ROLAND GARROS 2012, R1: Andy tangoes past Tatsuma and into Round Two, 6'1, 7'5, 6'0 ;-)

[Sallydaisy]

The 2nd Grand Slam of the year - on the devil dirt in Paris.
'ello Pierre ...
http://th132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/lalacreek/smiley/th_french.gif

Andy's campaign gets underway with a first round match against Tatsuma Ito of Japan.
They've never met before so the H2H (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=I230) is 0-0.

The 24yr old Japanese player has just reached a career high ranking of #69 by dint of a successful run on the Challenger circuit - but not on any clay courts. Over the last few months he's posted Wins in Busan (OH), Kyoto (IC), been a Finalist in Kaohsiung (OH) and reached Semi's in Talahassee, Rimouski and Honolulu (all OH). His only win this year on clay was in the R32 at Houston where he beat Japanese compatriot Go Soeda.

Whilst Andy hasn't reached the same level on clay as he did in 2011 he should still have plenty in his armoury to win this match. The reported 'ongoing back' problem might have an effect on his game but hopefully his team will be able to 'manage' him through.

We'll update with the match day and time when it's available.

http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=508&d=1337807077&thumb=1

[DaveArneRiise]

He beat Stepanek on clay this past week in Dusseldorf.

[Alis]

That puts a different complexion on it - Stepanek is no slouch.

[Sallydaisy]

He beat Stepanek on clay this past week in Dusseldorf.

Thanks David, as it's in the 'current' week that doesn't appear on the ATP player record.

[cazza99]

Its likely that this match will be on Tuesday, according to a tweet by Judy replying to Stu Fraser.

[davech]

The schedule for tomorrow is up and there's no sign of Andy, so that just leaves Tuesday by a process of elimination.

[Madeline]

Gives his back a little more rest I suppose.

[scrapaddict]

I shall be there on Tuesday but we only have ground tickets and not sure if we will be able to upgrade. Looking forward to it anyway and maybe Anna will be playing on an outside court???
Have been to Queens but am looking forward to seeing the red stuff

[traveller7]

Shame its tuesday am out all day and evening. :(

[pabbers]

With all the different tv coverage, just hoping I can work out what channel to record at what time as I'll be in work :grrr:

[LC the fan]

I'm tied up all day today so delighted that Andy will be on tomorrow. :thumbup:

[hfwardhouse]

Andy's fourth up on Lenglen tomorrow according to tweet from Neil Harman.

[cazza99]

With all the different tv coverage, just hoping I can work out what channel to record at what time as I'll be in work :grrr:

Its just on ITV4 weekdays this week, so it should be easy.

[cazza99]

Andy's fourth up on Lenglen tomorrow according to tweet from Neil Harman.

Confirmed in the oop. I estimate it will be from around 16.00 pm, but could be quite a bit later as the length of clay court matches can be quite unpredicatable.

[traveller7]

5pm on lshunter annoying I will miss it prob catch the highlights later on

[pabbers]

Its just on ITV4 weekdays this week, so it should be easy.

It's on Sky too but on 2 channels so I guess ITV will be the best bet although I hope to get home in time to watch it.

[patmoren]

This should be an interesting match!!

[Alis]

It's on Sky too but on 2 channels so I guess ITV will be the best bet although I hope to get home in time to watch it.

ITV definitely have the best commies IMO.

[lynne]

ITV definitely have the best commies IMO.


Best coverage I have seen for a long time!!!:thumbup:



The Very Best of Luck Andy!!!!:thumbup:

[cazza99]

ITV definitely have the best commies IMO.

And some good interviews and interviewers. A breath of fresh air.

[david1610]

And some good interviews and interviewers. A breath of fresh air.
I am not in the UK so cannot practise what I preach but email and tell them! Good to give positive feedback - they are more likely to carry on like that!

[Fina]

Good Luck today, Andy. Shall be cheering you on!

[JAMES4578]

Certainly hoping Andy gets off to a good start and shows us some good form!

[LC the fan]

Certainly hoping Andy gets off to a good start and shows us some good form!

Here here...a thousand times HERE HERE :clap:

[ChrisMac]

C'mon Andy, all the best for today's match. :cheer:

[Jane]

Best of luck, Andy:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::)

[JennieF]

:cheer: So looking forward to this match! GOOD LUCK ANDY AND KEEP SMILING! I agree, too, that ITV are giving great coverage. :cheer:

[Sallydaisy]

(https://twitter.com/#%21/NeilHarmanTimes) "Now Julien Benneteau leads Zverev 4-0 in 1st set. Andy had better start his warm up"

from twitter: Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes (https://twitter.com/#%21/NeilHarmanTimes) (https://twitter.com/#%21/NeilHarmanTimes)

[cazza99]

It could start much earlier than expected at this rate.

[lynne]

I am not in the UK so cannot practise what I preach but email and tell them! Good to give positive feedback - they are more likely to carry on like that!

I have done David!!!:thumbup:

[david1610]

Clock watching... Benne.... has won the first set 6-2 in the match BEFORE Andy. Andy could be on much even earlier - Sharapova won the previous match 6-0 6-0 !!!

[Alis]

Benne lost the second - has to go to 4 now.

[cazza99]

The Benneataue match is going on much longer than I expected. I went out at 1.00 pm and they had nearly finished the first set. Its taken well over 2 hours for the next 2 sets!!

[traveller7]

Jim Courier has just said that he reckons 20mins for the match to finish. So not long now....

[traveller7]

Match finished Andy out shortly

[david1610]

Match over... Andy next!!!

[-J-]

perfecttimming
this willbethe test for ITW servers see if they canhandle a peek time demand for andys match

[-J-]

love hold that will do
cmonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

early glimmer
cmonnnnnn

[-J-]

gifted a chance
bp
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

kitkat:boogie:

[traveller7]

nice kitkat woop!

[traveller7]

3-0 nice

[KnightOwl]

Looking pretty good so far :clap:

[-J-]

douple kitkat :boogie::boogie:

[-J-]

5-0
keep it up lad
cmonnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

ito of the mark 5-1

[traveller7]

Ah a game on the board well done

[-J-]

two set points
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[-J-]

one left
set point
cmonnnnnnn

[-J-]

itosaved3setpoints
sofar
finishhimandy
cmonnnnnnnn

[-J-]

getinnnnnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

first set andy 6-1

[lynne]

Our boy looks ok!!!!:)

[traveller7]

he looks very comfortable out there, not breaking too much of a sweat

[Sallydaisy]

Come on Muzzah!!!!!

:swingin::swingin::swingin:

I'm having a very enjoyable 'day-off' ...
Eating strawberries with cream (and chocolate sauce - oh dear) and enjoying watching the match.
Have the Pimms lined up for later ..... (P.S. it's on a deal at Tesco - £12 for a litre)
:wino:

[Sallydaisy]

:shocked:
Ito breaks Andy to love. Blimey!!!

Come on Muzzah!!!

[hfwardhouse]

Yikes it's given Ito an awful lot of confidence .... COME ON ANDY!!!

[KnightOwl]

Have the Pimms lined up for later ..... (P.S. it's on a deal at Tesco - £12 for a litre)

Way ahead of you there - sent Dave to get some on Saturday :big grin:

Ummm....where did that break come from - it was looking so good :confused:

[traveller7]

woops jinxed andy has gone walkabout again!

[Sallydaisy]

:phew:

Glad he held that service game ..... and it's on serve at 3-3 in the 2nd set.

[Linda]

Andy was doing really well :) until I got home (early today as I had a hosp appt this pm) and started watching :sad: :shamed:

And no, I refuse to go back to work!

[Sallydaisy]

Ito is really smacking that forehand - and he's deffo upped his game several notches since the first set. Hopefully Andy can hang onto his serve and get a 'read' of the revitalised Ito game!!!

[KnightOwl]

And no, I refuse to go back to work!

Now how did you guess that was what I was going to say :red devil:

Not sure what's going on - Andy seems to have gone totally off the boil, and Ito is on fire!

[traveller7]

come on andy!

[KnightOwl]

Getting better again though :big grin:

[JennieF]

Just joined you all. Hi. So pleased about the 6-1 but came in thinking isn't this typical of our man!! Keeping us on the edge of our seats! Naughty Andy. C'mon Andy!!!

[hfwardhouse]

Blimey Ito is hitting the ball unbelievably hard ..... :eek:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy to serve at *4-5 to stay in the 2nd set having won the first 6'1.

Come on Muzzah!!!
3 games on the trot please to take the set 7'5.
:p

[hfwardhouse]

Allez andy!!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Oooooh aggression from Andy at the net to win that point - more please Muzzah!

[JennieF]

Good grief!

[JennieF]

Break now Mr M........please?

[hfwardhouse]

Right Andy - time for that kitkat - LET'S GO ANDY LET'S GO!

[lynne]

Come on Andy!!!!!.........

[-J-]

totally distracted by old firm matters
time to show yur class andy

[traveller7]

I predicted 7-5 to andy 2nd set come on andyyyyyyyyyyy

[JennieF]

Yesss

[hfwardhouse]

Aaaargh 2 breakpoints go astray - still one to come

COME ON ANDY!!!

[JennieF]

Of course! Bravo Andy, good one :cheer:

[hfwardhouse]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Now hold please :)

[-J-]

kitkat:boogie:

[JennieF]

Don't you just love Andy's grinding patience at times??!! Heart-in-mouth time, or what?!

[-J-]

Don't you just love Andy's grinding patience at times??!! Heart-in-mouth time, or what?!almost compulsory for a murray maniac

[traveller7]

right nice easy hold here please

[-J-]

shot
three set points
cmonnnnnnnnnn

[JennieF]

:cheer::cheer::cheer:oh yesss!!.

[-J-]

getinnnnnnnnnnnn

[hfwardhouse]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Now can we have a set like the first please!

[traveller7]

and he held to love couldnt ask for more

[JennieF]

almost compulsory for a murray maniac
Yup!

[cazza99]

:yahoo: :yahoo:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy to serve at *4-5 to stay in the 2nd set having won the first 6'1.

Come on Muzzah!!!
3 games on the trot please to take the set 7'5.
:p

I called it.
:lol:

[JennieF]

Andy's experience should show through in this 3rd set.......n'est-ce pas?

[-J-]

little glimmer
cmonnnnnnnn

[-J-]

KITKAT :boogie:

[JennieF]

Andy's experience should show through in this 3rd set.......n'est-ce pas?
That's not to say that it didn't in the first two sets! But you know what I mean :shamed:

[hfwardhouse]

C'mon Andy - this is much better .... LET'S GO ANDY LET'S GO!

[KnightOwl]

Much much better - I'm enjoying it again :big grin:

[hfwardhouse]

Me too :lol:

Especially all this chocolate - yum!

[JennieF]

Tatsuma is being toyed with here. His team look dejected. Andy really on form now. Go go Andy........

[-J-]

the teams body language wasnt good was it

[traveller7]

3-0
repeat of 1st set here

[hfwardhouse]

4-0 now - COME ON ANDY!!!

[JennieF]

Andy is sliding so much better these days.

[-J-]

anyone know who are the itv comms?

[Sallydaisy]

Spot of anti-jinxing here - this match is going to 5 sets .......
:p

[-J-]

little glimmer
cmonnnnnn

[JennieF]

anyone know who are the itv comms?
Jim Courier and.......um.......?

[Lizzim]

anyone know who are the itv comms? One is Jim Courier.

[-J-]

chances
2 bps
cmonnnnnnnn

[traveller7]

anyone know who are the itv comms?

Nick (somebody?)
jim Courier

[JennieF]

Spot of anti-jinxing here - this match is going to 5 sets .......
:p
I agree Sally!!! Ha ha!

[hfwardhouse]

Oh dear - feel for Ito .... but :yahoo:

[-J-]

thought it was courier

[Sallydaisy]

anyone know who are the itv comms?

Jim Courier (who I think is quite a fan of Andy's) is one.
The British guy is Nick somebody or other.

They've also got Justin Gimelstob in the team.

Andy to serve for the match at 6'1, 7'5, 5'0 after the change of ends.

[-J-]

kitkat:boogie:

[Tie-break]

Think the other is Nick Mullins

[hfwardhouse]

Nice to see Andy's trending on twitter - a lot of the time when he's playing it's the opponent who trends :rolleyes:

COME ON ANDY!

[Maza1987]

The 'dragon forehand' was giving Andy problems in the 2nd set but Andy seems to have everything under control now.

[Sallydaisy]

Tell you what folks - me likey this ITV mob.
No Bouncy Castle, no Barry Cowpat, no Annabel Federcroft ...
... and no Mats WilhepleasegobacktoSwedenplease!!!!
:p

[KnightOwl]

Has anyone come across "BBC's Aimee Lewis" before? I haven't, but she's the one doing the live-text commentary on BBC Sport for this match - and she's awful!!

Trite comments, borderline-rude comments about Andy, and cliches across the board - dreadful stuff!!

In other news: what a fabulous rally!!

[hfwardhouse]

I'm on ES2 and it has been ok so far!!!

[Jane]

Well done, Andy:cheer::cheer::cheer::clap::clap::)

[hfwardhouse]

GSM :yahoo: :yahoo:

[-J-]

vast improvment sally agree with you there,tho i seemto remember courier had a little dig at and pre aus open ......as we where expecting fireworks at the on court interview

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

GSM Ondeeee Mooooooooooooraie!!
6'1, 7'6, 6'0

Next up it's Nieminen.

[-J-]

getttttttttinnnnnnnnnn andy
job done

[KnightOwl]

:cheer: despite the odd dodgy moment in the 2nd set, a great performance overall!

I agree about the ITV team - not sure about the "Tatsuma satsuma'ed" comment though :)

[JennieF]

Well done Andy! Onwards and upwards!!

[traveller7]

I concur with the commie team, jim is obv an andy fan!
Well done Andy!

[-J-]

:cheer: despite the odd dodgy moment in the 2nd set, a great performance overall!

I agree about the ITV team - not sure about the "Tatsuma satsuma'ed" comment though :)shhhhhhhhh sally will use that for thread title

[Tie-break]

Well done Andy! Wouldn't have been a Murray match without a few heart in mouth moments, but he's on his way. MP asking Andy about the clutch to the stomach in the 2nd set but Andy said he's feeling fine.

[KnightOwl]

shhhhhhhhh sally will use that for thread title

Yeah - I wondered about that - nearly added a "don't you dare" but decided that might have the opposite effect ;)

[JennieF]

:confused::confused::confused:Where's his lovely hair gone?

[Linda]

AAAAAARGH! We're not safe from Bouncy Castle - he's on the adverts!

[KnightOwl]

:confused::confused::confused:Where's his lovely hair gone?

Andy's?? Wow, you mustn't have seen him for a while Jennie! He had it almost shaved a few weeks ago, but it's growing back a bit....

[traveller7]

AAAAAARGH! We're not safe from Bouncy Castle - he's on the adverts!

I was just thinking the same thing argghh

[JennieF]

Yes, big fan of this ITV coverage I am!
And well done Heather, too! What a lovely young lady!

[lynne]

Apart from the little dip in the second that had me pacing the floor.............Well Played Andy!!!!!:thumbup:

[Bardot]

Bouncy just appeared in his advert for dodgy lawyers lol ;)

Well done Andy, a cruising and crushing victory :cheer::cheer:

Due to circumstances I had to listen to 5Live and that pompous oaf Neil Harman during the second set. What a relief to return to the informed and descriptive commentary of someone who has played the game at the highest level in Jim Courier. Harman was all "yes Murray won that second set but why didn't he step in and blah blah blah" whereas Courier was understanding of Andy's tactics and appreciative of his tennis brain. Any criticism is always constructive and not damning. I am in awe of Andy and the patience he shows with British journalists and Harman in particular.

Must say I was dreading ITV's coverage but it has been mighty impressive. When the BBC eventually lose Wimbledon.......

[JennieF]

Andy's?? Wow, you mustn't have seen him for a while Jennie! He had it almost shaved a few weeks ago, but it's growing back a bit....
No I haven't seen him for a while without a hat! I love his curls, but I'm sure this is much cooler in this heat! Love the new haircut Andy!!

[Linda]

When he had it shaved I said it would grow to just the right length by RG :)

[Sallydaisy]

shhhhhhhhh sally will use that for thread title
Close.
It was nearly 'depipped the Satsuma' .......
:laugh:

[pabbers]

Had to watch it on record - all I can say is PHEW!!!! Didn't like the way he clutched his side in the second set so do hope he's ok - he didn't answer Petch convincingly about being 100% fit I thought. Seemed like he came out all guns blazing in the first set, as we've seen of late and then, again, as we've seen of late, more or less collapsed in the second till he seemed to grit his teeth. If he does have a niggle I guess he psyched himself up by deciding it would be better to get out of there in 3 than 4 (or not at all!). Great gutsy play though.

Nice rest now and then bring on Niemenem :)

[Linda]

I'd have gone with the Satsuma title myself :)

[LC the fan]

Will be interesting to hear Andy's presser re the dip in the second. Obviously the Satsuma hit a purple patch but Andy just let him ride over him. I was really worried, his serve had gone awol and I could see another upset. At 0-40 fortunately Andy could see the same thing. I was so proud of his serving then - 5 straight great serves got him out of trouble and out of the trough he had got himself into.
From that moment he didn't look back Well Done Andy :clap:
Lets hope the niggles remain just niggles and he once again gets into the second week without too much trouble

[Madeline]

I have to say I agree with Pabbers. On any other than an Andy-friendly board, I would no doubt be accused of "making excuses" - but I'm convinced he had a physical problem in that second set. His serve speed dropped from the usual over 200kph to around 170kph, and he wasn't chasing balls down as he usually does. Then either it eased or he gritted his teeth and decided to ignore it - and then it was all over for Ito.

[Linda]

But Andy almost always has a second set dip - we should be used to it by now. It's nothing to worry about in these early rounds, as he has far more class than his opponents. Where it could get him into trouble is from R4 on.

[david1610]

Couldn't comment during match and was working on the other screen so had the match in the background looking at key shots. They say that nobody plays lights out tennis all the time in a best of five setter so Andy will get and give chances. I just think we have to be prepared for Andy giving more chances than usual and hope he takes his own chances, and that he manages to work his way into form and full fitness as the tourney goes on.
Good luck Andy!

[-J-]

But Andy almost always has a second set dip - we should be used to it by now. It's nothing to worry about in these early rounds, as he has far more class than his opponents. Where it could get him into trouble is from R4 on.so much so i went for 4 sets in FTM

[JAMES4578]

Glad it was a comfortable win for Andy and maybe just as well he had a competitive set. Though of course in the later rounds he needs to maintain his concentration levels.

[Jan]

well done Andy - I wasn't here as I was enjoying seeing it on the TV screen in the other room!

So far so good!

ITV are making a good job of this - and most of the commies I've heard have been excellent :thumbup:

[RoastLamb]

Luckily I managed to see 1.5 sets on the telly on HD. So that was good!!!

[cazza99]

Well done Andy :yahoo: :yahoo:

[cazza99]

A few tweets

The Slice ‏@TheSliceTweets

Thanks to Team Murray for saving my seat in his box.. #RG12 http://pic.twitter.com/pUzfVT0d

Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes

Andy Murray said: "Some shirts he comes to work in have been very dodgy so I'm not going to listen to what he says on fashion" About who?

The Slice ‏@TheSliceTweets

Only Mr. Lendl could pull off this look #twoglasses #lendlpalooza http://pic.twitter.com/4MD52OOF

The Slice ‏@TheSliceTweets

Ok I'm done with the Lendl tweets. Clearly obsessed. Clearly need to join MLA #mrlendlanonymous

[Manaus]

Nice work Andy!:yahoo: Hopefully the wins keep coming as I won't be able to watch any matches until this weekend.

[SamP]

Pleased he got the job done, his serve was the right side of 50 (57%). Not convinced in the slightest he's anywhere near full fitness, but if the first few rounds are kind to him, i'll fancy his chances more come the second week.

Ito was an oddball of a player, massive massive forehands for 15 minutes and then nothing for the rest of the match.

[Fina]

Yess. A straight sets win. Glad he's got the first match under his belt. Well done Andy. :)

[karanga]

Well done Andy. :clap: :clap: :yahoo:

ITV doing a good job of their coverage - like the commies especially Jim Courier and Fabrice Santoro.

[Alis]

I wish we could have the same commies for Wimbledon - the thought of going back to Castle and Lloyd is already bringing me out in a cold sweat. Courier, Petch and Santoro are a breath of fresh air!

[cazza99]

The match is now on ITV iplayer

http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=318060

[pabbers]

But Andy almost always has a second set dip - we should be used to it by now. It's nothing to worry about in these early rounds, as he has far more class than his opponents. Where it could get him into trouble is from R4 on.

He does - but less often now, I'd say and I just didn't feel this was "that kind" of dip. Not a loss of focus, more being physically overwhelmed and he said "Don't worry about it" to himself at one point........was that the niggle, the score, the match???? Anyway the great thing is that whatever it was, he overcame it and showed true grit which he has started to do more often in the last 18 months or so. I now never feel it's over till it's over and we got nowhere near that far last night.

[cazza99]

Someone on ITV4 this morning - Petch???? - said inthe second set he may have altered his play a bit to help protect his back for a while.

Petch mentioned that the press were hounding Andy about his dip in the second set, yet when Federer had a dip in one of his sets they hardly picked up on it.

[cazza99]

ITV (http://www.itv.com/frenchopen/dailyhighlights/day3/andy-murray-v-tatsuma-ito/) video of final stages of match

[Alis]

Someone on ITV4 this morning - Petch???? - said inthe second set he may have altered his play a bit to help protect his back for a while.

Petch mentioned that the press were hounding Andy about his dip in the second set, yet when Federer had a dip in one of his sets they hardly picked up on it.

Do you think they will hound Fed about dropping the third set or Djoko about allowing his man back in in the second set - I don't think so!

[jamie&andy's fan]

Poor andy he can't win (I'm not talking about matches you know what i mean ) whatever he does or says