Mallorca Challenger 2019, R2: Andy v Norbert Gombos. Tues 27th Aug, N/B 6pm UK time rain delays

[Sallydaisy]

A sterner challenge awaits Andy in R2 of the Rafa Nadal Challenger event in Manacor, Mallorca.

3rd seed Norbert Gombos, from Slovakia, is 6'4" tall and, at 29, not much younger than Andy but is making a latish charge up the ATP rankings. Currently at #115, career high of #80 in 2017.

They've not met before (that figures) so the H2H (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-norbert-gombos/MC10/GB93) is 0-0, link takes you to the stats.
Their respective win/loss records indicate Andy has the greater experience ...
Muzzah 663/193, Gombos 9/28.

Best bring your night goggles if todays transmission from the ATP website was anything to go by!

[exislander]

Rain in Mallorca so no play scheduled before 3pm now. The only match being played currently is indoors.

[Sallydaisy]

Just looked at the Livescores App and it gives a start time of 4.30pm local (3.30pm UK) for matches on Centre and No 2 Courts, 5pm (4pm UK) on Court 4.

Andy's match is now scheduled as not before 7pm local time, 6pm UK.
That's the same as yesterday - and sundown is 8.30pm in Mallorca although they do have floodlights!

[Sallydaisy]

As at 15.40 UK time - from Tennis on Telly via Twitter

There's been no play outdoors yet in Mallorca today because of the weather.

[Sallydaisy]

Thing is ... Live Scores are showing matches started about 17 minutes ago!
;)

[exislander]

Centre Court match is 30 minutes in now.
I do not have Twitter so just rely on ATP site for info - usually accurate.
Unfortunately I have to be out this evening so unlikely to be able to watch this match - hope the visibility is better for those who can watch!

[Rosalind]

Late is better for me as I have a class to teach earlier but there again.... when it's dark, none of us can see. (yesterday I could only see half the court!)

[Hawkeye]

Today's pictures appear to be brighter, at least on the match in progress.

[Guerkins2]

Current match going to a 3rd set

[david1610]

The ATP site has a countdown to Andy's match currently at less than five minutes to go.
I think they have realized there is a greater interest than usual and have put a dedicated link to Andy's stream:
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/mallorca-challenger-2019-murray-stream

PS There is also an interview with Andy before the first round.

[exislander]

The match before Andy's has not started yet.

[david1610]

The match before Andy's has not started yet.

Ah OK! That explains why the link is not opening. Thank you!

[Guerkins2]

I’m a bit confused because it looks as though Andy’s match is next, but nothing happening. No other match is being streamed from the centre court atm

[Hawkeye]

Stakhovsky v. Petrovic is currently on Centre.

[Jan]

On livestream.com/atp they are streaming the match before Andy's.

[Guerkins2]

Is that being streamed?

[Silverdee]

Not streamed on ATP site but am following the score on BET365 so I will know when Andy is likely to appear. They are still on first set

[david1610]

Not streamed on ATP site but am following the score on BET365 so I will know when Andy is likely to appear. They are still on first set
Can you tell me who the players are before Andy and on which court? Is there an OOP somewhere? Thank you!

[cazza99]

Can you tell me who the players are before Andy and on which court? Is there an OOP somewhere? Thank you!

Everything on the challenger page of the ATP. Go to ATP site and click on challengers on top right of screen.

https://www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour

[cazza99]

They have got it up now. Starts in 3 minutes.

[pabbers]

They have got it up now. Starts in 3 minutes.

The previous match is still going and could go to a third set.....

[pabbers]

Petrovic won first set 6-3 and was 3-5 down in second but just broke back, so back on serve. Fingers crossed it doesn't go to 3 sets!

[Silverdee]

Now gone to a third set!

[pabbers]

:grrr:

[Rosalind]

Will it be postponed do you think due to darkness ?

[Hawkeye]

They have floodlights.

[Sallydaisy]

Maybe planning a bit too far ahead???
The from Tennis on Telly via Twitter
Schedulers in Mallorca have already given Andy Murray the day off tomorrow if he wins tonight

[Guerkins2]

Petrovic breaks back when Stakhovsky is serving for the match and now he has a medical timeout! Do they think we have nothing else to do? :whistle:

[Rosalind]

Probably about time for a rain delay.....

[Silverdee]

Match over.

[TheHippyJesus]

What a very strange ending

[jaysee]

On livescore so it looks like it's going ahead

[pabbers]

On livescore so it looks like it's going ahead

It says retired at the top but no indication as to which player at 6 all!

[jaysee]

It says retired at the top but no indication as to which player at 6 all!
Stakhovsky won by retirement.

Livescore says Gombos serving first but stream won't load.

[TheHippyJesus]

Stakhovsky won by retirement.

Livescore says Gombos serving first but stream won't load.

Just started loading for me

[jaysee]

Me too. Looks like Gombos won toss, Livescore changed - Andy serving first

[Sallydaisy]

I have it, they're warming up and it's actually looking LIGHT!
:thumbup:

[Hawkeye]

And... we can see what's going on!

[RoastLamb]

Livestream is so much better! YAY!

[patlowe]

It's been a long wait, but we're nearly good to go! Good luck Andy.

[RoastLamb]

And I can hear it too! More YAY!

[david1610]

Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. https://livestream.com/ATP/events/8796655 C'mon Andy!

[Sallydaisy]

What I really like about the Challenger streaming is that there are no commentators!
:thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

1-1, Andy to serve. Could do with a few Aces to speed up play.

[Teresa]

2:1 to AM. On serve.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy 2-1, held to 15.

[Sallydaisy]

1st break to Muzzah!!!
Serving at 3-1.

[Hawkeye]

Ah, the old "it's not a break until...".

[david1610]

Broken back. Oh well. C'mon Andy!

[pabbers]

This is a good match and a good test/workout for Andy.

[Teresa]

AM breaks again. 4:2 now hold please......

[Sallydaisy]

Holds for 5-2.

[banskogirl]

Go Andy! :)

[Teresa]

Thank you 5:2. Now break again please, to take the first set and steady all our nerves.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy to serve for the 1st set, 5-3.

[Teresa]

5:3. Can AM serve it out?

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo:
1st set to Andy, 6-3.

[Teresa]

Well done. Next one in the same vein please, without AM getting broken.

[david1610]

I wonder if Gombos will be deflated or inspired by that set - will Andy run away with it, more of the same, or will his opponent come back more strongly? C'mon Andy!

[lynne]

Well done Andy, moving very well :thumbup:

[pabbers]

Yay! First set Andy.

[pabbers]

No commentators so it says toilet break on the screen :lol:

[pabbers]

All together now...... we know where you've been!

[Sallydaisy]

No commentators so it says toilet break on the screen :lol:
So sensible.
:shades:

[patlowe]

Andy warming to the task nicely. Some good rallies, but it's a pity there is no Hawkeye. Andy was almost halfway to the net returning some of Gombos's second serves! Didn't always work, but sure sends out a message to Gombos.

[patlowe]

I wonder if Gombos will be deflated or inspired by that set - will Andy run away with it, more of the same, or will his opponent come back more strongly? C'mon Andy!

Oh I think Andy will move up thru the gears if/ when required!

[patlowe]

Murray Magic!! Brilliant!

[Hawkeye]

Hopefully the vital break...

[Sallydaisy]

Fab point from Andy at the net to get ahead against Gombos serve.
15-0, 30-0, 30-15,
2 break points, Andy gets it!
Leads 2-1.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy 3-1. Hearing Supergran cheering him on.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy *0-40 to deuce, lots of c'mon from Muzz who holds for 4-2.

[Teresa]

Brilliant hold. Come on break again.

[patlowe]

Andy doing what Andy has always done...serving himself out of trouble.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy doing a lot of running, had Ad but Gombos managed to hold.
Muzz serving next at 4-3 with a break.

[Teresa]

Rats AM broken. 4:4

[david1610]

C'mon Andy! Try and break straight back!

[Teresa]

Anyone else think AM is getting tired. Not surprisingly really- this is a tough match.

[Hawkeye]

No... Andy breaks and will serve for it!

[Teresa]

But he still breaks back. Can he serve it out?

[Jan]

Andy breaks again and will serve for the match....

[Sallydaisy]

:boogie::boogie::boogie::boogie::boogie:

Andy wins 6-3, 6-4 and into R3. Some great play from him against a much tougher opponent and a good workout to boot.

[Jan]

:cheer::cheer:

[lynne]

Get in Andy..Well Done! Worth waiting for!!:thumbup:

[RoastLamb]

Huzzah for Muzzah!

[Hawkeye]

Italy's Matteo Viola up next, world number 240.

[david1610]

Well done Andy! Hope the body reacts well to matches on successive days! ;)

[Jane]

Well done. Andy:cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Teresa]

I am glad he did it in two. I think he would have struggled with a 3rd at this stage. Hasn’t he got a day off tomorrow?

Well done Mr M.

[patlowe]

Fantastic! Andy getting exactly what he came for...matches! Well done Andy. :clap::clap: Gombos was a tenacious opponent and certainly gave him a good workover. Marvellous to see some of those Murray winners making an appearance. Gives me goosebumps to see them. Also great to hear all the support for him. Even the bugs were out in large numbers!

[JAMES4578]

Andy certainly got more of a test and whilst a few edgy moments overalll pretty impressive and we seen some great shots. Could well have been tougher, well done!:cheer::cheer:

[banskogirl]

:dance: happy, happy, happy!

Well played Andy :) got there with just enough to test how his body copes tomorrow.

Just great to be watching him again......caught myself saying awk Andy at one point.....:shamed:

[Rosalind]

It was a much higher standard opponent but I never thought Andy would lose. He always looked like he would do it so that's great. Onwards and upwards!

[lovetennis]

Thanks for the commentary everyone. I am away on holiday in the US so wrong time zone for Andy's match. Good to read your posts instead. So glad he is doing well

[Sallydaisy]

I suspect/hope there will be a blog...
but meanwhile from Twitter :


Maureen StewartJones (https://mobile.twitter.com/supergran22)@supergran22 (https://mobile.twitter.com/supergran22)16m (https://mobile.twitter.com/supergran22/status/1166496521287806976)
Met a charming French journo & colleague who heard me talking about my decision 2 fly 2 Mallorca Wished 2 interview me.

Start of Andy's match was mic'ed up & after 1st set they sat with me. He let me talk so waxed lyrical about @andy_murray (https://mobile.twitter.com/andy_murray)
He said I'd be a *
Everyone around who had been subject to my vocals was staring

[david1610]

PS to Andy's match the other day - Sandgren beat Tsonga in five sets today!

[david1610]

PS to the game today, it can be watched at https://www.atptour.com/en/news/mallorca-challenger-2019-murray-stream if anybody missed it!
There are also some comments on the match from Andy.