Murray out of Indian Wells

Andy Murray had such a promising start to the season with a run to the finals in Dubai, after losing in an epic semi final match to the world number one Novak Djokovic, that it did not seem at all likely that Murray would stumble out of the draw in his first match at Indian Wells for a second year in a row. 

Murray looked to have overcome his demons after another heartbreaking loss at the first grand slam of the year when he beat Djokovic in Dubai.  But today he was upset by Spaniard Guilermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-2. 

The Spaniard is currently ranked 92^nd but managed to break the Scott twice in the second set to seal the match in one hour and 40 minutes.  Garcia-Lopez stuck the ball sweetly moving Murray around the court soaking up Murray’s errors on both wings.  He will now play Ryan Harrison in the next round.  Murray on the other hand will travel to Miami hoping to bring his game together for the next event.    

Djokovic eased through to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Andreev Golubev and will now play Kevin Anderson who has just won his second career title at Delray Beach.  Tomas Berdych also advanced but had it tougher, having to close the match in three sets against Sergiy Stakhovsky.  Rafael Nadal returns to the game after having a month out to play Leonardo Mayer.   

Indian Wells, California

 On the women’s side of the draw Caroline Wozniacki demolished Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-0 although still insisted on her father coming onto court after winning the first set.  She has done enough at this event to secure her top five ranking for another week.  Maria Sharapova made light work of Gisela Dulko with the same score line and will now take on Simona Halep.  The new world number one Victoria Azarenka had a tougher route through against promising player Mona Barthel winning 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(6).     

 

Top seeds go through to Melbourne semis

Petra Kvitova booked her place in the semi final with a win over Sara Errani.  It was a tough match which saw the erratic Czech go 4-1 down in the second set making 44 unforced errors.  She managed to get through the match winning 6-4, 6-4 and is still in with a chance of the number one spot.  Kvitova will now face Maria Sharapova who beat her fellow Russion Ekaterina Makarova who had stunned Serena Williams in the round before.  But for Sharapova it was very straightforward winning 6-2, 6-3. 

Andy Murray dominated his match against Japans Kei Nishikori strolling into the semis with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win, ending Nishikori’s successful run at the Australian Open.  Fatigue seem too show with the 22 year old Japanese failing in the third and what proved to be the final set.  He will now face the reigning champion Novak Djokovic who suffered with a leg strain and breathing difficulties in his match against Spain’s David Ferrer coming through 6-4, 7-6, 6-1.  Djokovic spent two hours and 44 minutes on court participating in some long epic rallies.  It will now be a rematch of last year’s final for Djokovic and Murray. 

Last 16 emerges for top seeds

The top seeds in the top half of the draw carried on where the seeds from yesterday left off.  Djokovic carried on his superior form seeing off the injured Nicholas Mahut, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1.  The pundits who doubted whether Djokovic could carry on his amazing run from 2011 into 2012 seem to be well and truly silenced as the Serb has only lost 10 games so far.  Djokovic will play the winner of Milos Raonic and Lleyton Hewitt.  Andy Murray also cruised through against a potentially difficult opponent, Michael Llodra, but Murray’s flare proved too much for the Frenchman as he was dispatched, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0.  Jo Wilfred Tsonga also went through convincingly against Frederico Gil, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 and will now play Kei Nishikori in the last 16.  Richard Gasquet put in a superb performance against Janko Tipsarevic winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 and will now play Spaniard David Ferrer who had a tougher round against Chela, although he still managed to win in three sets.  The biggest upset in the men’s draw today was Gael Monfils losing in five sets to Kukushkin, 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4.  Kukushkin’s coach, who also happens to be his wife, must be pleased that Kukushkin was able to set up a clash with Britain’s Andy Murray. 

Serena Williams went safely through to the last 16, as she was never troubled by Greta Arn winning 6-1, 6-1.  She will now face the German, Sabine Lisicki who after dropping the first set against Svetlana Kuznetsova fought back to win the match, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.  Sharapova made her opponent Angelique Kerber look like a junior as she went on to win 6-1, 6-2, so far only losing 5 games in the whole tournament.  Sharapova is still seeking another grand slam after winning her last slam here in Australia.  Ana Ivanovic continues to progress through the tournament under the guidance of Nigel Sears, beating Vania King 6-3, 6-4 convincingly; she will now face Petra Kvitova who had an even easier ride against Maria Kirilenko who pulled out after losing the first set 6-0 and 1-0 down in the second.  There were a few more upsets in the women’s draw today.  Marion Bartoli was out powered by Chinas Zheng, 6-3, 6-3 and Vera Zvonareva losing to a fellow Russian Makarova, 7-6, 6-1. 

Aussies go down under

The 1^st round at the Australian open has been completed and it has not been without upsets.  Samantha Stosur has never been past the 4^th round at her home grand slam and she won’t again this year losing to Sorana Cristea 7-6(2), 6-3 in a match full of Stosur’s 33 errors.  Stosur was not the only grand slam champion 0f 2011 to lose early in the next grand slam – Kim Clijsters lost second round at the French Open, Li Na lost second round at Wimbledon and Kvitova lost first round at the US Open.   On the men’s side of the draw things looked slightly better.  Lleyton Hewitt set up a second round clash against Andy Roddick, but his energy levels may be diminished after a tough 4 set match which lasted 3hr and 18 minutes.  Bernard Tomic won his 1^st match yesterday with a stunning fight back against Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.  The 19 year will be looking to do well at his home grand slam and further his run with a win against Sam Querry, the very beatable American who is slowly climbing his way back up the rankings. 

Andy Murray managed a 4 set win over the American teenager, Ryan Harrison, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 6-2. It was a tough match to get through especially with it being ferociously hot but this could stand the Brit well in the latter parts of the tournament...if he gets there.

Djokovic, Federer and Nadal also came through their matches along with Clijsters, Kvitova, Sharapova and Williams. 

Austraila Warm up - Round Up

The 2012 tennis season has already begun with 3 main ATP tournaments already completed.  World No. 4 Andy Murray was number 1 seed for this tournament and he got his first trophy of the year defeating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3.  Although the final was a relatively easy win for him due to the Ukrainian not being fully fit, he struggled in the early stages of the tournament having to win the first two rounds in 3 sets but maybe his loss of concentration will be ironed out by his new coach Ivan Lendl. 

It was all French affair at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with Jo Wilfred Tsonga going head to head against Gael Monfils winning 7-5, 6-3.  Hopefully it will serve up as a good warm up towards his Australian open hopes, he will certainly be looking to do well at the first grand slam event of the year. 

The final men’s 250 event was one by Milos Raonic in Chennai.  2011 was an amazing year for the Canadian but the 21 year old had some doubters who did not believe he could follow up his breakthrough year.  He has started to prove them wrong winning a hard fought match against Janko Tipsarevic, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(4) to win his second ATP World Tour title.  Now Milos Raonic is now tied with Andy Murray and Jo Wilfred Tsonga at the top of the ATP 2012 race – a place where I am sure he wants to stay!

The Australian Open starts on the 16^th January. 

Murray withdraws from the ATP Finals

Andy Murray withdraws from the ATP Tour Finals

Andy Murray has pulled out of the ATP Tour Finals with a groin injury.  It is not entirely surprising after having treatment during his defeat against David Ferrer yesterday.  Whilst warming up with his replacement, Janko Tipsarevic on Sunday, he was also touching his arm which could also have been a factor to him pulling out of the last tournament of the year.  As Federer has beaten Nadal, Federer regains the No.3 ranking. 



Janko Tipsarevic takes Murray's place after practising with him on Sunday. 



London's Calling

The top 8 players and teams have been finalised and they are heading to London for the ATP Tour World Finals and today the groups were announced. 

Group A                                                                                                                       Group B

Novak Djokovic                                                                                                             Rafael Nadal

Andy Murray                                                                                                                 Roger Federer

David Ferrer                                                                                                                  Jo Wilfred Tsonga

Thomas Berdych                                                                                                           Mardy Fish

I think the two that make it out of each group will depend on injuries.  It has been a long hard season for all 8 with Djokovic, Nadal and Fish all pulling out of last week’s Paris Masters so we will have to wait and see how ready they will be.  This is why I think Murray has a real chance to win this year as he has had a fantastic end to the season.  Even though he lost to Berdych in the Semis in Paris this will fire up his determination and remind him that he can be beaten by everybody in this final 8.  Tsonga could be the dark horse of the competition, he made it to the final in Paris with the help of the French crowed; but the English love him to with his magnificent showing at Queens adn Wimbledon this summer.  But again his progress through Group B could depend on any injuries that the players have sustained in the past few weeks.   

Easy Pickings for top 4 seeds in Paris

The top seeds have hit Paris today, all dispatching their opponents in 2 straightforward sets. 

Andy Murray bt Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-4

Roger Federer bt Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3

Novak Djokovic bt Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-3

David Ferrer bt Nicholas Mahut 6-4, 6-4

They all had convincing wins to progress into the 3^rd round and never faced any real pressure.  Murray suited the court as the French have made the surface incredibly slow compared to last year; this has played into the hands of Murray as it will make it very difficult for his opponents to get the ball past him.  Novak Djokovic made easy progress into the 3^rd round but he did not have to play his best against Dodig which is just as well as it he did not have to push his shoulder as hard as he will against the top players.  Andy Murray’s next match will be against the American, Andy Roddick.