ATP Tour - Murray reaches Madrid third round

Eurosport - Wed, 15 Oct 17:45:00 2008

World number four Andy Murray progressed to the third round of the Madrid Masters after Italian Simone Bolelli was forced to retire with a shoulder injury.

TENNIS 2008 Madrid Masters Andy Murray AP - 0

Murray was leading 6-0 2-1 when Bolelli, who had received treatment at the previous change of ends, decided to call it quits.

"I was really happy with how I served and moved," said Murray, who next faces Croatian Marin Cilic, who put out 13th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-3.

"There was a lot for me to take advantage of. He stopped for a shoulder problem, but he seemed to be hitting his serve fine to me."

Murray dominated against his hampered opponent as he won the first seven games, losing just one point on serve in the opening set and committing five unforced errors as the US Open finalist and fourth seed seeks to get past the third round for the first time here at the third attempt.

Bolelli quickly found out three games into the second that he could not go on and pulled the plug as Murray won his 44th match of the season.

Cilic, 20 and Murray, a year older, have never played on the ATP though they met in Davis Cup two years ago and as juniors in Paris, standing 1-1.

"He's playing well on these courts," said Murray. "He's done well in big matches this year.

"It will be a tough match, I'll have to play very well to win. He's a danger here with the ball flying at altitude."

AFP

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  1. Jimmy, Murray made no insinuations, he merely stated a­ fact. Bolelli was not injured, he just couldn't­ stand to be thrashed. He was back on court playing a­ doubles match only two hours later. The ATP should ban­ the Italian for tanking the match.

    From Bobito, on Wed 15 Oct 9:09PM

  2. ME NOT A MURRAY FAN BUT THINK HE MAY WIN US OPEN ONE­ DAY NOT WIMBLEDON.
    ALISON MERRITT.

    From AJ, on Wed 15 Oct 12:37PM

  3. Murray will become a grand slam champion one day...­ lets see...

    From toriq, on Wed 15 Oct 6:27AM

  4. I absolutely agree, Brainless. Moreover, I think­ Murray's comment "he seemed to be hitting his­ serve fine to me" show the man's character. He­ should be content with winning and shut up and not make­ insinuations. What, Bolelli was so terrified of him­ that he preferred to quit?
    Until Murray stops being so­ arrogant, he'll never have the support of the­ fans.
    It was evident in the last match when the­ audience rarely applauded his good points and always­ applauded Bolelli.
    And I frankly don't see him­ winning a grand slam, as long as Roger and Rafa are up­ there. It takes character to be a champion and­ that's something Murray doesn't have.

    From Jimmy, on Wed 15 Oct 4:34AM

  5. Nothing suggest Murray is maturing into a champion. He­ is maturing into the 4th player in the world for sure,­ but until he starts winning and being consistent, he­ cannot be considered as a champion-to-be. We have seen­ so many so-called promising players who ended up­ desappearing quickly or staying in the 2nd tier for the­ rest of their lives. The freshest examples are­ Nalbadian, Dadidenko, Baghdatis etc.

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 15 Oct 1:57AM

  6. Andy Murray is maturing into a great champion.

    From Pew Vegas Inc, on Tue 14 Oct 10:31PM

  7. Rafa ....go on but when u face my love roger i hope u­ lose
    i am with u until i face roger
    then roger will­ say i am the best

    From maia, on Tue 14 Oct 9:47PM

  8. Get you facts straight eurosport as Blake actually­ finished 4th in the medals tally and the bronze­ medalist went to Djokovic after beating Blake.

    From Tom H, on Tue 14 Oct 9:41PM
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