Rate it!

9 votes

Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Simon Reed believes Andy Murray showed good maturity while overcoming inspired opponent Robert Kendrick.

There was a sense that Robert Kendrick could not sustain such a high level for the duration of the match, and that proved the case, but Murray still had to fight all the way.

Tempers frayed slightly in the third set, and Murray was aggrieved over a line call not being referred as requested to Hawkeye, but he recovered his composure and demonstrated his ability to adapt to a match situation.

Kendrick also had his moments of frustration, and it took its toll on him as the final two sets progressed.

I thought that on the two occasions Kendrick was adjudged to have foot faulted, it created a real problem and clearly rattled him.

The American double faulted on each subsequent point, and that shows it got to him. He was, perhaps, over-thinking his service technique.

At times early on, you could see Murray was struggling with his footing, but he is by no means alone in that.

I think the grass is lusher at Wimbledon this year than it has been in the past, and that is probably a key factor.

In the next round Murray faces Ernest Gulbis of Latvia, a player that has promised to trouble the top players for some time, though never seems to deliver on that.

If I am honest, I am not a fan of his, and I believe that Murray will have too much for him, especially at Wimbledon.

Gulbis is a great talent, but is not the threat he should be right now. I don't believe he has the tools to trouble Murray.

Josh Goodall was very impressive in his match against Michael Llodra and seemed to have control, until he faltered at the end, and that proved costly.

The fifth set of a match like his is always going to be a lottery, and Llodra's experience told in the end, with one bad service game proving Goodall's undoing.

Anne Keothovong also looked set for a good performance until she reached set point, and from then onwards she seemed to just capitulate against Patricia Mayr.

It is a real shame because she has had such a good season, and I have been very impressed with the immense improvements in her game of late.

I thought it was unfortunate that she could not respond in her press conference, because it is wrong of anyone to suggest that she has let anyone down other than herself.

She will be very disappointed, and the match will linger in her mind for a very long time. But nobody should be giving her additional grief about what was a horrible day for her.

Wildcard Georgie Stoop was very courageous, and she played with real verve and passion when the pressure was off her against seventh seed Vera Zvonareva.

The quality of her opponent should not be overstated. I think that Zvonareva will not go much further in the tournament after today's showing, but Stoop played well with nothing to lose.

As it turned out, having got herself in a position to win the match, she seemed to struggle with the pressure and tightened up, and that was a real shame.

If she had continued to play with the same freedom, who knows what would have happened?

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I hope that Maria Sharapova continues to build on her terrific comeback of late against Gisella Dulko.

It will be a stiff test for her, but I would love to see her make a real run at the tournament this year.

Federer should coast through against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, and I would not expect him to lose a set in that one.

The contest I am most looking forward to tomorrow is between Sam Querrey of the United States and Marin Cilic of Croatia. It will be a real hard-hitting contest, and it is sure to be very fiercely fought.

I really rate Querrey on grass; he plays some lovely stuff on the surface. I sense an upset could be forced in that match.

Simon Reed / Eurosport