Andy Murray vs. Matthew Ebden – quarter-final preview: Shanghai Rolex Masters 2011
After five days of enthralling tennis action, it has all come down to just eight men at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. World number four, Andy Murray of the Great Britain, will take on the rising star from Australia, 23-year-old Matthew Ebden, in the quarter-final
clash on Friday afternoon.
The much anticipated contest will be played on the outdoor hard courts of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China, with the winner of the match getting a place in the semi-finals of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters Series
1000 event.
The two contestants are in magnificent form these days and a stiff contest is expected between them. Murray is currently rated at number four in the ATP World Rankings and his recent form has been absolutely devastating for his opponents. The 24-year-old
Briton has won 53 of the 64 matches he has played and has already bagged four championship titles so far in the running ATP season.
Seeded at number two in the absence of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the tournament, Murray received a bye to have a direct access to the second round to face Dmitry Tursunov of Russia. Tursunov withdrew from the contest due to injury, letting a walkover
to Murray to play his first match of the tournament in the third round against the Swiss number two, Stanislas Wawrinka. The 13th seeded Swiss gave some real tough time to Murray in the third round but the Briton capitalized upon his opponent’s
debilitating physical conditions to register victory in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to move into the quarter-finals.
Murray came to Shanghai as the hot favourite for winning the ATP Masters 1000 title, despite the fact that the world number two, Rafael Nadal is leading the field. The Briton clinched his 20th championship title last Sunday, defeating Nadal in
three sets in the final of the Rokuten Japan Open Tennis Championships. Murray is running a 12 match winning streak since his US Open campaign and is in his prime form these days. The Briton has already confirmed his place in the ATP World Tour Finals in London
and is expected to extend his title count at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Making into the main draw from the qualifying rounds, Ebden is having a dream run in Shanghai so far. The 124th ranked Australian outplayed world number 45, Pablo Andujar in straight sets to take off his Masters 1000 campaign and then ousted the
79th ranked American, Ryan Harrison, in the second round to consolidate his position in the field. Ebden came under the lime light on Thursday, when he outclassed the in-form world number 12, Gilles Simon of France, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(8), in a nail biting
third round clash to book a match with Murray in the quarter-finals.
Ebden is having a 10-9 winning record in World Tour-level matches this season and is in search for clinching his first championship title in Shanghai. His victories over better-ranked players certainly gave him a lot of confidence for his matchup against
Murray but the second seeded Briton is expected to take him down on Friday.
Murray was observed struggling in his last matchup against Wawrinka under hot and humid conditions of Shanghai and it can be the only point for Ebden to exploit. The Australian is capable of taking down any world class player on his day but Murray won’t
be an easy bite to take. A three setter is expected, with Murray winning in the end.
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