BIELLA-1, 2021, Quarter-Final: Andy d Blaz Rola 6'4, 7'6(9)

[Sallydaisy]

Quarter-Final at Biella-1: Friday 12th February, not before 3pm UK time.

Andy Murray takes on Blaz Rola of Slovenia.
The H2H (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-blaz-rola/MC10/RA51) is 1-0 in Andys' favour BUT the sole win was on grass at Wimbledon in 2014 so it's been a while. Andy won that match in 3 easy sets 6'1, 6'1, 6'0 but he might need to dig deeper in this upcoming match as the left-handed Rola has more experience now and is currently ranked #159 although his career W/L of 15/21 indicates that Andy (on 676/200) will have the advantage.

[Hawkeye]

Not before 3pm tomorrow.

[Hawkeye]

Andy 6-4 6-4


Andy 7-5 6-4Wrong thread!

[banskogirl]

cazza led me astray!

[Sallydaisy]

Predictions moved ...
:shades:

[banskogirl]

Predictions moved ...
:shades:

Thanks Sally :shamed:

[Sallydaisy]

Not before 3pm tomorrow.
In the prior match Marchenko leads 6-2, but Giustino just held for 3-2 in the 2nd set.

[jaysee]

Marchenko Giustino just started 3rd set, so Andy will be later than 3pm

[Hawkeye]

Preceding match has just finished.

[Sallydaisy]

Umpire has arrived on court for Andys' match.
:shades:

Quick reminder - the Challenger TV system does work but you have to give it a few minutes into the match before it's properly 'live'!!! (unless they've changed something since yesterday).

[harriet]

Marchenko wins Andy time . . . . .

[supergran]

Let's go Andy!

[Sallydaisy]

Players are currently warming up.
Blaz Rola has won the toss and has chosen to serve.

Challenger TV is not yet showing the match BUT if you click on MORE to the right of the court boxes it'll come up with the screen. I'm IN.
:thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy breaks in the first game ..... serving next at *1-0

[david1610]

Andy breaks in opening game! C'mon Andy! :)

[Hawkeye]

That's the start we wanted!

[harriet]

kit-kat, good start

[Sallydaisy]

He has to hold his own serve tho and is now *15-40!!!

[Hawkeye]

That's not the follow-up we wanted.

[Sallydaisy]

Broken back, 1-1

:shrug:

[harriet]

1-1, andy returns the favour

[david1610]

Rola breaks back and seems to have the strategy of making Andy do a lot of cross court running.

[exislander]

Early days - don't panic.

[Hawkeye]

Another 3 break points for Andy.

[Hawkeye]

All 3 saved.

[Sallydaisy]

Hmm, Andy had 2 break points at *15-40, it's now deuce.
Neither player looks fully settled in yet.

[Hawkeye]

Another chance.

[Hawkeye]

And also saved. Andy getting tetchy already.

[Hawkeye]

Rola holds.

[harriet]

Rola holds, from 0-40, andy not woken up yet?

[jeannie13]

i can,t get the tv , can youhelp please

[Sallydaisy]

Jeannie13 - here is the link
https://www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv/challenger-tv-search-results/all/2021/7085/all

[Hawkeye]

Another 3 break points for Andy, surely this time?

[Sallydaisy]

Another 3 break points for Andy ...

*15-40, 1 saved
2 saved.

[Hawkeye]

2 saved... Rola using the dropper a lot.

[Hawkeye]

Rats...

[Hawkeye]

Ad Andy...

[Sallydaisy]

Ad Andy, and another break point. That's 4 this game.

[Hawkeye]

Saved...

[Hawkeye]

Rola holds again.

[david1610]

3-2 Rola on serve. Andy has had 8 BPs so far. Well, as long as he serves well, sooner or later he should make and take another one. C'mon Andy! :)

[clancy]

What a strange start to this match!

[Teresa]

This is frustrating. If I had a racquet I would break it.....!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Andy not on song this afternoon ...
Serving at *2-3 and now *0-30, 15-30

[Hawkeye]

This is frustrating. If I had a racquet I would break it.....!!!

:smashed:

[harriet]

"c'mon" - he's awake

[david1610]

3-3 Time for a kitkat before your own service is put under more pressure. C'mon Andy! :)

[Hawkeye]

Bit of a wobble, but Andy holds from 0-30.

[harriet]

rola holds to love!

[Hawkeye]

Rola holds to love.

[david1610]

4-3 Rola. Do you use any "tells" for how Andy's body is? Mine is how many shots he hits into the net and how low they land into the net. I am not sure everything is Ok today and making holding serve more difficult and being moved around by the opponent. C'mon Andy! :)

[Hawkeye]

4-4.

[david1610]

4-4 This would be a great time to break!

[Hawkeye]

Another break point. Need this one...

[Hawkeye]

Andy takes it!

[Sallydaisy]

:faint:

Andy to serve for the first set at *5-4. Just hold serve Muzzah!

[harriet]

now to serve for first set

[Hawkeye]

2 set points.

[Hawkeye]

First set in the bag!

[patlowe]

Well done Andy. But.....

[exislander]

6-4 halfway there!

[Jan]

A first serve when he needed it!
Come on Andy :knight:

[Sallydaisy]

Yay!!!
First set to Andy 6-4, but it was quite a battle for him. Not in the groove yet at all.

[patlowe]

I reckon he'll go up a gear in this 2nd set.

[david1610]

Phew! That was not a straightforward set. Hope Andy can break and hold at the start of the next set and put some distance between him and Rola.

[harriet]

double fault, but an ace to finish; 6-4 first set, still making heavy weather of it

[Jane]

Well done, Andy - keep going :thumbup:

[JAMES4578]

Certainly room for improvement but at least Andy a set up, hopefully another gear in the 2nd!

[Sallydaisy]

Blimey, Andy is right cobby this afternoon.

Had a break point in this first game of the 2nd set but lost a rally for it to become deuce.

Has another Ad for break point.

[Hawkeye]

Andy has about his hundredth break point... And has blown 98...

[harriet]

in a time of Covid this shouting and yelling is deplorable

[Hawkeye]

99 of 101...

[Hawkeye]

Rola, of course, holds.

[david1610]

Andy started to get frustrated with himself and not breaking. Hope he holds and does it next time. C'mon Andy! :)

[patlowe]

I don't think I've ever seen him miss so many break points!

[clancy]

This is crazy!

[patlowe]

Right Andy. Go after those break points. You are good at creating them, go for it!

[Hawkeye]

Andy holds.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds.
As does Rola for 2-1.

Andy still having a chunter to the Umpire ...
:rolleyes:

[Sallydaisy]

That's better from Andy, held to love for 2-2 in the 2nd set.

[harriet]

an easy hold, 2-2

[patlowe]

At last!!

[david1610]

Andy breaks. Phew! 3-2

[Hawkeye]

Easy this tennis lark...

[harriet]

df Rola to hand over the break

[david1610]

4-2. Over the years Andy has gone through tournaments sometimes finding a way through certain rounds. Two more games. Please. C'mon Andy!

[harriet]

and this time andy sticks the break, 4-2, rola drops his raquet

[Hawkeye]

Easy hold for Rola.

[Hawkeye]

One more game! One more game!

Preferably with a kit-kat...

[david1610]

5-3. One more game. C'mon Andy! :)

[harriet]

hold to 30, break again or serve for it?

[Hawkeye]

Match point!

[Hawkeye]

Saved.

[Sallydaisy]

Rola saves another break point (on match point) making a total of 12 saved so far.
And now has Ad on his own serve.

[Hawkeye]

Well, Andy has to serve it out.

[lovetennis]

Serving for it now. C'mo n Andy :knight:

[harriet]

OK, serve for it, 5-4

[Hawkeye]

Two more points...

[Hawkeye]

One more point! One more point!

[harriet]

rola belting the cover off the ball

[Hawkeye]

Rola gets it back to deuce...

[Sallydaisy]

2 match points saved by Rola ... deuce.

[harriet]

deuce

[Hawkeye]

Break point...

[Hawkeye]

Saved.

[Sallydaisy]

Break point saved ... but Rola has another one!!!

C'mon Andy!!!

[Hawkeye]

And another break point...

[Hawkeye]

Oh fudge.

[lovetennis]

Dang 5-5

[Sallydaisy]

:help:

[Teresa]

Rats and double Rats. I don’t trust him on tie breaks at the moment.

[exislander]

Rola refusing to roll over.

[harriet]

Rola breaks back, serving at 5-5

[Hawkeye]

Andy really needs to focus.

[Hawkeye]

So, now Andy needs to hold to get a tie break.

[harriet]

all to do now, 5-6 down

[Jan]

Remind me how much we've missed this!!

[Sallydaisy]

Remind me how much we've missed this!!
:coaster:

[Hawkeye]

Tie break.

[lovetennis]

Tie break time :faint:

[harriet]

tb7, come in SallyDaisy!

[lovetennis]

Remind me how much we've missed this!!

We love it really :laugh:

[Hawkeye]

Andy a mini-break down...

[lovetennis]

Andy a mini-break down...

Did I say we love it? C'monnn Andy

[Hawkeye]

4-1* Hello third set?

[Hawkeye]

5-1*...

[Sallydaisy]

Rola to serve first:
*1-0
1-1*
2-1* mini-break to Rola
*3-1 Andy doing a spot of on-court coaching in words that shall not be repeated here
*4-1
5-1*

:facepalm:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy claws a break back but Rola to serve for the 2nd set at *5-2.

[Hawkeye]

Back on serve! 5-4*

[Sallydaisy]

Andy breaks 2 more back and it's on serve, but at *4-5 he has to hold both his own now.

[harriet]

back on serve

[HoopGirl]

Andy losing the plot about calls

[Sallydaisy]

Andy clearly thought that was out ... but the Umpire isn't having it.
Extended 'discussion' going on ...

[Hawkeye]

Andy fighting the wrong fight here.

[david1610]

Focus. C'mon Andy! :)

[harriet]

andy will be disqualified soon if he harangues the ump much longer

[Sallydaisy]

After all that Rola has a set point against the Murray serve.

Andy holds, Rola has 2 serves at *6-5 for the 2nd set.

[Sallydaisy]

6-6 it is then ...

[Hawkeye]

6-6. That's how you get even, by winning points.

[Hawkeye]

7-6* Rola.

[Hawkeye]

7-7.

[Hawkeye]

Awful time for a double fault... Rola at *8-7.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy to serve 6-7*.
That first serve needs to be IN ...

*7-7
*7-8 so Rola has 2 more chances to wrap up the 2nd set.

[Hawkeye]

8-8, this is torture...

[harriet]

fought back to level, but now df, rola at 8-7

[Sallydaisy]

Funny old game this tennis ......
8-8

[david1610]

8-8 next two points please! C'mon Andy! :)

[Hawkeye]

And from nowhere, Andy has a match point on his serve...

[Sallydaisy]

Match point Muzzah ...
:sofa:

[lovetennis]

Match point

[harriet]

mattch point murray!

[Hawkeye]

9-9.

[themass15]

Come on Andy!!!

[Sallydaisy]

You couldn't make it up ... 9-9. That first serve percentage is really causing problems, once Rola gets a 2nd serve he's on it like a sonnet.

[harriet]

wasted, 9-9

[jackie55]

I am watching from behind the settee, come on Andy please

[Hawkeye]

10-9, another match point but on Rols'a serve...

[Sallydaisy]

Match point 2 for Muzzah, but this time on Rolas' serve ...

[Hawkeye]

:yahoo:

[themass15]

At last!!!!!

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

:phew:

Andy wins 6'4, 7'6(9) after a very scrappy performance from him.
Winning ugly, but a win is a win!!!
And he's had some good match practice with plenty to ponder.
:hmm:

[lovetennis]

Phew

[harriet]

great passing shot, another match point, taken,

[HoopGirl]

Hurrah!!
That was a tense one!
Still - such a treat to watch him though!

[Hawkeye]

Well. that was... fun?!?!?!?!?!?

[jackie55]

That was torture, but at last Andy got the win:cheer:

[JAMES4578]

Was not exactly pretty but Andy found a way to get through it in straights, so some positives to take forward! :clap::clap: Needs a better performance next time though.

[harriet]

winning ugly might sharpen andy up, - what's next, when?

[Teresa]

My goodness he made heavy weather of that. The lack of match practice is showing, but the will to win is still there. I don’t think I could have handled a third set.

[Jane]

Finally got there!!!:clap::clap:

[Jan]

I think "Phew" is the right word for that!
Please find your first serve Andy, wherever you've left it.

[patlowe]

OMG! Andy putting us thru the wringer there! The old coaster was out and rolling today! Win ugly, win pretty, win whatever way you like Andy, a win's a win. So job done. He's getting the matches he came for. And I just have to smile when some of his vintage shots came out, along with a high decibel roar from me!
:clap::clap::clap:

[Jan]

And we'll be back for more tomorrow!

[Sallydaisy]

Stu Fraser (on Twitter) putting this win into context ...

Yes, it’s only a second tier Challenger... but some much-needed momentum this week for Andy Murray as only the third tournament he has won three matches at since Wimbledon 2017.
... no wonder we're all so excited!!!
:lol:

[Sallydaisy]

Dunno about much needed momentum, I have much needed tea in mind.
Thanks for the company everyone.
:wave:

[Hawkeye]

I need something stronger...

[Mickey]

I’m hoarse from shouting at Andy. He really needs these matches, just hope he can move more freely and do away with the balls going into the net, which in the past would have been winners. My blood pressure is getting back to normal.:beer::cheer::grouphug:

[Sallydaisy]

I need something stronger...
Mine's a curry tonight ... and beer.

[david1610]

I had to give somebody a lift and paused it at 9-9 and went out. So pleased there were only two more points and as mentioned already, Andy avoided a third set.
At least this is invaluable tournament practice and he will play at least four matches this week. I think that is priceless, whatever the level of the tournament.

[banskogirl]

That's the start we wanted!

But the end was something else! I've only just finished watching it and I'm exhausted :yahoo::phew:

Good to see how much Andy wanted it!

(i'll be reading all the posts tomorrow)

[pabbers]

I was mightily relieved to see him get the W. He definitely had the yips on serve!

[banskogirl]

Just to add, being an Andy fan is really like child birth..... we forget the pain so quickly!

[Genbrit]

Oh boy, I ended up watching this as we were traveling and needless to say losing the internet at vital points!!!! Ugh!! Stressful yes, but great at the same time. Andy didn't seem to wake up today but still managed the win. How I've missed these match threads. Thanks everyone.