Andy Murray through to last eight while Rafael Nadal survives scare
Andy Murray defeated Latvian Ernest Gulbis 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7/4) in the third round of the Cincinnatti Masters after coming close to exiting the tournament.
The British No.1 fell behind after Gulbis powered into a 4-1 lead, breaking serve twice in the first set. When Murray broke back, Gulbis was able to hold and take the opening set. Murray then found his game in the second and took the match to a deciding set, where he was able to win in the tie-break and set-up a match against Mardy Fish in the last eight.
Having beaten Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer en route to retaining his Rogers Cup title in Toronto last week, Murray managed to save six out of nine break points in the sweltering heat.
“Today I was struggling. I felt a bit dehydrated on the court, which isn't really acceptable,” he said.
“You should make sure you've already drunk enough before you go on... I played seven matches in nine days, every one of them between 12pm and 3pm, which is obviously when it's at its warmest. I think everybody would be feeling like that in my position. I had an ice bath yesterday evening. I'll probably have another one this evening. Massage, stretching, and then try and drink and eat as much as possible,” said Murray.
The Scot admits he needs to play better in the quarter-final match against Fish. “When I played against him both times this year, I was struggling with my form,” he said. “But I've previously had some good results against him and I'm playing a lot better than I was a few months ago. I need to up my game and hopefully I can get given an evening match.”
World No.1 Rafael Nadal saved a match point against Julien Benneteau to book his place in the quarter-finals, winning 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.
Benneteau was on course for an upset after taking the first set and leading 6-5 in the second set tie-break, but Nadal was able to win the next three points and win the set, enabling him to cruise in the third and progress.
“I think he played great, he played very good tennis,” said Nadal. “Especially in the beginning I wasn't playing bad. I was playing not perfect, but well. He was playing really well, very aggressive, very good shots from his backhand, even if he arrived in not very good position. His serve works very well. [It] was a very difficult match,” he added.
Andy Roddick meanwhile overcame Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-7 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5) in an enthralling match.
The former US Open champion was in control of the match after taking the first set and breaking serve in the second, but Soderling, the two-time French Open runner-up, was able to break back and claim the set in the tie-break. Roddick had match point in the second set tie-break, but Soderling was able to rescue it and take the match to a decider.
Roddick had more match points on his serve, but once again Soderling saved them, but when the big-serving American had two more in the tie-break, he clinched the win on the second.
“The first set and a half was really, really good,” said Roddick.
“Played a loose game there and then didn't play a great tie-breaker. Again, kept it together in the third and was able to get through. I thought I served pretty well and returned pretty well. I think each match is getting a little better,” he added.
Novak Djokovic joined the top guns in the last eight with a 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) win over David Nalbandian, while Roger Federer didn’t play as his opponent Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew because of an injury. Also, Nikolay Davendenko beat David Ferrer 6-4, 6-7 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5), and Marcos Baghdatis beat seventh seed Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4.
Tags: