Murray struggles but finds way past Karlovic
Source: Agencies |
October 3, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ANDY Murray opened the defense of his Japan Open title by beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the first round yesterday in Tokyo.
Murray withstood 17 aces from Karlovic at Ariake Colosseum.
Gael Monfils of France, who was scheduled to be Murray's opponent, withdrew with a right knee injury he aggravated in Beijing last week, and was replaced by lucky loser Karlovic. Monfils is returning to Paris to have the knee examined.
Despite having break points in the first and seventh games, Murray was unable to capitalize.
Playing for the first time since winning the US Open last month, Murray admitted it was not easy against Karlovic.
"Playing against him you know it is going to be uncomfortable," Murray said. "He is a tricky player."
Murray, who bested Karlovic in the first round at Wimbledon, uncorked three consecutive aces in the eighth game to level at 4-4.
With both players unable to break serve, Murray finally prevailed 9-7 in the tiebreak with a forehand passing shot down the line, after saving a set point when he was down 7-6.
In other action, big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, the sixth seed, hit 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Czech Radek Stepanek. Raonic will next face Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
Eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan ousted Go Soeda 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Tommy Robredo of Spain topped Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-2, 6-4, while Jeremy Chardy of France downed wild card Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-1, 7-5. Qualifier Dmitry Tursunov dispatched Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 7-5.
Murray withstood 17 aces from Karlovic at Ariake Colosseum.
Gael Monfils of France, who was scheduled to be Murray's opponent, withdrew with a right knee injury he aggravated in Beijing last week, and was replaced by lucky loser Karlovic. Monfils is returning to Paris to have the knee examined.
Despite having break points in the first and seventh games, Murray was unable to capitalize.
Playing for the first time since winning the US Open last month, Murray admitted it was not easy against Karlovic.
"Playing against him you know it is going to be uncomfortable," Murray said. "He is a tricky player."
Murray, who bested Karlovic in the first round at Wimbledon, uncorked three consecutive aces in the eighth game to level at 4-4.
With both players unable to break serve, Murray finally prevailed 9-7 in the tiebreak with a forehand passing shot down the line, after saving a set point when he was down 7-6.
In other action, big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, the sixth seed, hit 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Czech Radek Stepanek. Raonic will next face Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
Eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan ousted Go Soeda 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Tommy Robredo of Spain topped Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-2, 6-4, while Jeremy Chardy of France downed wild card Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-1, 7-5. Qualifier Dmitry Tursunov dispatched Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 7-5.
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