't put any weight on my left leg," said the ecstatic Brit. "I practiced. It was okay. Not great, but it was okay. Then, before the match,
I wasn't feeling great. [I] talked about not playing.”
Nieminen reflected about losing his concentration after the opening set, “I really never got the momentum back. I tried to play more aggressive, but I didn't feel good. I was moving bad and I made a lot unforced errors. Then he played different than in the
beginning."
Ranked 48th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Nieminen barely did anything to leap to a 4-0. Regardless of losing his serve in the very next game, the Finn bagged the last two games and registered an assuring 6-1 score line.
Murray carried his drastic ways in the follow-up set and suffered the first blow in the opening game, subsequently going 2-4 down. However, he made a fitting reply after that and reeled off the last four games in a row. The Scot warded off four out of five
breakpoints he faced and capitalised on two out of five break chances to formulate a 6-4 success.
The world number four perfected his game in the third set and jumped to a 3-0 lead with a break of serve. After the Finn held his serve in the fourth game, Murray pocketed the last three games and pulled out the set with a breadstick.
The 25-year-old maintained his intensity in the fourth set and after cashing in his both break opportunities, Murray clicked the set by winning six games to two.
Up next for the Scot is the Colombian star, Santiago Giraldo, who stunned 25th seeded Bernard Tomic in straight sets to set up this clash.
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